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The road stretched out before him, winding through the darkened landscape. As he drove, his mind fixated on the connection between Ascendant Capital and The Silent Hand.

The Silent Hand were unknowns and their motives unclear but undeniably hostile. They were not really after him. They were after the destruction of Ascendant Capital.

Who could it be? His mind went to the obvious answer. The vampires in debt to the company seeking the clear their debts? Even I was motivated to destroy the Three Axe gang to clear my debt. Could they be the same?

He shook his head. It couldn't be that simple. Even with that, the thought gnawed at him, each possibility more troubling than the last.

The city's outskirts blurred past the windows, the familiar streets and buildings bathed in the pale light of the streetlamps. His mansion, a home turned prison, faded into the background as he delved deeper into his thoughts. Ascendant Capital was more than just a business. It was the figurehead for everything he was holding for the coming count.

The Silent Hand's focus on the company suggested a deeper game.

The assassin was right. He didn't know the game and had no idea what the stakes was.

As he pulled into the parking lot of the 24-hour store, Ezra couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. He parked the car and stepped out, the cool night air brushing against his skin. The store's fluorescent lights spilled out onto the pavement, casting long shadows that seemed to dance in the corners of his vision.

He entered the store, the automatic doors sliding shut behind him with a quiet hiss. The aisles stretched out before him, filled with the mundane necessities of everyday life.

Ezra made his way to the cleaning section, his mind still racing with questions. He needed a sweeper broom, something to clean up the mess back at the mansion. He wandered, till he came up to what he needed. But as he reached for the broom, a familiar presence caught his attention.

There, in the other aisle, stood a vampire he recognized. A beautiful lady with a familiar aura of authority. Her Aura wasn't out and her was currently a dark colour but he recognized her just the same.

It was the Arbiter who had judged his case of Breach of Secrecy. She was in a human guise, her appearance totally normal to any casual observer, but Ezra knew better. Her aura, her stance, everything about her was unmistakable.

She stood there, speaking with someone. Ezra peeked to see a figure made of vitality floating in the air. He knew what that was. An astral projection.

Even though the figure wasn't physically present, Ezra could feel the power they exuded.

Ezra quickly stepped back, hiding behind a shelf of cleaning supplies. He strained to listen. Their words were low like they were standing inside a barrier of some sort.

He poured vitality into his ears and the conversation between the Arbiter and the figure became clearer with each word.

"The Southside must remain intact," the Arbiter insisted, her voice low but firm. "It is vital for the stability of the city. You know that, Itachi."

Ezra startled. He knew of only one vampire named Itachi in the city. It was the City Lord.

The man in question shook his head. "The Southside is too valuable to be controlled by one count. That was why I never gave it to anyone. Now, the Council has forced my hand. It needs to be divided among the others."

"You know that dividing it will not work. Who do you expect to be satisfied with just a slice when they can have it all?" the Arbiter argued. "Think about the balance of power among the counts. Disrupting that balance could have serious consequences."

"Handing over Southside to just one count would also upset the balance." Itachi's expression hardened. "The other counts need their share. The balance of power must be maintained, and that means redistribution."

"The Southside has unique challenges," the Arbiter countered. "Dividing it could weaken our control and expose us to unnecessary risks."

"It's a risk we have to take," Itachi stated. "The power dynamics are shifting, and there's nothing I can do about it. The Princes are shifting. Something has happened among them and no one knows what they plan to do. Keeping my eyes on a few mewling counts isn't worth my time."

The Arbiter's eyes flashed with anger. "And that means letting your home burn down around you? You're playing with fire, Itachi."

Itachi's voice was hard as steel. "You overstep your bounds, Yuri. You are not here to tell me what to do with my own city."

The tension between them was almost suffocating. The two vampires stared at each other. Ezra could feel their vitality almost like a physical force.

After a long silence, Itachi spoke again, his tone softer but no less resolute. "We'll continue this discussion later. For now, let's agree to disagree."

The Arbiter nodded, though her expression remained troubled. "Very well, my Lord."

With that, Itachi's figure began to fade, his presence dissipating into the air. The Arbiter stood there for a moment, her face a mask of contemplation and concern. Then, without turning, she spoke.

"Ezra Matten, you can come out now."

Ezra's heart skipped a beat. He stepped out from his hiding place, his expression wary. "I wasn't eavesdropping," he said, though they both knew it was a lie.

The Arbiter turned to face him, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Of course not," she said flatly. "Join me for a drink." It wasn't an invitation. It was a command.