Chapter 13: The Beginning of War Preparations
Ansh remained standing, his expression thoughtful as he processed everything.
After a brief pause, he spoke again.
"…Do we have people inside these organizations?"
The old man answered without hesitation.
"Yes, Young Master."
Ansh's gaze sharpened.
"All of them?"
A calm nod followed.
"All three."
A moment of silence passed.
Ansh looked at him more intently.
"How deep?" he asked.
The old man clasped his hands behind his back, his voice steady.
"Deep enough to observe their internal movements," he replied. "Each placement was done carefully, over a long period of time."
Ansh didn't interrupt, waiting for him to continue.
Aegis Authority
"In the government," the old man began, "we have one individual positioned within a support division connected to Aegis Authority."
"They are not part of the core decision-making body," he clarified, "but they have access to internal reports, personnel shifts, and operational patterns."
Ansh nodded slightly.
"Enough to understand what they're focusing on."
"Yes."
Black Lotus Syndicate
"For the Syndicate," the old man continued, "our approach was slower."
"One of our members integrated into their network years ago. Over time, they gained trust and now operate within a stable position in their structure."
"Do they have access to anything meaningful?" Ansh asked.
"They receive directives, observe movements, and track internal changes," the old man replied. "It is not the highest level—but it is consistent and reliable."
Vritra Foundation
"And the Foundation?" Ansh asked.
"Our presence there is stronger," the old man said. "Two members—one in logistics, and one assisting within a research division."
Ansh's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Research?"
"Yes. Not leading roles—but close enough to observe developments, ongoing work, and resource allocation."
The Truth Behind It
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Then Ansh asked the question that truly mattered.
"…Do they suspect us?"
The old man shook his head calmly.
"No."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
"I placed them there for a single purpose," he continued. "To monitor whether any of these forces ever develop intentions against the Ashbound family."
His tone remained composed.
"They were never used for interference. Never pushed to act beyond their roles."
Ansh listened carefully.
"Because of that," the old man added, "they have never drawn attention."
A brief pause.
"To them, our people are nothing more than ordinary members who have earned their place."
Ansh's expression eased slightly.
"And the members themselves?" he asked.
The old man's gaze grew firm.
"They are absolutely trustworthy."
No hesitation. No doubt.
"I selected and trained each of them personally," he continued. "Their loyalty is not something that will waver."
Silence followed.
Ansh turned slightly, letting out a slow breath.
So—
They had eyes inside every major force.
They had never been discovered.
And they had never taken unnecessary risks.
Not because they couldn't—
But because they chose not to.
"…Good," Ansh said quietly.
The old man inclined his head.
"We keep it that way," Ansh continued. "No unnecessary movement. No risks."
"Yes, Young Master."
"For now," Ansh added, his voice calm but firm, "we watch."
A faint pause.
"And if any of them ever turn their attention toward us…"
The old man finished without needing to be told.
"We will know first."
The room fell silent once more.
But this time—
It wasn't tense.
It was controlled.
Because everything was still in place.
And nothing… had been exposed.
After hearing everything, Ansh fell silent.
The room grew still as he began to think.
Every suggestion the old man had made was logical—efficient, even. Under normal circumstances, expanding their forces and preparing aggressively would have been the correct move.
But these were not normal circumstances.
A few moments passed before Ansh finally spoke.
"…We won't proceed with mass recruitment."
The old man did not interrupt. He simply listened.
"Five hundred people is too many," Ansh continued calmly. "Even if the chances are small, gathering that many individuals in such a short time will create attention."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"And attention is the one thing we don't need."
The old man gave a faint nod.
"These organizations may not be watching us now," Ansh said, "but a sudden expansion like that… it's unnecessary risk."
A brief pause followed.
"That's the first reason."
The old man's eyes narrowed slightly, but he did not question further.
Ansh fell silent again.
But this time… his thoughts didn't stop.
There's another reason.
His expression remained calm, giving nothing away.
I have no intention of dominating anything.
The thought settled heavily in his mind.
Our family already made that mistake once.
Images—faint, distant, but unforgettable—lingered at the edge of his memory.
This world is only in the Outer Space…
Soon, it will ascend to the Inner Space.
Above that lies the Innermost Lower Space… and beyond it… the Core Space.
A quiet breath left him.
We stood at the highest level once.
And that was enough to make us visible.
His eyes darkened slightly, though his face remained unchanged.
And being visible… is the same as being targeted.
The memory of that truth was enough.
I won't repeat that mistake.
Outwardly, nothing had changed.
Ansh looked as composed as ever.
"We prepare," he said calmly. "But we do it quietly."
"No large movements. No unnecessary expansion."
The old man bowed his head slightly.
"As you command, Young Master."
The room fell silent once more.
But beneath that calm surface—
A decision had already been made.
Not to rise recklessly.
Not to stand out.
But to move… carefully.
Because this time—
Ansh had no intention of letting anyone notice him…
Until it was far too late.