The success of the fusion in the Library had elevated Elora's status, stirring resentment and ambition in Lysandra, the Master of Intrigue. The Shadow did not allow a single individual to command the Vice-Commander's favor.
Lysandra confronted Kaito in her own strategy chamber, away from Elora's watch.
"The Replication Core is impressive, Kaito," Lysandra said, her voice steely. "But if we only use it to replicate magic, the Light will get ahead of us. We must use it to replicate wills."
"Replicate wills? Explain," Kaito ordered, sensing the interest in her mind.
"The Light's weakness is its unwillingness to kill its own. I have Aethelgard's security files." We can use the Core to replicate a disgraced Paladin who is already dead or exiled. A perfect replica.
Lysandra approached the rune map showing the Middle Lands.
"There is a small group of mercenaries who still operate with codes of the Light. If we send them a replica of a former comrade, they can infiltrate their ranks and use them to destroy the last remnants of the Conclave that resist in the shadows."
The Demand of Infiltration
The mission was risky. The replication would be magical, and only Kaito, with his controllable Chaos, could inject the psychic pattern of the Shadow and the visual pattern of the Light.
"I will replicate the body. You will replicate the mind," Lysandra demanded. "You must use your Cloak of Infiltration and merge it with the replica body. You must transfer your psychic mastery to the agent, ensuring that they act with your precision and cunning."
"It requires that my mind be exposed during the transfer," Kaito pointed out.
"It's the price of trust, Kaito," Lysandra countered. "If Elora exposes you to the risk of knowledge, I expose you to the risk of action. If you succeed, the Conclave will destroy itself with our replicas. And my loyalty will be unconditional."
Kaito agreed. He needed Lysandra's favor and mastery over political intrigue to balance Elora's power.
The Creation of the Agent
Kaito and Lysandra headed to the Replication Core room, without Elora. Lysandra presented the pattern for the replica: Captain Theron, a Fallen Paladin who had gone into exile years before.
The Core created the replica body: a Lightforged figure that perfectly mimicked Theron's form. Kaito concentrated. He activated the Cloak of Infiltration, but instead of projecting it, he transferred it into the replica body, infusing it with his own mastery of illusion and deception.
Then, he used the Lasso to access Ren's psyche, extracting the tactical knowledge, emotional codes, and mannerisms of a Paladin. He injected this information into the replica, creating an artificial mind programmed for betrayal.
The fusion of Chaos, Replica, and the knowledge of the Light was intense. Kaito felt a portion of his own will anchor itself in the new agent's mind, making Replica Captain Theron an extension of his own cunning.
When the process was complete, Captain Theron stood, his face reflecting the loyalty of the Light, but his eyes holding Kaito's cold intelligence.
"The agent is ready, Vice-Commander," Lysandra said with a smile of absolute satisfaction. "Now, go to Aethelgard." He will initiate the destruction, but you must ensure that his mission is not interrupted by anyone.
Kaito knew that, with this act, he had created the perfect disinformation agent. However, his foray abroad exposed him to imminent risk: the new Light cell, led by Vorlag and Lucius, was active. Kaito wasn't just sending his agent; he was the decoy for his own trap.