Absolute Cheater

Inside the Meeting Hall

The interior of the estate was in far better condition than the outside suggested. The walls were reinforced, the furniture polished, and soft candlelight illuminated the room with an eerie glow.

Several figures sat around a long table. Some were cloaked in dark robes, others in fine armor. But the one who stood out the most was the man at the head of the table—a silver-haired figure with piercing violet eyes. His presence alone commanded attention.

Evelyn was already there, standing beside him.

"You came," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "I knew you would."

Asher said nothing, his crimson gaze locking onto the silver-haired man.

The man studied them for a long moment before finally speaking. "You must be Asher and Serena." His voice was smooth, confident. "Evelyn speaks highly of you."

Asher remained silent, waiting.

The man smirked. "I am Lucian, one of the high-ranking leaders of the Red Fate Organization." He gestured to the seats in front of him. "Sit."

Serena hesitated, but Asher sat down first, prompting her to follow.

Lucian leaned forward, his sharp eyes studying them. "Tell me… how much do you know about fate?"

Serena scoffed. "If this is going to be some religious speech, you can save it."

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Lucian chuckled. "Not religious—practical." He gestured around. "The world operates on predictable patterns. Weak nations fall, strong rulers rise, and no matter how much people fight it, destiny is inevitable."

Asher's expression remained unreadable. "And you think you can control destiny?"

Lucian smirked. "Not just control it—reshape it."

He leaned back in his chair. "We have uncovered ancient knowledge, forces beyond what the Guild or the Kingdoms understand. Power that can rewrite the future. But to use it, we need the right people. People like you."

Serena crossed her arms. "And what exactly do you want us to do?"

Evelyn spoke this time. "Join us. Abandon the outdated ideals of the Guild. Work with us to create a world where the strong don't have to waste their lives protecting the weak."

Lucian nodded. "We're not asking for blind loyalty. We're offering power, knowledge, and the freedom to shape the world as you see fit." His gaze flickered to Asher. "And in return, all we ask is that you help us bring about a new era."

A silence settled over the room.

Serena shot Asher a subtle glance, waiting for his cue.

Asher finally spoke. "And if we say no?"

Lucian smiled, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Then you leave here as guests, unharmed. But understand this—if you walk away now, we will consider you obstacles in the future. And obstacles…" His smile widened. "…are meant to be removed."

Serena's fingers twitched toward her daggers, but Asher placed a hand on her wrist under the table, signaling her to wait.

He smirked slightly. "That's quite the ultimatum."

Lucian shrugged. "The world is full of them."

Asher leaned back in his chair, exuding an air of confidence. "Then I guess we have a decision to make."

Lucian's eyes gleamed. "Indeed, you do."

A tense silence settled over the room. The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows on the walls as Asher and Serena sat across from Lucian, weighing their options.

Serena was tense, her fingers twitching near her daggers, but Asher remained composed. His crimson eyes flickered with unreadable intent as he met Lucian's piercing gaze.

Evelyn, standing beside Lucian, spoke again. "You don't have to answer now. Take your time to think about it. But understand—this opportunity doesn't come twice."

Lucian nodded. "Indeed. You've already disrupted our plans once, yet here you are—alive and given a chance to join us. That should tell you something."

Serena scoffed. "Yeah, that you're desperate."

Lucian chuckled, unbothered. "Hardly. We are simply efficient. Recruiting potential allies is far more practical than making unnecessary enemies." His gaze sharpened. "And you two… you are far too valuable to waste."

Asher smirked slightly. "Flattery won't get you anywhere."

Lucian leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. "This isn't flattery. It's simple logic. You're talented, strong, and most importantly—you think ahead. That's rare." His eyes gleamed. "The Guild, for all its righteousness, will never see you as more than tools to maintain order. But with us, you would be architects of a new world."

Serena clenched her fists. "A world built on what? Corrupting creatures and manipulating people?"

Lucian sighed, shaking his head. "You see corruption. We see evolution. The world is flawed, bound by outdated systems and weak rulers. We're simply accelerating its inevitable transformation."

Evelyn stepped closer, her gaze settling on Asher. "You understand, don't you? You've seen how the world works. The strong survive, the weak fall. We are simply ensuring that those who deserve power keep it."

Asher didn't respond immediately. He simply tilted his head slightly, studying her.

"Tell me," he finally said, "why are you really recruiting us? You have other elites, powerful backers. What makes us special?"

Lucian smirked. "Perceptive." He drummed his fingers on the table before answering. "You're right—we have many strong individuals in our ranks. But few possess the adaptability and foresight that you do. You don't blindly follow orders. You think for yourselves. That's exactly the kind of people we need."

Evelyn added, "And then there's you, Asher. Your ability is… unique. And powerful. We both know that blood control is only the surface of what you can do." Her eyes gleamed knowingly. "With the right guidance, you could reach heights no one else can."

Serena stiffened. If Evelyn had even the slightest suspicion about Asher's true abilities, this meeting had just become even more dangerous.

Asher, however, remained unfazed. He let out a quiet chuckle. "And what if we agree?"

Lucian's smirk widened. "Then you will be given access to knowledge and resources beyond your imagination. Missions that shape the course of history. Power that ensures no one stands above you."

He spread his arms. "Join us, and you won't just survive in this world—you'll rule it."

The room fell silent once more.

Serena's grip tightened on her armrests. Asher remained unreadable, but she knew he was calculating every possibility, considering every angle.

Finally, Asher exhaled and leaned back. "We'll think about it."

Lucian grinned, pleased. "Good. That's all we ask."

He stood, gesturing toward the door. "Evelyn will escort you back. When you're ready to give us your answer, you know where to find us."

Evelyn nodded and motioned for them to follow. As they stood and turned toward the exit, Lucian's voice echoed behind them.

"Oh, and Asher?"

Asher stopped but didn't turn around.

Lucian's voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. "Don't take too long. The future waits for no one."

Without a word, Asher and Serena walked out, their minds already racing with their next move.

Asher and Serena stepped out of the Guild's private meeting room, their footsteps echoing down the dimly lit hallway. Evelyn walked ahead of them, her posture relaxed yet alert, as if expecting an ambush at any moment.

Neither Asher nor Serena spoke until they exited the Guild Hall entirely, stepping into the cold night air. The city streets had quieted, with only a few scattered lanterns flickering against the darkness.

Evelyn finally turned to face them, her violet eyes scanning them carefully. "You handled that well," she said, her voice unreadable. "Lucian doesn't extend invitations lightly."

Serena scoffed. "Yeah? Well, he can take that invitation and shove it."

Evelyn smirked slightly. "Predictable. But it's not your answer we're waiting for." Her gaze shifted to Asher.

Asher met her stare, his expression calm. "And why is that?"

Evelyn took a step closer. "Because Lucian wasn't wrong. You do think ahead. You're calculating, precise, and… ruthless when you need to be." She tilted her head. "You're the type of person who understands that the world isn't black and white."

Serena bristled. "So what? You think he's just going to betray everything for a power-hungry cult?"

Evelyn chuckled softly. "I think Asher is smart enough to recognize an opportunity when he sees one." Her gaze never left his. "You don't trust the Guild. You don't trust authority. You operate in the gray, just like we do. The only difference is… you're still pretending otherwise."

Serena turned to Asher, her expression hardening. "You're not actually considering this, are you?"

Asher didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Evelyn, his crimson eyes flickering with something unreadable. "You're pushing this hard. That tells me Lucian isn't just testing us—he wants us."

Evelyn's smirk didn't waver. "Of course he does. You're valuable. But that also means you have leverage."

Serena frowned. "Leverage for what?"

Evelyn's expression remained amused. "Whatever you want." She stepped back, folding her arms. "You can take time to think, but I wouldn't wait too long. If you hesitate for too long, Lucian might think you're not worth the trouble."

She turned on her heel, beginning to walk away, but then paused, glancing over her shoulder. "Oh, and Asher?"

Asher raised an eyebrow.