🌟 HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! 🌟✨
🔥 Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurers… ⚔️ Buddyschlym! ⚔️ and ⚔️ Moran! ⚔️🎉⚡️ Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
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Naobito Zenin's signature adorned the crisp paper, the ink barely dry as he leaned back with a satisfied grin. He tapped the pen against the table, his earlier arrogance replaced by a kind of smug glee.
"A good deal," He mused, standing and folding the document into his coat pocket. "Maki and Mai… dead weight for us, but clearly treasures to you. And Megumi? A future clan head? Yes, very good indeed."
Liam leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but betraying the faintest trace of amusement. "I'm glad you see the value in my offer, Mr. Naobito."
Naobito chuckled, extending a hand toward Liam. "A pleasure doing business with you."
Liam stood and met the handshake with a firm grip, his silver-gray eyes locking with Naobito's. "Likewise, Mr. Naobito. I look forward to seeing how this partnership unfolds."
The handshake lingered for a moment, a silent exchange of power and intent passing between the two men. Naobito's grin widened as he released Liam's hand, adjusting his coat with a satisfied air.
Naobito chuckled, humming a jaunty tune as he gestured for Naoya to follow. "Let's go, Naoya. We've got plans to make."
Naoya followed reluctantly, his gaze lingering on Liam with a mixture of confusion and suspicion. But as much as he wanted to question his father's decision, Naoya knew better than to challenge him in public.
With a final glare, he turned on his heel and followed Naobito out of the mansion.
The heavy doors closed behind them, and the room fell silent.
Toji, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, pushed himself upright. His relaxed demeanor disappeared, replaced by a hard, cold glare directed squarely at Liam.
"What the hell was that?" Toji asked, his voice low and sharp.
Liam raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading slightly. "What do you mean?"
"You know damn well what I mean," Toji said, stepping closer. His fists clenched at his sides, his tone dangerously calm. "How could you promise my son to them? The Zenin Clan? The same people who threw me away like garbage?"
Liam met Toji's gaze without flinching, his voice steady. "Calm down, Toji. I didn't sell Megumi off to them. I offered them a future that will never come to pass."
Toji's glare didn't soften. "Explain. Now."
Liam gestured for him to sit, but Toji remained standing, so Liam spoke anyway.
"The Zenin Clan doesn't care about Megumi as a person," Liam began. "They only care about his technique—Ten Shadows. It's one of their clan's core techniques, a cornerstone of their pride and power. They want him as their future leader because they see him as a tool to maintain their legacy."
"And you're okay with that?" Toji snapped.
Liam shook his head. "No. But that's the point, Toji. For Megumi to even become the clan head, the Zenin Clan needs to survive long enough for him to grow up and master his technique. And that's not going to happen."
Toji's brow furrowed, his confusion evident. "What are you getting at?"
Liam leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Do you really think the entire Zenin Clan is going to sit back and let Megumi take over? There are plenty of people in that clan who would rather see it burn than let your son lead. My offer is a direct provocation—a blatant insult to their traditions. It's going to stir up conflict within their ranks. Infighting, sabotage, betrayal… all the things that will weaken them from the inside."
Toji stared at Liam, his anger slowly giving way to understanding. "You're using Megumi as bait."
"Not just bait," Liam corrected. "A reason. The clan's obsession with maintaining their power and pride will be their downfall. They'll tear themselves apart trying to decide who deserves to lead—Megumi or one of their own—and when that happens, they'll be too weak to stop us from finishing the job."
Toji's lips pressed into a thin line as he processed Liam's words. "And what happens to Megumi in all this? What if he gets caught in the crossfire?"
Liam's expression softened slightly. "He won't because he'll be with us, far away from their madness. By the time they realize they've been played, it'll be too late."
Gojo, who had been lounging in a chair with an uncharacteristic silence, finally spoke up. "That's a hell of a gamble, Liam. What if it doesn't go the way you're expecting? What if the Zenin Clan gets their act together and doubles down on Megumi?"
Liam leaned back, a small laugh escaping his lips. "Gojo, there's one thing I've learned in all my dealings with people: the most dangerous and unpredictable thing in the world is the human heart. Greed, pride, envy, fear—those emotions are impossible to control or predict. They'll destroy themselves, not because I want them to, but because it's in their nature."
Gojo's eyes widened behind his blindfold, and he let out a low whistle. "Damn. Remind me never to get on your bad side. If you're not killed outright, you'd probably wipe out not just the attacker but their whole clan, huh?"
Liam's smirk returned, sharper than ever. "Something like that."
Toji crossed his arms, his expression still troubled. "And what about Naobito? He seemed genuinely interested in Megumi."
Liam nodded. "He might be. But do you think Naoya feels the same way? Do you think he's going to let some kid—your kid—take the position he's spent his entire life preparing for? Naoya's pride won't allow it. He'll fight it tooth and nail, and that's exactly what I'm counting on."
Gojo let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You're terrifying, Liam. Not because of your cursed techniques, but because you see everything like it's a game of shogi. Every move you make is five steps ahead of everyone else."
Liam shrugged, his smirk fading into a thoughtful expression. "It's not about being ahead. It's about understanding people. The Zenin Clan will destroy themselves because they can't see past their own greed and pride. And when the dust settles, Megumi will be safe, and the world will be better off without them."
Toji sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't like it, but… I can't say you're wrong."
Liam stood, placing a hand on Toji's shoulder. "Trust me, Toji. Everything I do is for Megumi's future. He's more than a tool, more than a technique... I do not see people as mere tools as the Sorcerer Families, Toji. Megumi is just a child and your son. I won't let anything happen to him or anyone take him from you."
Toji's expression softened, though he still looked uneasy. "Just don't screw this up, kid."
Gojo grinned, standing as well. "If Liam screws up, I'll make sure the fallout doesn't kill us all. But honestly? I think the Zenin Clan just signed their own death warrant."
Liam's smirk returned, cold and calculating. "They'll never see it coming."
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