Aryan's gaze lingered on Kai, his suspicion deepening with every moment that passed. The way Kai tried to pull them into the Third Alliance, his insistence, felt too calculated, too rehearsed. Something was definitely wrong, Aryan thought, narrowing his eyes.
An evil smile crept onto Aryan's face as he made his decision. "Alright, let's go," he said in a voice that was barely more than a whisper. "But on one condition."
Kai's brows furrowed slightly, his interest piqued. "What's that?" he asked cautiously.
Aryan stepped closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I need to check how strong leaders are. I want to see them in action. Just a precaution, you know," he added with a mock casualness that didn't quite mask the edge of suspicion in his tone.
Kai's smile widened slightly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Of course," he said smoothly. "I can arrange that. But it's not easy. The leaders are usually in seclusion, training or strategizing. I can't guarantee a meeting right away."
Aryan nodded, his smile becoming more genuine as he played his part. "That's fine. I just need to make sure this alliance is the right choice for us."
Unbeknownst to Aryan and Selena, Kai's intention was to bring them into the fold without their knowledge that he was one of the five leaders of the Third Alliance. His role was to recruit, to test the loyalty of new members, and to ensure they would not disrupt the inner workings of the organization.
Aryan's mind was already racing with possibilities. If he could get a look at the leaders' power, he could figure out their weaknesses, their strategies, and exploit them. It was all part of his master plan—to take over the entire Third Alliance. With a mixture of cunning and confidence, Aryan was ready to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
Kai seemed unperturbed by Aryan's request, even amused. "I'll see what I can do," he said smoothly. "Just give me some time. In the meantime, you can meet some of the other members, get a feel for what we offer."
Aryan nodded, playing along. "That works for me," he said, his voice nonchalant. "But remember, I'm not committed to anything yet. I need to be sure about this."
Kai's eyes flickered with a hidden message, something Aryan couldn't quite decipher. "Of course," Kai replied. "Take your time. But remember, the gate isn't open forever. We need to move quickly if we're going to make a decision."
As they moved deeper into the layer, Aryan's mind was a whirl of plans and contingencies. He needed to be cautious, not just with the Third Alliance but with Kai in particular. Something wasn't right, and Aryan was determined to find out what it was.
With a mix of curiosity and suspicion, Aryan decided to join the Third Alliance—for now. He had a plan, a cunning strategy that would allow him to size up the leaders and make his move when the time was right. This was just the beginning. Aryan's smile widened as he thought about the power he would eventually wield, not just within the Third Alliance but across the entire game.