Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"I'm not in the mood for games, Yvaine..." He growled as he took his seat.

"Neither am I..." She replied, with a serious tone

"Do I look like a clown right now to be playing games?"

He exhaled, looking at the file she held

"Let's get this lectures started"

There's no need to take out my frustration on her when she's just delivering a message.

"Good" she stretched the file to him

"What's this?"

"As I said earlier, these are the papers telling you your rights and benefits as a Lord of Lumina. It's not a simple title"

"Of course" he scoffed, taking the papers out of the file.

"I assume these papers aren't really to be left after reading"

"Definitely"

His eyes scanned the paper— rights to information of any kind, security... unlimited access to information and resources on your domain.

"Wait" he paused as he flipped,

"I need to know what the domain will be?"

He continued flipping,

"You're not going to hand me all of Westeron---"

"That's what you're getting"

"What?" He gasped, stopping midway through the flip,

He stared at her face for a long time— she looked serious enough to not be joking.

"Are you sh---"

"The leader agreed to the domain and It's previous warden has been relieved of her duties"

Her?

"Wanda?" He groaned softly,

"...Yeah. The original Warden was the Leader while she acted as a proxy"

"So... I've been handed the Domain as Warden?"

"Yes"

Oh?

He looked at the papers again— staring at them for a while before flipping.

"That's it? I just get the domain like that? Was there no free domain for the Sixth seat?"

She exhaled, leaning back on her seat.

"A seat hasn't been left empty for this long, so the Domain has been shared"

But the Leader— the Emperor, had all information and resources in Kraven and Westeron?

And Westeron thinks they're in a war with Kraven or the Emperor?

How funny...

This is just a huge game of chess with Thaddeus Kravenberch VII as the Master.

"Is there a problem?" She asked since he seemed to be taking long to think.

"Should I explain---"

"No need. I understand everything properly" he sighed,

"What I don't understand is how I start to use this authority"

"Understandable" she reached for her bag,

"You'll need these" she stretched out two cards.

"These are called biscuits" She mused, waving them,

"There are contacts for everything you'll need at the back and they'll do absolutely anything for you"

His eyes widened as he took the cards.

"Anything, huh?"

"Yeah... Like that little stunt I pulled at the opera house. I wasn't even the Warden"

Hmm...

"...Can I kill anyone with this?"

"...Anything means anything, Lord Stella" she mused, eyes shining brighter.

"Okay" he looked at the back of the card.

There was contacts for everything he'd need— surveillance, intelligence, elimination, business... And so on.

Fitted tightly at the back of the cards.

"If you need something that's not there, ask Madam Wanda and she'll cooperate"

Wanda...

His face turned sour all of a sudden

No.

Don't think about it.

They made their decision.

I'll take it as they've given

"If this is all" he stood up,

"I'll be going now. Take" he arranged the papers and passed the file back.

"You can. It wasn't really as much of a lecture as I thought..." She replied, collecting the paper,

"Don't want a drink?"

"No" he replied, walking off.

I've had enough for today.

And it doesn't seem to work.

_____

He dialed Xander as he got into his car, glancing at one of the cards on his hand.

"Hello, Sir"

"Hello. How's the issue with Umber going?"

"...He's acting up but I'll cover it"

Hmmm...

Acting up, huh?

Why not test the power of this thing?

"Don't worry about him again"

"H–Huh? I'll sort---"

"Just take care of the company and the SEC matter. You've done an excellent job. I'll sort it out"

Xander fell silent for a while before he spoke,

"Yes, Sir"

"Don't feel bad, Man..." Trent chuckled, "I've just found a better way to deal with him"

"Alright, Sir"

"See you later. Is... She home yet?"

"Ah... Yes. You've got another guest too"

A guest?

"Who's it?"

"A Man. The Madam says to leave him at the drawing room"

"... Alright. I'm heading back" Trent replied, cutting the call.

A man?

Who'd it be?

He glanced back at the hotel building and exhaled.

"Let's do this" he muttered as he dialed a number at the back of the card— Elimination.

"Good day, Lord Stella" a lady's voice cut through as the call connected.

"Congratulations on your Domain"

Oh?

How fast.

"Thank you... What should I call you?"

"Alpha"

"Alright, Alpha" he scoffed,

"My task"

"Felix Umber— eliminate whatever strand of good image he's built over the past"

"Alright, Lord Stella"

"As quickly as possible"

"It'll be done"

"Good" he cut the call.

Let's see how quickly it'll take them to work on it.

That fucking bastard.

Daring to act up?

Daring to covet what's mine?

The nerve.

He exhaled, staring at the card.

They didn't even ask the reason.

Is this what true power is like?

He started the car and drove off, increasing the stereo to listen to the song playing.

_____

He sighted the car as he drove into the manor— blue Ferrari...

Who was it?

Xander opened the door and looked outside as he parked, walking towards him slowly.

"Welcome back, Sir" he greeted as Trent stepped out of the car.

"Thank you" Trent muttered, glancing towards the car.

"Did you find out who it was?"

"Yes. He's a Mr. Anton"

What?

His eyes widened and jaws tightened.

What's Anton doing here?

Was there a mission?

Did Marie---

He exhaled as he tried to fix his expression.

Don't act up, Trent.

Just listen to what he has to say and get this over with.

"Thank you" he forced a smile at Xander, walking off.

As soon as he entered the door, his eyes met Marie's who was descending the stairs.

"Y–You're back..." She muttered,

"Welcome"

Yep.

She definitely called Anton here.

Acting all nervous like that.

He nodded as he entered the drawing room.

Anton stood up immediately, surprised.

"T–Trent..."

"Anton" Trent replied— cold tone. A bit harder than he'd intended.

"I... I heard you found" Anton's eyes trailed towards Marie as she walked in.

"I'm sorry, Trent..."

"You don't have to be sorry..." Trent chuckled in a low tone,

"There's nothing to be sorry about not wanting your child, is there?"

Xander gasped as he heard this, eyes turning to Marie's face immediately.

Was this---

"It's not like that..." Anton muttered,

"I didn't mean to---"

"You didn't abandon me" Trent mused, taking a seat as he scanned Anton.

"You just with held the fact that I belonged to you"

"I–It's complicated..."

"Make it less complicating then!" Trent snapped,

Anton exhaled, glancing towards Marie and Xander.

"It had to do with your Mother..."

"Wanda? There's nothing---"

"I don't know how you found out about her, but you should know, right?" Anton cut in,

"You're usually smart, Trent"

Trent blinked,

I'd thought about everything but I don't want to give in so easily.

"The fact that she's royalty?" He laughed— dry, sad...

"Exactly..."

Xander's eyes widened...

Royalty?

"Holy---"

"Don't interrupt them" Marie whispered, turning to him.

"Y–Yes"

"What do you think would happen to you if they found out your mother gave birth for a man in Westeron?"

"I'd be deemed for elimination or taken..." Trent muttered

"Exactly" Anton exhaled.

"I tried my best, Trent..." He stuttered...

"The Emperor knows doesn't he?"

"Of course..." Anton scoffed,

"He arranged everything..."

"Everything?"

"Making your mother disappear— he gave us a choice and a solution"

"So he let his daughter's happiness go?" Trent scoffed,

"No. He promised not to pay it mind and gave her 30 years underground"

"Underground?"

"Yeah... We were supposed to tell you about it in 5 years time"

Hmmm....

Was that why he trusted the Emperor so much?

"30 years is a lot of years. When did you contact her last?"

"15 years ago" Anton stuttered

What?

15 years?

"So... Until I was 10?"

"...Yes"

Marie walked towards them as Xander walked out to get wine since it seemed to be resolving.

"Is she even still alive?"

Anton turned to her,

"I... don't know"

"She is..." Trent cut in.

"W–What?" Anton turned to him sharply.

"How do you know that?"

"Because I've met her"

Marie raised a brow,

"You've met her?"

"Remember when I told you about Scarlet?"

"The spy secretary?"

"Yeah... She's the Boss"

"Oh... That---"

"What's happening? Can you tell me what's going on?" Anton cut in sharply.

"What do you mean you've met Her?"

"...I mean I've met her"

"When?"

"A few days ago" Trent chuckled,

"...How---"

"It'd be better to show you"

Trent brought out his phone from his pocket and glanced at them as he dialed Wanda.

"Hello, Trent..." Wanda's voice cut through

Anton gasped, eyes widening as he heard her voice.

"W–Wanda?..."