The heavy oak door clicked shut with Valerius departure, leaving Rhyse Synkar in a silence that felt profoundly different than before. The weight of helplessness had lessened, replaced by the potential of the Synkar Core System, now actively linked to the vast Network underpinning his inheritance. Seneschal Valerius was tasked with the urgent mission of finding loyal protectors – a quest mirrored within the System's interface.
Alone, Rhyse sank back into his father's chair, the azure screen flickering back into existence before him at his mental command. The immense number representing the Synkar assets accessible via the Core was still staggering, a near-infinite resource pool he couldn't truly comprehend. He knew the Synkar were rich, but the depth of accumulated wealth was shocking, specially taking into account the many assets around the continent.
Were they richer than the country?
But raw wealth wasn't power, not yet. The Synkar had bannermen, wealth, magic and technology to defend themselves, but nothing would matter if he couldn't lead the House. The System also demanded action, interaction, and expenditure tied to specific goals to generate actual growth.
Rhyse immediate priority remained survival. The [QUEST: Secure Loyal Protection] was underway externally via Valerius, but what could Rhyse do now? He navigated back to [ACQUISITION - TIER 0].
[ACQUISITION - TIER 0 (Basic Access)]
Direct Purchase (Instantly Available):
[Basic Ward (Rank 0) - Duration 10 Min] - Cost: 100 Gold
[Minor Sensory Boost (Hearing - Rank 0) - Duration 1 Hour] - Cost: 150 Gold
[Nutrient Paste Concentrate (Emergency Ration)] - Cost: 10 Gold
Task-Based Acquisition:
[Skill: Basic Threat Assessment (Rank 0)] - {ACQUIRED (Requires Activation)}
[Item: Standard Communication Scrambler (Rank 0)] - Task: Acquire secure communication device.
[Basic Bodyguard (Rank 1-2)] - Task: Secure loyal personal protection. (Objective also covered by Quest)
Higher Tiers Locked (Requirements Not Met)
The sensory boost seemed like the most immediately useful purchase. Awareness was defense. He wanted to try it right away.
[Confirm Use: Minor Sensory Boost (Hearing - Rank 0)? Cost: 150 Gold Sovereigns. Funds drawn from Synkar Network Account.]
[Y/N]
Yes.
The familiar, almost imperceptible flicker of the Network link confirmed the transaction. A wealth of information flooded Rhyse's senses, subtly altering his perception of the room. The distant hum of the manor's environmental controls became a discernible thrum, revealing a slight irregularity in the east wing's ventilation system. Dust motes danced in the air currents, each miniature swirl rendered almost visible as a delicate etching against the muted light. Even the aged timbers of the manor seemed to speak, a quiet creak resonating from deep within the walls, hinting at the building's slow, deliberate settling.
It wasn't an overwhelming deluge of sensation, more like a subtle sharpening of existing inputs, a higher resolution to the world he already knew. He focused, testing the limits of the enhanced hearing. He could distinctly hear the rhythmic ticking of a grandfather clock two floors below, a sound he'd never consciously registered before. The sound of footsteps, even muffled by carpet, seemed more accessible, their cadence and weight subtly apparent.
A slow smile touched Rhyse's lips. This wasn't about recognizing individual sounds as much as it was about contextual awareness. It wasn't just hearing the manor; it was understanding its subtle language. He imagined eavesdropping – not on conversations directly, but on the soft scrapes of a lock being picked, the hushed whisper of footsteps approaching from a blind corner, the faintest disruption in the normal flow of sound that would betray an intruder. He could potentially anticipate movement, reactions, plans. Awareness, he realized, truly was defense, and this skill could shift the balance, even if slightly, in his favor. He cataloged the lingering effects, mindful of the one-hour duration, and made a mental note to revisit the [ACQUISITION] tab later. There were likely other subtle advantages awaiting discovery.
Rhyse's fingers hovered over the [NETWORK] tab. He saw a newly accessible section that vibrated with possibilities. The [Ancestral Manor Security Interface] appeared before him with a schematic layout casting a detailed glow on the residential wing.
The interface didn't just show rooms - it breathed with them. Emerald pulses marked stable wards, amber flickers hinted at vulnerabilities, while the absence of crimson was a small comfort. His father's study glowed with a steady green, its basic magical seal humming with quiet assurance. The corridor sensor wards pulsed rhythmically, tracking movement with methodical precision.
This wasn't a mere access to funds anymore - it was as if the house itself had opened its veins to him, its security systems whispering their status through the interface. The weight of generations pressed against his fingertips, not as coins, but as a living network of protection woven into the very stones of his home.
A schematic of the main residential wing appeared, dotted with status icons.
[Ancestral Manor Security Network Interface (Phase One Access)]
Overall Ward Status: Stable (Standard Configuration)
Study Door Security: Locked (Basic Magical Seal)
Window Wards: Active (Standard Intrusion Alert)
Private Quarters Access: Restricted (Standard)
Corridor Sensor Wards (Level 3 - Personal Wing): Active (Motion/Basic Energy)
Option: Bolster Study Defenses (Rank 1)? - Cost: 2,000 Gold Sovereigns
Option: Activate High-Sensitivity Corridor Scan Ward (10 min duration)? - Cost: 500 Gold Sovereigns
Option: Route Security Alerts Directly to Host? - Cost: 100 Gold Sovereigns (Permanent Toggle)
His father's study felt like the most likely place for intrusion or eavesdropping attempts. Bolstering its defenses seemed prudent.
[Confirm Action: Bolster Study Defenses (Rank 1)? Cost: 2,000 Gold Sovereigns.]
[Y/N]
Yes.
He felt a distinct pulse through the Network, channeled towards the study itself. The icon for the door lock shifted, adding a secondary layer labeled 'Reinforced Energy Barrier'. It felt marginally safer. He then selected the direct alert routing.
[Confirm Action: Route Security Alerts Directly to Host? Cost: 100 Gold Sovereigns.]
[Y/N]
Yes.
Another minor drain, another confirmation. Now, any standard security trips within the manor network would likely ping his System directly. Small steps, but they were his steps, securing his immediate environment using the tools now available.
His mind turned to information. Valerius had mentioned Hawthorne staff movement and Valtari pressure. Could the System help him see more? The [Basic Threat Assessment] skill was acquired, but the free use was gone. He focused on it in the [STATUS] tab under acquired skills.
[Skill: Basic Threat Assessment (Rank 0)]
Function: Analyzes immediate vicinity (15m radius) or designated target/data set for overt threats and basic anomalies.
Activation Cost: 50 Gold Sovereigns per use.
Note: Effectiveness limited by Rank and available data.
Fifty gold per use. Affordable. He needed to test it on something beyond just ambient safety. Valerius was handling the reports later, but perhaps the Network held other relevant data? He navigated back to the [NETWORK] tab, searching for 'Internal Communications' or 'Staff Records'.
[Internal Comms Records Access (Level 3 - Encrypted): Requires Decryption Key or Rank 2 Skill]
[Staff Movement Records (Past 24 Hours - Unsecured): Accessible]
He focused on the accessible staff records. A stream of entries appeared – time stamps, personnel identifiers, zone transits within the manor. He activated the skill Basic Threat Assessment on Staff Movement Records.
[50 Gold Sovereigns Expended.]
[Skill: Basic Threat Assessment (Rank 0) initiated… Analyzing Staff Movement Records (Past 24 Hours)...]
[Analysis Complete: Anomalies Detected.]
Anomaly 1: Multiple entries indicate Personnel Marius Hawthorne accessing Restricted Archive Sector 7 (Contains Historical Financial Projections) three times within the last 18 hours. Access outside standard authorization parameters.
Anomaly 2: Personnel Livia Hawthorne cross-referenced with External Comms Records (Partial Access). Outgoing communication detected towards known Valtari Syndicate commumicator crystal frequency 4 hours post-meeting with Host.
Anomaly 3: Elevated movement patterns of Hawthorne-affiliated junior staff near Seneschal Valerius's office complex.
Rhyse's blood ran cold. Marius accessing restricted financial data? That was probing for weaknesses, potential leverage. Livia communicating with the Valtari Syndicate? That smelled horribly of collusion, perhaps feeding them information for the poaching attempts or worse. And the increased activity near Valerius's office… were they trying to monitor or intercept his most trusted ally? …or even harm him?
The skill was basic, offering no interpretation, just highlighting deviations from expected patterns based on security parameters Rhyse didn't even know existed until the System flagged them. But the implications were chilling. His uncle wasn't just posturing; he was actively digging. His cousin might be actively collaborating with their most dangerous rivals.
His enhanced hearing picked up faint, rhythmic footsteps approaching down the corridor. Steady, heavier than a servant's. He quickly checked the System alerts – nothing triggered. Likely Valerius returning, hopefully with news.
He dismissed the System screen just as a polite knock sounded. "Enter," Rhyse called out, schooling his features into neutrality despite the alarming information swirling in his mind.
Master Valerius entered, his expression grim but resolute. "My lord," he began, "I have made initial, discreet inquiries. There are three promising candidates available almost immediately who meet the criteria of past loyalty to your parents and current capability. They require formal offers and summoning, but preliminary contact suggests willingness."
"Excellent, Master Valerius," Rhyse said, relief washing over him. "Initiate the formal summons immediately." Having loyal bodies in the room felt exponentially more important now.
"However, my lord," Valerius continued, his tone becoming more concerned, "During my inquiries, I received a coded message through secure channels. Captain Marek of the Core Guard requests an urgent, private audience with you. He states it concerns 'irregularities regarding external communication protocols' detected within the last twelve hours."
Livia's communication with the Valtari. Had the Core Guard detected it independently? Or was this something else entirely?
Rhyse met Valerius's gaze. The relative safety of the study suddenly felt very fragile again. He had the System, he had funds, he had a trickle of information, but the threats were already moving faster than he could fully analyze. His first loyalty test wasn't just finding guards, but deciding who to trust with sensitive information – the established Captain of the Guard, or the insights gleaned from his secret, nascent System?
"Grant Captain Marek access, Master Valerius," Rhyse decided, his mind racing. "Bring him here immediately. It seems my intervention in Synkar security is about to speed up."