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She held her breath, the proud stance slumped, ‘-why is it so hard?’ such a hefty load, Nola’s clenched fist, mild breathing, and resolute expression soon faded into a fake grin, one of self-pity and self-degradation. “Fine!”

“That’s what I wanted to hear,” he laughed, “-Vorn, leave the negotiations to me.” *Beep, beep, beep,* the call ended.

“Enna, are you sure?” intervened her best friend, Nerilina, the violinist.

“Is this what you want?” asked the others, “-Enna,” they held her hand, “-thank you.”

“Why thanks?” a little stumped, “-I didn’t do anything.”

“You did,” whispered Nola, “-you took the opportunity, for that, I’m grateful.”

.....

“He saw right through us,” mumbled Morgaria, the bassist.

“What?” Enna’s face crinkled, “-I don’t understand.”

“We knew about Nola’s situation,” said Sheiwai, “-the whole incident with the director and producers. We knew about the suicide attempt, Part of me was scared to touch on the subject. I don’t know...” her fist curled; “-I’m frustrated for being so indecisive.”

“Take a moment everyone,” voiced Yuna, “-we might have accepted, the contract remains. The truth is, those papers are more than shackles, they’re a guillotine waiting to drop. If we plot against the agency, we’ll be alienated from the industry; who knows what else could happen. I’m opposed to the gamble,” a step forward to Nola’s side, “-I don’t care what happens from here on. This has gone on for long enough. Vorn needs to stand strong. We can’t expect help from the public – the boy who spoke of such pretty words must prove his worth.”

“I’m sure he will,” smiled Nola.

Back to Rotherham, Igna drove to the apartment. The prior phone calls were made, first, Elvira, second Julius, and third, the people of Apexi. Scoring a victory against Ansoft was a tall order. The conglomerates stood in the way, the best strategy was to be fast and stern. To that end, Lady Elvira graciously held her bargain as the leader of Phantom. Elon’s Dynasty allied to fully oppose their faction.

‘Let the game start,’ thought he sat in the study. éclair handled the grunt work as well as the law-side of things. In a way, the army of attorney at Phantom’s disposal could scare off the strongest of foes. Within the next hour, an offer to purchase Vorn barged onto the director of Ansoft’s door. Signed by Apexi, the offer was 8 million Exa as opposed to the compensation of 3 Million to break off their contract. It also read the money would be provided by the parent company, Phantom and Elon’s Dynasty.

“Cousin!” the asylum crumbled per Julius’s wrath, “-what are you doing!” voiced he strongly.

“Good evening, Cousin,” smiled he, “-take a seat and enjoy. éclair’s doing fabulous work to pressure the director. As we speak, the offer should have made it to their office. No negotiations this time, no direct contact. We’re pushing forth the law of freedom Alphia so nicely abides by. Good on them to care for their citizen. A slave-like contract brought to justice, how bad could it be?”

“How are you so confident?” he sat.

“Because,” with a smug grin, “-I’ve got allies. Besides, tis a ruse in itself. éclair’s currently buying shares underneath Ansoft’s feet. If it goes according to plan, they’ll think Vorn’s contract to be a decoy. I made it so that it appears we want to buy their whole company. Here’s the greatest piece, the agency’s actually independent. They’re allied to the conglomerates in name only, their foul-treatment of the idols and tyrant-like leadership forced the Lumian O’dla to not officially associated with them. It’s the same as war,” sat back, “-I should get a call in a few moments.”

“Cousin, what have you done?” wondered Julius, the free-hanging television showed current charts of stocks and shares. Lumian O’dla took a plunge, a nasty rumor permeated across Thwan.

‘So many charts and figures,’ wondered Julius, ‘-Igna’s hard at work. I honestly came here because Lady Elvira required me to. Acquiring Vorn’s a great opportunity to have Apexi grow. How far did he think this through?’

*Dring!* the sudden vibration shook the prince, ‘-a call?’

‘Look,’ said Igna noiselessly, ‘-it’s here.’

*Beep,* “-hello, Igna, are you there?” inquired an erratic voice.

“Hello Lord Amsey, long time no see,” said Igna without much tact.

“IGNA!” he screamed, “-what are you up to. What have you done? I’m getting attacked on social media. The company keeps on calling, they say somebody wants to buy out Ansoft.”

“Listen,” said he, “-you welcomed me into Alphia, I don’t want to be ungrateful. Tis, not my intent. I was tasked to promote Apexi. Ansoft has truly outstayed their welcome. You know, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?” a blatant attempt at changing the topic.

“Don’t play dumb,” a gesture and files transferred over, “-there’s a list of evidence against Ansoft and their malice against the idols. I started a rumor on social media, already, fake as it is, the people are mad. Imagine what would happen if this gets revealed to the public.”

“Are you blackmailing me?” argued he, “-I’ll take you to court!”

“Who are you kidding,” he laughed, “-I’m a noble. Alphian jurisdiction doesn’t apply to Hidros. I can’t be touched no matter the means. Not a threat, it’s the truth. Alas, the same can’t be said about you. My lawyers are already on the move to sue Ansoft for their wrongdoings. Naturally, Lumian O’dla will be dragged into the battle even if there are no ties. The evidence of murder and kidnapping is all that is needed.”

“How dare you accuse me of such folly?”

“Lord Amsey,” he smiled, “-didn’t I grant you youth. My enemy isn’t Lumian O’dla, it’s Ansoft, and their real associate, the Patek’s. They love the shadows too much.”

“Igna,” the tone shook, “-what do you want?”

“As a sign of respect, I’ll sign over the shares to Lumian O’dla for half the price paid. In return, I want Vorn’s contract to be terminated. The offer of 8 million will be nulled.”

“Deal!” he agreed immediately. “-I’ll have the contracts canceled. Forward the details for the shares. Igna, I’ll say this, you’re a demon,” the call ended.

“And done,” said he, “-éclair, counter the rumors, have the jet leave immediately and ask for the agents stationed in Odgawoan to escort the idols to the airport.”

“What did you do?”

“Nothing much considering. I left a bigger bait, went overboard, spent a few million to acquire around 20% of Ansoft. Amsey’s the actual owner of Ansoft, not that he’ll say it outright. It’s under his wife’s name.”

“What about going against the Patek’s?”

“A lie,” he snickered, “-the one who controls the narrative controls the story. In this case, I controlled from the start to finish. The offer to purchase Vorn, the mention of Phantom and Elon’s Dynasty. One on one, we’ll win, the five big’s of Alphia are strong only if allied. I simply led Amsey into a dark hill and launched a surprise attack.”

*Amount spend 2,000,000 Exa.* flashed across the screen. “Even cheaper than having them break the contract individually.”

“Cousin,” stood to hold his shoulders, “-how long did it take to plan such an elaborate strategy?”

“A few hours?” he smiled, “-Cousin, lady Elvira and lady mother may be the current leaders. Don’t forget, the one who made it possible stands here as thy cousin,” giving a playful nudge, “-I have another thing I need to discuss.”

At 18:00 the same day, an escort of armed men moved Vorn to the airport. The bus drove solemnly into the setting sun. ‘What happened?’ went across the idol’s mind.

“Enna,” said Nola, “-why was our contract terminated?”

“I don’t know,” she gulped.

“Girls,” interjected Yuna, “-heard the news?”

“What news?” they faced the backseat.

“Look,” she showed her phone, “-a scandalous rumor shook the very core of Ansoft and Lumian O’dla earlier today. It went viral almost instantly. The post said something about the unequal treatment of idols.”

“Do you think?” they paused and stared; the airport rose over yonder. Down a private road to a private runway, the bus came to a soft halt. The guards swarmed to vigilantly coordinate around the perimeter. Flashes of light lit the darkened forest path.

“Ladies, please follow me,” said a well-dressed man.

“A jet?” wondered Enna.

“Where are we headed?” inquired Sheiwai.

“To Rotherham,” said the well-mannered man, “-the young master’s ordered so.”

“Young master?” one by one, they sat and soon took to the skies.

Back in Hidros, after dealing with the aftermath, Amsey graciously accepted the shares. Lady Elvira was more or less pleased at the outcome. Even the secretary to Elon’s Dynasty had a few words of praise to the young master. At the end of the day, a famed idol group terminated their contracts and escaped to Hidros. Julius sat at the dining table; food was cooked by a hired chef.

“Where’s Alicia?” wondered Igna.

“Doing some work for Apexi. The arrival of Vorn, have you forgotten the load on us?” he gave an empty sneer.

“No need to pull such a grimace,” the appetizers arrived.

“Fine,” a bite soon cleared any uncertainties, “-what’s the reason I’m here?”

“It’s actually why I called. The whole Vorn matter was a side-quest. Listen, there’s trouble brewing in Arda. I’m sure the details are well known. I went over the same topic with Serene earlier. I have a plan, and it’s going to require a lot of work.”

“What kind of plan?”

“A stepping stone for the potential of revolution against the Empire. As we are now, the federation can’t intervene. The Blood-King’s faction’s the only refuge for the exiled nobles. There will be blood spilled,” a holographic map materialized. “-Whether it’s successful or not depends on you, cousin.”

“Go on, I’m listening.”

“I was inspired by the Azure wall. If we can’t fight, we’ll defend – for a quality force of nightwalkers, spreading out will only tire and lower morale. Hence why,” he drew a line across Arda, “-we’ll build a wall from one end to the other. Separate the kingdom with a border that we control.”

“Are you STUPID?”

“No,” clear and confident, “-I speak the truth. We’ll do it in a week.”

“Impossible,” cried he, “-not a week.”

“Fine, a month then.”

“Do you hear yourself, come on cousin,” exasperated, “-there’s a limit for crazy.”

“Julius Haggard, else, Heir to Creation. Isn’t it simple to create? The plan hinges on your participation. Erecting a wall is simple for the next god of creation.”

“I see,” suddenly attentive, “-even if I start now, my mana is limited, we won’t make much progress.”

“Which is why I’ll be supporting. Instead of using the mana inside the body, we’ll use the mana made available to the world.”

“Bypassing the link?” the face lit.

“Yes. Leave that side of the equation to me.”

“One builds and one maintains,” stopped to think, “-I have my doubts...”

“-But?” exclaimed Igna.

“It’s plausible,” he resumed.

.....