Elias Vance had been an easy acquisition—just as expected.
He was waiting for someone to gamble on his intelligence, someone who saw him as more than just a disposable strategist in the underworld. He had no real loyalty to the Grey Crows or the scraps they tossed his way. He wanted something bigger, something where his mind wasn't just tolerated, but valued.
And I had given him that.
The others, though? A different story entirely.
One, I could only approach once I returned to Mythos Academy. Another, I needed to be at Integration-rank to even have a conversation with.
Which left me with just one option.
The very next day, Elias turned up at Ouroboros Guild headquarters, handed over his signed contract, and officially joined the team. He didn't waste time settling in—he immediately started assessing our operations, analyzing everything with that sharp, calculating gaze of his.
