Ina's thoughts aligned with Lando's, but a need for clarification compelled her to seek answers. "And how should this preemptive strike look? Are we simply sabotaging their businesses or...?"

Lando's face grew grave as he spoke, his words carrying a weight of determination. "We eliminate them all, if we have the power to do so. They don't truly know us yet, and catching them off guard is our best opportunity. We mustn't let this chance slip away. The longer they exist alongside us, the more they will know about us, making it exponentially harder to rid ourselves of them."

As someone who prided herself on her business acumen, Ina experienced a hesitancy at the ruthlessness of Lando's proposed solution. Until now, she had only glimpsed facets of her boss's character, and this side of him seemed incongruous with her previous impressions.

Granted, she couldn't deny that she could have found herself in far worse employment situations. While she wouldn't use the term "kind" to describe Lando, their relationship had been cordial thus far, occasionally punctuated by lighthearted banter. In her mind, Lando was a young man driven by a desperate desire to save his mother. However, his current stance reminded her of the opportunistic individual who had once forced her into a choice between toiling away her debts or entering a loveless marriage.

Ina knew that Lando had taken lives before, but those acts had been motivated by nobler causes, such as freeing his mother. This time, though, he would resort to killing solely out of caution. Yes, the people they intended to target were undoubtedly far from innocent, but they had not yet posed a direct threat. Other avenues, such as negotiation, could be explored, even if the possibility of betrayal loomed heavily. Wasn't it worth a chance, a glimmer of hope amidst a dark scheme?

Lando took notice of the uncertainty etched on Ina's face, realizing that she wasn't entirely comfortable with his proposed solution. Trying to understand the source of her hesitation, he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty, "Do you have any better alternatives in mind? Speak freely. What's the problem?"

Caught in between voicing her concerns and keeping them to herself, Ina deliberated for a moment before mustering the courage to ask, her voice revealing a mix of doubt and curiosity, "Is it truly necessary to take such extreme measures? I understand it may be the most logical solution, but have we exhausted all other possibilities?"

Now grasping the true nature of her reservations, Lando responded with a sigh. "Do you think I would choose this path if I had any viable alternatives? I have firsthand knowledge of the inherent wrongness of killing, thanks to my parents’ loving nature. Unfortunately, they are either dead or confined to a prison cell now. I wrestled with this dilemma after I took the lives of the prison guards. Could I have found another way? What about the possibility of them having families? Do you want to know the painful truth?"

Ina simply nodded, her curiosity piqued by Lando's response. Meeting her gaze steadfastly, Lando proceeded to provide his answer in a measured tone, "Yes, there were indeed better alternatives. I could have incapacitated them instead of slitting their throats. I possessed the power to spare some of their lives. I'm certain of that."

Taken aback by his unexpected admission, Ina couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't chosen to exercise that power. Before she could voice her question, Lando raised a finger, his demeanor somber as he continued, "But then what? What if one of them regained consciousness before I had made my escape? Would they hesitate to alert their comrades? Would they hesitate to retaliate... or kill me?"

Ina fell silent, the weight of the truth sinking in. She already knew the answers to those pressing questions. Without a doubt, they would show no hesitation. Understanding where Lando was leading the conversation, she held her tongue, allowing him to express his thoughts fully.

"They wouldn't hesitate, of course. And if I had to make an educated guess, I believe you share the same opinion," Lando stated, seeking confirmation. "Let me ask you this: Would Dorothy or her goons hesitate to eliminate us if given the opportunity in the future?"

Without deliberating too long, Ina shook her head. She had heard stories of various rivals of Dorothy who mysteriously vanished, leaving behind opportunities for Dorothy to seize.

"Why, then, should we show hesitation?" Lando's voice rose a notch, his frustration evident.

"To hesitate even once could spell our doom. Mercy is a luxury reserved for those who can afford it, and we certainly cannot!" he continued, his voice nearly booming and reverberating through the room.

Lando realized he had been overly forceful in his delivery as he observed Ina shrinking back into the sofa. He knew he needed to emphasize the magnitude of the stakes to her. They simply couldn't afford to act restrained when their enemies did not.

In that moment, Ina couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear towards Lando. Though three years her junior, in this situation, he seemed to tower over her like a scolding parent, causing her to regress into a vulnerable, childlike state. This was not how she had envisioned her life as a businesswoman, recalling the joyous days when she accompanied her father on his business trips. She knew the industry was harsh, but this level of coldness and ruthlessness was unexpected. Suddenly, memories of her father's untimely demise resurfaced, and everything clicked into place. She realized how naive she had been.

'How could I have been so blind?' Ina's mind raced, an image of her aunt flashing before her eyes.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"This greedy bitch," she muttered under her breath, her voice seething with anger, though barely audible for Lando to hear.

"Huh?" Lando questioned, clearly unaware of the thoughts running through her mind.

Ina recollected herself, her decision firmly made, and she spoke, "I apologize for hesitating earlier, but this revelation has opened my eyes to something I should have realized long ago." Thoughts of revenge began to take shape in her mind, each detail of her plan carefully forming.

Lando mused, observing Ina's resolution, 'I expected more resistance on this matter, but she grasped it quickly.'

They delved into discussions, strategizing the specifics of their approach. They unanimously concluded that their best course of action would be to strike before the patent office opened in just over a week. Their plan was ambitious – to eliminate Dorothy, her husband, and anyone closely associated with them, seizing control of their industry in the process.

The Plaingrowths had a vast network of small craftsmen workshops under their influence. Gaining control of the majority of these workshops would be instrumental in propelling their own objectives forward.

Over the next few days, Ina and the mercenary devoted themselves entirely to gathering information and investigating the Plaingrowths.

Meanwhile, the newly established government had settled into their positions, working diligently towards restoring normalcy. Many individuals with ties to the revolution found themselves in positions of power.

Coincidentally, one such individual was Captain Timothy Dawnrider, a close friend of the Plaingrowths, and Dorothy's cousin. He presented the biggest obstacle to their plan to dethrone the Plaingrowths, given his strong bond with them. If their plot were exposed, they would undeniably become the prime suspects for seizing control of the Plaingrowths' assets.

All the shareholders, in addition of Ina, gathered for a meeting in their newly acquired office building. While not the grandest or most extravagant, its prime location right on the border between the craftsmen and central district made it an ideal choice. The room they assembled in had a large, round hardwood table at its center, surrounded by eight luxurious, padded chairs.

In the midst of planning Operation "New Beginning," which entailed the eradication of the Plaingrowths, Lando posed a crucial question. "Any ideas on how we should handle the police captain?"

A moment of anticipation swept over the room as everyone exchanged glances. It was Luke who spoke up first, offering his proposal. "We should kill him before we initiate the operation. If he catches wind of our involvement with his cousin, he'll surely send the police after us, maybe even this newly formed IID."

Following the revolution, the city's internal security was divided into two departments. The police force constituted one department, while the Internal Intelligence Department, known as the IID, held responsibility for gathering all kinds of information. From enemy spies to local crime investigations, their reach spanned far and wide, including probing the sudden disappearances of two prominent merchants who were members of the merchant guild.

"Do you believe the disappearance of a police captain wouldn't garner even more attention than two missing merchants?" Victoria countered.

Lando pondered this thought, acknowledging its validity but with no immediate solution in sight. Drawing the government's attention was the last thing he desired.

Turning to Ina, Anthony inquired, "Are you certain that he would avenge them?" Knowing Ina had gathered much of the information on the police captain.

With a hint of sarcasm and frustration evident in her voice, Ina replied, "Wouldn't you seek justice for the person who killed your own cousin?”

With no clear solution in sight, Anthony slumped back in his chair and stared helplessly at the ceiling. The weight of their predicament bore heavy on them all. Just as hope seemed to fade, George broke the silence, speaking up with determination. "In short, we want to eliminate the Plaingrowths and seize their business and connections, which automatically puts us in the crosshairs of their friend, Timothy.

It won't take long for him to connect the dots, as all signs are pointing in our direction. However, if we eliminate Timothy and make it appear as though someone else is responsible, we may be able to divert attention away from ourselves." George's eyes searched Lando's face for validation, and upon receiving a nod of agreement, he continued.

"It's actually quite simple. We kill the captain and frame someone else for it. Since the captain's absence would overshadow the disappearance of the two merchants, whom we know had few close connections, it's a feasible plan." His gaze landed upon Ina, the weight of the decision resting heavily upon her as well.

While the idea had its merits, blaming just anyone for the captain's demise wouldn't be so straightforward. Lando urged George to elaborate further, not willing to leave any room for error.

A mischievous smirk played across the young darkness mage's face as he spoke, oozing confidence. "Easy. We find someone who stands to gain the most from his disappearance and has both the motive and means to carry it out."

Victoria chimed in, her eyes bright with determination. "Perhaps we could stage a public dispute between them shortly before the incident, further solidifying our desired outcome."

The following day, they gathered once again, armed with new information from their investigation. They had identified a suitable target to frame, a man by the name of Eugene, a skilled water mage. Eugene had also vied for the position of police captain, but Timothy had emerged as the chosen candidate by the new chief. The animosity between their families, stemming from a broken engagement in the past, had left Eugene on bitter terms with Timothy.

He wasn't the sole candidate for framing Timothy, but he seemed to fit the role the best. Nathan stepped up, ready to confront Eugene, with Anthony providing backup if needed. If the investigation pointed towards a powerful water mage being responsible for Timothy's demise, Eugene would become the chief's primary suspect. They planned to stage a heated argument between Tim and Eugene the day before, fueling it with false rumors to solidify their plan.

Simultaneously, Lando, Luke, and Lola would make their move, breaking into the Plaingrowth couple's home under the cover of darkness and eliminating them while they slept. Victoria and George would take care of handling the remaining employees, offering support once the others completed their part of the operation.

Time was of the essence, as the patent office would open its doors in just three days, serving as their deadline to bring their plan to fruition.

"Is everything clear regarding your assigned tasks, or does anyone still have questions? Speak up now, for tomorrow marks the beginning of our plan," Lando declared, his voice filled with a mix of determination and urgency.

As silence filled the room, Lando gave his final command. "Alright, then let's conclude this meeting. Get some rest, for tomorrow night will be a busy one. We're about to set our plan into motion."