The interrogation process was long and arduous but Lukas got the information he needed. The corruption ran far deeper and it seemed like he had no end. These Dragonborn did not care about its people, they did not care about Linemall. They were just worried about their own personal gain, drunk on power without anyone to keep them in check. So the people of the Seas suffered for years on end because there was nobody powerful enough to stop them.
He saw how Marshall Sterling had treated that wyvern, how long had they been collecting these "payment fees"? How long had this been going on for? How long had the people of the Seas been mistreated?
He'd had a long day and he was hungry. That night, he found himself reading through the interrogation reports in the kitchen, trying to wrap his head around all of it. Laid out before the Lordling was an entire feast of food that the chefs of the palace had cooked out for him. He ate ravenously, pausing in between bites to study the reports more closely.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the door slowly push open. He thought he'd made it clear that he didn't want anyone to enter while he was eating his meal. To his surprise, he saw a young Dragonborn sneaking into the kitchen. He watched with amusement as the boy looked outside one last time, to make sure the coast was clear before closing the door behind him.
"You're not supposed to be here." He remarked before taking another bite into his meal.
The boy flinched, shock apparent on his face as he finally met Lukas' eyes. For a split moment, he can see the boy thinking about what the right move is here. He looks like he's around six years old but he looked twenty and he was going on three hundred. "It's alright, kid. I ain't gonna rat on you. Eat." He shoves a plate towards him, gesturing to him to come forward.
Relief flashes on his face and the kid gives him a sheepish grin before diving into the plate of food he has just been offered.
"What's your name? Mine's Jesse! Jesse Sterling!" The kid introduces himself between mouthfuls of food. Lukas stops, tilting his head to the side and setting his report down. No fucking way. Sterling? Jesse Sterling?
"Is that so? You're a Sterling? You don't look like your brothers at all." Marshall and his siblings have a very distinct crow-like look. They have sharp noses and almost beady-like eyes, with dirty blonde hair. This kid has brown hair and wide eyes. This kid looks charming, even sweet. He could never have guessed it.
"Yeah! How do you know my brothers? Do you know where they are? They said they'd get me some food but…they never came back. That's why I snuck into the kitchen, I was starving!" The concern in his voice is heart-wrenching and he even stops eating; waiting earnestly for a response, worried sick about his brothers.
"Oh, didn't you hear? They got rounded up, a whole bunch of the Dragonborn did earlier today. Bad people doing bad things they shouldn't have, kid. Don't worry though, if your brothers are innocent, they'll be set free soon." Lukas tells the little Dragonborn, enjoying this interaction immensely.
For just a brief moment, he can see anger flash across the boy's face but it soon turns into what looks to be a genuine display of worry. This kid really is something else. "My brothers aren't bad people! I'm sure they have the wrong people! Who are you? How do you know all this?" The way he asked Lukas made it seem like it was just an innocent question, born out of curiosity.
"Oh me? My name is Lukas Drakos. It's a pleasure to meet you, Jesse Sterling."
The boy's expression fades, replaced by one of understanding. He is silent, setting the plate down. All of a sudden, the kid doesn't seem too hungry anymore.
"In fact, right here, are the investigative reports from the interrogation of all 54 that were apprehended today on suspicion of corruption and extortion." Lukas sets down his plate, tapping on the reports laid out in front of him. The kid is silent, watching him without a word. "Of course, they were all pretty adamant this was just a simple way to make more money at first. It took a while but they eventually cracked. And they all said the same exact story. We checked and we checked again because honestly I couldn't really believe it. All of this was more than just a couple nobles on a power trip, this was intentional. It was deliberate. And you know the craziest thing about it, Jesse? They all said…that you were the brains behind the operation."
The innocent kid facade was up. Jesse was no longer even trying to hide it, he knew there was hardly a point in lying at this point Yet he continued to stay silent, eyes locked onto Lukas. There was a deep anger within those eyes. It was his eyes that betrayed him, eyes that made his hyperintelligence clear; almost unnervingly so.
"Fuck. Fuck FUCK! Why couldn't they just keep their mouths FUCKING SHUT?" The boy screams with irritation, smashing the plate to the ground. It's an almost terrifying sight because this isn't just a temper tantrum. This is a genuine D1 crashout. Holy shit. Jesse takes in a deep breath, closing his eyes with his head raised to the ceiling. That's all he needs to compose himself.
"So what is it that you want? Do you wish to rule now?" The boy inquires, his voice calm and collected.
Lukas is dealing with a fucking sociopath.
"I want you to answer that question, Jesse. What is it that you want? You're not poor, you don't need the money. Why do all this? You're smart and I don't mean that in a patronizing way. Why use it for this? When you could have done so much for Linemall?"
Jesse scoffs, an eyebrow raised in his direction. "For Linemall? What has Linemall done for me? What has it done for the Sterling Family? Don't act like you're doing this for the sake of your people, bastard. You want power. So do I. Money is power, Drakos. And I follow where the money goes. The power has not been in Drakos' hands for a very long time."
Lukas doesn't show it but the question did shake him. Was…he just hungry for power? Just like he was in his past life, searching for purpose through strength and domination? Was he really doing it for the people of Linemall, was he doing it for the draconic kind? He honestly wasn't sure.
"Then where has the power gone?"
"The Kraken. It won't be soon till he rules over the Seas of Linemall and I doubt he's going to stop just there. It's only a matter of time before he's the one in control of all of Linemall. I hate to break it to you but the Age of Dragons is over, Drakos. We were too caught up in the glory and fame. It's time to move on. I don't want Rodan's brother to die too. Don't be stupid."
Lukas stopped and then he saw it. He sees that at the end of the day, Jesse's still a little kid. Rodan must have treated him well for the kid to have shown at least a hint of true emotions.
For the first time, Lukas doesn't think violence is the right move here. Forcing the boy to submit through force isn't going to work, not like it had with Marshall Sterling.
"I'm not gonna die and Rodan's not dead. I know he isn't. And I will find him. We can find him. But I need to make sure that my mother is safe. I need to make sure my older brother's daughter and his mother are going to be okay. Rodan would have wanted to be sure that his people were safe too. Don't you agree? So help me kid. And I promise you. The power will return to the Drakos Family. But not if their own people are not behind them." His voice softened and he meant every word he said.
"I…I will think about it." There was confusion in the boy's eyes. Jesse wasn't expecting that from Lukas, a plea for support? He was nothing like Marshall had described him to be, a savage with brutish overwhelming strength that could not be reasoned with. Could he really be telling the truth? "I will take my leave now, Lord Drakos."
Lukas let him leave, nodding. He sighed and watched as Jesse exited the kitchen. There was no point in holding him here. What did he get out of imprisoning him against his will? That'd just end up turning him against him for good. He did know one thing for certain though.
It was time to pay the Kraken a visit.