Vincent leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled as he recollected the events of the previous night. The interrogation had not gone smoothly.
The culprit, a man named Gerrik, sat shackled in the dimly lit underground chamber of the Ravennest estate. His face was calm, betraying no fear. His clothes, though once refined, were now disheveled, his posture straight despite the chains.
Vincent stood before him, arms crossed, voice firm. "You were caught red-handed. The game is over. Who sent you?"
Gerrik chuckled, shaking his head. "You think I'll talk? Kill me if you must. I won't betray my employer."
Vincent's gaze darkened. "So you're ready to die with your secrets?"
"Absolutely."
Rendon, standing at the side, scowled. "Tch. These kinds are the worst."
Vincent knew threats wouldn't work on a man like this. He was prepared to take his secrets to the grave. They needed leverage.
"Gerrik, you're a businessman, are you not?" Vincent said, taking a different approach. "Even spies have families."
For the first time, the man's expression faltered slightly, but he quickly masked it. "I have no one."
Vincent smirked, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. "That's where you're wrong. We've already found them."
A flicker of panic crossed Gerrik's eyes before vanishing. "You wouldn't."
"You underestimate what a lord can do when his people are threatened." Vincent's voice was low and cold. "Your family is in my custody. If you don't talk, they will join you in the afterlife."
Gerrik's composure cracked. "You… you're bluffing."
Rendon stepped forward, sliding a parchment onto the table. "Names, locations. Everything. Your wife, your son, your aging mother. We have them all."
Gerrik's breath hitched. His fingers trembled before he clenched them into fists. His head dipped, sweat forming on his brow. "Damn it…"
Silence stretched between them. Finally, Gerrik exhaled sharply and muttered, "Fine. I'll talk."
Vincent leaned in. "Who sent you?"
Gerrik hesitated before speaking. "An organization. Powerful. Hidden. It's led by a noble, but his name is unknown. They've been planting spies across various territories, stirring trouble, exploiting weaknesses."
Vincent's expression darkened. "And what were you doing in Ravennest?"
"Business," Gerrik spat bitterly. "After I was rejected by the Frosthold Merchant Guild, I set up shop here, where the policies were… looser. But that was just a cover. My real job was to observe, report, and destabilize."
Vincent exchanged a look with Rendon. "The Frosts rejected you?"
Gerrik scoffed. "Frosthold is strict when it comes to merchants. I tried presenting a product there once, but their guild shut me down. So I moved here, where it was easier to operate."
Vincent narrowed his eyes. "One more question, Gerrik. How did you manage to enter my mansion?"
Gerrik smirked, despite his predicament. "You think your walls are impenetrable? You have leaks, Lord Ravennest. Someone inside your estate let me in."
Vincent's blood ran cold. "Who?"
Gerrik chuckled but said nothing more. His silence told Vincent everything there was a traitor among his people.
"Lock him up," Vincent ordered. "I need to speak with Lord Frost."
Back in the present, Vincent exhaled. He needed to confirm Gerrik's claims. Rising from his chair, he left his study and made his way toward Leo, who was enjoying a morning drink with his wife in the guest quarters.
Leo raised a brow as Vincent approached. "Something troubling you, old friend?"
Vincent sat across from him. "I need your help, Leo. Do you remember a merchant named Gerrik?"
Leo's expression hardened. "I do. He came to Frosthold a while back, trying to enter our merchant guild. His practices were shady, so we turned him away. Why?"
Vincent nodded grimly. "He's not just a merchant the's a spy."
Leo set his drink down. "That explains a lot."
Vincent filled him in on the details of the interrogation. By the time he was finished, Leo's easygoing demeanor had vanished.
"An organization run by a noble, huh? That's dangerous." Leo mused. "If they're planting spies in towns like ours, they have a bigger goal in mind."
Vincent clenched his jaw. "We need to find out who's behind this."
Their discussion on the hidden organization had come to a pause, their minds weighed by the implications of Gerrik's confession. Just as Vincent was about to speak, the door creaked open, and Zach stepped in.
"Father, Lord Frost," Zach greeted casually, strolling into the room. "What are you talking about?"
Vincent's sharp eyes immediately softened at the sight of his son. He glanced at Leo, then back at Zach. "Just matters for adults, nothing you need to concern yourself with."
Zach raised a brow, clearly not convinced, but he decided not to push. Instead, he shifted his gaze and noticed something familiar resting on the table Elias's tablecloth, with the crude drawing of the board game they had played earlier.
Leo followed his gaze and chuckled. "Ah, Elias was talking about this game all morning. Seems like he had a lot of fun."
Zach smirked. "Of course he did. I made it."
Vincent's brow lifted. "You made this?"
Zach nodded confidently. "It's called 'Snakes and Ladders.' Though, I'm thinking of improving it." He grabbed a nearby parchment and charcoal, quickly sketching a cleaner version of the game. "Right now, it's just about moving forward, but what if we added more obstacles? Maybe some demons that send players back to the start? That way, it's more than just luck it's a real challenge."
Leo leaned forward, intrigued. "Demons that reset progress? Sounds frustrating."
"That's the fun of it." Zach grinned. "You have to be careful with your steps. It's not just about rolling the dice or, in our case, drawing numbers it's about strategy."
Vincent rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "A game that balances luck and strategy… That could be interesting."
Leo chuckled. "It reminds me of war. You advance, you retreat. Sometimes luck is on your side, sometimes it isn't."
Zach's eyes sparkled. "Exactly! And if we make it into an actual board game, people won't have to draw it in the dirt or on tablecloths."
Vincent exhaled, shaking his head with a small smile. "You've really thought this through, haven't you?"
"I have." Zach grinned. "And I think we should make it real. A proper board game, something people can buy and play at home."
Vincent and Leo exchanged glances. Then, after a brief silence, Vincent spoke. "Sebastian."
The butler, who had been waiting by the doorway, stepped forward. "Yes, my lord?"
"Summon the best craftsmen in town. I want them to create a prototype of this board game. Also, contact a merchant who can distribute it if it's successful."
Sebastian bowed. "Right away, my lord."
Zach's grin widened. "You're really doing it?"
Vincent smirked. "You have a good idea. Let's see if the people agree."
Leo laughed, ruffling Zach's hair. "Who knew you had the mind of an entrepreneur, Zach?"
Zach simply smirked. "This is just the beginning."
As Sebastian left to carry out the orders, the first steps toward a new venture were set in motion. The game that started as a simple drawing in the dirt would soon become a creation that could spread across the land.