Lars, now outside Sigmund's office, remained lost in thought for a few seconds. He stood motionless in the corridor, his gaze unfocused, while Rudolf's words echoed over and over in his mind. Finally, he snapped out of it and began descending the stairs, still trapped in those thoughts.
When he reached the first floor, he headed toward the dining room. The television was still on, casting a bluish glow across the room, but Klein was no longer there. The place felt emptier than usual. Lars took his coat from the back of a chair and, without stopping, walked toward the palace exit.
Outside, the cold wind violently shook the branches of the trees surrounding the building. The forest seemed alive, whispering with every movement. Lars walked toward a small nearby garden and stopped there, taking a deep breath.
If taking down the largest mafia in Germany would already be difficult, he thought, then having a member of Dominion working with them will make it much harder. I'll have to think very carefully about how to approach Abraham.
He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't immediately notice the palace door opening behind him. When he turned his head, he saw Rudolf stepping outside. The man walked straight toward his car. Before he could get in, Lars gathered his courage and approached him.
"Mr. Rudolf," he said, "who is Noah?"
Rudolf stopped and slowly turned to face him. He studied Lars for a few seconds before answering.
"He's a calm guy," he said at last. "In fact, I'd say that out of all the members of Dominion, he's one of the most composed."
He paused briefly, and his expression hardened. "But don't make him angry. If he fails to accomplish something, or if a situation becomes complicated, he changes completely. He becomes unhinged, deranged… like he's two different people."
Rudolf continued to stare at him, as if still deciding how much he should say.
"But why are you asking about him?" he added.
Lars adopted a neutral expression, feigning disinterest.
"I just heard you mention two members I haven't met yet when I was leaving Sigmund's office," he replied. "I thought it would be good to know who all the members of Dominion are."
Rudolf nodded slowly.
"That's a good thing," he said. "Although I doubt you'll ever meet those two. They haven't attended our meetings in years. They're very strong and have always worked alone."
He paused before adding, "They might return in about four days, when Dominion is divided."
The words echoed in Lars's mind. The organization is tense, he remembered. Something big is coming.
"Now that you mention it," he said casually, "why are there so many differences between you and Sigmund?"
Rudolf narrowed his eyes, suspicious. His posture shifted slightly.
"I don't think I should be discussing that with you," he replied. "We barely know each other."
Lars didn't back down. Calmly, carefully choosing each word, he said, "I mention it because I assume that sooner or later I'll have to choose a side. Between you and Sigmund."
He looked him straight in the eyes. "And I'd like to make the right decision."
The wind shook the trees again. Rudolf watched him for a few seconds before responding.
"Well… you have a point," he finally admitted. "Sooner or later, you'll have to decide who you follow."
He paused. "I'll tell you just one thing: Sigmund talks about doing good, but believe me… we're all here for the money. And for the elite people we have connections with."
Lars remained silent for a moment, then replied calmly, "And with that answer, you expect me to join you?"
Rudolf formed what looked like a smile, but it never fully reached his face.
"I don't care whether you join us or not," he said. "Besides, I need people who are willing to do anything."
He looked at him coldly. "Sigmund told me what you did with your first client. For what I'm looking for, you wouldn't be useful."
Lars didn't like that answer at all.
"So you're telling me you'd kidnap people… or do whatever it takes, just for money?"
Rudolf's expression hardened immediately.
"Not to that extent. I'm not a demon," he said. "But if we want to enter new markets, we have to get our hands dirty."
He shrugged slightly. "Everyone here plays the moralist, but both good and bad people have been killed throughout all the years Dominion has existed. It's always been justified by saying it was 'for the greater good.'"
Rudolf let out a short, dry laugh.
"The ends don't justify the means, as some would say…"
He glanced sideways at Lars. "But here, they do—when it comes to money and power."
Lars didn't look surprised.
"Since I joined the organization, I never truly believed everything was done for the sake of good," he said. "That's what I was told, yes, but I always had my doubts."
Rudolf sighed, as if the conversation no longer held any value for him.
"Fine," he said. He opened the car door. "See you at the meeting."
Rudolf got into the vehicle and closed the door, leaving Lars alone in the garden—armed with more certainties… and even more doubts.
Lars knew he shouldn't side with Rudolf. His path, at least for now, remained with Sigmund.
As he returned to the interior of the palace, he thought with certainty: We're already here… and there's no turning back.
Rudolf's words echoed in his mind like an uncomfortable reminder.
A member of Dominion working for the Meyerns.
Instinctively, Lars slipped his hand into the inner pocket of his coat. He took out the locket and opened it carefully. Inside, the photograph of his daughter remained intact, staring back at him from a past he could never reclaim. His fingers trembled slightly.
"It doesn't matter if someone joins them…" he murmured softly. "No matter how strong they are… I will destroy the Meyerns."
He closed the locket and put it away, as if sealing a vow.
The hours passed without anything breaking the palace's routine. By nightfall, Lars was sitting on one of the sofas in the living room, distractedly watching the news on television. He searched for any new mention of Von Hohenwald—any detail, any clue—but nothing appeared. It was as if the world had decided to forget the matter entirely.
Then he felt a presence approaching.
He turned his head and saw Sigmund coming closer, maintaining, as always, the exact distance. Lars immediately stood up.
"You told me yesterday that you discovered how to activate your power," Sigmund said calmly.
"Yes, sir," Lars replied. "I don't know if it's a connection to my childhood… or to the English cards I studied later in life. Or maybe it's just a coincidence."
Sigmund nodded thoughtfully, without closing the distance between them.
"Very well," he said. "Now that I have time, we'll go see Dominion's alchemist. I want to know what he can do for you. Follow me."
Sigmund began walking, guiding him with precision, always careful not to get too close. Lars followed without saying a word.
They arrived at a door guarded by two men. Upon seeing Sigmund, both stepped aside and opened it without question. After crossing through, they began descending a staircase that led deep beneath the palace.
Lars already knew this place.
He had been there before… when he found the secret text in the library and had to return it to its place.
The air grew heavier with each step.
At last, they reached a large, heavy metal door, worn by time. Sigmund opened it and continued forward. Lars followed him inside.
On the other side stretched the chamber: shelves filled with ancient, secret, and forbidden books—knowledge that was never meant to see the light of day.
Suddenly, Lars remembered something and spoke without thinking too much.
"Sir… did you find the person who took the secret text from this place?"
Sigmund was near the shelves. He slowly turned to look at Lars before answering.
"No. Although we already have a suspect," he said calmly. "Thanks to William's clairvoyance, we obtained some answers."
Then he added, "Noah spent a long time outside Germany, but we learned that he has now returned. He's always had an interest in the books kept here."
Lars immediately thought: Noah again.
Sigmund continued, "William discovered that he was here a few weeks ago without anyone knowing… right when the book disappeared."
At that moment, a strange noise echoed from behind the shelves. Lars flinched.
"What was that?" he asked, alert.
Sigmund began walking between the shelves. He stopped in front of a book, took it, and pulled it like a lever. Part of the shelf shifted aside, revealing a hidden room illuminated by white light. Inside were tubes, containers, and metal structures that appeared to be part of various experiments.
In the distance, a man stood with his back turned, deeply focused on his work.
"Old Roger," Sigmund said.
The man didn't react and continued what he was doing.
"Old man, can you hear me?" Sigmund repeated, louder this time.
The man jumped and turned around abruptly. He wore a lab coat, his hair completely disheveled, and looked to be around seventy years old.
"Sigmund, don't scare me like that," he protested.
He turned back again, tidied up the objects on his workbench, and spoke once more.
"Come in, boy. I already have what you asked for."
Sigmund and Lars stepped into the room. Behind them, the shelves closed again, hiding the entrance.
"Where is it?" Sigmund asked.
"On my desk," the old man replied.
Sigmund approached, took a book, and nodded.
"Thank you. But I didn't come only for this. I need your help with something else."
Lars, standing in front of Roger, hadn't said a word. However, ever since they entered the room, the old man hadn't stopped watching him.
"Who is this kid?" Roger finally asked.
Sigmund, still keeping his distance, replied, "He's a new member of Dominion. He's been with the organization for just over a month."
"Oooh…" Roger murmured. "Klein told me about him."
He smiled and stepped closer to Lars, extending his hand. Lars did the same.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Roger," Lars said.
"Likewise," the old man replied.
Then Sigmund added, "Lars, explain to him what you told me."
"I've discovered that English cards help me activate my power," Lars said.
Old Roger watched him closely and almost immediately asked, "Which demon did you make your contract with?"
"His name is Akuma," Lars replied.
Roger froze for a second.
"Akuma, you say…?" he repeated.
He immediately turned his head toward Sigmund, his expression a mixture of surprise and concern.
"No one has made a contract with that demon in the last hundred years," he said. "The last one, according to the records, was Louis Stambler."
The old man walked to a long shelf in the corner of the room, pulled out a thick, dust-covered book, opened it, and quickly flipped through the pages.
"Here it is…" he murmured. "Exactly one hundred years. Since then, no one has ever made a pact with Akuma."
Lars looked at him uneasily.
"Is that a good thing… or a bad one?"
Roger let out a short, dry laugh.
"Making a pact with a demon is never a good thing, boy," he said. "The real question is whether it's simply bad… or terribly bad."
The old man began reading aloud the consequences suffered by Louis Stambler. His tone grew more serious with each word. Then he slowly closed the book and looked up at Lars.
"I'm going to ask you something," he said. "Are you willing to lose the most important memories you had before making the pact with Akuma in order to use his power?"