Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

"So there are inner conflicts among the High Seats of the tower?" Wrik asked, narrowing his eyes. 

The backer of Zandra was the same person who was backing Scythe. The High Seat probably wanted to give a high standing may be a similar position to his, to Scythe, but given the masked fellow's poor performance, that plan went downhill. After all, one person could not choose anything of the tower, there were other High seats too. And from what he had learned till now, the relationship between the ten odds High Seat did not seem pleasant. 

"Naturally there is," Ryat said. "The one backing Zandra and Scythe is known as Chivirat, the oldest High Seat among the ten. I heard in his prime he had the recognition of all the other members, and his words almost were enough to decide everything in the tower, but all things came to an end. The old man on his deathbed for a couple of decades now, how could we assume anyone would listen to him anymore." 

"I see," Wrik said, sipping on the bitter but refreshing beverage. "So destroying Scythe's dominance made it even worse for the High Seat and Zandra. But even if that masked fellow lost in the end, he has beaten down half a dozen of us. That was not something anyone could accomplish." 

"It is somewhat true, but you lots, Scythe included, were nothing but pests to the real powerhouses, so here the display of strength won't matter much. In the end, the result matters the most." Ryat pondered for a second and continued. "Even though he had won in the end, the major player knew what happened in the test. If the old man wanted to regain his advantage, he needed to do something again."

"Will they come after me?" Wrik could not help but ask.

"Zandra won't. As I said, Alec is quite a benevolent man and as for others." The short, bald man paused for a second. "The Winter Queen had spoken for you, and you probably know she was not a name to be taken lightly off. I think they would think twice before trying something." 

"That's a relief then," Wrik said, though he did not know clearly why the Winter Queen helped them. Perhaps Sophia played her part after receiving the call from Tanya. He was not sure. "Now let's discuss why I am here.''

Ryat sipped in and finished his tea. He waited for him to finish what he intended. 

"The offer you mentioned in the test," Wrik said with narrowed eyes. "It should be a good time to tell me what it is about." 

"I suppose," Ryat said, resting his arm on the table. "But before that, be sure to tell no one about this. Though it won't matter much, it's better to be safe than sorry."

Wrik nodded and waited for the bald man to open a contract of something similar that would restrict him from betraying. But contrary to what he thought, the bald man did not open a thing. 

"There's no need for those things yet," Ryat said, knowing his thoughts. "It will only be needed when you agree with the offer."

"Fair enough," Wrik needed and found his cup was empty.

Ryat poured more from the teapot and said, "Now I'll only tell you about what our plans are, and you could decide in a month or so time."

'Our. Plans,' he thought. 'It appeared he's not alone in this and whatever this man is planning is not simple.

"The payments are still the same. You can get the Light element awakener as a down payment and the information about the All curing Elixir after the job ends with the loot according to the contribution," Ryat told him about the prizes again. "Or if you want anything more or else, we can discuss that later after you hear about the plan." 

Wrik had no problem with the other than the loot, the other two things he needed in urgently. According to Ryat, he would get both even if the plan fails—it was more generous to be true, and made him think twice before deciding. "So, what were you planning? Your tone from before implied it was something illegal," he said, sipping the tea again. 

"It is illegal and dangerous, but you can hardly get anything in this tower without getting through dangers," Ryat said. "For this specific job, if you or any of us get caught, the place we will end up will be the scariest prison in the tower. Well, that is true if we were not dead by then."

Wrik felt little goosebumps and saw the bald man smiling. 

"That is if we get caught, and I. .. We have no intention of doing that. Our plans are quite firm and only need the right people to do the job."

"Am I the right person?" 

"Yes," Ryat said, nodding. "And your brother, Anton."

Wrik arched his eyebrows and asked. "So what are you trying to do?"

"Theft," Ryat said, raising an eyebrow. His eyes were scanning Wrik as he continued. "We are planning to steal something very important and mysterious." 

Wrik said nothing and pondered while frowning. 

"Are you disappointed?" Ryat asked. "As I mentioned, the job is not principled, but to make your conscience a little better, the ones we will be stealing from are rich and corrupt. They have done all types of a heinous crime in the tower and still walk free, head holding high."

The frown never left Wrik as he said, " If they were corrupt, why don't they just collect evidence against them and put them in trial in the Maha Court?" 

Ryat looked at him carefully again with a little disappointment. "I thought you were smart, yet you asked such a question even after you went through the test."

Wrik was unnerved. "I get why you are saying that, but stealing from them won't solve anything." He said what seemed right for his philosophical mind. "They will just do what they do all the time and may even go further low to assess their losses."

"Your thinking is quite right, but the thing we are going to steal might ruin them for good. They may very well survive, but there were other people for that as well that would take care of them." He paused, then said, "We are after all, thieves, not revolutionaries." 

"I don't entirely get what you are saying, and it is not entirely enough to agree to the plan. You did not even mention who you will be stealing from and exactly what." 

"I can not leak that information out yet," Ryat said. "I just wanted you to consider this for once. After your experience in the test, you should very well know the tower is rotten to the core. You all were ready to be sent to prison for such a lousy crime and evidence. If not for the intervention of Harakatz and the Winter Queen, you probably will be rotting in a cell now, if you were lucky after how you address the Judge."

"That is all true, but it does not explain all things. Wrik frowned again, and Ryat continued. 

"When you go to Gala, you will know better how fragile life is and how bendable the law in the tower is. There is no saving for it. Those that have tried were dead now and those that caught were even worse. We are not one of those idiots and I assumed you are not as well. 

"What's wrong with stealing something from those corrupt people? At least, it would weaken them to some level and the idiots could very well capitalise on that and succeed after the decades-long struggle. There's nothing wrong with stealing, as long as the people benefited from it." 

Ryat finished his plate and waited for Wrik to say something. 

"I have a question for you, Ryat," Wrik said and seeing no disapproval from the bald man, he continued. "When we met in the test, did you know something like this would happen and we will be convicted for those crimes just for trying to win the test?"

Ryat sighed. "Of course, I did not know everything, but I could guess a few things. Do you think what happens with your team is the only example? You will be mistaken. There were many that rode the same boat and many gave up. What's different about you is that you did not give up and you were lucky." 

Wrik did not stop as he could not argue with that. If there was no Winter Queen, then what would have happened to him and others? He squinted his nose and said, "Why didn't you say anything then? I know you were restricted by the Omeganet, but for you overriding such a command would not be difficult. Why didn't you mention it that time? Is it because you thought I would agree with your plan immediately after going through the injustice?"

Ryat felt a little uncomfortable from the stare and flinched. "I did advise you at that time. I told you to know when to quit and as for why I did not tell you about the entire thing, I thought it would be a well-learned lesson for you." 

Wrik breathed in and the cold eyes turned to normal. He stood up from the chair and said, "I think you are trying to justify your unprincipled business with the moral value of others. I can not agree with that"

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End of the chapter: Ryat's offer.

Next Chapter: Gala.