"And what exactly is this, boy?"
"Before I answer," Klaus said calmly, "let me ask you something first."
A pause.
"What made you hesitate?"
"Why did my offer interest you at all?"
Digger studied him for a long moment.
"I wouldn't call it interest," he said at last.
"Power means nothing to me. Throne. Crown. Titles."
A slight shrug.
"My warriors do."
"That's my life."
He took a slow drink.
"When I came here, I had no intention of joining you."
"None."
"I came for one reason only."
"To hear the truth."
A pause.
"But what I learned…"
He went quiet.
Thinking.
Weighing.
"I've always gone into battle believing I was protecting this country."
"Its structure."
"Its order."
His jaw tightened.
"What His Majesty is doing now…"
A beat.
"Killing his own people for petty gain."
"I won't accept that."
Klaus didn't interrupt.
"I'm not afraid of becoming a target," Digger continued.
"My house is strong."
"Too strong to erase quietly."
"I raise warriors."
"Not schemers."
A pause.
"Yes, I have exceptional mages."
"But that's not the point."
"So what bothers you," Klaus said quietly, "is that high nobles are being killed?"
Digger's gaze sharpened.
"No."
"What bothers me is how."
"I don't like filth."
"Schemes. Lies. Convenient rebellions."
"Accidents."
A pause.
"If he crushed his enemies openly, I wouldn't say a word."
"But wiping out entire families and hiding it behind fabricated charges…"
He shook his head.
"That's not war."
"That's decay."
Klaus allowed himself a faint smile.
"I always knew you were a man of principles."
"That's why my father never liked you."
"And never touched you."
A slight tilt of his head.
"You're too respected."
He leaned forward.
"That is exactly what I need."
Silence.
"I'm building a new country," Klaus said.
"And I need someone who can defend it."
"Someone who doesn't bend."
A pause.
"I have no doubt your sons are the same."
"They are," Digger said simply.
"So tell me—what place do you offer an old soldier in this world of yours?"
Klaus didn't hesitate.
"A Ministry of Security."
Digger raised an eyebrow.
"I will secure peace with neighboring states."
"Trade agreements."
"I will dismantle mass enslavement."
A pause.
"But that's not the real problem."
"What is?"
"Our forests."
Digger frowned.
"They're full of monsters."
"We've ignored them for generations."
"Used them for sport."
"For training."
"For control."
His voice hardened.
"They keep the lowborn penned in."
"Like livestock."
Silence.
"In a country without slavery," Klaus continued, "we need roads."
"Safe ones."
"Cities must be connected."
"You want me to hunt monsters?" Digger asked bluntly.
"I want you to make the land usable."
"That's impossible," Digger said flatly.
"People have tried for centuries."
"You cut the forest—it grows back."
"You kill the creatures—they return."
Klaus smiled.
Sharper now.
"Isn't that exactly what you need?"
Digger stilled.
"An enemy that never disappears."
A pause.
"A purpose that never ends."
Now Digger leaned back.
Slowly.
"I want outposts," Klaus continued.
"Around every forest."
"Controlled routes."
"Safe passage."
"And how do you fund that?" Digger asked.
"Tolls."
Simple.
"Movement has value."
"People will pay for safety."
Digger exhaled quietly.
"I've never considered that."
"And that's only the beginning," Klaus said.
"A free society creates new problems."
"People learn."
"They want more."
"They stop obeying."
A pause.
"Crime rises."
Digger nodded.
"And your ministry handles it."
"Yes."
"No more arbitrary punishment."
"No more royal whim."
Klaus's voice turned colder.
"We create law."
"And courts to enforce it."
Silence.
Digger studied him.
Long.
Careful.
"You think far ahead," he said finally.
"Further than most men your age."
A pause.
"I like that."
He set the glass down.
"I may not live to see it."
"But my sons will."
Klaus didn't move.
"Give me a day," Digger said.
"I'll consider your offer."
"Tomorrow—you'll have your answer."
"I'll have a room prepared," August said, still recovering from the shock.
Digger gave a short nod.
"And a hot bath."
A faint smirk.
"My bones have earned it."
***
"And what am I supposed to do now…" Jiro muttered, leaning back in his chair.
"He's openly turned against my brother."
A bitter exhale.
"This is the worst possible outcome."
"My lord," Kaili said calmly, "you don't have the luxury of hesitation."
"By morning—you choose."
"The capital."
"Or the prince."
Jiro's lips twitched.
"If I could see the outcome, I would have chosen already."
A pause.
"Stand on the wrong side—and you die."
A hollow smile.
"Before… I would've said Klaus would lose before the war even began."
A beat.
"Now…"
"Yes," Kaili said.
"Many support him."
"Quietly."
"No one wants to be first."
"They're afraid."
"And not without reason."
Jiro looked at him.
Sharp.
"If I freed you—would you leave?"
Kaili didn't hesitate.
"No."
"I've been a slave all my life," he said.
"Your house is my home."
"Freedom wouldn't change that."
Silence.
"And what would you do in my place?"
"You already know."
Jiro didn't respond.
"Your brother hates you," Kaili said quietly.
"He killed your younger son."
"Made you complicit in your elder's death."
A pause.
"If I were you—I'd side with Klaus."
"Fully."
Jiro's expression darkened.
"And if he loses?"
"You die anyway."
Silence.
"He's your nephew," Kaili continued.
"He won't harm you."
"And even if things go wrong—"
"You still get what you want."
A slight pause.
"Just differently."
Jiro narrowed his eyes.
"I wanted control over slave mages."
"Artifacts."
"Power."
"And if slavery disappears?"
Kaili met his gaze.
"Then your nephew will find another way."
A pause.
"Digger went to him."
"Openly."
"And stayed."
Jiro's fingers tapped the armrest.
"That means Klaus offered him something greater than war."
Silence.
"You're sharp," Jiro said at last.
Then exhaled.
"There's just one problem."
"What?"
"I can't control him."
A pause.
"He's not a piece on the board."
Another.
"He's the one moving them."
Silence.
"And if he loses?"
Jiro smiled bitterly.
"I'll be standing right beside him on the scaffold."
Kaili inclined his head.
"You might end up there even if you stay with the king."
Jiro closed his eyes briefly.
"…Yes."
Then—
"Prepare everything."
He stood.
"We leave at dawn."
***
Klaus wanted to go to Egor.
He knew the operation was today.
But he didn't.
A few days.
That was all.
Then he would go.
Then he would speak.
Say what should have been said long ago.
Not now.
Now—
there were more important things.
He entered the dining hall.
August was already there.
Digger as well.
"I didn't expect the leader of a rebellion to sleep this late," Digger remarked.
"My apologies," Klaus replied evenly.
"I worked late."
A pause.
"So."
"Your decision?"
"Yes," Digger said.
"I will not take part in your war."
Silence.
"I like your ideas," he continued.
"But I don't know if they will work."
"And I won't gamble my sons' lives on uncertainty."
"I understand," Klaus said.
"My offer stands."
"After I win."
A slight pause.
"If my father wins—your family dies anyway."
Digger didn't react.
"I've considered that."
"My chances remain."
"If I join you now—they disappear."
"Your army could end this quickly," Klaus said.
"Save lives."
"Perhaps."
Digger leaned back slightly.
"But the real battle is between you and the king."
A pause.
"Can you survive him?"
Klaus's voice dropped.
Cold.
"I know exactly how strong he is."
"And I am not weaker."
"My shield will hold."
"And I have tools."
"Tools that can protect others."
Digger's interest sharpened.
"I'd like to see them."
Klaus smiled.
"You will."
"In our underground city."