Sienna leaned back slightly, her tone calm but sure. "Whether this title gets approved or not isn't for me to decide. But I believe…" Her gaze met Aiden's, sharp and full of light. "You're not the kind of man who acts without thought. Am I right?" Aiden said nothing. It had been ages since someone looked at him with that kind of trust. "Alright," Sienna said softly. "That's enough talk about this. You saved Leafport. That's what matters. You earned what's coming to you." She didn't press further. Her lips curved into a small, composed smile. A few more minutes of talk followed—details no one cared about. Then the others began to leave one by one. When the hall finally emptied, quiet settled over the place like dust. The meeting was done. Leafport.Two figures walked side by side down the empty street. One was young, the other older. The night air was cold, carrying the faint scent of smoke. Merrick glanced sideways at Aiden, his eyes full of confusion and frustration. He had been there through everything. He had seen it all—from the moment the plan was set, to the invasion, to the end. Every step. Every turn. Every result. To call any of it coincidence would have been laughable. The city had been on the edge of ruin, yet somehow, the kid beside him had walked away richer than ever. The thought made Merrick's stomach twist. He'd spent his days fighting and barely survived, and this boy made more from it than anyone. Compared to Aiden, he felt like a rookie who hadn't even earned his uniform."Merrick." Aiden stopped suddenly. "I've got a proposition." "I'm not interested." Merrick didn't even blink. His tone was dry and flat. He didn't know what Aiden was plotting, but he was sure it wasn't good. He wasn't about to fall for whatever trap the kid had in mind. "Well, that's too bad," Aiden said lightly. "I was about to offer you something, but… forget it." He gave a careless shrug and started walking again. Merrick scoffed under his breath, shaking his head. Cute. Playing the bait game now? He wasn't the kind of man who'd bite. They both kept walking, their steps echoing on the stone street, until the lights of Westhand faded behind them and silence swallowed the road. Merrick finally broke the silence. "Alright, kid. Out with it. What kind of trick are you pulling this time?" Aiden's lips curved faintly. "Nothing shady. Westhand needs someone dependable to keep things steady. You're powerful, Merrick. You'd fit perfectly." Merrick narrowed his eyes. "So, you want me working for you?" "Not exactly," Aiden replied, calm as ever. "Just your name. It'll be enough to keep people in line." Merrick let out a cold laugh. His stare was sharp. "Oh, sure. Sounds easy until something the size of a dragon crawls out again. You think I'm stupid enough to fall for that twice? "I'm still an elder of the Hall of Supremes. Coming to Leafport already broke the rules. If I attach my name to anything else, it'll look bad. "I appreciate the thought," he added, waving a hand, "but no. If you need a favor someday, we can trade. That's all." It was clear he wanted no part of this.His excuse came out smooth, too smooth. Aiden's tone didn't change. "In time, I'll have some information. Something valuable. Like the Fountain of Holy Spirits." Merrick froze. Then he lunged forward, grabbing Aiden's hands like his life depended on it. His lips trembled as he spoke. "Please. Let me join your team." He glared at him. "Why didn't you say that sooner? You can't dangle that kind of secret and expect me to stay calm. What is wrong with you? You're playing with an old man's nerves!" Aiden blinked. "And the Hall of Supremes' rules?" Merrick waved it off. "Those old geezers made those rules just to feel useful. To hell with them. No one's going to listen to them." Aiden grinned, eyes gleaming. "I like your attitude." Then his tone grew serious. "But let me be honest, Merrick. My resources are limited. I can't say when I'll get this information."Merrick's face darkened. "So I'm working for free?" Aiden's expression was all sincerity. "It's not free. It's called selfless contribution. But hey, I don't force anyone. If it doesn't feel right, you can walk away." Merrick chuckled dryly. "Walk away? No. I'm a man of principle. I've always believed in giving back." Inside, he cursed silently. Principle, my *ss. You're fishing, and I'm the one biting. He knew exactly what Aiden was doing, but it didn't matter. Some traps were too tempting to resist. Nothing good ever came from partnering with this man. But the rewards were too great to resist. It was that twisted mix of pain and pleasure that no one could quite describe. He was trapped now. Completely. Aiden's lips curved slightly. "Then I'll be counting on you from here on out, Merrick."He hadn't said it on a whim. He'd meant every word.