Yves met his eyes. A glint of the Knight he was flashed in his eyes. It was a cold silver that would stare into your eyes as you bleed out. “Speak clearly.” Even his voice deepened.

“Calm yourself, brute.” Luther huffed. “I’m not asking you to spy on the Knighthood or to betray them. Rather, I ask you to do your job.” He shrugged. “Partially, at least.”

Yves just looked confused.

“I need to bring these massive criminals to heel. Under me. Mine to command.”

His brother leaned forward with wide eyes. The man never learned to hide his emotions well. He didn’t need it when everything could be bashed in the head if it talked wrong. That was why he had been named the heir when even his father did not like the idea. Luther was far more capable then his brother’s in this world.

“You’re trying to make a real organization.” Yves said it as a matter of fact. “One strong enough to take out a Goddamn Mage of the seventh circle. At the very least. I am not sure how that helps anyone out. Much less the knighthood when the only thing keeping you…” he waved at Luther. “…people from really taking swaths of control is that your too busy fighting yourselves to organize. And you want me to help you make that happen?”

“Yves.” Luther said. He looked back to his fathers favored piece of art. “I need you to help me bring them to heel. That is one of my demands.”

Yves frowned. “Make an oath to me you won’t turn into a super criminal organization. One even greater than you are now. As a family, we may not know the extent of your evil, but we have an idea of how far it goes. Sea Raiders? Weapon merchants? Even fucking slaves?” By the end he was hissing, the amount of hurt in his eyes spoke volumes.

But Luther couldn’t make that promise. He knew fully that he would do anything to survive, even if it meant murdering innocents. But what he could promise was close enough. “I can’t do that. But I can promise to not do anything unless my very life depends on it.” And with a real apocalypse coming soon anything he would do can easily apply to this very oath.

As for what he would make of it after the apocalypse was done, future him would deal with it. For now it simply did not matter.

Yves took a deep breath, nodding. “Okay. That is fine with me. As long as I do not fight anyone righteous or kill innocents. I can take out your trash and collect your dogs for you. What’s your other requirement?”

This one was more difficult to explain. He looked towards Baldwin with a frown. How was he supposed to clarify where he learned about secret dungeons that were hidden deep within forests mountains and even within the city that no one ever figures out until a the ‘players’ arrived. There were no mention of dungeons pre-players.

Not to mention the fact that it would require the help of the same villains he would need to force into submission. The first few at least would be without them, since it was the very bases that he was building the foundation of his entire survival plan around.

Cyromancy and Cyrokenisis.

If you could control the very Ice Age around them, then he would have an overwhelming advantage over everyone else. It set him up in the best way possible with environmental boosts and changes that were guaranteed to occur.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The next and equally important was what he knew would be the greatest problem for him. One that he understood fully well that without a knight of a holy element. And a strong one at that, he would not be able to acquire the tools and skill available there.

It was a weird form of necromancy. One that Yves would probably kill him if he used it. Instead of reanimating the dead, the skill called ’Soul’s Guide’ allowed its practitioners to imbue dead people into objects. It was in essence and in its lonesome a torture skill made for the worst villains to play the game.

Someone bothered you, put there soul into a never ending torch and listen to their screams for eternity. Really hate someone? Put them into a ring that survives impossible heats and throw it into a volcano. Or maybe even to the very bottom of the sea where it was absolute darkness and silence forever.

But a simple discovery was made near the end of the entire game. A research guild had experimented this simple torture spell with animating golems. In the beginning nothing came of it, but something unexpected happened. If an ‘Obsidian Blue Gem’ was used to channel the spell, it would act like a core for the golem and animating them.

More importantly, they were animated with their skills when alive. As individuals, it was impossible to fully take advantage of this considering the sheer costs to make a normal stone golem, much less something far more impressive. But he was Luther Morgan Bellham. A multi Billionaire in American standards.

The one thing he didn’t lack was money. Even if no one would take his contract because of his bad track record and ‘dark dealings’ in fear they would be considered affiliates when he fell. But that was fine for him, especially if he wanted to make him an central core without easily swayed forces.

“Luther?” Yves looked worried.

“What do you know about dungeons?” Luther asked.

Baldwin shifted to look at him fully. A look of shock on his face. The first real amount of emotion the man had ever made.

Yves frowned at Baldwin’s reaction. “Dungeons? Like were you put people into prison?”

“No, Brother…”

“My Lord. These things. They are fairytales. Myths nothing more.” Baldwin pleaded. Luther ignored his look.

“What are you talking about—“

“Baldwin, they are fairytales no more.” Luther stood up and turned towards the window. “Through vast gathering of information. I have learned the existence of multiple dungeons near this very city.”

“What?!” Baldwin yelled, deep and terrified. “We must tell the Marquis before a break happens. It would spell the end of this city if...” He paused and took a deep look at Luther. “You’re confident, My Lord. Far more than what seems possible.”

There was a sadness deep within Baldwin’s eyes. One Luther could not say he actually saw by how quick it had disappeared.

Luther smiled. Hoping his bullshiting skills from college did not fail him. “I have come upon ancient records that detail these specific dungeons to the very inches. Traps, monsters, beasts, everything.”

“Holy shit. You’re in the information game too?”

He ignored Yves and kept his eyes locked onto the old butler. “I know you aren’t a simple man, Baldwin. My father would not trust a weak, random, and decrepit elder to watch over me knowing what I am capable of. The hate I quite easily attract, much to my own actions. He expected this entire thing to collapse and you be the way out. I am not sure who else was left as his agents, but it is your strength and loyalty I would never question.”

Baldwin looked touched. “It is as you say, My Lord. Forgive me for keeping this hidden.”

“What the hell is going on?!” Yves screamed in the background.

“Have Maria bring us a map of the surrounding lands. I am sure father had many detailed ones hidden until we needed it.”

Baldwin bowed and stepped out for a moment. The risk to his death had been slightly averted. So he didn’t need his loyal butler to baby sit them the entire time. He could step out for a few moments without Luther sweating a bucket.

“Luther…?”