I carefully examined Conrad Thornton''s face as he opened his door. His handshake was mmy, his smile forced. Dark circles hung beneath bloodshot eyes that couldn''t quite meet mine.


    "Wee, Liam," he said, voice wavering slightly. "Please,e in."


    Conrad''s usually immacte home felt different today. No servants bustled about. The air hung heavy with tension.


    "I appreciate the invitation," I said, deliberately keeping my tone light. "Though it was rather unexpected."


    Conrad''s shoulders tensed as he led me to the dining room. "Yes, well, I thought we could discuss some... business matters over food."


    The dining room was set for three, though Conrad had mentioned nothing about another guest. I noted it silently, filing away the detail as I took my seat.


    "You seem troubled, Conrad," I observed, watching him fidget with his napkin. "Is everything alright?"


    "Fine. Everything''s fine," he answered too quickly. "Just... some family matters. Nothing for you to worry about."


    I nodded, not pressing further. The food arrived—brought by Conrad himself rather than servants. Unusual for someone of his status. As he set the te before me, I noticed his hands trembling.


    "You know," I said casually, cutting into my steak, "life is full of moments where we make decisions that change everything. One choice can determine whether we walk a path of honor or disgrace."


    Conrad nearly dropped the water pitcher. A few droplets sshed onto the tablecloth.


    "I... I suppose that''s true," he managed.


    I took a bite of food, chewing slowly. "This is excellent, by the way. Your chef has outdone himself."


    Conrad remained standing, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "Thank you. I''ll pass along yourpliments."


    The front door opened quietly, and footsteps approached the dining room. Conrad''s eyes darted to the doorway, his face paling further.


    "Ah, our guest has arrived," I said calmly, not turning around.


    Adrian Bauer entered, his face a mask of confidence. He wore an expensive suit that couldn''t quite hide the predatory way he moved.


    "Liam Knight," he greeted me with a slight bow. "What a pleasure to finally meet in person."


    I turned, studying him carefully. "I must say, I''m surprised. You look like someone I know as Aidan Ortega."


    A flicker of annoyance crossed Adrian''s features before his smile returned. "That was merely a cover. I''ve shed my ties to the Lane Family. Conrad here has graciously epted me as his disciple."


    Conrad nodded mechanically, like a puppet on strings.


    "Is that so?" I raised an eyebrow. "How fortunate for both of you."


    Adrian took the seat across from me. Conrad poured wine for all three of us, his movements stiff.


    "I should congratte you," Adrian said, raising his ss. "Your recent acquisition of the Eldoria Network has made you quite the talk of business circles."


    I returned the toast. "News travels fast."


    "In certain circles, yes," Adrian smiled, revealing perfect teeth. "To new beginnings."


    We drank. I pretended not to notice the way Adrian''s eyes followed my every movement, calcting.


    The meal continued with superficial conversation. Conrad barely touched his food, while Adrian maintained a stream of pleasant chatter. I responded appropriately, acting oblivious to the tension crackling between them.


    Halfway through the meal, I bent down suddenly. "Excuse me, my shoce came undone."


    As I reached down, I heard a soft whistle above me—the sound of something slicing through air where my head had been a moment before. When I straightened, Adrian was taking a casual sip of wine.


    "These shoes," Iughed. "Alwaysing untied at the worst moments."


    Conrad''s face had gone sheet-white.


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    Ten minutester, I shifted in my chair, reaching for the salt. "This steak could use a bit more seasoning."


    Another whistle, subtler this time. A tiny dart embedded itself in the chair where my shoulder had been seconds before.


    "Perfect," I said, sprinkling salt on my food. "Much better now."


    Adrian''s smile had tightened almost imperceptibly. Conrad was now visibly sweating, his cor darkened with moisture.


    "Conrad," I said eventually, "I''m feeling rather thirsty. Would you mind pouring some more water?"


    As Conrad rose shakily and approached with the pitcher, I turned my head to thank him. Behind me, I heard the faintest rustle of movement, followed by the distinct sound of something sharp cutting through empty air.


    I turned back to face Adrian, who was now staring at me with narrowed eyes, his earlier pretense of friendliness evaporating.


    "You know," I said conversationally, setting down my fork and knife, "I''ve heard that the third time''s the charm. But it seems that wasn''t the case today."


    The room went utterly still. Conrad froze mid-pour, water overflowing my ss and spilling onto the tablecloth.


    I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table and steepling my fingers. "I''ve given you three chances to kill me, but you just didn''t cherish them, did you?"


    Adrian''s face transformed, shock giving way to cold calction. "I don''t know what you mean."


    "No?" I smiled without warmth. "The first attempt was when I bent to tie my shoce. A poison needle, I believe, aimed at my carotid artery. The second was when I reached for the salt—a dart tipped with something nasty, aimed at my heart. And just now, was that a wind de technique? Quite advanced."


    Conrad''s breathing had be rapid and shallow. The water pitcher slipped from his hands, shattering on the floor.


    "Impressive deductions," Adrian said, his voice dropping its friendly pretense. "Though entirely baseless."


    "Is that so?" I reached into my pocket and pulled out three small items: a thin silver needle, a dart norger than a sewing pin, and a small talisman paper with charred edges. "These would suggest otherwise."


    Adrian''s eyes widened slightly, the only indication of his surprise. "How did you—"


    "Catch them?" I finished for him. "I didn''t. I simply recovered them after each attempt. You''re quick, Adrian, but not nearly as subtle as you believe."


    Conrad sank back into his chair, head in his hands.


    "This wasn''t his idea," I said, gesturing toward Conrad. "You''re holding something over him. His son, if I had to guess."


    A muscle twitched in Adrian''s jaw. "You understand nothing."


    "I understand that you''vemitted several cardinal sins today," I replied, my voice hardening. "Attempting to assassinate me was merely one of them. Forcing a respected elder like Conrad Thornton to betray his honor—that''s a crime I take personally."


    Adrian''s hand moved toward his inner jacket pocket. I made no move to stop him.


    "I wouldn''t," I warned quietly. "The moment you entered this room, I activated three separate counter-arrays. One is blocking your connection to your spiritual energy. The second is slowly paralyzing your nervous system. And the third?" I smiled coldly. "The third is feeding your location to some very interesting people who are quite eager to meet you."


    Adrian froze, his face betraying momentary panic as he tested his spiritual energy and found it dampened.


    "You knew," he said tly. "From the beginning."


    "Before I even arrived," I confirmed. "Conrad''s phone call wasn''t exactly... convincing."


    Conrad looked up, shame and desperation etched into every line of his face. "My son—"


    "Is safe," I interrupted. "I had him recovered from your basement three hours ago, Adrian. He''s currently receiving treatment for your poison at the Celestial Apothecary Guild."


    Adrian''sposure finally cracked. "Impossible! No one knew—"


    "I did," I said simply. "And now, we''re going to have a very different kind of conversation. One where you tell me everything about who sent you, and why they want me dead."


    Adrian''s eyes darted to the exits, calcting his chances.


    "Don''t," I advised. "I''ve only revealed a fraction of what I''m capable of. And trust me when I say—" I leaned forward, my voice dropping to an icy whisper, "—you wouldn''t survive whates next."