This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Kain and Darius exchanged contact information, the tension between them easing slightly as they solidified their agreement. Darius was still wary, but the glimmer of hope in his eyes was unmistakable.

Kain, on the other hand, was already thinking ahead. He had a new ally, one who seems quite capable and may even be able to take on the responsibility of helping Kain form this group loyal to him.

But he also had a problem: where to base his growing network of secret subordinates.

His home was out of the question—his family's safety was paramount, and he couldn't risk exposing them to the dangers of his secretive activities.

His business office was equally unsuitable; it was too public, too visible. He needed a place that was discreet, secure, and unassuming.

After a quick search, Kain found what he was looking for: a three-story building in a less populated area of the city was available. Since the area of the city didn't have much foot-traffic, it appears as though most of the prior tenants didn't renew the lease and chose to move to the core of the city.

The exterior was plain, almost forgettable, blending seamlessly with the surrounding structures. It was the kind of place no one would look twice at, which made it perfect for Kain's needs. He rented the entire building without hesitation, paying in cash to avoid leaving a paper trail and also signed the paperwork under a false identity.

'Making some less savoury connections as a planner has definitely come in handy…' Kain thought while looking at the thick stack of official-looking documents that had his face on them but a completely different name.

The interior of the building was spacious, with enough room for meetings, training, and even storage for any equipment or resources he might need. It wasn't luxurious, but it was functional, and that was all Kain cared about.

Over the next few days, Kain set up the building to suit his needs. He installed advanced security measures—locks, alarms, traps, surveillance and more. However, all of these measures were undetectable visually and the building looked as unsecure as it did previously. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to the place.

Once everything was in order, he sent a message to Darius, instructing him to meet at the new location.

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Darius arrived at the building later that evening, his expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. He hesitated at the door, glancing around as if expecting a trap.

Kain, watching from a window on the second floor, smirked. He had expected as much. Darius was a cautious man, and rightly so. Kain had no intention of betraying him, but he understood the need for caution.

"Come in," Kain called out, his voice echoing through the empty building. "We have a lot to discuss."

Darius stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room. The interior was sparse, with only a few chairs and a table set up in the center. Kain stood by the table, a stack of papers in front of him. Darius approached slowly, his guard still up.

"What's all this?" Darius asked, gesturing to the papers.

"A contract," Kain replied, sliding the stack toward him. "Before we proceed, there are a few things we need to agree on."

Darius picked up the top sheet, his eyes narrowing as he read through the clauses. The contract was detailed, outlining terms of secrecy, loyalty, and the conditions under which Kain would grant Darius the power to become a beast-tamer. There were also strict prohibitions against revealing the details of the procedure to anyone, as well as a clause requiring Darius to follow Kain's orders without question.

Kain, as an ordinary person, couldn't feel anything special in the contract. However, as a beast-tamer, Kain could feel the strong pulse of spiritual power the paper emitted. Once Darius signed the contract, he wouldn't be able to break it unless he was willing to forfeit his life.

"This is… thorough," Darius said, his tone wary. "You're asking for a lot of trust."

"And I'm offering a lot in return," Kain countered. "You want power? This is how you get it. I'm not running a charity. I need to know you're committed. I can't have you running off like a reckless idiot, risking everything I'm building."

Darius hesitated, his eyes flicking back to the contract. He read through it again, more slowly this time, weighing each clause carefully. Finally, he looked up at Kain. "And if I refuse?"@@novelbin@@

Kain shrugged. "Then we part ways. You go back to your life, and I go back to mine. But you'll never get another chance like this."

Darius's jaw tightened. He knew Kain was right. This was his best—and possibly only—shot at gaining the power he needed to take down Alaric. After a long moment, he nodded. "Alright. I'll sign."

Kain handed him a pen, and Darius scrawled his name at the bottom of the contract. As soon as the ink dried, Kain felt a sense of satisfaction. He had his first true subordinate linked to Pangea. After all, the director and Gabriel were now family, while Ferrin could also be considered a friend and confidant to his family members. Kain wasn't exactly willing to send them on death missions.

However, Darius was someone bound to him by circumstance and a formal agreement. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. In the future he hoped to make him loyal to himself form the bottom of his heart.

"Good," Kain said, taking the contract and tucking it away. "Now, let's get to work."

Kain led Darius to a smaller room on the second floor where a room resembling a sterile tattoo shop was waiting. There was an enchanted pen with several vials of ink of various colours arranged next to it, a plush black reclining chair, and a poster on the wall with an intricate circular array for Kain to use as a reference.

Darius followed Kain into the room, his expression still a little wary. However, with the contract already signed he wasn't afraid. He could deal with pain, and he was certain Kain wasn't trying to kill him—otherwise why set up this whole elaborate farce. "What exactly is this procedure?"

Kain didn't bother to explain in detail. "You'll see in a moment."

He gestured to the chair in the center of the room. "Sit down. The procedure will take some time, and it won't be pleasant. But if you're serious about this, you'll endure it."

Darius took a deep breath, then sat down in the chair.

He flinched slightly when the needle met his skin, but gritted his teeth and endured the pain.