Chapter 33: Shadow Strategy
After the wagon carrying the seeds of power departed for France, Edward left nothing to chance. He turned to Silas and said in a cold tone, "Send someone to watch them from afar. I want to know their first steps and how they utilize the gold. Trust is good, but surveillance ensures loyalty." Silas nodded and signaled one of his most skilled trackers to carry out the task in silence.
The three—Edward, Silas, and Tula—sat around the table that had witnessed the birth of their grand plan. Tula broke the silence, saying, "We must strike first. Victory in this world belongs to the one who delivers the first blow with unforgettable force. We must spread the news of what happened at the auction; we will let terror seep into the hearts of their followers."
Tula continued, his eyes gleaming with sharp intelligence: "When their prestige crumbles and the blood freezes in the veins of their subordinates out of fear, we will step in to offer protection. Those who join us will find strength, and those who refuse... we will annihilate. This is the law of the underworld: the strong consume the weak, and we are the ones who will set the new rules." Edward and Silas agreed with this harsh logic; in this world, prestige is the most valuable currency.
Edward then divided the gold; he took half to settle the heavy debts that burdened his family and shackled his name, while allocating the other half to expand operations. He then turned to Silas and issued a new order: "The homeless children in these alleys are the eyes of the city that never sleep. Gather them, train them, and turn them into the 'Shadow Army.' I want them to bring me information from every alley and tavern. Information is the weapon that precedes the sword."
With these steps, Edward began building a comprehensive structure: an army in France, psychological warfare in London, and an intelligence apparatus made of street urchins, all in preparation for the day the Ravencroft family would finally fall.