Chapter 345: Greedy Nobles and The Group of Greed
Lord Hektor Ravalos sat in his grand study, a room dominated by dark mahogany furniture, thick velvet curtains, and the soft flicker of candlelight. The atmosphere was thick with the scent of aged parchment and wax. Before him, on the large table cluttered with scrolls and maps, stood three figures—his spies—bowing deeply, their eyes cast to the floor.
The tension in the air was palpable. Hektor’s sharp gaze swept over the trio, scrutinizing every twitch and movement. He had summoned them back from their mission in Grafen, expecting detailed reports on the defenses of the rising barony under the leadership of the infamous Lyan Arkanium Evocatore.
"Speak," Hektor commanded, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "What news from Grafen?"
The leader of the spies, a wiry man named Shade, took a step forward, his voice steady despite the palpable intensity in the room. "Lord Hektor, we have completed our mission and gathered the intelligence you requested." He paused, his fingers flexing nervously as he reached into his cloak to retrieve a scroll.
Hektor’s eyes narrowed as he took the scroll from Shade, his fingers brushing against the cool, aged parchment. "And what is it that you’ve learned?"
Shade exchanged a glance with his two companions before continuing, his tone carefully measured. "Grafen is not as strong as the rumors suggest, my lord. The defenses appear impressive at first glance, but once we observed them more closely, we found weaknesses—gaps in the rotations of the patrols, a lack of coordination between the mercenaries and the local militia, and most crucially, reports of internal strife."
Hektor’s brow furrowed as he scanned the contents of the scroll, his sharp mind processing the details. "Internal strife?" he echoed, his tone laced with curiosity.
"Yes, my lord," Shade continued, his voice betraying none of the falsehoods planted in his mind. "There are factions within the castle that are unhappy with Lyan’s rapid rise to power. Some of the nobles and commanders in Grafen do not fully trust him, and there have been whispers of unrest among the mercenary forces. They fear that Lyan’s ambitions will draw the wrath of the kingdom down upon them, and they are beginning to question his leadership."
Hektor leaned back in his chair, a slow smile curling at the corners of his lips. "So, the mighty Lyan is not as invincible as he appears. This is valuable information, indeed." He drummed his fingers on the table thoughtfully, his mind already spinning with possibilities.