The next morning, Lars had been awake for quite some time.The anxiety of his first job kept him restless, so he decided to wait for Klein in the lounge. When he realized he still hadn't shown up, Lars stood and made his way to the kitchen.
There, he found Osvaldo and Eva preparing breakfast. Both were murmuring to each other, so absorbed in the pots and table that they didn't notice his presence until he spoke.
"Good morning."
They froze in place. Osvaldo was the first to react. "Good morning, young man, you startled us."
Eva, a little flustered, echoed him quickly. "Good morning."
The smell of food filled the room. Lars grabbed a piece of bread and offered a faint smile. "Smells amazing… too bad I won't be able to eat with the others today."
Osvaldo, wooden spoon in hand, kept stirring the pot while glancing sideways at him. "How's your training been? We haven't seen you for a week."
"It's been tough, my body's aching all over, but… I'm making progress," Lars replied, biting into the bread.
He then felt a presence behind him. Turning slightly, he found Klein watching him with a strange expression. "What are you doing here?" Klein asked curtly. "We need to go. The person waiting for us has a tight schedule."
He was about to leave when Lars called after him: "Aren't you going to say good morning?"
Klein paused in the doorway. He lowered his gaze to the floor, then back at Lars."It's not normal to talk to the servants," he said flatly. "Can we go now?"
"It's just basic manners. They're people too."
Klein's patience stretched thin for a moment, but to avoid an argument, he gave in."Sir. Miss. Good morning." He forced a smile under Lars's insistence. "Happy now? Let's go."
Lars finished his bread with one last bite and sighed. "It's my first job… I just hope it goes well."
"Good luck," Eva and Osvaldo said in unison.
He gave them a faint smile before hurrying after Klein, who was already waiting by the palace entrance. As they crossed the doorway, Sigmund was descending the staircase. He gave them a fleeting glance before heading straight toward the dining hall.
Once there, he sat at the far corner of the table, away from Lauren and Amelia, who whispered to each other as they ate. The atmosphere seemed calm, almost ordinary.
On the road, Klein drove while Lars sat in the passenger seat, watching him.
"Why that nonsense about not speaking to the servants?" Lars asked, genuinely irritated.
"Don't ask me," Klein replied without taking his eyes off the road. "It's a Klaus family rule. I just follow it. I don't think even Sigmund knows why anymore. It goes back to his great-great-grandfather."
"That's… odd," Lars muttered, before switching topics. "So, who are we going to see?"
"A member of Dominion. Lives about an hour from the palace."
Lars stared at him, surprised. "Wait, you can live outside the palace?"
Klein stopped at a red light. As the crowd of pedestrians crossed, he sighed. "I told you yesterday—life can be lived with a certain degree of normalcy, under conditions. Did you really think Amelia and Lauren lived locked up there?"
Lars remained silent.
"They've only been there a few days, tying up business with the boss. Lauren's married, and Amelia… well, she comes from a respectable family. Of course, their families know nothing about Dominion." The light turned green and Klein drove on.
Lars leaned back, relieved. "So, once I finish the four jobs, I'll be able to leave."
"Yes. You'll just have to return when the boss calls. Usually because a complicated job comes up that needs more than two members… or because it's time to pay."
"Pay?" Lars frowned.
"Sixty percent of every job goes to the boss." Klein pulled over in front of their destination.
"Sixty? That's insane." Lars couldn't grasp the logic behind it.
Klein turned to him with a half-smile. "He provides us with everything—blades, guns, ammo, medical support, supplies, travel. Nothing cheap. That's why the cut is high." He stepped out of the car and circled around, leaning toward Lars's window. "Want me to open the door for you too?"
Lars got out right after Klein's jab. Klein rang the doorbell; at first, no one came. He rang again, and a few seconds later, a man in his thirties appeared—blond, handsome, wearing a loosely tied robe and an impatient look.
"Klein, you were supposed to arrive later."
"Later? You told me early!" Klein shot back.
"I said early, not this early, idiot." The man rolled his eyes, then noticed Lars standing behind. A smirk tugged at his lips. "So this is the new kid."
Klein stepped aside to introduce them. "Yes. Lars Braun, meet William Smith."
William extended his hand with a charming smile. "Pleasure to meet you. Hope we get along well. Come in, come in."
The house had an old-fashioned charm, but it felt homely—shelves full of books, a grand piano in the living room, and the smell of fresh coffee lingering in the air.
"I see you like music and reading," Lars said, impressed.
Before William could respond, a female voice called from the stairs:"William, breakfast is ready!"
A woman with damp hair and a light robe appeared, stopping short when she saw them. Embarrassed, she leaned in to whisper:"You didn't tell me you'd have guests."
Klein, hiding a grin, tugged Lars aside and whispered: "Don't be surprised if there's a different woman every time we visit. He's a hopeless womanizer."
William overheard, but remained unfazed. "Wait for me upstairs, darling."
The woman obeyed without protest, and soon a door closed upstairs.
Klein arched a brow at William. "You never change. When will you settle down?"
William chuckled. "And miss out on life's fun? Don't be ridiculous. Now, let's get to it. What do you need?"
Klein didn't waste time. "A big favor. You remember the minister of Security's son who vanished? That's Lars's job—find him."
William studied them in silence for a moment. "Do you have anything of the boy's? A garment, a photo, anything."
Lars pulled out the wrinkled photograph he carried in his jacket and handed it over. William examined it briefly, then led them into a study overflowing with books. He closed the door with a click and sat behind his desk.
"I need absolute silence," he warned. His tone shifted to something heavier. Then he closed his eyes.
The atmosphere thickened instantly. The air grew dense, pressing down as if some invisible force bore upon them. Lars felt his legs weaken, nearly buckling, and Klein had to hold his arm to steady him.
Minutes passed before William's eyes snapped open. He was breathing hard, clutching his head as if the effort had drained him.
"You okay?" Lars asked, concerned.
William raised a hand. "Don't worry. This always happens when I use my gift." He stood and approached them. "The boy… he's far away. In the United Arab Emirates."
Lars stared at him in disbelief. "How do you know?"
William smirked, almost arrogantly. "Come on, think a little. You should have guessed by now." He paused dramatically. "I'm a seer."
The words hit Lars, leaving him speechless.
William went on, unfazed. "And I assume you know nothing comes for free. I won't let myself deteriorate for nothing."
Klein jumped in. "Ten percent will do."
Lars turned to him, bewildered.Another ten percent? On top of the sixty?
Klein met his eyes calmly. "This job is worth over half a million euros. It's fair."
William extended his hand, satisfied. "Deal."
Lars hesitated but finally accepted the handshake. The deal was sealed, though inside he felt Dominion's rules tightening around him like chains.
But there was something William hadn't mentioned at first. "In my visions, I saw the boy with a man… someone who's never alone, always escorted. They were in the Burj Khalifa. That man throws plenty of parties there."
Lars already had ideas on how to get close to the child. "Thank you. Well… looks like I'll have to travel then."
Klein cut him short, raising his voice. "Not so fast. they already told you—you don't work alone. You'll go with two other members."
"And how much longer do I have to wait? It's been almost two weeks and I still haven't met them."
"Patience. Soon. They've got things to handle," Klein replied curtly.
After saying their goodbyes, they returned to the car and began the drive back to the palace.
Still uneasy, Lars asked: "Klein… what kind of problems can I expect from using my powers?"
Klein frowned. "That depends. Powers like William's, or mine, usually mess with the mind. In the end, it's up to the demon you made the pact with."
He hesitated, then added more quietly:"The worst consequences fall on those with deadly powers, like yours. To give you perspective… since you know Seck, I'll tell you what he was like in Dominion. Seck was the deadliest weapon we ever had."
Lars gaped.
"What kind of power did he have?"
"If he wanted to, he could disintegrate you just by looking. If you were in his line of sight and marked as his prey… you didn't live to tell it." Klein's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "But that power had a cost: every time he killed someone, he lost a year of his life. At this point… Seck can't have much time left."
Lars swallowed hard, shaken. "Then… I could end up like him?"
"Maybe. Like I said, it depends on what your demon wants. Some just thrive on your misery." Klein glanced sideways at him. "So listen carefully. Your power is lethal. Use it only as a last resort, when there's no other choice. Against objects, you're safe. But if you take a life… you'll pay the price."
Lars absorbed it all, realizing his power wasn't a gift without limits. "I understand…" he murmured, then cautiously added: "Speaking of this… nobody ever told me why I shouldn't approach Sigmund."
Silence filled the car for a few seconds. As the palace came into view, Klein exhaled slowly. "Well, that's a long story… Once we're back, I'll tell you everything."
Minutes later, the car pulled up at the palace. As soon as they stepped out, Klein led Lars directly into the library, quiet and isolated. They sat across from each other, the dim light adding weight to the moment.
Klein fixed his gaze on him and spoke in a low voice, as if the walls themselves were listening:"I'll tell you everything I know about Sigmund… Where should I begin?"