The Extra Wants Control

The stark, black walls of Null headquarters pulsed with a faint dim light, casting an almost sterile glow on the eight figures gathered around the central console. Neveah, out of his disguise and back in his usual stoic form, listened intently as Eric, Harvey's son, spoke.

"We've encountered some problems, sir," Eric said, his young voice laced with a hint of nervousness. "Minor issues, really, but something you might want to know about."

"We can handle our own affairs, boy," Mavis, Neveah's vampire commander, interjected with a dismissive snort. Her crimson eyes glinted with a predatory gleam under the pale light. "No need to bother His Excellency with petty squabbles."

Neveah raised a hand, silencing Mavis. "Let him speak," he commanded, his voice a cold monotone. He valued efficiency; knowing potential problems before they escalated was key to maintaining control.

Eric shot her a withering look. "It's not that simple, Mavis. We anticipated the local nobility poking around, and the City Lord of Stonegate is already under our control. The problem now is the surrounding fiefdoms. Greed for Babel has ignited a spark, and they're threatening to attack Stonegate."

Harvey, ever the pragmatist, chimed in. "They smell an opportunity, Master. A chance to grab a piece of this… Babel phenomenon. They won't be easily dissuaded."

Amber, her voice laced with apprehension, finished his thought. "And once we engage in open conflict, it's like a domino effect. Other fiefdoms will see weakness. The conflict will escalate, drawing the attention of the Clan governing this region."

Amber's brows furrowed. "And when a Clan makes a move…"

Neveah finished the unspoken thought, his voice tinged with steel. "The Royals may get wind of it."

"Which Clan holds dominion over this region?" Neveah asked, his gaze sweeping across the faces before settling on Harvey.

Harvey cleared his throat. "The Rutherfords, sir. A powerful family known for their traditional ways and… well, not exactly known for their fondness for new ideas. They are now considered a declined family cause their 9 star patriarch is on his death bed but I still believe it's not wise to underestimate them."

Neveah steepled his fingers, his sharp red eyes reflecting the cold logic of his mind. "Rutherford, huh?" he said finally. He was reminded of a certain human with puppy-dog enthusiasm that had the same surname. "We'll deal with them when the time comes. For now, focus on keeping the local squabbles under control. Discourage the other fiefdoms from joining the fray.

As for Stonegate, know that an attack on the city is an attack on Babel itself. Babel should not fall."

The sterile air of Null headquarters hummed with the low whir of machinery and the holographic flicker of data displays. Neveah, his face a mask of cool calculation, surveyed the gathered members of his inner circle. Eric, a young man with eyes older than his years, stood beside his hulking father, Harvey.

Mavis, the vampire lieutenant, exuded an aura of predatory amusement, while Kael and Constantine, the silent twins, remained as enigmatic as ever.

Neveah's gaze landed on Mordecai, a lanky gorilla-kin whose pale skin and hunched posture gave him an air of perpetual unease and had a cut tail. "Mordecai," Neveah began, his voice a cold monotone, "did you and Harvey will focus on the social media platform I outlined?"

Mordecai gulped, his thin lips twitching. "Y-yes, sir," he stammered. "We've been diligently working on the runes, just as you instructed. It's almost done I'm imprinting security features currently."

Neveah tilted his head, his gaze lingering on Mordecai's excited form. This gorilla-kin was excellent engineer, despite not being blessed with the physical strength of the Ape kin, he develop his knowledge instead,his nimble fingers adept at manipulating technology.

"Yes, sir," Mordecai stammered, pushing his thick glasses further up his long, pointed nose. "About the app… it's a fascinating concept, this 'social media.'"

An amused snort escaped Amber, Neveah's most trusted advisor. Her green eyes, usually sharp and calculating, held a hint of amusement. "Fascinating indeed," she said, her voice smooth as polished marble. "The lack of 'connection' in this world is great , sir. Credit where credit is due, the idea of social media serves a dual purpose for Babel and Null."

Neveah tilted his head slightly, acknowledging Amber's point while smiling. "Elaborate," he said.

Amber, ever the entrepreneur, stepped forward and smirked. "Is this one of your tests sir? Very well. Babel, the public face, generates income. This app, with its potential for mass appeal, will be a major revenue stream. Null, on the other hand, will utilize the platform to build profiles on individuals.

People are remarkably forthcoming with details on these… social media posts. A goldmine of information, wouldn't you agree?"

A cruel smile played on Neveah's lips. "Indeed. Though a double-edged sword," he conceded. "Our rivals could employ the same tactics to gather information."

"True, sir," Amber replied, her smile turning predatory. "But the advantages far outweigh the risks. With the right marketing, this app can become popular. People crave entertainment, connection… a sense of belonging. We can offer them all of that, and more."

Neveah's gaze drifted to Mordecai, who was diligently taking notes. "Excellent. Now, listen closely," he said, his voice hardening. "I want this app marketed aggressively. We have slaves, courtesy of Eric's… endeavors. Use them.

Post pictures of the attractive ones – females, of course. Men will follow."

Amber's smile widened. "Brilliant," she purred. "And for a touch of authenticity, we can recruit adventurers, popular fighters. They showcase their skills in the app, draw in viewers… and get paid based on engagement. A win-win situation."

A satisfied smirk touched Neveah's lips. "Precisely, Amber. You know exactly what to do." A sense of anticipation thrummed through him.

"This social media platform, a tool for control and manipulation disguised as entertainment, would be Babel's true masterstroke. It would ensnare the humans, turning their very desires into weapons against them. And it can be used to spread propaganda effectively controlling information flow."

Neveah leaned back in his obsidian throne, a grim satisfaction etched on his face as he surveyed the reports presented by Amber. The low hum of the holographic display pulsed rhythmically, highlighting the statistics in stark blue light.

"Excellent work, Amber," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Securing the low-income earners in Stonegate is a shrewd move. They are the backbone of the city's economy, and having them dependent on Babel bank gives us somewhat of significant leverage. It's small but it's a start considering it's been only three days."

" I'm intrigued though, how did you get the low income commoners to trust B.Bank?"

" Well sir, I told them their money increases and we can give them good loans and many gladly deposit. You see people like easy money. I told them only that and they were hooked." Amber said.

Amber inclined her head, a predatory glint in her eyes. "And the 'gentle persuasion' on the City Lord has yielded a most fruitful result. This law mandating merchants and commoners to Babel Bank affiliation will solidify our control over Stonegate's financial landscape.

In time we'll popularize it among nobles especially the nobles how they can easily collect tax directly from the commoners using Babel."

Neveah's smirk widened. This was all going according to plan, perhaps even exceeding his expectations. "And your plans for the merchant and artisan guilds?" he inquired.

Amber's smile broadened. "A brilliant move, sir. These guilds, operating under Babel's banner, will expand our reach and influence beyond the confines of banking. We'll control the flow of goods, attract skilled individuals, and further cement Babel's position as the heart of Stonegate's economy."

"And Harvey, with his engineering prowess, will be instrumental in forming an artisan guild for alchemists and engineers," Neveah added, a flicker of appreciation flickering in his red eyes.

Neveah acknowledged, "the creation of an Alchemy and Engineering guild under Babel is another masterstroke. Monopolizing innovation fuels progress, and progress fuels power."

A dark chuckle escaped Mavis' lips, her crimson eyes gleaming with an unnerving hunger. "And I, of course," she purred, stepping forward, "will ensure these new guilds are filled with the most talented individuals Stonegate has to offer. My little birdies rarely disappoint when it comes to information gathering."

Neveah tilted his head, a contemplative frown marring his usually stoic expression. Mavis, sensing his unease, spoke before he could.

"Sir," she began, her voice laced with concern, "if Babel is to truly become a global force, maintaining Null headquarters beneath the city is becoming increasingly risky."

Neveah's frown deepened. "I know," he conceded, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "The humans will growing wary of the influence Babel will hold. Also if successful many powerful people will visit Babel and snoop around and they may find something unusual."

"Exactly, sir," Mavis interjected, her voice laced with a predatory edge. "We need a more secure location, one that allows for expansion and open recruitment."

"Maybe a territory in the Vampire continent," Neveah declared, his gaze resolute. "It will become Null's true headquarters, a place of power hidden in plain sight. This outpost in Stonegate will remain operational, but as a branch among many."

A heavy silence descended upon the room. This was a bold move, yes this would happen but not yet it was still early and Babel was developing.

Mavis stepped forward, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "If only you could unleash your full potential, sir," she purred. "Imagine the legions of shadow soldiers you could command then just like the queen. Even with your limitations, summoning them now would still bolster our forces."

Neveah shook his head, a grimace twisting his features. "Those soldiers, even at their peak, wouldn't be enough. Three-star strength… it wouldn't suffice for the battles to come."

He clenched his fist, frustration coursing through him. He was powerful, undoubtedly, but the limitations of his current form were a constant thorn in his side. He needed strength – raw, unbridled power – to truly achieve his ambitions.

"We'll find a way," Amber stated with steely resolve. "We always do. Until then, we'll work with what we have. We'll exploit every weakness, manipulate every situation to our advantage. Babel will rise, and with it, your influence."

"Alright then," he said, his voice a cold monotone, "let's focus on the immediate problems. Mavis," he added, turning to the young woman with crimson eyes and a fan perpetually obscuring her face, "send me the information I requested."

Mavis, her posture perpetually poised and elegant, bowed slightly. "At once, sir," she intoned, her voice a sultry whisper. With a flick of her wrist, the holographic screen shifted, displaying a detailed dossier on Viktor Maddox, the leader of the Dawn Guild.

"Kael, Constantine," Neveah called out the twins, rising from his obsidian throne.

A hulking figure with long, silver hair and piercing black eyes materialized beside him – Kael, his loyal knight. Constantine, a master of shadows and teleportation, emerged from the periphery, his dark form barely discernible even in the dimly lit room.

"Where to?" Constantine inquired, his voice a low rumble.

A sly smile tugged at the corner of Neveah's lips. "The Dawn Guild," he announced.

Constantine stepped forward, his hand outstretched. In a swirl of darkness, he shrouded Neveah and Kael, the shadows coalescing around them as they vanished in a blink.

The ones left in Null went back to their respective tasks.

Meanwhile, in the dimly lit master's cabin of the Dawn Guild, Viktor Maddox, the guild leader, was locked in a tense standoff. His hand trembled slightly as he held his blade pointed at the figure shrouded in darkness.

"Who are you?" Viktor demanded, his voice raspy. The power outage, the chilling presence – it all screamed of foul play.

The figure turned, bathed in the cool glow of the moon filtering through the window. A soft chuckle broke the silence. A tall figure emerged from the darkness, stepping into the path of the moonbeam.

His face, framed by neatly combed black hair, was as handsome as a carved statue, but his eyes – a glacial blue that seemed to pierce through Viktor – held a coldness that sent shivers down Viktor's spine. He was dressed in a tailored black suit, an incongruous sight in the rustic cabin, but somehow exuded an aura of undeniable power.

"Dawn Guild master Viktor Maddox," the man said, his voice smooth and controlled, "my name is Ray Alistair, and I have a proposition for you."