The moonlight was veiled by thick clouds that night.
After returning to his mansion, Nathaniel was plotting how to saddle Matthias with the explosive threat posed by Zeus and Hera.
He chose Matthias over Tristan because Matthias commanded the largest power base. With his military background and strong followers, he was the perfect candidate to deal with the two royal gods from the Hall of Gods.
Nathaniel hoped they would destroy each other in a deadly struggle, allowing him to swoop in and reap the rewards.
After mulling it over, he stood up and gave his order. “Tell Bamon Niles, Wane Brutson, and Cronus Liam to meet me in the study in an hour.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the guard at the door responded and promptly left the room.
An hour later, the three men arrived one after another. They were Nathaniel’s most trusted advisors-sharp, dependable, and always ready with a plan.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
The trio entered together and greeted Nathaniel with practiced respect.
“Please take your seat,” Nathaniel said as he gestured for them to sit.
He continued, “This is a serious matter, so I’ll get straight to the point. I summoned you here to discuss something important.”
Nathaniel laid out everything-from Cynthia’s plan to use someone else as a scapegoat to his choice to use Matthias as the target. Not a single detail was left out.
When he finished, a heavy silence settled over the room.
“Your Highness, the plan is great, but risky. If anything goes wrong, we could lose more than what we bargained for,” Bamon said as he stroked his white beard with a serious expression.
“Only those who walk through fire grasp the flame,” Nathaniel replied. “The two royal gods from the Hall of Gods are a serious threat, but if we use them properly, they’ll become the sharpest tools in our arsenal.”
At that moment, the flickering candlelight cast distorted shadows on his face.
He continued, “I plan to have the two royal gods do all the dirty work and destroy everything Matthias has worked so hard to build.”
Wane’s face turned pale at the words. His body trembled slightly under his official uniform.
“Your Highness, Zeus and Hera are no ordinary beings,” he said. “Prince Matthias also has formidable talents by his side. If they discover you’re the one stirring the pot, then-”
“That’s why we can’t leave any loose ends, “Nathaniel cut him off. “I’ll send someone to arrange a meeting with Zeus and Hera at the Helvetica Club. Then, I’ll send in three teams of death warriors to blend in with the crowd.
“The first team will pose as wandering mercenaries. After a few drinks, they’ll casually bring up a mysterious wounded man hidden in the castle’s private chamber. Just loud enough for the next table to overhear.
“The second team will impersonate Matthias’s men. After a few rounds of drinks, they’ll let Logan’s name slip during a heated argument-enough to plant the seed.
“And the third team’s job is to cause a scene. They’ll knock over drinks, bump into guests, and stir things up to keep Zeus and Hera too distracted to think clearly.
“With everything set up, and knowing how the two royal gods are, they’ll definitely grab someone and start questioning them. That’s when our death warriors can step in and shift the blame to Matthias.”
Upon hearing that, Cronus’ eyes lit up. 11 Your Highness, that’s an excellent plan. With that much misdirection, even the truth will begin to look like a lie.”
“If I may… How can we gain people’s trust with just a few words?” Bamon asked respectfully as he voiced his doubts.
Nathaniel smiled faintly. He walked to the wall and slid open a hidden compartment. From within, he retrieved an emerald badge carved with an intricate M-the exact badge used by those in Matthias’ estate.
The badge gleamed softly under the candlelight but looked like a poisoned dagger.
“This is a badge used by Matthias’ guards. With this, he won’t be able to argue his way out,” Nathaniel said.
He tossed the badge to Cronus. “You’re leading the team tomorrow night. Give this to the death warriors as proof of identity. Forge a few secret letters about Logan working with Matthias and seal them with his private wax. Make sure everything looks perfect.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Cronus replied with a respectful nod.
Nathaniel’s gaze shifted to Bamon and Wane before saying, “As for the two of you, handle the cleanup. Every detail must hold up under scrutiny. The more convincing the lie, the easier it is to believe.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” they replied in unison.
They had no choice but to follow Nathaniel’s lead.
For now, the plan was airtight. If they used the Hall of Gods to their advantage, removing major threats and paving the path ahead wasn’t impossible.
And if they managed to undermine Matthias’ power, Nathaniel, whom they supported, would have a far better chance at claiming the throne.
Should Nathaniel succeed, Cronus, Bamon, and Wane would become loyal ministers. Then, their status and influence would be elevated with a single stroke.
Despite the risks and flaws, they had to take the gamble. Win, and they’d soar. Lose, and they’d still have a way out. Either way, they were the ones holding the cards.
