Shaun leaned back, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as he regarded Soren with a half-lidded gaze. His voice, though casual, carried the faintest edge of disinterest.
"You talk like a salesman pitching a deal," Shaun muttered. "Listing the benefits, making it sound appealing… And sure, I won't deny it makes sense. Holding the high ground, preparing for what's coming—no argument there. But unless you stop circling around and actually tell me your goal, I don't see why I should care. So go on, Soren. What exactly are you aiming for?"
Soren smiled—thin, knowing, a glimmer of amusement lurking beneath his otherwise placid demeanor. He studied Shaun for a moment, as if weighing how much to reveal. Then he spoke, his voice even, yet carrying the weight of certainty.
"Mark my words, this world will become a battlefield." His tone didn't waver; he spoke not as if predicting a possibility, but as if stating an inevitability. "And I intend to be the one standing at the end of it. Or, at the very least, not among the ones trampled beneath it."
His fingers drummed idly against the armrest, his posture as relaxed as ever, but his words heavy with unspoken intent.
"Conflict is inevitable, Shaun. The kind people like us can't afford to ignore. If we don't prepare wisely, if we don't position ourselves ahead of the storm, we'll be swept away by it. And I don't intend to let that happen. The strong may endure, but even the strong fall when they stand alone. So, I'm building something. A network. A foundation. Finding others like us—people who don't quite belong. Collecting relics, artifacts, anything that can shift the balance of power. Navigating internal politics, planting roots deep enough that when the world shakes, we don't just survive—we thrive."
Shaun exhaled through his nose, unimpressed but not entirely dismissive.
"You speak like you've already declared war on the world," he mused.
Soren chuckled. "Of course, I have. I just don't plan to wait until the war reaches my doorstep before acting. And if I'm not mistaken, you aren't the type to sit idly either, are you?"
Shaun narrowed his eyes but said nothing. After a beat, he sighed. "Fine. You said there were threats—problems we might face. Go on then. Elaborate."
Soren leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering just enough to make Shaun instinctively listen closer.
"There are plenty. But let's start with the ones breathing down your neck."
One by one, he lifted a hand, counting off each point with a measured ease, as if merely reciting a list rather than unveiling the storm waiting to crash down.
"First. One of Count Heron's distant relatives is set to inherit his ruined estate. Someone with something to prove. And when a noble needs to restore power, they'll do whatever it takes to achieve it. If they're incompetent, they'll lash out blindly. If they're competent? Well… that's an entirely different problem either way its more trouble for you though not big right now but sooner or later it will come for you again annoying isn't it."
"Second.The girl you sold your title to? She's getting close with royalty. Whether that ends in something beneficial or disastrous for you depends on how the rumors unfold. Either way, expect your name to start circulating in ways you won't like. That title was gift from crown to your family, but you sold it without any second thought now how the royal see this depend on those rumors also if she happens to do some blunder who might get dragged as well it's you"
"Third. The real storm. The Duke of the South and the Royal Family aren't getting along. And in the middle of that? One of the Royal Family's knights—your father. He's got his sights set on the Southern Duke. And if you think that won't drag you into something, you're more naive than I took you for."
Soren's smirk deepened.
"Fourth. There's an information leak. Word is, a powerful artifact is inside your mansion. Now, both the Royal Family, southern Duke and underworld have their eyes on you for that. That alone should concern you, but let's keep going, shall we? "
"Fifth. Your land. The region you're sitting in is prime real estate, as you already know, but guess what? A new trade route connecting the North has been announced. And guess whose house and property stand in the way? Congratulations, Shaun. Your home is now a roadblock in someone else's grand design. And I doubt they'll offer you a reasonable price. You're a child, after all. How long do you think it'll take before they try to remove the obstacle? for that they may use any kind of tactic they can from low level threat to you know what I mean"
"Sixth. Ever since Heron's fall, the power vacuum left behind has drawn gangs, criminals, and opportunists looking to stake their claim. Some will settle for chaos. Others will want control. Either way, you and your town are both bound to be targeted. Because this town is already weak, secluded and good location for crime lords not to forget a kid like you at least in their eye who lives alone with no proper security or backing "
"Seventh. There's a bounty on your head. Some of your relatives want your land, and since you sold your title, they're getting impatient. Many silly assassins will be visiting you."
"And lastly—your mother's family." They want you dead. You're an inconvenience standing in the way of their ambitions, specifically their daughter's marriage to a high-ranking noble. And your dear uncle? He's already making moves to see you erased quietly. Permanently."
Soren sat back, folding his arms. "And those? Those are just the threats that concern you directly. I haven't even touched on the ones that might indirectly ruin your life. If you haven't realized it yet… the world isn't just indifferent to your existence, Shaun. It's actively trying to crush you underfoot."
Shaun was silent, fingers tapping against the chair's armrest, absorbing the weight of everything Soren had just unloaded onto him. Finally, he let out a dry chuckle.
"Hah… guess it wouldn't hurt to keep someone around who knows how to dig up this kind of information. But seriously… aside from the first two, I didn't know a damn thing about the rest. How the hell did you even find all that out?"
Soren's smirk was as sharp as a blade.
"The art of acquiring information is a delicate craft, my friend." His eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "Now… should I take that as a yes?"
Shaun sighed, shaking his head. "As long as it's a give-and-take relationship, I can live with it." He shot Soren a sideways glance. "But if I find out you're taking more than you're giving… well, you can imagine how I'd feel about that."
Soren leaned back, a pleased smirk ghosting across his lips. "No objections, then. That settles it. Now, shouldn't we mark this occasion? A proper celebration for our new alliance?"
Before Shaun could respond, Soren flicked his fingers toward the nearest servant. "Fetch the finest dishes you can. We're having a feast tonight."
Shaun, unimpressed, waved a hand lazily. "Just get me a sandwich, salad, yogurt, and juice. Fries too, if you've got them. He's paying, by the way."
Soren let out a dry chuckle. "Consider it my first gift, then. By nightfall, I'll also be taking care of a few… pests on your behalf. The spies, the assassins lurking in the dark, those low-life gangs sniffing around your territory? I'll make sure they're properly handled. You can use the time to pack your things."
Shaun, mid-stretch, froze slightly. "Pack my things? Why?"
Soren's grin sharpened, his eyes glinting like a man already ten steps ahead. "Because we're leaving. Our first mission together. And we'll be meeting a third person along the way—someone I've had my eye on for some time."
Shaun leaned back, gaze cool but calculating. "You mentioned 'killing four birds with one stone.' Sounds ambitious. What exactly are we after?"
Soren folded his hands, his tone measured yet threaded with amusement.
"Listen carefully." He raised a single finger. "First, we're heading north. There's a dungeon there, not just a cavern of beasts and traps, but a treasury of gold, silver, herbs, weapons—anything worth taking. More importantly, there's a relic hidden inside. Unlike the one you secured from your mansion, this one carries myths wrapped in secrecy. I want to see if those legends hold weight."
A second finger. "Second, we're going to cleanse a certain rot festering in the region. A cult, a corrupt noble, and a priest who's long overdue for a reckoning. While we're at it, we'll apply pressure on an information guild. And, as a cherry on top, we skim a little off the Northern Duke's holdings. If played right, this will erase the bounty on your head—permanently. The chaos we unleash will shatter the current power plays, delaying any immediate threats against you. And as a bonus? The ones responsible for putting a target on your back… won't be around to repeat their mistake."
Shaun exhaled, unimpressed. "That's a hell of a list already."
Soren continued, lifting a third finger. "Third, we find and recruit our third member. Someone who will be indispensable for what comes next."
Then, with the fourth and final finger raised, his smile turned razor-sharp. "And fourth—we seize Count Heron's vacant power seat. We replace him with a puppet, someone under our influence. That way, the territory falls into our hands without anyone realizing it and we can use it to our favour obviously we dont need to follow or do the sam evil deeds count heron used to take part in."
Shaun ran a hand through his hair, staring at Soren for a long moment before letting out a slow sigh. "North, huh…? Fine. Whatever. Give me a week. I have unfinished business before we go."
Soren shrugged, rising from his chair. "Take two. Just be ready when we leave.