The atmosphere inside the Seawave Guild had changed entirely after the Goldmare delegation left.
Not calmer.
Not safer.
Just sharper.
Like the entire guild realized things had escalated beyond human politics.
Beyond guild corruption.
Beyond anything they had prepared for.
Risenne stayed close beside me, her movements more alert than usual.
And every time our arms brushed, she stiffened—
not because she disliked it,
but because she was still adjusting to the fact that closeness between us was no longer accidental.
The Officers' Panic
Inside the council hall, officers scrambled to their feet.
"Sir—Montig—what happened?"
"Goldmare is here? Are we at war?"
"What did Rael Goldmare want—?"
Risenne slammed her palm against the table.
CRACK.
"Sit."
Instant silence.
Instant obedience.
And for the first time, some officers glanced at her with awe—
not fear.
I walked to the front.
"Goldmare came to intimidate us," I said calmly.
One officer whispered shakily,
"Did it… work?"
I looked at him.
"No."
A nervous ripple passed through the room.
They were starting to understand that fear belonged on the other side now.
The Plan Begins
I walked to the map.
"These routes belong to Goldmare," I said, drawing three lines.
"If disrupted, their supply chain collapses."
Risenne leaned in.
"But they're out of range," she murmured.
"You're planning something else first."
I said nothing.
She smiled faintly.
She really understood me now.
The Message From the Border
A courier burst in.
"Urgent message—someone from the border colonies demands to speak with Montig!"
I opened the envelope.
The symbol was unknown—
a circle split by two diagonal lines.
Risenne stiffened.
"A rogue trade confederation," she whispered.
"Montig… they only contact people they want something from."
I read the letter.
"We hear you toppled six leaders in a month.
We want to negotiate."
Interesting.
But before I could speak—
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
A tiny plink echoed inside my mind.
A familiar blue panel flickered into existence.
Like a lazy roommate poking his head out after a month of sleeping.
SYSTEM ONLINE…
REBOOT COMPLETE…
UPDATING OBSERVATION TRACKING…
Then:
"What? I thought you abandoned me or something."
I blinked.
Risenne blinked too.
"Montig?" she asked softly. "Are you… okay?"
"Yes," I said.
Though inside my head, the System was stretching like a cat waking from a nap.
"You go and topple half a guild, get confessed to by a warrior goddess, piss off a mega-merchant empire—AND YOU DON'T EVEN CHECK YOUR QUEST LOG!?"
I answered mentally:
You were quiet.
"YOU never asked!"
Risenne frowned, stepping slightly closer.
"Montig… your expression changed. What happened?"
"Nothing," I said.
The System huffed.
"NOTHING?
NOTHING??
You're literally starting an economic war!"
I ignored it.
Risenne didn't need to know I was arguing with floating blue sarcasm.
Not yet, anyway.
Goldmare Scouts Arrive
A scout crashed into the room moments later.
"Montig—Deputy—Goldmare forces spotted at the east checkpoint!"
Risenne grabbed her helmet immediately.
"They're testing us," she muttered.
"No," I said.
"They're testing me."
The System chimed in:
"Oh great. Bigger enemies. Awesome. Totally what I wanted after rebooting."
Risenne shot me a confused glance.
"Montig… are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm always alright."
The System muttered:
"Bold of you to lie like that."
But I tuned it out and continued.
Outside the Guild
Three Goldmare riders approached.
Not an army.
A warning.
Risenne moved closer to me—instinctively, protectively.
"You stay behind me if things get ugly," she whispered.
"No," I said.
"You're the leader now—"
"And you're my partner. You stand beside me."
Her breath caught.
But she didn't argue.
The Invitation
The lead rider delivered a note.
Rael Goldmare's handwriting.
"Meet me at dusk.
One-on-one.
No armies.
No interference."
Risenne's hand shot out, gripping my wrist.
"Montig. No. This is a trap. A well-laid one."
"I know."
"I'm serious—"
Her grip tightened.
"He's dangerous. He's trained. This isn't like the guild leaders."
"I know."
"Then why are you agreeing?"
"Because he wants to measure me," I said.
"And I want to measure him."
The System popped up:
"WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS??
Pick easier enemies!
Like… corrupt farmers! Leaf monsters! ANYTHING!"
I mentally shut it up.
Risenne saw my expression shift again.
"Montig," she whispered, softer now, "don't die."
I looked at her.
"I don't plan to."
"You say that," she said, voice trembling, "but every day you walk closer to danger. And I… I can't lose you."
For a moment, everything else faded.
Goldmare.
Wars.
Systems.
Politics.
Just her.
And the fear in her eyes.
I stepped closer.
"You won't."
She exhaled shakily.
"…Then I will stand close. Not next to you—just close enough to come running."
"That works."
Her shoulders relaxed—not much, but enough.
The Riders Leave
"Rael awaits at dusk," the messenger said.
As they departed, Risenne whispered:
"Montig… please live."
"I will," I said.
The System added:
"YOU BETTER.
I DID NOT REBOOT FOR YOU TO DIE IN A NEGOTIATION CUTSCENE."
I smirked.
Risenne noticed.
"…You're smiling. Why?"
"No reason," I said.
She didn't buy it.
But she didn't push further either.
The Quiet Tyrant was walking toward his first real opponent—
and this time,
he wouldn't be walking alone.