"Yes, we still need a proper setup."
Livia slowly withdrew her gaze, her voice low and composed, yet carrying firm resolve.
"Jim is a prideful man—highly attuned to shifts in power. If I want to deceive him, I must make it look like I have control over this castle. Words alone won't do. He needs to see people behind me—people who follow my command."
She paused, her eyes sweeping coldly over the tactical sketches on the table, her tone sharpening.
"So I won't bring soldiers from the First or Seventh Legions, and I won't use any of your men either. That would raise his suspicions."
"Hm?" Elias frowned slightly, looking at her in surprise.
"Then who are you planning to bring?"
Livia raised her head, calm and unshakable.
"Red and his companions."
"Red?" Marcellus blinked, clearly puzzled.
"Who's that? You've never mentioned him to me."
Elias, on the other hand, showed a flicker of recognition, quickly followed by concern.
"That kid is clever, sure, and he's got a good head on his shoulders—but he's still a street rat at the end of the day. No formal training. You really want him involved in this performance? If Jim starts probing, even a little—"
"No need to worry."
Livia cut him off gently, her voice unexpectedly warm with a touch of fond recollection.
"He's sharp and quick on his feet. In a plan like this, we don't need warriors—we need actors. And Red…"
She paused, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"He was born for the stage."
In her mind, she saw the Red of her previous life—the young man who had risen through blood and shadows to seize the underground throne. Back then, he was already a force that the entire black market dared not cross. Now, he was still just a boy with a scarf around his neck, eyes too sharp for his age. But Livia knew—give him a chance, and he could steal the whole show.
"Who are you talking about?" Marcellus broke into her thoughts, his tone betraying a hint of open jealousy.
Livia hadn't answered yet when Elias chuckled and deliberately replied in a teasing, intimate tone:
"Just a little secret between us. Not something you would know about."
"Don't be like that."
Livia shot Elias a mock glare, though her tone held no reproach—only playful affection.
"Red's just a street boy I met. Thought he was interesting, so I introduced him to Elias. Let's say… it's a little joint project of ours."
Elias tilted his chin smugly.
"Our private understanding. Don't be jealous, Marcellus."
Marcellus furrowed his brow, glancing between the two of them. He didn't say anything. He knew Elias was baiting him, and that Livia meant no harm in withholding details.
But still—that creeping feeling of being left out… it stung.
Sensing his silence, Livia softened. She reached out and gently laid a hand on his arm.
"You trust me, don't you?" she said softly.
"Just like we agreed before—I will tell you everything. But right now… it's not the time."
Marcellus looked up at her, meeting her gaze. After a long pause, he finally nodded.
"I trust you… but promise me—no matter what you do, your safety comes first."
Livia looked into his eyes. In that moment, a rush of conflicting emotions surged in her chest—trust, guilt, and something unspoken, quietly blossoming beneath it all. She smiled faintly and nodded.
The three of them then returned to the details of the plan.
Elias would personally reach out to Red and run a quick readiness drill with him and his group to test their reflexes and discipline.
Livia, meanwhile, would entrust Adrian with the operational command—making it clear that the task must be executed in absolute secrecy, with no hesitation. She told him plainly:
This battle might determine whether they could finally unlock the secret of the Holy Grail.
The lamplight cast sharp silhouettes on their faces—serious, focused, unyielding.
They all knew—
This wasn't a simple decoy.
It was a deadly chess game, luring the real enemy onto the board with a performance veiled in illusion.