Saga of the Two-World Emperor
Volume 1: A Spark in the Ashes
Chapter 11 – The First Move and the Watching Shadows
Adrian did not sleep that night. He sat on his hard, unforgiving bed, the moonlight streaming in and illuminating the pile of silver coins on his old blanket. Their gleam reflected in his cold, calculating eyes. This wasn't just money… it was power. It was options. It was the first piece of freedom he had seized for himself in this new world.
His mind worked at a furious pace, prioritizing the tasks ahead. The one-month deadline set by Demian and Lady Isabella was fast approaching.
*First objective… deal with Demian.*
He had no intention of keeping all the money for himself. Such an act would be foolish, creating unnecessary problems. He had to honor the "promise" he'd made to Demian, not out of fear, but to "buy time" and "lower suspicion" from the rest of the household.
The next morning, Adrian didn't wait for Demian to come demanding his due. Instead, he went to his half-brother's training grounds himself.
The training yard was a large, open space filled with weapon racks and wooden training dummies. The smell of steel, sweat, and weapon oil hung heavy in the air. The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed rhythmically. Demian was training intensely with two household guards. His muscular body was drenched in sweat, but his eyes were focused, burning with ambition.
Upon seeing Adrian approach, Demian paused. He carelessly tossed his wooden sword aside and strode towards him with a mocking grin.
"Well, well, you sickly piece of trash. What are you doing here? Did you come to tell me you failed, just as I knew you would?"
Adrian didn't respond with words. Instead, he slowly pulled the heavy pouch of coins from his cloak and tossed it onto the ground before Demian.
Clank!
The sound of many silver coins clinking together resonated through the training yard. The two guards nearby widened their eyes in shock.
Demian himself was stunned into silence for a moment. He looked down at the pouch, then back at Adrian's impassive face.
"What… is this?"
"The money… for your armor and weapon," Adrian replied, his voice flat. "I have fulfilled my promise."
Demian bent down and opened the pouch. His eyes widened even further when he saw the amount of silver inside. It was more than he had expected… more than enough to buy the finest suit of armor available.
"Where… where did you get this?" he asked in disbelief.
"That is not something you need to concern yourself with," Adrian answered. "What's important is… you now have the funds to pursue your dream. Congratulations, brother."
He deliberately emphasized the word "brother," his flat tone carrying a strange weight that made Demian feel uneasy.
Demian clutched the pouch tightly, a storm of emotions swirling within him—joy, surprise, and a sense of humiliation at having to accept money from the brother he had always despised.
"Hmph! This is nothing! Don't think I'm going to thank you!" he said, trying to cover his confusion. "This is what you should be doing for the family anyway!"
"Of course," Adrian nodded obediently. "I never expected your gratitude. I will take my leave."
With that, he turned and walked away slowly, leaving Demian standing there in a state of complex confusion.
Adrian knew his actions today had planted a "seed" of doubt in Demian's mind. It might not sprout now… but in the future, it would become one of the key pieces he would use to flip the entire board.
After dealing with his immediate problem, his next objective was to "invest" in his most important asset… his own body.
He returned to his room and called for Lilia.
"Lilia, I need your help with something."
"What can I do for you, Young Master?"
Adrian handed her a number of silver coins.
"I want you to arrange for better food for me every day… meat, eggs, fresh vegetables, and fruits," he instructed. "And I need the nourishing herbs the royal physician prescribed… Don't worry about what Lady Isabella might say. This is my own money, and you are to follow my orders."
Lilia looked at the coins in her hand, shocked, but seeing the determination in Adrian's eyes, she nodded firmly.
"I will do my best, Young Master!"
Besides his body, he also needed to invest in his "mind."
He journeyed to the Shadow Alley again that night to meet with Finn.
"I have a new job for you," Adrian said, handing him a small pouch of coins.
Finn caught it with a practiced ease and grinned.
"Name it, my lord."
"I need books," Adrian said. "Not novels or poetry… but books on the laws of the Kingdom of Kairos, the most detailed maps of all the provinces, the history and lineage of all the major noble families, and most importantly… texts on the fundamentals of alchemy and potion-making."
Finn raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"It seems my lord's interests are not limited to business… Very well, I'll find them for you. But it might take some time. These aren't things you can just pick up at a market stall."
"I have time," Adrian replied. "And I will pay you well."
"Consider it done, my lord," Finn said with a cunning smile. "Let's just call it an investment in our shared future."
The days passed. Adrian lived a quiet and disciplined life. He restored his body with better food and light exercise every morning. At night, he would immerse himself in the stacks of books that Finn brought him, absorbing the knowledge of this new world like a dry sponge.
But his movements… as subtle as they were… did not go unnoticed.
In her luxurious study, Lady Isabella sat sipping her tea in silence. Her most trusted servant was giving a report.
"...After receiving the money, Young Master Demian has spent it all on commissioning a new suit of armor and a sword."
"And Adrian?" Lady Isabella asked, her voice calm.
"The second young master… seems to be acting normally," the servant replied. "He spends most of his time in his room or his small garden… But there is one strange thing, my lady… It seems his meals have improved significantly, and he has been seen reading strange books late into the night."
Lady Isabella slowly placed her teacup down. Her eyes narrowed in thought.
*Money… where did that boy get the money?*
The strange pressure she had felt that day returned to her memory (Reference: Chapter 6).
"Keep a close eye on him," she ordered, her voice cold. "Every step… every action… I want to know everything."
That night…
Adrian was sitting in his room under the flickering candlelight, studying a text on the lineage of the great noble families. He was completely focused on a complex family tree…
Suddenly… a primal instinct made him freeze.
He didn't hear anything unusual… he didn't see anything out of place… but he could feel it.
He felt like he was being watched.
He remained perfectly still for a long moment, pretending to continue reading. But his eyes slowly, almost imperceptibly, drifted towards the gap under his bedroom door.
He saw it… a shadow that was cast there trembled slightly… so faintly that one would miss it if not paying close attention.
Someone was eavesdropping outside his room.
Adrian slowly closed the book, the sound barely audible. He looked up towards his bedroom door, his eyes as cold as ice.
*It seems… a new player has joined the game…*
(End of Chapter 11)