Chapter 26: Emberwing
Chapter 26: Emberwing
(Klein)
"'The High Priestess,' Cassie," Klein muttered aloud inside his room as he was doing his research.
It had been three days since his Tarot Club gathering and the same amount of time since he had 'acted' as a Seer.
Since then, he has had no customers.
Today was the first time, after so long, that his divination indicated he would have a customer.
Just as he finished dressing and was about to leave his house, he received a prayer from Cassie.
"Mr. Fool, if possible, could you please inform The Emperor that I was able to find out more regarding the Emberwing Clan that he requested during the last meeting?"
As Klein listened, Cassie detailed her findings. "While there aren't any members of the clan here, I overheard some gossip from affluent Sleepers. They were talking about how one of their Awakened has caused some problems for a local tycoon inside NSQC, and how it was unfitting of a clan of their stature."
She went on to describe the general sentiment among the public Awakened regarding the situation.
Klein realised that this information could be considered valuable to 'The Emperor.' After all, the Sleepers starting this gossip formed their opinions based on what their parents, mostly higher-ranking officials in the government, had said. That was how they survived their first Nightmare.
Children tend to mirror the views of their parents, so if this information represented the opinions of the government's higher-ups, a lawyer could potentially use it to strong-arm the other side.
Klein accepted the prayer and tossed it toward 'The Emperor.' It was up to him now to provide compensation for this task.
---
(Klaus)
As I re-entered my dormitory, I contemplated how I would proceed from now on.
Well, obviously, I would be infiltrating the Tarot Club.
It took me a while to calm down after the revelation of Klein's existence, but I rationalised that he was inherently a good person, as long as he wasn't in his half-mad state.
He was someone who would protect his own and even those who could be considered 'good.'
I wasn't planning on opening up to 'The Fool,' but it would be smart to exploit the resources of the Tarot Club.
After all, every member of the club was bound to become a great existence, capable of providing resources I would otherwise struggle to obtain.
And for now, the easiest resource for me to gain would be Soul Essence crystals. As a Divine Aspect holder, I needed an insane amount of Essence.
But the best time to pray wouldn't be now; it would be closer to the solstice. At that point, I could play it off as wanting to be 'safe' and thus praying to a mysterious existence.
…
The following morning, I waited in the breakfast hall for nearly an hour before Sunless arrived.
He came into the hall, yawning but seemingly excited for another meal.
As soon as he entered, I approached him and stood right beside him.
"Good morning, Sleeper Sunless!" I exclaimed in an extremely loud voice, attracting the attention of the entire hall.
There were only a few people present, but some appeared annoyed by my volume.
The only reason I did this was to vent my frustrations!
How could he just enjoy his meal while I stressed about other transmigrators in this world? No way!
This was also the best way to annoy Sunny, who wanted to keep a low profile.
"What do you want?" he questioned with a small growl.
"Nothing!" I replied, sporting a Rengoku-like expression on my face as I stuck extremely close to him.
And so, I spent the next few days teasing and annoying the young shadow.
…
(Harvey)
'This is certainly interesting,' Harvey thought as he received the information from Cassie.
It was not typical of the Legacy Clans such as the Emberwing Clan to have such choices during their Awakened losing control, and public opinion from people he didn't make connections with yet is definitely useful.
As Harvey sat at his desk, the words of Cassie echoed in his mind. The Emberwing Clan was in disarray, and if he played this situation correctly, he could manoeuvre himself into a position of power.
He needed to craft a narrative that highlighted the clan's instability while offering solutions that would benefit his own agenda.
"Gossip can be useful," he muttered to himself, pulling out a notebook to jot down potential angles for his plan.
As Harvey sat at his desk, pondering over Cassie's insightful information, he felt the weight of opportunity resting heavily on his shoulders.
The Emberwing Clan was embroiled in a significant external challenge—one that his client, a local tycoon, was keen on exploiting. A member of the clan had caused substantial damage when their powers spiralled out of control in one of his shopping malls.
Before he could put pen to paper, the door to his office swung open, and two figures stepped inside.
One was a tall man in an impeccably tailored suit, exuding an air of authority, while the other was a woman with striking features and an aura that immediately set off alarm bells in Harvey's mind.
He recognized her as Elara, the main lawyer representing the Emberwing Clan, known for her sharp legal acumen and persuasive abilities.
"Mr. Harvey," Elara greeted him with a practised smile, "thank you for accommodating us on such short notice."
"I do not remember you arranging a settlement meeting with my Firm." Harvey spoke in a calm voice but his words were ignored.
"We wanted to discuss the ongoing situation with our Awakened," Elara began, her tone smooth as silk. "I understand you are representing a local client regarding damages sustained in a recent incident involving one of our members."
He gestured for them to take a seat, maintaining an air of confidence. "Yes, I am aware of the situation. My client expects a resolution that addresses both the financial damages and the reputational harm incurred."
"Of course, and we are here to assure you that we take this matter seriously," the tall man interjected, his voice deep and authoritative. "The Emberwing Clan values its reputation and is committed to addressing any issues that arise from our members' actions."
As they spoke, Harvey felt a subtle pressure in the air. Elara's presence was almost suffocating, and he found it increasingly difficult to concentrate.
There was something almost hypnotic about her gaze; he could feel his thoughts beginning to muddle. He quickly reminded himself to stay focused.
...
Authors note:
Unfortunately this isn't a continuation of the fanfic. I simply had a couple of spare chapters I wanted to upload.
I am currently trying a new project, which is basically my own novel but I will be uploading it as a fanfic since honestly I write mainly for interaction with people.
I write to share ideas and run through scenarios with people, so I hope you will try my new project out.
It is called "Eternal Heir."
Do not subscribe to patreon for this fanfic anymore thanks.