The Fall of Baron Grant
Baron Grant could barely sleep.
The once-proud noble, who had spent years manipulating the system to enrich himself, now sat in his private study, his trembling fingers gripping a half-empty goblet of wine. His estate, once bustling with servants and business dealings, had grown eerily quiet. Rumors of his corruption had spread like wildfire, and already, his merchants had begun pulling out of deals.
But it wasn't just that.
That damned letter.
"You stole from the wrong people, Grant. Everything you built will crumble before your eyes. Sleep while you can, because tomorrow, the real nightmare begins."
His heartbeat pounded against his ribs. Who had sent it?
Was it one of his enemies? A rival noble? A vengeful merchant?
Or was it something… worse?
He shook his head. No, it was just paranoia. He had been careful. He had covered his tracks. There was no way anyone could truly destroy him.
Right?
🔺 [ QUEST PROGRESS: Baron Grant's downfall accelerates… ]
Kieran watched from the shadows, a smirk tugging at his lips.
His first real target was finally beginning to crack.
But this was just the first stage.
A simple rumor wasn't enough to break a man like Baron Grant. No, Kieran needed to strip him of everything—his wealth, his allies, and most importantly, his mind.
He opened his Pain-Linked System, scrolling through his available abilities and quests.
🔻 [ PAIN-LINKED SYSTEM: STATUS MENU ] 🔻
🔹 Name: Kieran Vale🔹 Title: The Ruthless Nemesis🔹 Level: 4 (Executioner's Hand)🔹 Pain Power: 3,150
📊 Strength: 16📊 Intelligence: 27📊 Charisma: 18📊 Willpower: 32
🔻 [ NEWLY UNLOCKED SKILLS ]🔥 Whispers of Deception (Active) – Induces paranoia and distrust in targets.🔥 Haunting Echoes (Passive) – Victims hear voices of their sins and past regrets.
🔻 [ QUEST OBJECTIVE: RUIN BARON GRANT COMPLETELY ]🛑 Stage 1: Spread rumors of his corruption ✅🛑 Stage 2: Ruin his financial standing 🔄 (In Progress)🛑 Stage 3: Ensure he is publicly humiliated ❌
Kieran tapped on Whispers of Deception, activating it with a single thought.
A cold mist swirled around him, invisible to the average eye but potent in its effects.
Within moments, Baron Grant jerked upright in his chair, his eyes darting around wildly.
Then, the whispers began.
"They know, Grant. They're watching. They're waiting."
"Your allies are abandoning you."
"Lucien will not protect you."
"It's over."
Grant clutched his head, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "No… No, that's not true! I still have power!"
But did he?
In the morning, he would find out just how wrong he was.
The next day, Baron Grant stormed into Lucien Vale's private study.
"Lucien!" he bellowed. "We need to act—now!"
Lucien, seated behind his massive oak desk, raised an eyebrow, barely glancing up from his paperwork. "Baron Grant. To what do I owe this… loud disturbance?"
"You know damn well why I'm here!" Grant seethed. "My name is being dragged through the mud! You promised me protection, yet my business partners are pulling out left and right! Do something!"
Lucien sighed, setting his quill aside. "And why, exactly, should I interfere?"
Grant froze. What?
"Y-You promised—"
"I promised nothing, Baron," Lucien interrupted, his voice smooth, cold. "I suggested that your loyalty to me would be beneficial. But now? You are proving more trouble than you're worth."
Grant felt his stomach drop. "Lucien, I—"
"Do clean up your mess, Baron," Lucien said dismissively. "And next time, don't come here demanding things that were never yours to begin with."
He waved him away like an insect.
Grant stumbled out of the office, his face pale.
He had been discarded. Just like that.
🔺 [ QUEST UPDATE: Baron Grant has lost his strongest ally. ]🔺 [ REWARD: +10 Intelligence ]
Kieran chuckled from the shadows of the corridor.
The final stage was ready.
Tomorrow, Baron Grant would be ruined publicly, in front of the entire nobility.
And Kieran would be watching.
"Sleep well, Grant. Tomorrow, your nightmare becomes reality."
🔺 [ SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT ]💀 The greater their suffering, the greater your power. Make them regret their existence.