Chapter 122: A Will from Above

A minute later, Marin stepped out of the portal. He looked toward the Eclipse Muster Hall in the middle of the Domain.

"So this is the Building you developed for your own troop line. Impressive."

The Chapterhouses were no longer a secret. It would have looked stranger if Cassian had no headquarters for the line in his own Domain.

Marin bowed.

"I am only the vessel, my lord. Please wait a moment."

He laid out a simple array. An unfamiliar presence began to gather around him.

"Descent."

Cassian straightened.

There were different forms of descent. This appeared to be the simplest, and the least costly: a higher Lord’s will entering a prepared vessel.

The change took only a short time.

Marin’s eyes moved over the Domain again. When he spoke, his manner was entirely different.

"Young man, do you understand the trouble you’re in?"

Such crude intimidation hardly seemed worthy of House Frost’s head. Of course, someone in Edran’s position would leave an errand like this to a subordinate.

Cassian smiled.

"How should I address you?"

"Merrick."

The steward tried again.

"Do you understand the trouble you’re in?"

"Which Realm are you visiting from? Which Sector? Would you like something to eat first?"

Merrick stared at him.

This was not how these visits usually went. Most young Lords would be kneeling before a higher Lord capable of Will Descent. Unless a demand was truly excessive, an instruction was generally enough.

He represented House Frost as well.

Yet Cassian showed no fear at all. He was asking questions as though Merrick were an ordinary guest.

"Young man, do you understand—"

"The trouble I’m in? Yes, you’ve told me. How much are you offering?"

Merrick disliked his tone. Still, the boy seemed to have guessed why he was here.

"One billion Aether."

A paltry price for command of the Marches.

Cassian, meanwhile, was impressed by House Frost’s wealth.

"Done."

Money for nothing. Why refuse?

Merrick looked satisfied.

"A sensible young man."

"You have my word," Cassian said firmly. "Darian keeps coming to me with new deals, but once the Aether arrives, I’ll stop doing business with him."

"Wait."

Merrick’s satisfaction vanished.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Cassian looked straight at him.

"What are you talking about?"

The steward could not tell whether Cassian meant it or was playing with him. He gave a cold laugh.

"Be careful what you say, young man. Careless words can cost you your head."

"Then explain."

"One billion Aether. You give up the Commander position to Darian Frost."

Cassian gestured toward the exit.

"The way out is over there. At that price, perhaps you’d like to try Evenfall."

Even an ordinary Marches territory was worth more than that. The Riftward Marches were flourishing under his control.

Merrick’s expression shifted, as though he were considering a higher offer.

"Save your breath," Cassian said. "The Riftward Marches aren’t for sale."

Command gave his Heroes and troops a ten-percent attribute bonus. Aether could not simply buy that. Only a Commander could go on to compete for the Province Governor’s seat, whose benefits would be far greater.

He had plenty of ways to make money. Why give up the position he had fought to secure?

Merrick took a deep breath.

"You may not understand who I am."

"Then please explain. Who are you?"

The steward nearly choked.

If he could disclose everything, this insolent boy would understand soon enough.

But Edran had given his instructions. Merrick held his anger in check.

"You should be careful about closing doors, young man. Leave yourself a way back." 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

His will withdrew.

Marin shuddered. When he looked at Cassian again, he seemed drained.

"I’ll take my leave, my lord. I may have to trouble you again in a few days."

Cassian watched him step through the portal, frowning.

From the way Merrick had restrained himself, the order to buy command probably came from Edran himself. House Frost was looking after Darian.

Cassian was not worried about an army descending to attack him. There was the family’s reputation to consider, and how much such a response would reveal about Darian’s position. Even if soldiers came down from a higher Realm, they would still be bound by the Realm’s restrictions.

With the strength Cassian now held, they might be the ones who got wiped out.

He would have to reveal all his hidden strength, though.

What concerned him more was Merrick resorting to something underhanded.

After a moment’s thought, Cassian opened the Marches interface.

[Darian Frost has been dismissed as Military Deputy of the Riftward Marches.]

The video request arrived almost immediately.

Darian looked ready to explode.

"Are you making a fool of me? If you didn’t want me as Military Deputy, you shouldn’t have appointed me. Giving me the post and taking it away—are you trying to humiliate me?"

Cassian looked angrier still.

"I thought you were straightforward. Instead, you send a man called Merrick to threaten me!"

Darian blinked.

"You think I’m afraid of him? You think I’ll stay weak forever? I don’t care how powerful House Frost is. Even Edran himself couldn’t make me bow!"

"Merrick? What are you—"

Understanding came over Darian’s face. His jaw tightened.

"I’ll find out what happened."

——

The next morning, Darian brought Merrick back to apologize. The steward had descended through Marin again, but his manner was nothing like yesterday’s.

He bowed, apologized, and insisted that he had acted entirely on his own. Neither the head of the House nor Darian had been responsible, he said.

Darian also offered some valuable information without asking for payment.

"The eastern sea... the Free Will Consortium... a Fortune Temple?"

Cassian’s eyes lit up.

Since Darian had come with such sincerity, he accepted the apology and restored the appointment.

[Darian Frost has been appointed Military Deputy of the Riftward Marches.]

What Merrick thought privately was another matter.

Cassian did not much care. Darian could stand between him and the steward now.

——

With House Frost’s visit dealt with, Cassian went to the Goblin harbor.

"Abyssal Dockyard. Upgrade."

He confirmed the ordinary upgrade requirements for Level 3 and committed the resources.

Tidecrown was an immense island. Now that he had money, he intended to put it into his navy. The news of a Fortune Temple gave him another reason to move quickly.

The Dockyard’s next new function would open at Level 3, with further milestones at Levels 7 and 12.

He wondered what this upgrade would bring.