Chapter 525: The Price of Ambition

One Month Before

The courtyard fell silent after Victoria’s question.

Tobias only nodded at her question.

A sharp intake of breath rippled through the warriors standing behind him. Several of them exchanged stunned looks, while others muttered beneath their breath.

"Is he mad?"

"Did he just nod?"

"He’s got balls, I’ll give him that..."

One of them snorted softly. "A recruit asking the Luna for a promotion? He must want to die early."

The murmurs rolled through the group like a low wave, but Tobias ignored them. His attention remained fixed on the woman standing before him.

Victoria’s expression did not change, but her eyes sharpened slightly as she studied him.

"You truly believe," she said slowly, "that you deserve one?"

Tobias scratched the back of his neck again in that same awkward, careless gesture he had used earlier.

"I like the pleasures of life," he said honestly.

A few warriors chuckled at that.

He continued.

"If I stay a recruit, I’ll never really enjoy them."

Victoria raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"My pay is small," Tobias explained. "Barely enough for food, drink, and a warm bed if I’m lucky. And even if you gave me a sack of money now..." he shrugged casually, "...I’d squander it in a week."

The chuckles behind him grew louder.

Tobias spread his hands slightly.

"But if I get a promotion, the money keeps coming." He grinned faintly. "And that means I can keep enjoying the pleasures of life."

The courtyard went quiet again.

Victoria stared at him. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

For several long seconds she said nothing.

Then suddenly, she laughed. She threw her head back as a genuine laugh escaped her. Her laughter echoed across the courtyard, startling several of the warriors who had expected her anger instead.

Victoria turned her head slightly toward Craig.

"Craig," she said, still smiling. "Where have you been hiding this one?"

Craig shifted slightly, clearly unsure whether the situation was truly amusing or dangerous. One could hardly tell when it came to Victoria. She could be laughing genuinely but still have plans to get rid of the person she was sharing a laugh with.

"My lady... he’s only a recruit..."

Victoria waved her hand dismissively, not waiting for him to continue.

Her attention returned to Tobias.

"You do realize," she said, "that a promotion does not simply mean more money."

Tobias nodded eagerly.

"Yes, my lady."

"It means more work."

"I don’t mind."

"It means more responsibility."

"I can handle it."

Victoria tilted her head slightly.

"And it means," she continued softly, "that you will be asked to do things the other warriors may not."

Tobias’s grin widened.

"I can kill anyone you want me to kill."

A few warriors barked out short laughs at the bluntness of that answer.

Victoria’s eyes narrowed slightly in interest.

"Is that so?"

Tobias nodded again, this time with exaggerated enthusiasm.

"Of course."

His voice grew almost eager.

"You just have to give the order."

He placed a hand against his chest dramatically.

"I’ll always follow you."

Victoria watched him carefully.

"All you have to do," Tobias finished, "is tell me who."

A strange look crossed Victoria’s face. It wasn’t quite amusement, nor was it suspicion.

"You would do all that," she said slowly, "for money?"

Tobias didn’t hesitate.

"Yes."

A few warriors behind him burst into laughter again.

"Honest bastard."

"At least he’s not pretending."

Victoria laughed once more.

"You are refreshingly honest," she admitted.

Tobias bowed slightly.

"Thank you, my lady."

Victoria stepped closer to him.

For a brief moment, Tobias felt the weight of her presence like a shadow falling over him. Her eyes searched his face carefully, as if trying to find something hidden beneath the surface.

But he forced himself to remain relaxed.

Victoria studied him for another moment before finally stepping back.

"I like you," she said.

A murmur spread through the warriors again.

Craig looked slightly surprised.

Victoria raised a finger thoughtfully.

"And since I like you..." She smiled faintly. "I will grant your request."

Tobias immediately straightened.

"Thank you, my lady."

"However," Victoria continued, lifting a hand slightly, "I will decide what promotion suits you best."

Her eyes gleamed faintly.

"I believe I can find a position that fits a man like you."

Tobias nodded eagerly.

"You are kind and benevolent, my lady."

Victoria laughed again.

"Yes," she said lightly. "I really am."

Craig coughed slightly, clearly eager to return to more practical matters.

"My lady," he said, gesturing toward the cart.

Victoria glanced at the remains of the beasts again.

"Yes."

Her tone returned to its earlier calm authority.

"Ensure that the remains are stored properly."

Craig nodded immediately.

"It will be done."

Victoria’s gaze swept across the warriors once more.

"You have all done well."

Several of them straightened proudly.

"You may go to the Treasury," she continued. "Your payment will be waiting."

That announcement was met with approving murmurs.

Money always improved morale.

Then Victoria’s eyes returned to Tobias.

"And you," she said.

Tobias looked up quickly.

"When you arrive," she continued, "give them your name."

He nodded.

"They will give you a little more than the others."

Tobias immediately plastered a wide grin across his face.

"Thank you, my lady."

Victoria looked over the warriors one last time.

"Rejoice," she said smoothly. "You have done exactly what I asked of you."

Her red gown shifted softly as she turned.

Without another word, she walked back toward the stone steps leading to the residence.

The guards opened the doors immediately, and she disappeared inside.

Immediately after she left, a hand slapped Tobias sharply on the shoulder.

He staggered slightly before turning to see Anderson grinning at him.

"You’ve got guts," Anderson said with a laugh.

Tobias rubbed his shoulder.

"Just ambition."

Anderson chuckled again.

"You asked the Luna herself for a promotion."

Craig shook his head slightly, though a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Madman."

The warriors began moving again, their mood noticeably lighter now that payment had been mentioned.

Some of them laughed.

Others were already discussing what they planned to spend their coins on.

Anderson walked beside Tobias, still amused.

"Money and pleasure, huh?"

Tobias shrugged.

"What else is life for?"

Anderson laughed again.

Behind them, the cart creaked as several warriors began pushing it toward the storage area Craig had mentioned.

Craig himself barked out a few orders.

"Careful with that!"

"Don’t damage the remains!"

The courtyard slowly returned to its normal rhythm.

But Tobias’s mind was elsewhere.

As they began walking away from the residence, he glanced briefly back at the towering building on the hill.

Inside his mind, Ryker stirred.

*You handled that well,* the wolf rumbled quietly.

Tobias exhaled slowly.

"I had to."

Ryker snorted softly at that.

As they walked toward the Treasury building, Tobias allowed himself a small breath of relief.

The promotion had been a risk.

A dangerous one. But it had also been necessary.

If he wanted answers... then he would need access, and being a recruit didn’t give him that access. One thing he was almost certain of was that the plague was real, but what it was... he had no idea.

Now if he could find the Silver Creek Pack, that would be better. He hoped they were better off than the other packs he’d seen, and also hoped that the goddess watched over him.