## Liam''s Perspective


    "You''ve made waves today," Mariana said as we walked out of the conference hall. "More than you realize."


    I nodded, still processing what had happened. The confrontation with Davenport had gone better than I''d expected, but I knew better than to celebrate prematurely.


    "I''m just getting started," I replied. "For Isabelle''s sake."


    Mariana''s response was cut short by a familiar, grating voice.


    "Knight!"


    I turned to see Darian Bancroft marching toward us, his face a mask of barely controlled rage. Two Guild enforcers nked him, their hands resting on their weapons.


    "What a spectacle you created in there," Bancroft sneered, stopping just feet away. "Enjoy your little victory while itsts."


    I met his gaze steadily. "It wasn''t a spectacle. It was ountability."


    His eyes narrowed. "You think you''ve aplished something? All you''ve done is upset the natural order. The aristocratic families won''t forget this insult."


    "The natural order?" I scoffed. "You mean your stranglehold on resources that should benefit all cultivators?"


    Bancroft stepped closer, dropping his voice. "You''re ying a game you don''t understand, boy. Davenport may have indulged your tantrum today, but he won''t always be watching."


    "Is that a threat?" I asked, tensing for a fight.


    "It''s reality," he replied coolly. "Cross me again and I''ll crush you so thoroughly that even your mentor won''t recognize what''s left."


    Iughed, which clearly wasn''t the reaction he expected. "You''ve been trying to crush me since I arrived in this city. How''s that working out for you?"


    A vein pulsed in Bancroft''s temple. "You think because you''ve got a few tricks and powerful friends that you''re untouchable? Everyone has weaknesses, Knight. Everyone."


    The implied threat toward those I cared about made my blood boil. My fists clenched involuntarily.


    Mariana stepped between us. "President Bancroft, threatening a cultivator in public after Davenport''s ruling? Not your wisest move."


    Her intervention saved me from doing something rash. Bancroft red at her, then at me, beforeposing himself.


    "The Martial Guild has served Veridia for centuries," he said loudly enough for nearby people to hear. "We''ll continue to do so, despite the... misguided opinions of neers."


    With that, he turned and stalked away, his enforcers in tow. <dfn ss="in-imprint-b">Thanks for reading—brought to you by *.</dfn>


    "That man is a coiled viper," Mariana muttered when they were out of earshot. "And you just stepped on his tail."


    I exhaled slowly. "I couldn''t let it go unchallenged. Not with Isabelle''s life at stake."


    She nodded, understanding in her eyes. "Let''s go. We need to talk somewhere private."


    ---


    An hourter, we sat in Mariana''s private study at the Celestial Apothecary Guild. The room''s protective formations ensured our conversation remained confidential.


    "Bancroft won''t take this lying down," Mariana warned, pouring tea. "He''llply with Davenport''s ruling—he has no choice—but he''ll find ways to retaliate."


    "I expected that," I said, epting the cup she offered.


    "Listen carefully, Liam." Her voice turned grave. "The Guild will likely open their resources as mandated, but they''ll set traps. If you participate in any of their newly essible programs, you''ll be walking into danger."


    I sipped my tea thoughtfully. "They''d risk defying Davenport?"


    "Not openly. They''ll make everything appear legitimate. idents happen. Training mishaps ur. Especially to troublemakers who challenge the status quo."


    The warning was clear. "So I should avoid their offerings entirely?"


    Mariana nodded. "For now. Let others test the waters first."


    "What about Isabelle? Any progress?"


    Her expression softened with sympathy. "My sources are working on it, but the Guild has tightened security around all their facilities. Davenport''s ruling about uwful detainment has made them cautious, which is both good and bad."


    "Bad because they''ll hide her more carefully," I concluded.


    "Exactly. But we''ll find her, Liam. I promise you that."


    I clenched my fist around my teacup, barely restraining myself from crushing it. "Every day she''s in their hands is a day too long."


    ---


    In another part of the city, Darian Bancroft stormed into his private office in the Martial Guild headquarters.


    "Get me Emerson Holmes. Now!" he barked at his assistant.


    Minutester, Emerson entered, bowing respectfully. "President Bancroft."


    "Send word to Julian Radford. He''s to abort his mission to eliminate Knight."


    Emerson looked surprised. "Sir? You wanted Knight dead just yesterday."


    "That was before Davenport''s interference," Bancroft growled. "We can''t risk the fallout if Knight dies mysteriously right after this ruling. Davenport would know exactly where to point the finger."


    "As you wish," Emerson replied. "What is our new approach?"


    Bancroft smiled coldly. "If we can''t kill him directly, we''ll make hime to us." He paced the room, his mind racing. "Davenport wants resources opened to all? Fine. We''llply—enthusiastically."


    "Sir?"


    "Prepare an announcement for The Warrior''s Scroll. The Martial Guild will open private resources to the top ten martial artists on a new leaderboard we''ll establish. Make it sound generous. Unprecedented." His smile widened. "And make sure the challenges required to rank on this leaderboard are... particrly difficult."


    Understanding dawned on Emerson''s face. "A trap disguised as an opportunity."


    "Precisely. Knight won''t be able to resist, especially when the prize includes ess to our most exclusive cultivation grounds—the very ces he might think Isabelle is being held." Bancroft''s eyes gleamed with malice. "And when he fails, it will be entirely his own doing. No one will me us for a fairpetition."


    ---


    Three dayster, I found myself in Eldoria, seated across from Eamon Greene and The Man with the Mustache in a quiet corner of an apothecary shop. Eamon''s arm was still in a sling from ourst encounter with Guild forces.


    "You look like hell," The Man with the Mustache remarked, twirling his facial hair. "Running yourself ragged won''t help yourdy friend."


    "I''m fine," I muttered, though exhaustion weighed on me like lead. "Were you able to analyze the blood sample?"


    He nodded, sliding a folded paper across the table. "That''s the prescription you need. It''ll counteract the poison affecting the Norton woman."


    I grabbed the paper eagerly. "Thank you. This means more than you know."


    "Don''t thank me yet. The ingredients won''t be easy to find, especially the Ghost Shadow Root." He tapped the list with a slender finger. "That only grows in ancient burial grounds, preferably ones with a few vengeful spirits hanging about."


    "I''ll handle it," I said firmly. "Evelyn''s condition is declining. I need to move quickly."


    Eamon shifted ufortably. "How''s Sofia doing? I haven''t heard from her since..."


    "She''s recovering," I assured him. "The healer says she''ll regain full movement in her leg, but it''ll take time."


    He nodded, relief evident on his face. "Good. That''s good."


    I turned back to The Man with the Mustache. "I want to make you an offer."


    "Oh?" His eyebrows rose with interest.


    "Your archaeological expeditions. Your tomb raiding. Whatever you want to call it. I want in on the next one."


    He studied me curiously. "Why would a rising star like you want to crawl through dusty old graves with a humble treasure hunter like me?"


    "Because you find things. Things that other people can''t—or won''t—look for." I leaned forward. "And right now, I need every advantage I can get."


    A slow smile spread across his face. "Well, well. This could be the beginning of a beautiful partnership, my friend." He extended his hand. "Deal."


    As we shook on it, my attention was drawn to amotion near the front of the shop. People were gathering around a messenger who had just posted a new edition of The Warrior''s Scroll on the public board.


    "What''s happening?" I asked.


    Eamon craned his neck to see. "Some big announcement from the Guild, by the looks of it."


    The three of us made our way to the board. As I read the promation, I couldn''t help butugh bitterly.


    "The Veridia City Martial Guild proudly announces unprecedented ess to private resources," the notice read. "The top ten martial artists on our newly established Grand Warrior Leaderboard will receive exclusive training privileges, rare cultivation materials, and ess to restricted cultivation grounds."


    The Man with the Mustache whistled low. "Well, well. Seems like someone''s feeling generous."


    "Or desperate," I replied. "This is their response to Davenport''s ruling—make it look like they''replying while setting up hurdles too high for most to clear."


    Eamon nodded in agreement. "The qualification trials listed here are brutal. Most cultivators wouldn''t survive them, let alone rank in the top ten."


    I scanned the requirements again, noting the emphasis onbat prowess over other cultivation skills. It was clearly designed to favor Guild members.


    "It''s a trap," I said quietly. "One with my name written all over it."


    The Man with the Mustache nced at me sideways. "You''re not actually considering participating, are you?"


    I stared at the announcement, thinking of Isabelle, of what she was enduring while I stood here. The "restricted cultivation grounds" mentioned in the promation could be where they were holding her.


    "Sometimes," I said, "you have to spring a trap to find what you''re looking for."


    "Or to get yourself killed," The Man with the Mustache countered.


    I turned to face him with a grim smile. "They''re counting on that. But they''re about to learn something important about me."


    "What''s that?" Eamon asked.


    "I''m very hard to kill."