Journey to Become the Zenith

Deals Written in Blood and Silk

Lane who had left the Redcliffe estate walked through the dim streets of Fantom City with steady steps, her expression as calm as ever—but inside, her thoughts were anything but still.

She already knew the truth.

No matter how strong she was... no matter how many she could defeat...

Negotiation was not her strength.

The Redcliffe family had only bent because she forced them to look into the abyss.

But not every fallen noble would respond the same way.

Some would resist.

Some would provoke.

Some... would need something else.

Lane’s fingers tightened slightly at her side.

I can’t do this alone.

The realization came quietly, without pride, without resistance.

She didn’t want to admit it.

Didn’t want to rely on her.

But in the end—

She turned.

And walked toward the Northern District.

—

The air there felt different.

Heavier.

Warmer.

Alive with whispers, deals, and sins hidden behind velvet curtains.

And at the center of it all—

Brinda.

The former queen of the district.

The woman who could make powerful men kneel with a smile.

When Lane stepped into her domain, she didn’t need to ask where Brinda was.

She could feel her presence.

Like perfume in the air—soft, intoxicating, dangerous.

Brinda was lounging lazily on a wide chair, one leg crossed over the other, purple robe draping just enough to tease without revealing too much. Her long hair cascaded down her shoulders like silk, and her violet eyes gleamed the moment she saw Lane.

A slow, knowing smile curved her lips.

”Well... this is unexpected,” Brinda said, her voice smooth, almost playful. ”You came to me on your own? Did the world finally end?”

Lane didn’t react to the teasing.

”I need your help.”

Simple.

Direct.

That alone made Brinda raise a brow.

”Oh?” She leaned forward slightly, interest flickering in her gaze. ”Now that’s something I didn’t expect to hear from you.”

Lane didn’t waste time.

She explained.

Not everything—never everything—but enough.

Victor’s plan.

The fallen nobles.

The need to bring them under one banner.

As Brinda listened, her smile slowly faded—not into seriousness, but into something sharper.

Something more... intrigued.

When Lane finished, silence lingered for a moment.

Then—

Brinda laughed softly.

A low, delighted sound.

”So that’s what he’s doing...” she murmured, her eyes gleaming. ”I knew he was ambitious... but this?”

She leaned back, crossing her arms beneath her chest, her expression turning thoughtful.

”He’s not just gathering strength... he’s building something dangerous.”

Her gaze shifted back to Lane.

”Tell me... does he plan to overturn the board? Or burn it completely?”

Lane didn’t answer.

She didn’t need to.

Brinda already understood.

A slow smile returned.

”Good,” she said softly. ”I was getting bored.”

There was no fear in her voice.

No hesitation.

Only excitement.

She stood up gracefully, her robe swaying with her movement.

”Alright,” she said, stretching slightly. ”I’ll help you.”

Lane didn’t thank her.

But the tension in her shoulders eased... just a little.

From that moment on, the two of them moved together.

And everything changed.

The next families...

Fell much easier.

Money.

That was the first key.

Most of the fallen noble families didn’t hesitate.

Years of struggling, of watching their status crumble, of surviving day by day...

Pride didn’t feed them.

Gold did.

When Lane presented Victor’s offer—backed by the funds Brinda helped organize—they didn’t even argue.

They accepted.

Quickly.

Almost eagerly.

It wasn’t loyalty.

It wasn’t belief.

It was survival.

And in this world... that was enough.

But not all of them were so simple.

Some...

Were worse.

Men who once held power... now reduced to scraps.

Desperate.

Hungry.

And when they saw Brinda—

They forgot everything else.

Her beauty wasn’t gentle.

It wasn’t soft.

It was overwhelming.

The kind that made men lose reason.

Lose caution.

Lose dignity.

”Join you?” one of them scoffed, his gaze shamelessly roaming over her. ”Why should we?”

Then, with a smirk—

”Spend a night with me... and maybe I’ll consider it.”

Another laughed.

”Just one night. That’s all we ask.”

The room filled with low, greedy chuckles.

Lane’s eyes turned cold instantly.

Her hand twitched.

I’ll kill them.

It wasn’t anger.

It was instinct.

But before she could move—

Brinda stepped forward.

Calm.

Unbothered.

A faint smile played on her lips.

”Hmm... is that all?” she said softly, her voice like silk brushing against skin.

The men leaned in, hooked instantly.

Hooked... and doomed.

Brinda’s gaze swept over them lazily.

”You think too small,” she continued, tilting her head slightly. ”Why settle for me... when Fantom City is full of women more than willing to please?”

A pause.

Her smile deepened—dangerous now.

”Join us... and I’ll make sure you never leave unsatisfied.”

The room went silent.

The shift was immediate.

Desire turned into calculation.

Temptation... into agreement.

They weren’t fools.

They knew who she was.

The former ruler of the Northern District.

A woman who controlled brothels, information, shadows.

You didn’t push someone like her too far.

And so—

Reluctantly.

Greedily.

They agreed.

As they left, Lane glanced at Brinda.

”You didn’t need to do that.”

Brinda laughed lightly.

”Oh? And let you kill them?” she teased. ”That would ruin everything.”

Lane said nothing.

But inside—

She felt something strange.

Relief.

Because she knew one thing with absolute certainty.

I could never do what she just did.

Her body... her pride...

They belonged to Victor.

Only him.

The thought settled deep in her chest, firm and unshakable.

With Brinda’s help, everything moved faster.

Cleaner.

Smoother.

Money opened doors.

Charm disarmed suspicion.

Reputation silenced resistance.

One by one—

The fallen nobles of Fantom City began to gather under Victor’s unseen banner.

But not all of them.

Some refused.

Firmly.

Without negotiation.

Without fear.

And those—

Were erased.

Lane didn’t hesitate.

Didn’t argue.

Didn’t try again.

Victor’s orders were absolute.

If they refused—

They died.

The fights were short.

Efficient.

Brutal.

Houses burned.

Blades flashed.

Screams echoed briefly... then vanished into silence.

Lane didn’t enjoy it.

Didn’t feel satisfaction.

Only... weight.

Especially when it came to the children.

They weren’t spared.

They couldn’t be.

Revenge was a seed.

If left alive... it would grow.

And one day—

It would come back.

So she cut it out.

Completely.

The youngest one she faced...

Was around ten.

Small.

Terrified.

Four years younger than her.

For a brief moment—

Her hand paused.

Just a fraction.

...

Something inside her stirred.

A question.

A doubt.

Is this... really necessary?

It barely had time to form—

Before it disappeared.

Crushed.

By something stronger.

Her loyalty.

Her devotion.

Victor’s will.

Her blade moved.

And the world returned to silence.

By the end of it all—

The city had changed.

Quietly.

Invisible to most.

But beneath the surface...

Something was forming.

Something dangerous.

And at the center of it—

Was a man who hadn’t even shown himself yet.

Victor.