The Ascent of the Hidden Star

Lord Arkadius no longer looked at me as a child. I was his secret advisor, the mastermind behind his growing successes. He trusted my judgment almost blindly, something I couldn't have imagined in my past life. Back then, it had taken years of loyal service and sacrifices before I could earn his complete trust. But this time, I had shortened the path thanks to my knowledge of the future.

Profits flowed from the silver mine, and Lord Arkadius's influence began to expand in the region. He was no longer just a promising young noble, but a force to be reckoned with. And, of course, I was the shadow standing behind this rapid ascent.

I didn't just provide general advice. I intervened in the smallest details, from choosing the mine supervisors to determining the safest trade routes, and even in selecting the most loyal guards. I used my knowledge of people's characters and motivations to ensure that every piece in this complex game moved according to my plans.

As Lord Arkadius's wealth and influence grew, some dissenting voices began to emerge. Some older nobles were jealous of his rapid rise, while some rival merchants were trying to hinder his progress.

I remember Lord Sylvanus well, an old noble with significant influence in the royal court. He hated Lord Arkadius because of an old feud between their families. Sylvanus began to spread rumors about Arkadius, trying to tarnish his reputation and undermine his authority.

In my past life, it had taken us a long time to deal with Sylvanus, and he had caused us a lot of trouble. But this time, I was prepared.

I listened to the rumors Sylvanus was spreading, and then I gathered some information about his past. I discovered some dark secrets he was trying to hide, including some large debts and an illegitimate affair.

I told Lord Arkadius what I had discovered and suggested that he use this information to blackmail Sylvanus into silence. At first, Arkadius hesitated, but I convinced him that this was the only option to protect his interests.

In the end, Arkadius agreed to my plan. Sylvanus's secrets were revealed, his reputation was tarnished, and he lost much of his influence. He was no longer a threat to us.

This was my first real test of hidden power. I learned that knowledge is the strongest weapon, and that manipulating information can be more effective than any military force.

In addition to managing Lord Arkadius's affairs, I also began to develop my own skills. I trained in swordsmanship with the best instructors Arkadius hired. I learned martial arts, and I strengthened my small body. I knew I would need to be able to defend myself in the future.

I also continued my studies. I read every book I could get my hands on, learned new languages, and studied history and geography in greater depth. I knew that knowledge was the key to true power.

But the most important thing I was working on was building my own network of influence. I began to befriend some of the trusted servants and guards in Lord Arkadius's manor. I gave them small gifts and favors, listened to their problems, and earned their trust.

I knew that these people would be my eyes and ears in the future, and their loyalty to me would be more important than their loyalty to anyone else.

One day, while I was talking to an old servant who had worked in the manor for many years, I overheard him talking about an ancient artifact hidden somewhere in the manor. He said that this artifact possessed great magical power.

I remembered this artifact from my past life. It was indeed a powerful item, and it had played a significant role in the events that led to my rise to power.

I decided that I needed to acquire this artifact. I didn't know exactly how I would use it, but I felt that it would be of great value in the future.

I began to search for information about its whereabouts. I talked to more servants, and I read some old documents in the manor's library. Eventually, I managed to narrow down the search to an old crypt beneath the manor.

On a dark night, I sneaked into the crypt. The place was dark, cold, and filled with dust. But I wasn't afraid. I knew what I was looking for.

After searching for some time, I found an old wooden chest hidden behind a collapsed wall. I carefully opened the chest and found inside it a small statue made of shiny black metal. The statue was in the shape of a serpent coiled around a human skull.

I felt a strange power emanating from the statue. It was a dark and potent power, but it wasn't frightening. Somehow, I felt like it was calling to me.

I took the statue and returned with it to my room. I hid it in a safe place and decided that I would study its power and how to use it later.

Obtaining this artifact was a major victory for me. I felt like I had taken another step closer to achieving my goals.

Years passed quickly. I grew older and became a young man, but I retained my intelligence and shrewdness that surpassed my age. Lord Arkadius relied on me completely, and I became his right-hand man in everything.

We expanded our trading operations to include other regions, and we no longer depended solely on the silver mine. We were investing in land, building factories, and trading in luxury goods. Our wealth and influence became immense.

But I wasn't satisfied. I wanted more. I didn't just want to be the second most powerful person. I wanted to be the first.

I began to think about how to achieve that. I knew that Lord Arkadius was ambitious, but he was also loyal to the King. He wouldn't betray his loyalty easily.

Therefore, I decided that I needed to create an opportunity. An opportunity that would put me in a position of greater power than Lord Arkadius.

I began to plan carefully. I used my network of influence to gather information, manipulate events, and sow seeds of discord in the royal court.

I knew that there was a power struggle brewing between the King and his eldest son. The King was old and weak, and the Crown Prince was young and ambitious.

I decided that I would support the Prince. I knew that he would be a weak and easily swayed king, and I could manipulate him easily.

I began to secretly provide financial and political support to the Prince. I used my influence within the royal court to sway the decisions made by the King in the Prince's favor.

I also began to spread rumors about the King, trying to tarnish his reputation and weaken his authority. I used my spies to spread lies and fabricated news, which led to a decline in his popularity among the people.

Lord Arkadius was worried about these events. He was loyal to the King and didn't want to see the kingdom descend into civil war.

He tried to persuade me to stop supporting the Prince, but I refused to listen to him. I was determined to achieve my goals, and I wouldn't let anything or anyone stand in my way.

In the end, tensions between the King and the Prince escalated, and a civil war broke out. The kingdom was divided, and fighting began between the two factions.

Lord Arkadius sided with the King, while I secretly supported the Prince. It was a dangerous game, but I was confident that I would emerge victorious.

I used my wealth and influence to arm and fund the Prince's army. I provided him with strategic advice and helped him make difficult decisions.

Thanks to my help, the Prince began to achieve victories over the King's forces. The tide of the war began to turn in his favor.

Lord Arkadius was feeling desperate and frustrated. He watched as the kingdom fell apart, and he was unable to do anything to stop it.

One night, Lord Arkadius came to me in anger. "Rain, what are you doing? You are destroying the kingdom!"

I looked at him coldly and said, "I am building my future."

"Your future? At the cost of innocent lives?"

"Power requires sacrifices."

"You have changed, Rain. You are no longer the clever child I knew."

"I have grown up, my Lord. I have learned that the world is not a fair place. If you want to survive, you have to be stronger than others."

In that moment, I saw in Lord Arkadius's eyes a look of sadness and despair. He realized that I had crossed the point of no return.

There was nothing more he could say to me. He turned and left, leaving me alone with my dark ambitions.

I didn't regret my decision. I knew what I wanted, and I was willing to do anything to achieve it.

The civil war lasted for many years, but in the end, the Prince emerged victorious. He became the new King, and I was the man standing behind the throne.

I had achieved my goal. I had become the most powerful man in the kingdom. But the victory had come at a price. I had lost my old friend, and many innocent lives had been lost.

But in my eyes, the price was worth it. I was now in a position of power that no one could have imagined.

And now… I began to think about the next step. This kingdom was not enough for me. I wanted more. I wanted to rule the entire world.

I looked at the small statue of the serpent coiled around the skull. I felt its dark power thrumming in my hand. I knew that this statue would be the key to achieving my greater ambitions.

My ascent had only just begun. And I knew that I wouldn't stop until I ruled everything.