The wind swirled the loose grass at the mountain gate. Just as Korbin, in his deep blue robe embroidered with star patterns, was about to step over the threshold, the fervor on Finn's face vanished as if doused by a bucket of cold water. It was instantly replaced by a thick mask of anxiety. His brow furrowed, the corners of his mouth turned down, and he scrambled after Korbin, his steps frantic. He reached out his hands, yet didn't dare touch the emissary's robe, merely holding them up to block his path.
"Lord Emissary, please wait!" His voice trembled, as if he were afraid of startling a great personage.
Korbin's foot froze in mid-air. The hem of his robe brushed against the gravel with a soft click. His frown was so deep it could have crushed a mosquito, and his displeasure was plain to see. "What is it now?" he asked, his tone icy. "Haven't you said enough already?"
"No, no..." Finn waved his hands hastily, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his own robe, crumpling the fabric. "It's just that... your subordinate has a delicate matter he's hesitant to bring up... As you know, Blackwind Keep has fallen on hard times these past few years. We have to pay protection money to The Gilded Saber every month, and they won't accept a single coin less. After the internal strife, our coffers were completely emptied... Now, forget about recruiting for the Sect, I can't even scrape together next month's protection fee. If The Gilded Saber comes knocking, my death is a small matter, but I fear... I fear it would bring shame upon the Sect!"
As he spoke, he bowed his head even lower, the tips of his ears flushing red. He perfectly embodied the image of a man ashamed of his poverty yet terrified of failing his duty, looking as if he were on the verge of tears.
Korbin's gaze swept over Finn's face. The wind, carrying the cold scent of pine needles, blew between them. He sneered inwardly—what a backwater fool, getting so worked up over a little money. But then he reconsidered. It would be a hassle if this pawn were eliminated by The Gilded Saber before he could be put to use. The iciness on his face thawed slightly, replaced by an expression of a superior caring for a subordinate. "Is that all? Is this really worth such a panic?"
With that, he retrieved a money pouch from his robe. It was tied tightly with a hemp cord and jingled with the distinct sound of gold coins when he hefted it. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the pouch to Finn in a casual, dismissive gesture of charity. "There are a thousand gold coins in here. Consider it startup capital from the Sect. Use it to handle this emergency and stabilize the situation at Blackwind Keep. In the future, when you have rendered meritorious service to the Sect, do you think your rewards will be any less?"
Finn scrambled to catch it with both hands. The pouch landed with a heavy thud, the weight making his wrists dip. He immediately bowed low, his back bent so far his waist nearly touched his knees, his voice trembling with excitement. "Thank you, Lord Emissary! Thank you, Sect! Your subordinate will go through fire and water for the Sect from this day forward and will never dare to slacken!"
Korbin nodded in satisfaction, his chin tilted slightly upward, and turned to walk down the mountain. The wind caught the hem of his robe, making it billow like a deep blue shadow. Finn, who had respectfully bowed his head, only straightened up after the deep blue shadow had completely melted into the forest at the end of the path, not even a corner of the robe visible. The deferential expression on his face was gone in an instant. The corners of his mouth turned down, his eyes grew cold, and his hand clutching the money pouch tightened, his knuckles turning white.
He hefted the pouch and turned back up the mountain. Just as he reached the shadows next to the council hall, Valerius Caedo appeared at his side as if sprouting from the ground, his voice a low whisper. "My Lord's performance just now was quite convincing. It truly seemed as if you were desperate to solve the Sect's problems."
"It was just a simple trick. Good enough for an arrogant man like him," Finn said, tossing the pouch to Caedo, who caught it effortlessly. Finn's gaze drifted towards the forest, the wind carrying an unfamiliar scent. "Do you think we should follow him? Find the Sect's stronghold?"
"If My Lord wishes it, your subordinate is confident he can determine their location and numbers without being detected," Caedo replied, his voice as calm and steady as still water.
"No." Finn shook his head, his fingertips tapping lightly on the hilt of his sword. "Korbin is at least at the peak of the Mortal rank. The people with him won't be weak. The Starfall Sect has remained hidden for thirty years; they might even have Peak Champion experts. If you are exposed, we'll lose even this one-month buffer. We'd be attacked from both front and rear, and that would be even more trouble."
He paused, the wind whipping his robes. "He thinks I'm a fool blinded by the prospect of becoming a Champion. Let him think that. What we lack most right now isn't intelligence, but time. We'll use this month to increase our strength and consolidate our manpower. When the time is right, we'll settle the score with them."
Caedo bowed his head. "My Lord's foresight is commendable. I understand." As soon as he finished speaking, his figure melted back into the shadows as if he had never been there.
...
Meanwhile, in the dense forest at the foot of the mountain.
Fallen leaves rustled under Korbin's feet. He had just come to a stop in a clearing when two black-clad figures emerged from behind the trees. They wore the same deep blue robes, though theirs were spattered with mud, making them look more disheveled than Korbin.
"Is the boy obedient?" one of them asked, his voice as hoarse as sandpaper on wood. His wary eyes scanned the surrounding trees, as if expecting an ambush.
"Obedient?" Korbin scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "He's just a wet-behind-the-ears kid who's never seen the world. A few empty promises and he's overflowing with gratitude. I even gave him a thousand gold coins to buy his life, just to make sure he survives the month."
The other man frowned, a gust of wind scattering leaves onto his shoulder. "Isn't this going too smoothly? What if he's just feigning compliance?"
"Feigning compliance?" Korbin laughed as if he'd heard the world's greatest joke. He slowly opened his palm, revealing a pill the size of a longan. It was entirely black, with an eerie sheen on its surface, and it gave off a faint, foul odor that was deeply unsettling. "Does he have the guts? This is The Heart-Eater Pellet. In one month, I will deliver it to him myself. Once he takes it, his life, his death, and even his thoughts will be under the Sect's control. He will become the sharp blade we'll use to pierce The Gilded Saber, and he won't even know how he died."
He carefully placed The Heart-Eater Pellet into a porcelain vial at his waist. As he tightened the cap, a savage smile twisted his lips. "By then, he will willingly offer Blackwind Keep, and his own life, to the Sect."
The wind swept through the forest, carrying the three men's cold laughter far into the distance, where it slowly faded into the twilight. No one noticed that deep within the shadows of the trees, a single withered leaf drifted silently to the ground, as if nothing had happened at all.
The conspiracy hidden in the shadows had already ensnared Blackwind Keep. The time left for Finn was only one month.