บท 25: Making a Dangerous Plan
"So, what do you say? Will you agree to become my Slave? It's for your and your family's safety. Given my lack of trust in you, this is your only way out. You'll stay alive, but you'll always be in my employ," Rasoul inquired with a hint of anticipation.
He desired to infiltrate the Dark Minions organization after discovering their involvement with the Blood Brother bandit group they killed on their way to Sundance Kingdom. Making the Peak GrandMaster a slave was the initial step in dominating the empire.
Upon entering the room, he began delving into the Assassin's thoughts, slowly penetrating his mind. After careful maneuvering, he gained access, but what he uncovered gave him pause. The man genuinely cared for his family, causing Rasoul to hesitate. Instead of hastily applying the Seal, his usual practice, Rasoul felt compelled to approach things differently this time. Recognizing the profound family bond, Rasoul contemplated altering his usual strategy. He pondered the idea of seeking the Assassin's permission before proceeding with his plan, deviating from his typical swift method of sealing minds.
The Assassin was taken aback when Rasoul posed the question. After reflection, he asked, "Will I have the chance to reunite with my family?"
Rasoul gave a nod.
"And can you promise to keep my family out of this? I've heard tales of masters using slaves' families as leverage to instill loyalty. I don't want that for my loved ones," he pressed further.
"Your family will remain entirely safe. Just adhere to our directives and follow our commands," Lara reassured him. Her compassionate nature wouldn't allow her to involve innocent lives in this affair.
After contemplating for a minute, the man conceded, "Then I'll agree to be in your Slave."
Ding...
[Slave sealing successful]
>> Marcus Duvat
Once the Seal was in place, every hint of betrayal in his mind disappeared, leaving only a profound desire to serve his Master wholeheartedly. He didn't succumb to madness or resentment; he accepted his sealed fate without harboring bitterness.
"Alright, spill the details. Who gave the go-ahead for this mission, and where can we track them down?" Rasoul questioned.
"Our Leader at the Sundance branch greenlit this mission personally. He's a semi-saint, one of the top assassins in the Dark Minions," Marcus answered without resistance.
"Where's your hideout, and how can someone reach out for a job?" Rasoul probed, dropping a subtle hint.
"We're just a few kilometers away from Sundance City. People contact us from various spots in the city. One I know is The Pleasure Moon Plaza. Just hand three copper coins to the waiters and say 'I need the leaf collector to gather some leaves for me.' They'll guide you to the person in charge, and you can book your mission there."
'That's clever,' Rasoul thought inwardly. "So, how many bandit and spy groups are you affiliated with?" Rasoul inquired once more.
"I don't have access to that information," Marcus replied disappointedly.
Rasoul meticulously assessed the information, taking a few moments to weigh his options. He found himself standing at a crossroads, faced with two distinct paths. One choice involved deceiving everyone by orchestrating the fake death of the Princess to evade the deadly Assassins. The alternative was a riskier move: using Marcus to infiltrate the secretive organization. Though fraught with danger, the potential rewards were immense. Having Assassin groups as devoted allies could provide unparalleled advantages.
If Rasoul played his cards wisely, the benefits might surpass his wildest expectations. He recognized the necessity of forging alliances for future challenges, and his principles dictated that these alliances should be with individuals under his influence. With the Slave seal in place, he felt secure, confident that potential betrayals from supposed allies wouldn't be a concern. As he pondered his next move, the gravity of the situation underscored the dangerous path he was about to embark on. Taking down the purported Leader could grant him dominion over the entire organization and possibly the underworld in the human empire.
Turning to Marcus, he inquired, "Who manages the contracts, and is the organization aware of the contractor's identity?"
"That responsibility falls on the deputy head," Marcus replied, adding, "I can investigate his movements and keep you informed if you're interested."
Eager to prove his value to his Master, Marcus was demonstrating the effectiveness of the slave seal.
"Tell me, Marcus, how adept are you at acting?" Rasoul asked.
"Hmm..." Marcus responded with a puzzled expression.
"I need you to put on a convincing act when you return. I doubt your employers will buy your story as is. Your role is to help me infiltrate their minds and draw out the Leader, allowing me to sever the snake's head once and for all. Your performance will be crucial, so can you handle it?" Rasoul unveiled his plan while assigning Marcus to initiate phase one.
"I won't let you down, Master," Marcus promptly assured, understanding the gravity of Rasoul's request.
Rasoul's plan was direct: expose and eliminate the organization's Leader. Once achieved, he aimed to bring all the various leaders, including Semi-Saints, Grandmasters, and Masters, under his control. With the recently upgraded slave seal, Rasoul was eager to utilize every enhanced feature to his advantage.
Aware that fooling the high-ranking members of their organization wouldn't be a walk in the park, Marcus was determined to please his Master and do whatever it took to succeed in the plan's initial phase.
*****
Approximately a day later, in an underground chamber, members of the Dark Minions were engrossed in their routine assignments when a sudden commotion reverberated through the entrance. Swiftly, numerous members rushed to investigate the source of the disturbance, eager to identify the bold intruder disrupting their sanctuary.
Upon arrival, they discovered Marcus lying on the floor, covered in wounds scattered across his body. One leg and both arms were broken, his face pallid like a white sheet, with blood continuously dripping from his nostrils and mouth.
[4th Wall; Damn, I took it too far]
A collective shudder of fear ran through everyone, witnessing Marcus's state. They couldn't help but imagine themselves in a similar situation, and the mere thought sent shivers down their spines.
As a crowd gathered around him, Marcus managed to force out a tired sentence, "Inform... the leaders... a mysterious group... known as... Supreme Nexus is... after those... tasks... to assassinate the... Princess."
Immediately after uttering those words, he passed out.
"Summon the leader!" commanded a semi-saint upon hearing Marcus's revelation. Rasoul, who had suggested a strategic deception, had not anticipated Marcus taking it to such an extreme.
Reflecting on the situation, one might imagine Sabrat, if present, jesting something like, "You all could have excelled as actors rather than assassins." The unexpected intensity of Marcus's performance left no loopholes in their deception.
*****
A day later, in a room that seemed to be in the same mysterious place, 35 people had gathered for what appeared to be an important meeting. Tensions ran high as arguments and disagreements unfolded among them. However, at the front of the gathering, a man sat calmly, his head resting on his right palm, seemingly unaffected by the heavy atmosphere. A keen observer might notice a subtle yet powerful aura emanating from him, suggesting authority or power.
As the moments passed, the man gradually sat up, signaling the start of his talk. Despite the ongoing discord in the room, his calm demeanor and strong presence demanded the attention of those gathered. The air seemed to settle as he prepared to speak.
"What do we know about this Supreme Nexus group?"
"We know little to nothing about them," replied one of the 34 individuals. "All we know is they showed up in Orange Field City a few days ago to help the Princess defend the city from the monster tide. Rumors suggest that one of them single-handedly killed a Great Beast."
"So what if they threatened our organization? They have to be eliminated. I don't care if they are the children of an emperor; we have to kill him to show the whole empire that nobody messes with the Dark Minions and lives to tell the tale," another individual spoke, displaying arrogance and an unwillingness to listen to reason.
"We don't have to rush things. We don't know how deep they go, and so far, we've only identified three of them. Who's to say there aren't more hiding in the shadows, waiting for us to strike? We have to tread carefully here," an elderly man spoke, demonstrating that old age comes with wisdom.
"What's there to think about? We know where they are; let's just ambush them and finish this already. Isn't that why we're here?" A man with a big scar on his face spoke, clearly reluctant to prolong the meeting.
"And you think I haven't thought of that? Rolling in like thugs will only escalate things," the elderly man retorted.
"I never knew you were such a coward, Old Kay," the scar-faced man shot back.
"SILENCE, EVERYONE!" the Leader bellowed in a commanding tone, instantly silencing the assembled members. His presence demanded absolute attention.
Despite the urge to swiftly eliminate the Supreme Nexus group, he had to exercise restraint as a leader. He needed to investigate the culprits and carefully plan their assassination. A part of him sensed there was much more to this mysterious individual than met the eye.
"Sandro, as the Leader in this branch, use your network of spies to find out all you can about these people. I'll personally handle them. This might not be as straightforward as it seems, and we can't let our arrogance cloud our judgment. Also, reward the Assassin who brought this news. He did us a great service," the Leader spoke with authority.
Sandro nodded visibly, radiating satisfaction with himself. Though not immediately apparent, the success of an assassin under his command represented a substantial contribution to their organization and a testament to his leadership. Unbeknownst to them, Marcus was just the first domino in a long line of dominos.
They took the bait, and soon, it will come to bite them in the ass.
"Ensure you gather the information by the end of tomorrow. I want this sorted out by the week's end so we can secure the tomb passes," the Leader added, emphasizing the importance of swift and efficient action.
"I won't fail you, Leader," Sandro affirmed. He understood that failure was not an option. With several Semi-Saints eagerly waiting to take his place, he knew he had to give it his all.
"I know you won't because if you do, don't bother begging for another chance." The Leader's stern warning hung in the air, highlighting the seriousness of the task.
"Also, cease all missions related to the Princess until I deal with these bothersome pests," the Leader declared as he exited. The meeting had concluded, prompting everyone to disperse and resume their respective tasks.
*****
Sometime later in Orange Field City, Rasoul had some free time, prompting him to review his gains from the recent Monster tide. However, before he could access the system, a telepathic message from Marcus reached him, saying, 'It's done, Master. They took the bait.' A small but satisfying smile escaped Rasoul's lips, signifying the successful execution of his strategic plan.
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