Chapter 102: Equal Grounds

​The strongest Lords were rarely forged from a sense of obligation; they were forged in the crucible of pure ambition. Unfortunately, ruthless ambition and selfless patriotism didn’t always align.

​Louis let out a quiet, heavy sigh. Perhaps he had expected too much too quickly. A newly awakened Blessed wasn’t going to magically transform into the Dominion’s selfless savior overnight.

​The old man was already preparing himself for disappointment when Cassian spoke up again.

​"That said..."

​Louis looked up, meeting his eyes.

​Cassian smiled, "There is a solution."

​The Overseer blinked. "A solution?"

​"Of course." Cassian casually crossed his arms over his chest. "You seem to want a stronger Astral Dominion, and I want to become stronger. Our goals aren’t exactly incompatible."

​Louis stared at him, his instincts whispering that a trap was fast approaching.

​Cassian pressed on regardless. "You can always invest in me."

​"..."

​"..."

​The room went dead silent.

​Louis stared in disbelief. Cassian simply smiled back, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

​"Think about it," Cassian urged smoothly. "The faster I grow, the faster I become useful. The stronger I become, the greater the ultimate return for the Dominion. It’s a fairly straightforward transactional relationship."

​The Overseer’s eye twitched slightly.

​Straightforward?

​The boy was practically asking for massive sponsorship, no, demanding sponsorship, yet somehow framing it as if he were doing the Dominion a grand favor.

​Before Louis could speak, Cassian continued with a casual shrug. "After all, with enough power, the grand tasks you’re worrying about can be completed as an afterthought."

​He spoke as though becoming a galactic powerhouse was merely a matter of administrative scheduling.

​"If one day I’m strong enough to move cosmic civilizations around like chess pieces, helping the Dominion wouldn’t even qualify as actual work."

​Louis stared at the young man, a slow realization gradually dawning on him.

​Cassian wasn’t rejecting the Dominion, nor was he refusing future responsibility, his priorities were simply far more pragmatic.

Most Lords sought support merely to survive, but Cassian wanted support so he could accelerate his growth to an absurd degree.

​The old man suddenly chuckled, the sound blossoming into a genuine, hearty laugh.

​For the first time since arriving in this apartment, he felt as though he truly understood the young man sitting across from him.

The young man wasn’t asking for charity; he was pitching a high-stakes investment opportunity.

​And considering that the Blessed sitting before him had advanced a newly established territory to Tier III in less than three full days...

​It might very well be the greatest investment the Astral Dominion would ever make.

As for Cassian his reasoning was simple.

​First and foremost, he was looking out for his own absolute safety.

​If news spread that he was a Blessed, he would immediately become a prime target. Factions across the cosmos would move instantly: enemies of the Astral Dominion would target him for assassination, while rival factions within the Dominion itself would vie to recruit, control, or eliminate him before he could grow into an uncontainable threat.

​Cassian had no intention of painting a massive target on his back. That was the fastest way to die an early death.

​Even if he hid inside the Lord’s Domain, the underlying problem remained. Once the Astral Dominion fell, as it had in his previous life, he would become a Worldless Lord.

A Lord without a civilization, without an anchor, reduced to a cripple in all but name.

​No. Until he possessed enough raw strength to crush every threat in his path, maintaining a low profile was the only sensible option.

​As for relying solely on his mother?

​Cassian glanced toward Seraphina. He could tell she was powerful, far more powerful than he had ever imagined in his past life.

Yet the Astral Dominion had still been utterly destroyed back then, and he had personally witnessed both her and Ruby perish in the aftermath.

​Until he fully understood his mother’s true identity and limitations, placing all his hopes on her protection alone would be foolish.

​Never put all your eggs in one basket, especially when that basket was your mysterious mother.

​Louis finally broke the heavy silence. "What, specifically, would you require?"

​Cassian’s smile widened slightly. "Don’t worry. I’ll write it down for you."

​Grabbing a blank sheet of paper and a pen from the side table, Cassian quickly scribbled down several precise demands. A moment later, he handed the paper over.

​Louis accepted the document and began reading. His expression remained completely unreadable, a practiced mask forged over a century of high-stakes diplomacy.

As the ruler of an entire Dominion, showing your thoughts on your face was the fastest way to lose a negotiation.

​Several quiet moments passed before Louis slowly lowered the paper. "You want absolute, complete anonymity."

​Cassian nodded without hesitation. "I have a family. I refuse to let them be put in danger because of my status."

​Louis turned his gaze toward Seraphina. The woman was calmly sipping her tea, looking entirely unbothered by a conversation that involved a Blessed capable of shifting the fate of galaxies.

​For a brief second, the Overseer wondered what additional protection this boy could possibly need with her around.

​Then he remembered the terrifying scale of the vast cosmos, the endless sea of rival civilizations, the hidden monsters lurking within the deep reaches of the Lord’s Domain, and ancient powers beyond mortal comprehension.

​No amount of caution was ever excessive.

​The Overseer released a long, slow sigh. "Consider it done. Although I will have to bypass the Council to arrange this quietly, it shouldn’t be difficult. The bulk of these resources can come directly from my personal reserves."

​Cassian’s expression instantly shifted, transforming into the smooth smile of a merchant who had just identified a client unable to say no.

​A sudden, terrible premonition washed over Louis. Perhaps agreeing so quickly had been a grave mistake.

​Cassian leaned forward, his voice dripping with smooth confidence. "Don’t worry, Overseer. You won’t regret this investment."

​The absolute certainty in his tone somehow made Louis feel even less confident about his wallet.

​Raising his teacup, Cassian offered a brief toast. "May the Dominion never fall."

​Louis stared at the young Lord for several long seconds.

​Normally, those words were nothing more than a hollow, patriotic slogan thrown around by commoners and politicians alike.

But coming from the young man sitting before him, they carried a staggering, tangible weight.

​Because Cassian Voss was someone who might actually possess the power to guarantee that future.

​The old man slowly raised his own cup, a faint, genuine smile appearing on his weathered face.

​"May the Dominion never fall."

​The porcelain cups clinked softly in the quiet apartment.

....

[Weekly Goals]

200 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter

50 Golden Tickets = 1 Bonus Chapter

10 Reviews = 5 Chapters Mass Release