Chapter 40: A Test Of Strength

The deal was set: Graves would arrange a meeting with Captain Thomas Blake at their usual spot—a secluded alley near an abandoned factory that they used to avoid prying eyes. It was Blake's territory, and I wasn't walking into it without preparation.

I positioned my squad strategically in the surrounding area, each member equipped with sniper rifles and comms. John and I waited in the shadows, blending into the darkness, our ears tuned to every word exchanged between Graves and Blake.

The sound of gravel crunching under boots broke the silence as Blake arrived, flanked by two members of his SWAT team. He was an imposing figure, his broad shoulders and sharp eyes exuding confidence and authority. Graves looked more nervous than usual, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he extended a hand to Blake.

"You called for me, Graves. This better be important," Blake said, his voice gruff and filled with suspicion.

Graves nodded, his voice shaky but steady enough to get the job done. "It's about Cassandra. Things are shifting, and I needed to talk to you face-to-face."

Blake scoffed. "You? Shifting things? Don't make me laugh, Graves. I've always known you were spineless, but I didn't think you'd sink this low."

That was my cue. John and I stepped out of the shadows, our footsteps deliberate and calm, as if we were simply out for a stroll. Blake's eyes immediately locked onto us, narrowing in suspicion.

"Who are they?" Blake asked, though his tone suggested he already knew.

Graves glanced at me, his fear palpable. I nodded slightly, reassuring him that his part was done.

"We're the ones turning the tide," I said, my voice steady and measured. "I'm William, and this is John. We're here to have a conversation with you, Captain."

Blake leaned back slightly, his arms crossed. "A conversation? Is that what you call sneaking around and dragging Graves into your mess?"

"It's not a mess, Captain," I replied. "It's an opportunity. One you'd be wise to take."

Blake chuckled darkly. "Opportunity? Spare me the speeches. Graves was always a coward. I'm not surprised he folded, but I'm not him. Whatever you're selling, I'm not buying."

John stepped forward, his expression calm but deadly. "You don't even know what's on the table yet, Captain. Maybe you should hear us out before you make assumptions."

Blake's eyes darted between us, weighing his options. "Fine. You've got two minutes. Convince me."

I stepped closer, locking eyes with Blake. "Cassandra's empire is crumbling. You've seen the cracks forming. The politicians are turning, the law enforcement she's bought is folding one by one. It's only a matter of time before she falls, and when she does, anyone still tied to her goes down too. Including you."

Blake smirked, leaning against a nearby wall. "You think I'm scared? I've faced worse than you in my career."

"I'm not here to scare you," I said, my tone even. "I'm here to offer you a way out—a chance to be on the winning side. You don't have to go down with her ship, Captain. You can rise above it."

Blake's smirk faltered slightly, but he quickly covered it up. "And what makes you think you're the winning side?"

"Because I don't make promises I can't keep," I said firmly. "You think Cassandra values you? You're just another pawn in her game. With us, you'll have power, freedom, and control. All I ask is loyalty."

Blake's eyes narrowed. "Loyalty? That's a big ask from a man I just met."

Before I could respond, the sound of boots hitting the ground echoed through the alley. Blake's SWAT team appeared, rifles aimed at us.

"I figured you'd have a backup plan," Blake said with a grin. "But so do I."

John and I didn't flinch. Instead, I tapped the comm in my ear. "Positions."

In an instant, red laser sights appeared on each member of Blake's SWAT team, glowing ominously in the dim light. The men froze, their eyes darting around nervously.

"Your men have clear shots on us," I said calmly. "But we've got clear shots on them. This doesn't have to end in bloodshed, Captain."

Blake raised a hand, signaling his men to lower their weapons. "Stand down," he said, his voice commanding.

His team hesitated but obeyed, their rifles dropping to their sides.

Blake turned back to me, his grin returning. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But I don't follow anyone who hasn't earned it. If you want my loyalty, you'll have to take it by force."

I raised an eyebrow. "You want to fight me?"

Blake cracked his knuckles. "One-on-one. No weapons. If you can beat me, I'll listen to what you have to say. If not, you walk away and never come near me again."

John looked at me, concern flickering in his eyes. "Are you sure about this?"

I nodded, stepping forward. "I'll take those odds."

Blake was fast—faster than I'd anticipated for a man his size. He lunged at me with a powerful punch, but I sidestepped just in time, countering with a swift jab to his ribs. He grunted but recovered quickly, swinging his leg in a wide arc.

I ducked, feeling the air whoosh past my head as his kick narrowly missed. Using his momentum against him, I grabbed his arm and twisted, forcing him to the ground. But Blake wasn't done. He rolled, breaking my grip, and sprang to his feet, delivering a sharp elbow to my side.

Pain shot through my ribs, but I didn't let it slow me down. I retaliated with a series of rapid punches, each one landing with precision. Blake staggered but managed to block the last blow, countering with a headbutt that sent me reeling.

"You're good," he said, breathing heavily. "But I'm better."

"We'll see about that," I replied, wiping blood from my lip.

The fight continued, each of us trading blows in a deadly dance. Blake's strength was impressive, but I had speed and strategy on my side. I used his overconfidence against him, baiting him into leaving openings and exploiting them ruthlessly.

Finally, I saw my chance. As he swung at me with a wild punch, I ducked and delivered a devastating uppercut to his jaw. He stumbled back, dazed, and I followed up with a kick to his chest, sending him crashing to the ground.

Blake lay there for a moment, breathing heavily. Then, to my surprise, he started laughing.

"You've got guts, kid," he said, sitting up. "Fine. I'm in. You've earned my loyalty—for now."

I extended a hand to help him up. "That's all I ask."

Blake ordered his men to stand down completely, and we left the alley with an uneasy alliance forged in blood and sweat. As we walked away, John looked at me, a smirk on his face.

"Didn't think you had it in you," he said.

"Neither did I," I admitted, my ribs still aching.

But this was just one more step in our mission. The pieces were falling into place, and soon, Cassandra's empire would crumble. One way or another.

Blake dusted himself off, his movements slow and deliberate, as though every muscle in his body protested after our grueling fight. His men stood in the background, visibly uneasy after witnessing their leader being bested. Despite his grudging acceptance, something about Blake didn't sit right with me. He was unpredictable—a man who respected strength but had no qualms about switching sides if it served his interests.

As we exited the alley, I glanced at John, signaling for him to take point. Once we were out of earshot of Blake's men, I tapped the small device in my ear.

"Hathor," I murmured.

"Yes, William?" her familiar voice purred into my mind.

I glanced over my shoulder to ensure no one could overhear. "Blake is stronger than the others—mentally and physically. The Loyalty Bind Serum worked on Graves and Chavez, but I don't trust Blake to stay loyal. Is there something stronger in the system? Something that can ensure he doesn't betray us?"

There was a pause as Hathor consulted the system's inventory. "There is something," she finally replied. "It's called the Absolute Oath Sigil. Unlike the Loyalty Bind Serum, which compels loyalty on a chemical level, the sigil operates on a metaphysical plane. Once applied, the subject is bound by an unbreakable contract. If they even think about betraying you, they'll suffer unbearable pain until their intentions change—or they die. But…"

"But what?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"It comes at a high cost," Hathor warned. "The sigil requires an intense mental and physical imprinting process. You'd need to gain Blake's explicit consent to activate it, and it can only be applied under very specific conditions."

I exhaled sharply. "Specific how?"

"It requires the subject to willingly accept the binding terms after they've been completely broken—either mentally, emotionally, or physically. You'll need to push Blake further than you already have, strip away any remaining defiance, and make him submit entirely to your will."

John glanced at me as I muttered under my breath. "Great. Just what I needed—another headache."

"Do you wish to purchase the item?" Hathor asked.

"How much?"

"$25,000," she replied smoothly.

I winced. That was steep, even with the wealth I'd been amassing from my side hustles. Still, this wasn't the time to be frugal. Blake was a key player, and if he turned on us at the wrong moment, the entire operation could crumble.

"Buy it," I said without hesitation.

A faint glow appeared in my hand as the Absolute Oath Sigil materialized. It was a small, intricately designed emblem, pulsating faintly with an otherworldly light. I quickly slipped it into my pocket, ensuring no one else could see it.

As we walked back to the car, John finally broke the silence. "You don't trust him, do you?"

"Not even a little," I admitted.

John nodded. "Smart. Blake's the kind of guy who respects power, but only until someone stronger comes along. If we're not careful, he could be more dangerous than Cassandra herself."

"That's why I've got a backup plan," I said, patting the pocket where the sigil rested. "If Blake thinks he can outplay us, he's in for a rude awakening."

John smirked. "I don't know what you've got up your sleeve, but I'm looking forward to seeing it in action."

ater that evening, I received a message from Graves. Blake wanted to meet again to discuss his "terms." It wasn't surprising—men like Blake always thought they could negotiate their way into a better deal.

The meeting was set for the following night at an old, run-down warehouse on the outskirts of the city. It was a perfect setting—isolated, quiet, and far from prying eyes. I arrived with John and a small contingent of my men, all stationed strategically around the building.

Inside, Blake was waiting, his arms crossed and a smug grin on his face. His men were conspicuously absent, a move that made me both suspicious and slightly impressed.

"William," he said, his tone almost friendly. "I've been thinking about our little arrangement."

"Have you now?" I replied, keeping my voice calm.

Blake nodded. "I'll admit, you've got guts. And you've proven you can hold your own. But loyalty? That's not something I give freely. If you want me on your side, I need assurances."

"And what kind of assurances are you looking for?" I asked, already anticipating his answer.

Blake leaned back against a crate, his posture casual but his eyes sharp. "Power. Influence. A seat at the table when this is all over. I don't work for anyone—I work with them."

I tilted my head, pretending to consider his words. "Fair enough. But tell me something, Captain—what happens when Cassandra realizes you've switched sides? Do you really think she'll let you walk away unscathed?"

Blake's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second.

"She's not your friend, Blake," I continued. "She's your leash. You think you're free, but you're just another pawn in her game. With us, you have a chance to break free, to carve out your own destiny. But only if you're willing to fully commit."

Blake studied me, his expression unreadable. "And what if I don't fully commit? What if I decide to hedge my bets and play both sides?"

I smiled faintly. "Then you'll regret it. I can promise you that."

Blake chuckled, shaking his head. "You've got a way with words, I'll give you that. But I'm not convinced."

"That's fine," I said, pulling the Absolute Oath Sigil from my pocket. "Because this will do the convincing for me."

Blake's eyes narrowed as he stared at the glowing emblem. "What the hell is that?"

"It's a binding contract," I said simply. "Once this is activated, you'll be unable to betray me without suffering the consequences. It's your choice, Blake—submit willingly, or keep playing your dangerous game with Cassandra. But know this: the next time you even think about crossing me, it'll be the last thing you ever do."

Blake's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. For a moment, I thought he might attack me again. But then he exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping.

"Fine," he said grudgingly. "Let's get this over with."

I placed the sigil against his chest, murmuring the activation phrase Hathor had provided. A faint light enveloped Blake, and he winced as the binding took hold. When it was done, he looked up at me, his expression a mixture of anger and resignation.

"You're a ruthless bastard, William," he said.

"I prefer the term 'effective,'" I replied with a smirk.

And just like that, Captain Thomas Blake was mine.