Advantage

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Warning

The following novel contains material that may be harmful or traumatic to some readers.It contains graphic descriptions of murder, violence, and other unpleasant text.

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* images in "Characters" section are AI Generated Images and serve as inspiration and may not fully represent the author's vision. *

For a better experience, I recommend opening the Characters section so you can visualize the character as accurately as possible. The descriptions here will not be very detailed.

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"You said dealing with him was dangerous! Why the change?" Synn demands, her voice sharp with surprise.

Gideon thinks for a moment.

But his hatred for Alandr?

That's worth making an exception.

"That bastard got me plenty of goods I needed…" he mutters.

And then—he smiles.

He remembers the glorious explosion.

The perfect humiliation of Alandr.

"If it weren't for his devil's Dust, I wouldn't be sleeping with these whores and drowning myself in booze last night!"

And then—

He bursts into laughter.

Loud. Disgusting. Merciless.

His booming cackle bounces off the walls, thick and raw.

Synn shudders.

Not because of Gideon.

But because of what he's planning next.

Because if he wants more Dust…

That means trouble.

Bigger trouble than they already have.

And who knows where he plans to set it off this time?

Synn takes a deep breath, keeping her voice steady.

"I take it... you want more Dust?" she asks.

"Is that really a good idea? Now, when the walls are being watched more than ever?"

Gideon slaps his belly.

His fat, disgusting gut jiggles like a slab of jelly.

"You see this belly, little spider?"

His hand moves up—to his head.

"It's big because…" He taps his temple.

"I've got a big brain."

With a heavy grunt, he starts pushing himself to his feet.

It's a struggle.

His meaty body trembles, but he manages.

And heads toward his private room.

"It's not what's on the surface that matters, Synn…" he mutters.

Then, he chuckles.

"It's what lies beneath."

Synn frowns.

Without a word, she follows him inside and shuts the door.

Gideon heads straight to his desk.

For a moment, he rummages through piles of papers.

And then?

He finds it.

A piece of paper.

He hands it to Synn.

She takes it.

It's a map.

A detailed map of the Ghetto's sewer system.

"Yeah, my little Synn…" Gideon murmurs, leaning against the desk.

The desk groans under his weight.

"The sewers are what make my empire massive."

Synn's eyes scan the map.

Every detail.

Every connection.

Every black-marked point.

And then… Gideon speaks again.

"During the Eon of Damnation, the highest of the high agreed to create the Ghetto… But everything happened so fast, they overlooked a few tiny little details."

He pauses.

Lets Synn absorb his words.

And then—he points at the map.

"Those black-marked spots… those are the connections between the Ghetto's sewers and the rest of the city's underground."

Synn freezes.

She understands exactly what Gideon is getting at.

And he knows it.

"Back then, they figured they could just dump some rubble into these tunnels and call it a day." He laughs.

"And then? They could go home and fuck."

A wicked chuckle rumbles from Gideon's throat.

Synn says nothing.

"But what they didn't consider…" he continues, his voice smooth as poison, "…is that one day, someone as smart as me might come along."

Synn looks at him.

"So you've been smuggling through the sewers this whole time?" Her voice is cold. Direct.

Gideon shakes his head.

"Not the whole time…" he says lazily, running a hand over his chin. "But recently? I've taken the business to its full potential."

He smiles.

"Vulturism is booming."

"The kids travel through the tunnels with no trouble… And I sell them to the big shots in the Kingdom of Dwallish, the Kingdom of Daria."

Synn doesn't even blink.

Gideon narrows his eyes and continues.

"Besides that? Booze. Whores. Food. And…"

His grin widens.

"Weapons."

"I have so many of my men scattered throughout the city…" He shakes his head.

"And no one even knows."

And then, in the most satisfied tone imaginable, he adds:

"In short… Alandr is already dead.

He just doesn't know it yet."

"I haave so fucking big advantage."

Laughter.

That same disgusting laughter as before.

Synn stays silent.

A chill runs down her spine.

But then…

One question.

One last question.

"So this time… You're not using the Dust in the Ghetto?!" she asks, her voice deadly serious.

Gideon watches her for a moment.

He smiles.

Then—

The smile vanishes.

And what remains is a hard, merciless stare.

"You can bet your fucking life on it."

Silence.

Then, Gideon leans forward slightly.

"That little rodeo with Alandr yesterday?"

"That was just letting him taste a fraction of my true power."

And then—with a proud, unshakable certainty—he declares:

"All I need now is the Dust…

And Alandr is officially…

Defeated."

Synn?

She says nothing.

Because in her mind…

Only one thought surfaces.

This is spiraling out of control.

Synn is completely stunned.

Gideon's cunning. His deceitfulness.

This isn't just some fat, disgusting King of the Ghetto.

This is something far worse.

His ability to plan, to control the situation—

It's terrifying.

She doesn't stand a chance against him.

Without a word, she hands the paper back.

Gideon just grins.

"So… set up a meeting with Ereboreth as soon as possible."

"And don't worry… you won't walk away empty-handed."

His grin widens.

"Once I take over this cursed city…"

"You'll make a fine piece on my board."

He says it outright. No sugarcoating.

Then, he scratches his belly, as if he had just discussed something trivial.

Synn gives him a blank nod.

And turns to leave.

But when she opens the door—

"Before you go, Synn…"

Gideon's voice stops her.

She pauses in the doorway.

Doesn't turn around. Waits.

And then…

"Be careful with that whore's son."

Synn freezes.

"Don't forget—his mother might be in your grasp…"

"But his father? That's a whole different story."

A chill runs down her spine.

Slowly, Synn turns around.

And her murderous gaze locks onto Gideon's eyes.

But this time—

Gideon is not smirking. Not mocking. Not amused.

His expression is serious.

"You think I didn't know why you're so desperate to find him?"

His smile returns.

But this time…

It's different.

"He was the only bastard in this Ghetto I never dared to take."

"Because I don't like inviting trouble, Synn."

Synn doesn't answer.

She just watches.

"So… even if you do manage to catch him…"

Gideon's expression changes.

The smile vanishes.

His eyes darken.

And suddenly—

Standing before her isn't just Gideon.

It's something else.

Something cold. Something deadly.

His stare cuts through her like a blade.

"Don't lay a hand on him."

Silence.

And then—the final words.

"Because if you do…

It won't be him who kills you."

"It will be me."

And then?

As if nothing happened.

Gideon turns back to his desk.

Starts rummaging through his things.

Synn?

Synn takes a deep breath.

Because for the first time…

She feels desperately weak in his presence.

And why?

Because they started talking about him...

Him...

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Room of Recruits, Magnus Murus

Celestis Calendar: Day 13, Month of Raphaelis (3/9)

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A night in an unfamiliar place is a new experience for me.

I couldn't sleep, but I don't feel tired either.

The bed is comfortable, and the food wasn't bad. But still… something feels off.

Like the walls are watching me.

Watching everything I do.

I sigh.

I sit up, and I notice the others are waking up too.

"So, how was your first night? Good?" asks Sasha, now fully awake beside me.

I glance at her, feeling… strange.

"Not really. I couldn't sleep." I admit.

"I get that. It's new for me too. But this is the first time I've slept in a real bed!" Sasha says, her voice filled with happiness.

Her words… they feel familiar.

"Tira... Yesterday, you didn't want to answer question… Where did they take you?" Sasha asks.

And she's right.

I didn't want to talk about it.

Even now, it lingers in my mind—what that woman… Celeste told me.

Yesterday, my thoughts waged war between running away and considering her offer.

I don't know. I'm still unsure.

But she spoke to me like she had been through the same thing.

If she had…

She chose this life.

And judging by her expression, it seemed to suit her.

But we are not the same.

...

I think.

I want opportunities.

A new life—one that doesn't begin… like this.

But then again…

When I saw those Wardens yesterday, something about them stuck in my mind.

I'm good at sneaking, sure. But those combat skills… they could be useful.

And more than anything—I need direction.

Because honestly?

Since leaving the walls, I've never really thought about a future I actually wanted.

But now…

Now that I've left the only person who ever mattered to me…

I have to seize this chance.

I must.

…

I sigh.

Maybe I'll stay after all.

I stand up, stretch a little, and glance at Sasha.

"They took me to see the Lady boss here." I say.

Sasha's eyes widen in surprise.

"The boss… is a woman?!" she exclaims, suddenly excited.

"That's amazing! Maybe she'll be more understanding… of… my total incompetence." she adds sheepishly.

I give her a look.

Celeste did seem like someone who understood me.

But at the same time…

I could tell—she was tough.

Really tough.

"

"Probably." I say with a smile, trying to reassure Sasha.

As we talk, Marcel Voss walks past our beds.

Emotionless.

Doesn't look at anyone.

Just focused on himself.

I wonder what's going through his head…

(Door Opening)

A masked Warden enters the room.

We all freeze, eyes locked on him.

He gestures for us to line up.

Sasha and I exchange glances, then move forward first—

But Marcel shoves ahead.

So I end up second.

Sasha, third.

The rest follow behind.

The Warden turns and leads the way.

We follow without question.

Marcel… he doesn't seem to have any problem being here.

He obeys like a trained dog.

…

His face.

It's destroyed.

What the hell did Gideon do to him?

Everyone in the Ghetto knows he's a sadistic pig.

But torturing his own son? And this much?

Disgusting.

…

After a while, we arrive—

The same place I was yesterday.

Where I spoke with Celeste.

The others are wide-eyed.

Except for Marcel. Of course.

I feel the same.

I've been here before.

But I've never seen this many Wardens gathered at once.

At least a few hundred?

And look at that…

Celeste stands in the center, her gaze firm as she scans all of us—the new recruits.

Her eyes meet mine.

The Warden leads us forward, positioning us directly in front of her.

We stand in line, watching. Waiting.

Celeste, hands clasped behind her back, studies each of us.

Like she's assessing.

Looking for weaknesses.

Looking for strength.

She's reading us.

And then—she stops.

"First and foremost—welcome to Magnus Murus!" Celeste announces.

The Wardens erupt into applause.

As if this was the greatest honor we could receive.

We exchange confused glances.

Celeste raises a single hand—

And silence falls instantly.

They obey her without question.

"Magnus Murus is salvation for some of you."

"Here, you will face your greatest fears… but also uncover the greatest treasures of your soul."

"Our order is an unshakable pillar of our Patron's will… the Archangel Jeremiah!"

"To him, we owe everything you see before you."

"You will undergo intense training—both physically and mentally. Here, you will learn to take lives… and to save them."

"To endure pain… and to inflict it."

"To defeat the darkness… and to understand it." Celeste's voice turns almost mystical.

Then, she speaks words in a language I don't recognize.

"Clavis victoriae est tenebras intus dominari."

And instantly—I remember.

The same words carved into the door I saw yesterday.

Words that seared themselves into my memory.

"The words of our Order… the words of our purpose."

"The key to victory… is to master the darkness within!"

(Clavis victoriae est tenebras intus dominari.!!)

Immediately, all the Wardens begin chanting the Order's motto in unison.

Celeste smiles.

"Once you are ready, each of you will face the most crucial step… the Ritualis Duplex Gladii."

"If your soul, after our training, is prepared to accept and master this ritual… you will become full-fledged Wardens, dedicating your life to this Order!"

One of the Wardens approaches Celeste, carrying a book and a quill.

She takes them and steps back into position.

"I will call each of you forward, one by one."

"You will undergo a series of tasks to showcase your abilities. And in the end, you will receive one simple question—one with only one… correct answer."

"You will then be evaluated on a scale from 1 to 10. One being the lowest. Ten being the highest."

…

"Before we begin, let me give you one piece of advice…" Celeste's expression darkens.

"Do not succumb to the temptations of darkness. But learn to understand it."

Then—she opens the book.

This is going to be fucking interesting.

"The first to begin…" Celeste's gaze locks onto—

"Marcel Voss!"

To be continued...

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