274 Chapter 274 – Assassinations
Yes, Nick had decided to tell Wyntor the truth.
At least regarding the Spartans' target.
Wyntor furrowed his brows. "You're their target?" he asked.
Nick nodded.
"They do not want to attack Dark Dream. They want to capture me," Nick said.
Wyntor just looked at Nick for a while.
That sounded unrealistic.
Yet, he hadn't lied when he said that he trusted Nick.
Nick seemed extremely confident earlier, and Wyntor didn't feel like he was lying.
So, the Spartans were actually interested in capturing Nick?
They weren't actually after Dark Dream?
"Are they the only ones after you?" Wyntor asked.
Nick furrowed his brows.
"Well, there's someone that wants to get me, but they don't have the luxury of coming here themselves, which is why they are using the Spartans."
After Nick said that, Wyntor realized something.
If they couldn't come here themselves, it most likely meant that someone from outside of the city was targeting Nick.
Someone from Aegis?
Maybe a Specter?
"So, as long as we don't deal with the actual person, the Spartans won't be the only ones going after you?" Wyntor asked.
Nick took a deep breath and nodded.
Wyntor scratched his chin as he looked to the side for a couple of seconds.
"Why did they send the Spartans after you? The Spartans barely have five Veterans. Why not ask Solace to go after you? After all, they have over 20 Veterans and even two Experts," he asked.
"I'm not entirely sure," Nick said.
A couple of seconds of silence passed.
And then, Wyntor realized something.
"If you are being targeted by a Specter, I could see a reason why they used the Spartans," Wyntor said.
Nick took a deep breath and nodded.
The more information he gave Wyntor, the more nervous Nick became.
"Alright, so you are being targeted by a strong Specter that even has the power to manipulate Veterans, right?" Wyntor asked.
Nick just nodded.
"And you didn't want to tell me because you felt like I would fire you to protect Dark Dream, right?"
Nick released a sigh and nodded again.
"Understandable," Wyntor said. "If I had some kind of issue with you, this would be the best moment to get rid of you."
"But I don't have any issues with you. In fact, after surviving such a brutal ambush, you've only become more valuable."
"You are the most powerful level two Extractor I have ever heard of, and the speed at which you are growing is also extremely impressive."
"You are valuable enough to risk everything."
"My goal is not to just survive but to become big enough to get a seat on Kugelblitz, and without an outstanding Chief Zephyx Extractor, that won't be possible."
"I'm not going to abandon you," Wyntor said.
Nick hadn't expected that Wyntor would actually be willing to put himself and his company in that much danger just for Nick.
Right now, Nick only felt relieved and a bit guilty for keeping these things secret.
"However," Wyntor said with furrowed brows, "I'm more surprised that you're still here of your own volition."
Nick raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"You are being targeted by a Specter beyond your power, and you're not looking for shelter or someone to protect you," Wyntor said.
"If I were in your situation, I would have sold my shares in Dark Dream and joined Kugelblitz."
"I don't think there's a safer location within the city than Kugelblitz. Even level six Specters would need to be extremely careful in there," Wyntor said.
Nick looked with uncertainty at Wyntor.
"I don't want to abandon what we've built," Nick said. "Additionally, I don't want to join any other Manufacturers."
"It might sound stupid and naïve, but I don't want to work for somebody that's exploiting people."
"At least here, I can control what happens."
Nick sighed.
"Lastly, I want to become powerful as quickly as possible to redeem myself."
Wyntor looked at Nick with furrowed brows.
He had talked with Nick several times about this entire Horua business.
Yes, Nick had been a dumbass, but he had done his best to repay the boy, and he had also just been 16 years old.
It wasn't like he had been a fully grown adult himself.
Yet, no matter what Wyntor said, Nick just kept on insisting that he had to redeem himself.
That was why Wyntor didn't bring up the topic anymore.
"So, you're not going to go to another Manufacturer," Wyntor said.
"Right," Nick answered.
"Alright," Wyntor said before standing up.
"Give me a second," Wyntor said before leaving the room.
About a minute later, Wyntor came back with several sheets of paper.
"Around 15 Newbies, a bit over 20 Johns, and five Veterans," Wyntor said, reading from one of the sheets.
"That's what the Spartans have."
Nick looked at Wyntor with a determined gaze.
These numbers didn't scare him.
"Lucky for us," Wyntor continued, "they only recently got their first Adult."
"The three brothers who are leading the Spartans left their old place of employment after they became Early Veterans. At most, there's one Mid Veteran amongst them."
"The other two Veterans advanced within the last four years, and I'm quite certain that they are still Initial Veterans."
"In an open battle, they will roll over us."
"Fortunately, due to the city's laws, an open battle is impossible."
"In the end, this will most likely go according to how these things always go."
"They will try to reduce our numbers in secret, and we are going to try to reduce their numbers in secret."
"It's a battle of assassinations and intelligence."
"On top of that, they were the ones that initiated the attack first, which means that I have more leverage in deciding how this will happen."
Nick raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
"Simple," Wyntor said. "I'm Vernon Melfion's son, and the Spartans decided to attack my company."
"I'm going to tell dad, and he's going to put a lot of pressure on them."
"Either they agree to my terms, or they will lose all business relations with Kugelblitz."
"That would mean their end."
