Published at 15th of April 2026 12:09 am

Chapter 126. We need a new plan

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Emmanuel Riswalt walked through the hotel hall, the cold clacking sound of his shoes against the stone floor echoing through the empty corridor. He was late. Everyone was already in the conference room, but that didnt matterthey would wait whether they liked it or not.

His mouth stretched into a thin smile. Now that he thought about it, maybe he should have waited longer. They could use some disrespect after the last showing.

After briefly considering turning around and getting a coffee first, he simply shook his head and pressed the door handle down. He entered a long room with a conference table in the middle, with mages sitting around it. The moment he entered, all the talk died down as the men and women inside stood up to greet him.

He did not answer any of the greetings. Instead, he let his almost-ascension-ready second-circle aura radiate from him. And the moment it did, a weight in his stomach made itself known. He used to be proud of his level, showing it around as a symbol of the Riswalts strength, but now it embarrassed him. The leader of half the noble faction was proud of his second-circle power when the leader of the third chamber had mowed down seven people just like him.

This made his mood even worse. By the time he sat down in the chair, his face was twisted into a frown.

He looked over the people gathered. Half were from his own faction within the nobles. The rest were representatives of other groups from the noble and religious factions.

What the fuck happened? he asked without any ceremony.

Thats what I would like to know as well, barked one of the church leaders in a priests clothing. You were supposed to judge his strength. Did that look like a third circle at worst to you?

Did he cast anything over the third circle?

Theres a difference between a freshly ascended mage struggling with spells and silent dual casting without even hand gestures! For fucks sake, you sent our men to slaughter!

MY men, Emmanuel spat back.

The priest shrugged. Should have sent more. And it was OUR investment.

Ethan

Father Ethan, Ethan interrupted, and dont try to give me excuses. You were given all the support, we tipped the scales in your favour, and for what?

Well, one of the noble families heads spoke, a mousy man with light facial hair and a French accent. We managed to inform you about the Hook and that he would be after souls, he said.

Oh, great, where did you uncover those deep secretshis broker left them on your desk by accident?

The cats were supposed to be neutral, the man said, his voice uncertain.

As the words fell, everyone looked at a hairless Donskoy cat sitting within a carpet-sleeve of an older man dressed like a butler. The animal looked at them with barely open eyes, his gaze similar to the one he might have when looking at a mouse. The brokers have their own free will. We do not interfere with other cat organizations unless necessary, he said.

You the Frenchman was about to say something, but shut up immediately when Riswalt raised his hand.

He then looked to the priest, still holding his gaze, waiting for an answer. We did fail on that front, but we werent alone in that failure

Your people.

Your meeting.

The two men looked into one anothers eyes.

If you are done with the measuring contest, how about we discuss whats next? asked an older woman sitting between the noble factions. We arent out of options yet. Unless we plan on running with tails between our legs So what nowcan we go after Samuel in some other way before the voting starts?

We dont have the manpower, Riswalt said, each word feeling bitter on his tongue.

We have freshly ascended second circles.

The problem isnt the number of peopleits the difference in magic control and casting speeds. Theyll just get killed.

Yes, but the man was about to argue, but then froze. Oh, so sorry, my condolences about your son.

Riswalt just shrugged. "I have a few more useless ones.

The Frenchman nodded. We would need someone to prevent him from casting third-level magic so he doesnt kill our people easily. His casting speed at the third circle is as fast as our men at their second. It would be tough to get him with numbers alone, and he didnt even use his familys magic. We need to raise someone who can match him in combat so that numbers start to matterand then isolate him. How about summoning a demon? If we pull together, we can summon a third-circle creature. That could work.

It wont, a sharp voice from the other end of the table said.

They all looked to its source to meet the eyes of a scarred man wearing a turban, with the handle of a curved sabre visible from over the table.

They waited for him to continue.

Our sabre techniques were passed on to us from our ancestors, he said, looking at the handle with almost gentle eyes. As my father taught me, so did his father before, and his fathers father before. But for each generation, their understanding of the blade only reached as far as the magic allowed Tell me, Emanel.

Emmanuel.

Tell me, the man continued, not correcting himself. The men you sent with the fat mans familywere they yours?

Two of them. Yes.

And who was your father?

What?

Your father. Was he a great mage?

He reached the second circle and passed on his teachings.

But who WAS he?

A businessman? Riswalt answered, uncertain.

To that, the man nodded, as if the answer were obvious.

And his fatherwas he a businessman too?

He too reached the second circle

As a businessman?

Yes. Where are you going with this?

The man you tried to killhis father was at least twice ascended before shattering his rings. His insight into battle was that of a twice-ascended mage. His grandfather fought and practically ended the War of Tearsa thrice-ascended mage whose insights into magic were thrice ascended. You sent businessmen after a killer, and youre surprised they failed. You wont get him with petty tricks. You

We, someone at the table corrected.

You lack expertise. You won't trick him easily.

Then what do you suggest?

The man just shrugged, to which Emmanuel gritted his teeth, a vein showing on his forehead.

What about his apprentice? asked a priest sitting next to Ethan. Cant we use her as leverage?

That could work, the Frenchman nodded excitedly. She isnt always with him. His associates are easier to deal with. Yes, that could

Do that, and youll lose our support. This time, the cats voice interrupted the Frenchmans theorising.

Are you backing out? Riswalt said in a low, threatening voice.

Your knowledge of history is quite lacking for how much you speak of your ancestors, said the creature, still looking half asleep. You have two possible outcomes: you succeed, and he ignores you as the Alhazreds always have when someone tried blackmailing them. So you kill or hurt her, and now you have a real death grudge against a clan whose history of atrocities and torture reaches the mythical era. Or you dont succeedshe slips awayand you have the same grudge. That is a surefire way to spend the rest of your lives looking over your shouldersand I dont fancy getting kidnapped by that psycho.

You're afraid?

Yes. We are. That was the real Butchers Hook, and I don't want to find out if he can recreate the Butcher's atrocities using it. We will not support any actions that might result in a real death grudge deep enough to be made examples of.

Another bit of silence descended.

We were thinking about this wrong, spoke one of the Catholic priests. We wanted to get rid o him to make sure the third chamber wouldnt vote as one block. If we cant have that, we should simply focus on getting the votes we need.

Yeah, that went well, said the older woman, looking at two empty seats on the other side of the table.

We assumed Buddhists would stay neutral from the get-go, said the cat. We need to get someone from the third chamberget their votes on our side. And we might have a way to do that without Samuels involvement.

The cat got everyones attention, and as they looked at the little animal, he started to present his plan, step by step. Each word deepened the tension in the room, and by the end, everyone was frowning, an uncomfortable silence hanging in the air.

Why go that far? asked Emmanuel. You, of all the people here? Didnt you just say you were against blackmail?

Against blackmailing him or his close associates. This will not be his grudge to settle.

Why risk it? Riswalt repeated the question.

The cats always left a back door open, keeping themselves as neutral information brokers, so his suggestion was a surprise.

That is for the Cats Council and the Sphynx clan to knowand for you to celebrate. We only offer you this information, said the cat.

Emmanuel looked to Ethan, who seemed even angrier.

That goes beyond just favouritism. The fact that you discuss this with us here is offensive enough.

I dont see the high judge in the room

Ethan scoffed but didnt rebut. If we calculate the votes as we did, assuming we succeed what then?

The cat thought for a few seconds before nodding. We win by two.

And with that, the plan was set.

We were sitting in my room, the whole group in one place, discussing tomorrow's speeches.

You sure? asked a woman in a large pointy hat. She had a cascade of black hair, long enough to reach her waist, and a round, youthful face that hid her actual age. If the vampires make the proposition, that could be better for the demihuman and outsider factions.

Yes, Luna spoke up. But its well known that we are close with the Alhazreds, especially recently, not to mention my relationship with the Helsings. A few people snickered, to which the vampire flipped them off before continuing. This might agitate some. The Helsings are part of the third chamber but still have some respect among the nobles and a voice among the vampires. Their ties to Sam are only through William, so it wont be easy to paint them as lapdogs. Hes a better choice.

The witch nodded. Then we will let William be the voice of reason. Who will be the agitator?

I have a professional of the highest degree set up, QShar said mysteriously, to which some of the people looked around at those gathered.

Its Sam, sighed William. While his speech is a disaster in the making, I have to agreehe can piss people off. Just please turn down any expletives. We are at a sabbath, he said, looking at me.

Um, yeees, my good lord. He shall not break yer noblesse aubergine, only the fanciest of words shall be used, Im sure, Darius said.

Im the least offensive person possible. Worry not, my good sir, I shall use the most elegant and complicated of sentences.

And the most elegant of swearwords? Darius asked me with fake concern.

Well, of course.

Theee forests speak of snakes with less venom in their mouths than you. Myhur looked at me over raised mossy brows. Would like to see that.

Please, all of you shut up, the cat sighed. Yes, Sam will be the agitator.

And how about the one to start the speech?

Oh, that will be a surprise. We have someone great.

Our faction?

The religious. Although not really. Youll see, the cat said with a smile.

Its all good and everything, but do we know what the nobles are planning with the church and the new pope? asked Luna.

That calmed the jovial atmosphere.

QShar looked down, his tail calming the slight movement of the tip. We didnt see the pope change comingthey got us there. I spoke with the high judge, and they tried to stack the sabbath leaders, but he blocked it. But its the first time nobles are working this closely with the religious factions. Whats strange is the involvement of other organised religions. We we have a guess about what they want, but its hard to confirm, and I dont want to give you assumptionsnot about something like that.

Well see tomorrow, Luna said. I really wish I could meet that new pope in a dark alley without witnesses. Clementus the Secondmoron.

I dont think the name was his idea, QShar said. They might be deliberately undermining the arcane worlds pope. Its hard to say. Sam and William have been informed about the worst-case scenario, and both have speeches for it.

I coughed involuntarily.

William has a speech. Sam will be the massive cunt he is. The cat let out a tired sigh, to which I nodded sagely.

We got a good nights sleepat least I did. Im pretty sure QShar was nervously walking around the room the whole time, judging by his tired eyes the next morning.

We got to the buses and to the Vatican. With a loud ring, the day to discuss new laws started. And before anyone could do anything, a man from the religious faction shot up to take the voice.

Share