So, what's next?

"So, what's next?" I pondered. "He hasn't faced any significant setbacks, has he?"

"No," Thorne replied.

"And he's never led a war?"

"Not entirely true. He was instrumental in the fight against the Hook, which is why Nichols gave him control of the area."

"But he was just an enforcer back then," I countered.

"I'm not sure," Thorne said. "There seems to be more to it, but I can't put my finger on it."

"Could he have been managing another territory secretly during that time?"

"Possibly. Or he might have had some leverage over Nichols."

"I find that hard to believe. Nichols was a tough character."

Thorne shrugged. "One rumor suggests that Goren offered Nichols control of the Hook's territory, on the condition that he could manage it. I couldn't verify this."

"Where did you hear this?"

"A freelance enforcer named Shaan, who worked for Goren during the war."

"Shaan? A Terran?"