Hollow Ascension

Chapter 20: The Weight of Influence

The courtyard had transformed. Where chaos had once reigned, there was now a tense but hopeful quiet. Adventurers huddled in small groups, speaking in low tones, casting occasional glances toward the hastily constructed stage where Finn and the scarred woman now stood. The proposed council was taking shape, and with it, the guild was beginning to rebuild itself from the ashes of its shattered hierarchy.

Kael remained in the shadows, his Stealth Ability concealing him from the adventurers milling about. From his vantage point, he could see that Finn and the scarred woman were gaining momentum. Their call for a council that represented all ranks resonated with the guild members, who had grown weary of the nobles' oppressive rule. The time was ripe for the guild's rebirth, but Kael knew that this new order would need careful guidance if it was to remain free of the corruption that had plagued the old leadership.

And that guidance, he thought, will come from me.

As Finn and the others finalized their preparations, Kael slipped away from the courtyard, his movements soundless as he made his way toward the rear of the guildhall. He needed to secure his influence within the new council discreetly, ensuring that his voice would shape its decisions without drawing attention to himself. The documents he had uncovered from the nobles' stash were his first tools to that end.

Kael found a quiet alcove near the guild's records room and settled down, the papers clutched in his hands. He rifled through the documents, his eyes scanning lines of text that detailed supply hoarding, illicit trade deals, and agreements with merchants that had drained resources from the guild's coffers. This information was a treasure trove of leverage, one he could wield to sway the council's direction.

He selected a few choice documents, tucking them into his cloak while the others he stored away in a secure place only he knew of. These initial pieces of evidence would serve as a warning to the nobles who might try to undermine the new council's authority. By leaking them strategically, he could subtly direct the council's actions and ensure that any threats to its integrity were swiftly dealt with.

[Contract Progress: New Objective – Establish Influence Over the New Order: 75%]

Rising from his hiding spot, Kael slipped back into the hallway, his mind whirring with the next steps. As he moved through the guildhall, he picked up snippets of conversation. The adventurers were buzzing with cautious optimism, discussing the upcoming council meeting and the potential for a new era in the guild.

Kael made his way back to the courtyard, his eyes scanning for Finn. He needed to plant the seeds of his influence now, while the guild was still finding its footing. Spotting Finn near the makeshift stage, he approached quietly, allowing his Stealth Ability to fade just enough to make his presence known.

"Finn," Kael called softly as he neared, his voice calm and measured. "A moment of your time?"

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Finn turned, his eyes tired but filled with determination. "Kael," he said, nodding. "The council is coming together, but there's still so much to do. What's on your mind?"

Kael glanced around, ensuring they were out of earshot of the others before he spoke. "I found something in the storage building," he began, pulling a few of the documents from his cloak. "Evidence of the nobles' dealings—supply hoarding, secret agreements with merchants. We need to use this."

Finn's eyes widened as he took the documents, scanning the lines quickly. "This... this is damning," he breathed. "If the guild sees this, it'll completely discredit the nobles. But it's dangerous to bring this out into the open. It could provoke a backlash."

"Exactly," Kael replied, his tone thoughtful. "That's why we use it carefully. We don't need to expose everything at once. We leak just enough to keep them in check, to ensure they don't attempt to retake control. The council needs to be seen as acting decisively and justly, but not recklessly."

Finn nodded, his expression hardening. "You're right. If we show that the council is willing to confront corruption, it'll strengthen our position. But we have to be strategic about it."

Kael allowed himself a small smile. "I'll leave it in your hands," he said, stepping back. "But remember, this information is a tool. Use it wisely, and the council will gain the trust and authority it needs."

Finn clutched the documents, his eyes alight with purpose. "We'll make sure the council acts for the guild's good," he promised. "Thank you, Kael. You've done more than you know."

Kael nodded, concealing the satisfaction that simmered beneath his calm demeanor. Yes, he thought. You think you're leading, but I am the one steering this ship.

He moved away, slipping back into the crowd. As he watched Finn speak with the other prospective council members, presenting the documents as evidence of the nobles' misdeeds, Kael felt a surge of triumph. The information he had planted was already beginning to reshape the conversation, driving the council toward a path of transparency and reform.

[Contract Progress: New Objective – Establish Influence Over the New Order: 90%]

The scarred woman joined Finn on the stage, her voice rising over the din as she called for attention. "The council will be formed to address the guild's needs fairly and without prejudice!" she declared, holding up one of the documents. "This evidence shows the corruption that has plagued us. We will ensure it never happens again!"

A murmur of agreement spread through the crowd, a wave of support for the new order. Kael watched from the shadows, his eyes gleaming. The council was gaining legitimacy, and the more it solidified its power, the more his influence would permeate its foundations.

But his work wasn't done. He needed to take one final step to secure his position—an action that would ensure the council's decisions aligned with his guidance while maintaining his role as the unseen architect.

He moved toward the edge of the courtyard, where a group of adventurers—former nobles' loyalists—stood in uneasy conversation. They had seen their power stripped away, and now they hovered at the periphery, uncertain of their place in the new order. Kael approached silently, his Stealth Ability shrouding his movements until he was close enough to speak without being overheard.

"Considering your next steps?" he asked, his voice a soft whisper. The adventurers turned to him, eyes widening in surprise.

"What do you want?" one of them demanded, his tone defensive.

Kael tilted his head, his expression calm. "To offer you a choice," he replied. "You can continue to resist, to cling to a past that is gone, or you can adapt. If you support the council, publicly and sincerely, you can carve out a place for yourselves in the guild's future. Refuse, and you'll find yourselves isolated."

The adventurers exchanged uneasy glances. Kael watched them, noting the conflict in their eyes. They were proud, but they were also pragmatic. They knew that outright defiance would only lead to further loss.

"And what's in it for you?" one of them asked warily.

Kael smiled faintly. "Stability," he said simply. "The council will need people who understand the guild's intricacies, who know how to manage resources. Align yourselves with the new order, and you will find yourselves in positions of influence once more."

The adventurers hesitated, then nodded slowly. "We'll support the council," the spokesman said finally. "But this doesn't mean we'll follow blindly. We'll be watching."

"Of course," Kael replied, his smile widening. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

He stepped back, fading into the shadows as the group moved toward the stage, preparing to announce their support for the new council. There, he thought. The last piece is in place.

[Contract Progress: New Objective – Establish Influence Over the New Order: 100% – Influence Established]

The System's whisper echoed in his mind, cold and final. Kael felt a surge of satisfaction. The council was forming, and its foundation was intertwined with the web of influence he had woven. The guild was rebuilding itself around a new order, one that he would guide from the shadows.

As he watched the adventurers rally around Finn and the scarred woman, Kael allowed himself a rare moment of pride. The rebellion had succeeded, the nobles' corruption had been exposed, and a new order was rising. And through it all, he had remained unseen, the true architect of the guild's transformation.

"Now, the real game begins," he murmured to himself as he moved away from the courtyard. "For I will be the power behind the throne."

With his influence secured and the guild's future taking shape under his unseen hand, Kael vanished into the depths of the guildhall, ready to continue his silent ascent to dominance.