THE TRASH PRINCE'S BLUEPRINTS SYSTEM

CHAPTER 7: WOLVES & SHADOWS

Raphael Laurent leans back in his luxurious chair, the cold night air drifting through the open balcony of Winterkeep Castle.

Frostmark City stretches beneath him, dark and silent after the chaos of the afternoon.

He studies the holographic screen hovering before his eyes, with the Hidden Quest notification glowing faintly in the dim light.

Hmm. The bandit situation is serious, but I have an idea.

“Hey, System, analyze the weaknesses of the damn bandit group leaders and the bandit group structures,” he orders, voice lazy but commanding.

“ Ding. Proceeding to analyze bandit structures and weaknesses.

Ding. Analysis complete.

Raphael reads the details, block by block.

Bandit Group Name: The Golden Wolves

Leader: Archibald Von Richter

Weakness: Bad debt record with Thalorian Royal Bank, always on the run to avoid imprisonment

Ranking: One of the worst and most feared bandit groups in Frostmark City, overlord of the bandit groups “

A few minutes later, he gathers vital intel on every major bandit faction.

Every leader’s habits, weakness, & loyalties are laid bare.

He turns to his typewriter.

Fingers dance across the keys, with a metallic clack-clack echoing in the otherwise silent room.

A letter to the Royal Thalorian Bank, Frostmark City Branch, flies across the screen.

A stack of coin purses materializes beside it, which are filled to the brim with Golden Thalorian Dragons.

Staff are sent immediately to hand over the payment, clearing Archibald Von Richter’s debts.

Another command, and the castle armory hums as new sets of armor, swords, spears, daggers, and battle axes materialize, crafted by the System, & optimized for lethal efficiency.

Raphael smirks.

Let’s see how you like an invitation, Archibald.

At the Golden Wolves hideout, the firelight flickers across Archibald Von Richter’s sharp & calculating features.

He counts coins from smuggled swords, oblivious to the tension creeping through the room.

A bandit rushes in, breathless.

“Archibald! Third Prince Cain has fully paid off your debt to the Thalorian Royal Bank. He’s inviting you to Winterkeep Castle for a diplomatic meeting.”

The bandit whispers urgently, as he presses a sealed letter into Archibald’s hands.

Suspicion narrows Archibald’s eyes.

Why would a prince invite me, a bandit, and even pay off all my debts? There’s an ulterior motive. But now that he has me hooked, I must see what he wants.

He tears the seal and skims the formalities, and tosses the letter into the roaring bonfire afterward.

Sparks leap upward, casting twisted shadows across his sharp features.

“What other news, Leonard? Be quick. I am a busy man,”

Archibald commands with his eyes still on the flames.

“Our spies report that Matthias Wagner, the Shadow Lynx leader, has accepted the coin of the Holy Church and House Blackmoor. He’s trying to sway other bandit groups to his side.”

Leonard says.

Archibald nods slowly, with his mind already plotting.

“Keep an eye on Matthias. This Prince Cain, he just ripped Frostmark City from the Church and House Blackmoor. I expected as much as that the Pope won’t sit still.”

“And you’ll meet Third Prince Cain in person,”

Leonard says cautiously.

“Take two heavily armed men at least. Protection, in case-”

Archibald cuts him off.

“If he wanted me dead, he could shoot me the way he killed that nun and the bankers. Guards won’t protect me from that. Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

In the Shadow Lynx hideout, tension cuts sharper than any blade.

“Fucking listen up, ladies and gentlemen!”

Matthias Wagner slams a beer tankard onto the table, shattering the air with a resounding crash!

Dozens of eyes snap toward him.

“The Pope’s orders are clear: monitor the Golden Wolves, sabotage their efforts, and disrupt Prince Cain’s plans. But he didn’t tell us how.”

“Do you have any suggestions, Matthias?”

Remi Dufoir asks, with a sharp gaze piercing him.

“It’s not a suggestion. It’s a plan. We ambush them en route to Winterkeep Castle. Kill them, or at least injure them before they reach the gates. ”

Matthias snaps.

“In broad daylight? Too risky. Frostmark City already sides with Prince Cain. We’ll be ambushed,”

Adrien Dubois objects.

Murmurs ripple through the long table.

Matthias grabs a warhorn and blows a shrill & haunting wail that reverberates off shuttered windows.

Silence falls.

“You’re right, both of you. But there’s no need to worry.”

Matthias says smoothly.

“The meeting is set for 10 PM. Residents will be asleep. We blend in, & wait in ambush. Make noise, we will wake them but the citizens won’t act without a reason. The only one who will intervene is Prince Cain. And when the time comes, you’ll see why I planned this.”

A predatory glint flashes in Matthias’ eyes.

Then he smiles in a brusque and jovial manner.

“This meeting is over. Prepare weapons, armor, & steeds. Sleep & eat well. I want everyone sharp and ready when night falls.”

Night drapes over Frostmark City.

Archibald and his bodyguards ride silently, with the horse hooves clattering against rocky paths.

Darkness swallows the alleyways.

The air bites through armor and cloaks.

Candle lamps flicker before being blown out by vigilant residents.

The city is unnervingly quiet.

Then a sudden thunder of hooves approaches from the opposite direction.

Glints of steel flash.

Swords, battle axes, & spears, enchanted and deadly, catch the moonlight in jagged streaks.

Archibald’s eyes narrow.

Every instinct screams danger.