To make sure their "flee now, backstab later" plan didn't crumble like overcooked bread, Resker immediately entered seclusion. He had one job: break through to mid-tier Life Knight before anyone noticed he was barely scraping by at beginner level.
Anna, meanwhile, handled the important tasks: keeping the estate in order and caring for the family's greatest threat to reality—Void, the baby who glared like a disappointed god.
Lucius, the ever-loyal head guard, was left to manage the house and make sure no one got suspicious. Or loud. Or alive enough to ruin everything.
⸻
One Month Later
The Ranjit family strolled into Grey City like they owned the place. Which, unfortunately, they kind of did now. Horses stomped through the gates. Servants scurried. Frista, the walking definition of smug nobility, took over the Rame estate like a cat claiming an empty box.
Naturally, it took him less than 24 hours to summon every other major family for a meeting.
Because nothing says "I'm here to ruin your economy" like an emergency council meeting led by the new guy in town.
⸻
The Next Day
Carriages cluttered the street outside the newly renamed "Ranjit Manor" (original, right?), each one stuffed with tense nobles pretending they weren't panicking. Inside, the meeting hall filled quickly. But the main character hadn't arrived yet.
Frista? Oh no. He made them wait.
"Johnson," Akim Rankster whispered, "you think this meeting's legit? Or are we all about to get stabbed politely?"
"I think," Johnson replied dryly, "that anyone who skips this meeting will wake up to find their estate on fire and politely labeled an unfortunate accident. Speaking of which, where's Resker?"
"He has the nerve to skip after giving up his land?" Akim scoffed.
And then, like a dramatic soap opera entrance:
"Ahem." Frista coughed as he entered, letting the silence cling to him like a cape.
"Morning, Sir Frista," the family heads chorused, all pretending not to hate him.
He gave a curt nod. "Morning. Who's missing?"
Silence again. No one wanted to be the tattle.
Eventually, Akim mumbled, "The Rame family. Resker's not here."
Then—bang—the doors opened.
"I'm here!" Resker announced, bursting in like a man who definitely didn't almost oversleep. "Sorry, just got to the city this morning."
Frista gave him a once-over. "Good. Let's begin."
He sat down like a king, leaned forward, and said, "This meeting is about business."
Which, in Frista-speak, meant: I'm taking yours.
"One of our goals is to eliminate competition," he continued, smiling like a predator with a law degree. "It's better for everyone if the city's consumers focus on Ranjit goods."
A family head dared to raise his hand. "Sir Frista—"
"I'm not finished," Frista cut him off. "We're new here. We're expanding. If your family's business overlaps with ours, I'll absorb it. Or crush it. Depends on my mood."
He rolled out a parchment with enough arrogance to choke a peacock and began listing every market the Ranjits had their claws in: trade, smithing, taverns, medicine, enchanting, probably illegal taxes on air molecules too.
Ten minutes later, the meeting ended. No vote. No room for feedback.
Just conquest with a side of formality.
⸻
Outside the Hall
Family heads left the estate like disgruntled party guests who didn't even get a slice of cake. Resker, still playing his role, moved toward his horse—until a servant stepped in his path.
"Lord Frista would like a word."
Of course he would.
Back inside, Resker bowed deeply. "Sir Frista."
Frista studied him like a man inspecting a used blade. "Resker. I received the deeds to your estate and shops. Well done."
"Thank you, my lord," Resker replied, with just enough humility to sell the act. "I prefer pragmatism over pointless battles."
Frista smirked. "So you want an alliance?"
Resker rubbed the back of his neck, feigning awkwardness. "Well… I wouldn't say no."
"Then I'll give you some face," Frista said. "Alliance granted. For now."
Resker bowed again. "Much appreciated."
"Go. Rest. You've done your part."
⸻
At the New Rame Residence
"My dearest Anna!" Resker called out as he dismounted, arms wide and smug with survival.
Anna did not respond with affection.
She shoved Void into his arms with the kind of precision that said: Here. Deal with your creation.
Void, as usual, stared at his father with the emotional range of a disappointed CEO. Honestly, he looked more like he was filing a mental HR complaint.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Resker muttered, pinching the baby's tiny nose. "You arrogant little—"
Void narrowed his eyes.
He was taking notes. For revenge. Later.
"Resker, are you stupid?!" Anna snapped, spinning around. "Do you want to break his nose?! What if he grows up ugly and can't find a wife?!"
"What? I didn't break anything!"
"So now I'm blind?!"
"No! I—"
Resker shut up. Wisely.
Void blinked once, clearly judging both of them.
Resker cleared his throat and changed the subject like a man dodging a sword. "Anyway. I went to the Ranjit meeting. Played my part. All according to plan."
Anna gave him a look that could incinerate weak-willed men.
"I agreed to their terms publicly," he said, "and in return, we get time. Information. As Sun Tzu said: know your enemy, know yourself…"
"You watched a war drama once," Anna replied flatly.
"And I also broke through," Resker added, puffing up slightly. "I'm mid-tier Life Knight now."
Anna blinked. "You're serious?"
"I am. I'm hiding my base for now. I'll use the Ranjits' resources, climb up to expert-tier before we strike. But I need a battle soon. Something to solidify the breakthrough."
He grinned.
Void just blinked up at him like, You sure about that, old man?
Plans were moving. Lines were being drawn.
And somewhere, deep inside the swaddled silence of a baby's mind, Void was already plotting the day he would be the one giving orders.