Chapter 349 — Botched Plans, Demonic Laughter, and Dubious Ambitions
Brakk smiled.
A slow smile. Calculated. Wicked.
— Wait for me, Llan…
He clenched his fist slightly.
— You dared to try and humiliate me, huh?
— Now we'll see who humiliates who.
A short, dry laugh escaped him.
— Honestly…
— Vareth, Aeris, and Nyra could complicate things for me.
He grimaced.
— Not that I'm afraid.
— But let's just say…
— Getting crushed three against one isn't very profitable.
A sly grin spread across his face.
— So the solution is simple.
— Separate them.
He raised a finger.
— Divide and conquer.
— Classic.
— Effective.
— And above all… humiliating.
He paused.
— Well.
— Second important point:
— avoid being spotted.
He glanced around, narrowing his eyes.
— The guild hunters are probably already on my trail.
— With their serious airs and useless reports.
— "Suspicious aura detected," "abnormal activity," blah blah blah…
He chuckled.
— You'll see.
— You'll all see.
— You'll see what you'll see.
Even he thought that sounded a bit ridiculous.
— …Alright.
— I'll have to rephrase that.
He tightened his grip, a wicked gleam in his eyes.
— But one thing is certain.
— Llan…
— you'll regret what you did to me.
Somewhere, far beyond propriety,
Zahkariel watched the scene, comfortably seated in a dimension that had absolutely no right to exist.
He rested his chin on his hand.
— Hmm…
He observed Brakk thinking.
— Interesting.
— Very interesting.
He tilted his head slightly.
— He's not brilliant.
— Not wise.
— Not particularly cautious.
A demonic smile spread across his face.
— But he has something.
He snapped his fingers.
— Pride.
— Resentment.
— And above all…
— An incredible ability to get himself into catastrophic situations.
He burst out laughing.
— Hahaha!
— That kind of guy…
— is exactly what I love.
He narrowed his eyes.
— Even if he fails.
— Even if he gets crushed.
— Even if he begs.
His smile widened.
— It will be useful.
He placed a hand on his chest.
— No…
— This guy…
He chuckled softly.
— He's without a doubt the perfect host.
He laughed even harder.
— Hahaha!
— A gem like this doesn't come around often!
— Too proud to retreat.
— Too stubborn to listen.
— Too resentful to let go.
He wiped away an imaginary tear.
— Magnificent.
— I can't wait to see his plan.
Back to Brakk.
Brakk felt a shiver run down his spine.
— Tch…
— I don't know why, but I feel like I'm being watched.
He shook his head.
— Whatever.
He smiled again.
— Don't worry.
— You're going to enjoy this, my dear jinn.
A dry laugh echoed in the air.
Two laughs, in fact.
One human.
The other… far too ancient.
And somewhere, without realizing it,
Brakk may have just taken the first step
toward something he would never again be able to control.
Chapter 350 — The First Move
Ethan stood atop the building, hands in his pockets, watching the street below as if he were observing a wildlife documentary.
— Brakk… so he's the one I'm supposed to deal with, he murmured.
Whatever the case, I'll find him.
He paused.
— …after I get some coffee first.
He immediately imagined the look Liora would give him if she knew that instead of tracking a potentially catastrophic threat, he had thought, *"Well, an espresso first."*
*"Ethan… are you on a mission or on a snack break?"*
*"Both. Efficiency runs on caffeine."*
A smile stretched across his face.
— Bah. They're just randoms, after all.
Meanwhile, several streets away…
Brakk stood in a half‑collapsed parking lot, surrounded by a few silent figures. He crossed his arms, visibly pleased with himself.
— The first move of the plan can begin.
One of the men timidly raised his hand.
— Uh… boss?
— Yes?
— What exactly… is the first move?
Brakk sighed, like a teacher tired of explaining something very simple for the hundredth time.
— Fine. Listen closely. I won't repeat it.
He took a few steps, tracing imaginary lines in the air.
— The first move is not an attack.
— Ah.
— It's not an explosion.
— Darn.
— And it's definitely not a frontal fight.
He suddenly turned toward them.
— The first move is imbalance.
Silence followed.
— …the what?
— Imbalance, Brakk repeated. We make the enemy think he understands what's happening. When in reality, he understands everything wrong.
He smiled, a little too proudly.
— We plant useless clues.
— We trigger meaningless events.
— We draw attention where nothing is happening.
He snapped his fingers.
— Result? They analyze. They theorize. They overthink. And meanwhile…
He pointed to the ground.
— …the real move is prepared elsewhere.
Another man frowned.
— So, if I summarize… we do nonsense so they think it's important?
— Exactly.
— Isn't that risky?
— Of course it is, Brakk replied with a grin. That's why it's brilliant.
He straightened.
— The goal of the first move is simple:
make smart people waste time…
and expose those who think they're smarter than they really are.
There was a short silence, then:
— Boss?
— Yes.
— And what if someone doesn't care at all and just goes for coffee?
Brakk froze for a second.
— …
— …
— Then, he admitted with a slight cough, that someone is probably a problem.
On the rooftop, Ethan sneezed.
— Weird… I feel like someone's talking about me.
He checked the time, then the street.
— Well. Coffee's done.
— Let's see this so‑called "first move."
A dangerous smile appeared on his face.
— Spoiler: I don't like overly complicated plans.
Chapter 351 — The Walking Problem and the Nonexistent Jinn
Brakk felt a slight shiver run down his spine.
Not an immediate danger.
Not an alarm.
Just… a very unpleasant intuition.
— Accelerate the first move.
He straightened abruptly.
— Before that walking problem decides to come here.
One of the men around him blinked.
— Boss… when you say "walking problem," you mean…
— Ethan, Brakk replied without hesitation.
— Ah.
— Yes. That Ethan.
He rubbed his forehead.
— If he shows up now, the whole plan collapses.
— Is he really that dangerous?
— No, said Brakk. It's worse. He's unpredictable.
He took a few steps.
— A logical enemy, you can anticipate.
— An arrogant enemy, you can exploit.
— But someone who goes for coffee in the middle of a mission…
He sighed.
— That's a strategic anomaly.
At that moment, a voice echoed.
— You're dramatizing.
Brakk didn't even flinch.
— You're late.
— I don't arrive.
— Obviously.
The Jinn spoke, but he was nowhere.
No physical presence.
No shadow.
No visible aura.
Just a voice, calm, mocking, perfectly lucid.
— You want to accelerate the first move?
— Yes.
— Then stop thinking like a stressed human and listen.
Brakk closed his eyes.
— I'm listening.
— The first move must no longer be passive.
— Explain.
— You don't just distract. You force a reaction.
Brakk opened his eyes.
— A reaction from who?
— From his friends.
He froze.
— Ethan alone is a problem. Ethan with others is uncontrollable.
— Exactly what I feared.
The Jinn's voice dropped lower.
— Separate them.
— I planned to do that later.
— Later will be too late.
Brakk clenched his teeth.
— Ethan is going to be a problem…
— "Going to be"? the Jinn corrected. He already is.
Silence.
Then Brakk spoke slowly.
— If Ethan stays with the others, I'll never be able to separate them.
— Correct.
— And if they stay together…
— Your plan dies.
Brakk took a deep breath.
— So how do we divide them without them realizing?
A faint laugh echoed.
— By giving them a good reason to split.
— A false emergency?
— No. A real one.
— …but controlled.
— Exactly.
Brakk smiled.
— Create an event credible enough to force each one to act differently.
— Precisely.
— One to protect.
— One to investigate.
— One to attack.
The Jinn approved.
— And Ethan?
— Ethan…
Brakk thought.
— …Ethan will want to handle it alone.
— Because he thinks he's responsible.
— Because he's an idiot, Brakk corrected.
— Both can coexist.
Brakk raised his hand.
— Very well. We modify the first move.
— Finally.
He turned to his men.
— Change the beacons.
— Activate the secondary signals.
— And above all…
He smiled.
— Make it look like a huge mistake.
— A mistake?
— Yes. A mistake so obvious that even Ethan won't be able to ignore it.
On another rooftop, Ethan finished his coffee.
— Hm.
— Bad feeling.
He looked into the distance.
— When a plan looks too clean… it's suspicious.
He smiled.
— And when someone tries to be clever…
His eyes sharpened.
— …I enjoy ruining the surprise.
In the shadows, the Jinn's voice whispered to Brakk:
— He's coming.
— I know.
— Still confident?
— No.
Brakk smiled nonetheless.
— But at least now…
— You're playing chess.
— And he's playing bowling.
Silence.
— With the pieces.
— Exactly.
Chapter 352 — The One Who Hears What He Shouldn't Hear
Ethan finished the last sip of his coffee and looked at the bottom of the cup.
— Well.
— I'll deal with this quickly before Liora starts yelling at me.
He imagined the scene.
*"ETHAN."*
*"Yes."*
*"You're on a mission."*
*"Yes."*
*"Why do you have cappuccino foam on your nose?"*
He wiped his face.
— Too bad…
— I would've liked to see their plan.
He stretched.
— But since I'm in a hurry…
— I'll mash them up quickly.
On the other side…
Brakk clenched his teeth.
— This isn't good.
He spoke softly, but in his mind the conversation was crystal clear.
— If he comes here, my whole plan will be ruined.
— I must either have him with me…
— or push him away.
Zahkariel's voice slid gently.
— If you want me to get more involved…
— you'll have to give me something in return.
Brakk froze.
— Again?
— Always.
He thought quickly.
An exchange with a Jinn is never free.
Never simple.
And never without hidden clauses.
— I need to think…
— You don't have time.
Brakk suddenly looked up.
A chill swept the air.
Ethan was walking toward them.
Calm.
Hands in his pockets.
Light smile.
— All this time…
he said calmly,
— you've been talking about me.
Brakk's stomach tightened.
Ethan tilted his head slightly.
— In your little dimension where narrations don't reach.
— You think I can't hear you?
Silence.
Even Zahkariel stayed mute for half a second.
Then he smiled.
— Interesting…
His voice was deeper this time.
— So he can hear me, that one…
— He's more dangerous than I thought.
Ethan looked up at the sky.
— Stop whispering.
He tapped his temple.
— It's annoying.
Brakk murmured:
— How does he…
Zahkariel resumed, more serious this time.
— Fine.
— He's becoming problematic.
He sighed.
— Very well, Brakk.
— What do you want in exchange for my direct intervention?
Brakk swallowed hard.
— If you really get involved…
— Say it clearly.
Ethan stopped a few meters away.
— Are you done negotiating or should I come back in five minutes?
Zahkariel pressed:
— Speak.
Brakk took a deep breath.
— I need a lock.
Silence.
— Be specific.
— A temporary ability.
— Something that blocks spiritual perception.
— That prevents anyone from reading, hearing, or sensing the plans forming around me.
He clenched his fists.
— Ethan isn't just strong.
— He's… synchronized.
He looked Ethan straight in the eyes.
— He picks up anomalies.
— He hears what shouldn't be heard.
— He senses what's meant to be hidden.
He continued.
— If I want to separate Llan from his allies…
— I must stop this guy from seeing through the cracks.
Zahkariel stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then he laughed softly.
— You're learning fast.
— So you can do it?
— Yes.
— The price?
The Jinn smiled.
— A memory.
Brakk froze.
— Which one?
— A precious memory.
— Something that gave you pride.
— Or anger.
Brakk hesitated.
Ethan crossed his arms.
— Well…
— I'll give you thirty more seconds to finish your couple's discussion.
Zahkariel whispered:
— Decide.
Brakk closed his eyes.
Then opened his hand.
— Take…
— the day I swore never to run away again.
A heavy silence.
Zahkariel smiled slowly.
— Accepted.
Something broke inside.
Not physically.
But… subtly.
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
— Hmm?
The atmosphere shifted.
More opaque.
More closed.
Zahkariel murmured:
— Veil of Negation.
— Active.
Ethan frowned slightly.
— Interesting…
He looked around.
— I don't hear the echo anymore.
He smiled.
— So you paid something.
Brakk smiled too.
A calmer, steadier smile.
— I'll get you, Ethan.
Ethan burst out laughing.
— You?
He stepped forward.
— I hope your plan is better than your coffee.
In the invisible shadow, Zahkariel watched.
— Oh, Brakk…
He murmured softly.
— You've just lost part of what made you dangerous.
Then he smiled.
— But let's see if it was worth it.