Lukas furrowed his brows, turning slowly to where Gustav sat. The latter was seated behind the desk, working on some papers as usual.

Gustav drew a deep breath as he lifted his gaze to him. "Up to you whether you’re with me or not, but it’s better to hold on to her before anyone else can."

Lukas scoffed. "You are out of your mind."

"What she said to you and me is true, though." Gustav leaned back. "The high chamber has a choice, and if they could manipulate someone like her, they’d choose an option that saves them from spilling blood."

"No," Lukas shook his head. "Gustav, I don’t care what you’re telling yourself, and I don’t care if I have a target on my back. But me? Lowering my head to that woman? Why?"

He snickered. "I’m not lowering my head to any of the Di Carpios, nor am I going to lower my head to someone who got her position that easily. Gustav, I don’t know what’s gotten into you or why you got swayed by a few words, but that woman is not qualified."

"Not qualified, huh?" Gustav nodded, tapping his fingertips against the desk. "I wonder if the high chamber would agree with that."

Lukas’s face twitched, and Gustav continued.

"Whether you agree or not, or whether we think she’s qualified or not, she holds an important position in Dominion," Gustav argued calmly. "From the day Dominion was established, the position of Madam of Dominion has always carried significant power and influence within the high chamber."

"If we take the late madam’s position into account, we both agreed that she carried more power than the late don," he continued. "But since her passing, the master made sure her faction was disbanded to ensure he maintained control over Dominion."

Besides, Lucian was a bachelor when he assumed power.

"Lukas, I am talking to you as the master’s right hand speaks to his left hand." Gustav’s expression grew stern. "The faction was disbanded, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it cannot be reestablished. If the wrong people gain control of that faction, the high chamber won’t be the only thing we have to watch out for."

Even though Gustav didn’t think Ashley would ever fight Lucian for power, just as the late madam and late don did, it was best to use that same logic to get through to the stubborn Lukas.

"Not to mention, the master’s marriage was registered in Vermillion Court," he added. "The only court Dominion cannot touch or manipulate. We can work around its rules, but we can’t escape the consequences if the high chamber uses them to its advantage."

Meaning, Ashley’s rights as Lucian’s wife were strong.

Knowing the high chamber, they would go as far as taking it to Vermillion Court for legitimacy, giving themselves more excuses to take as much as they could from Lucian.

Lukas balled his hands into tight fists.

A moment of silence fell between them before a glint flickered in Gustav’s eyes. He had been coordinating with Ashley, and so far, their board had been moving. It was slow, but it was the smart kind of slow.

Almost as if Lucian himself were moving the pieces, which surprised even Gustav.

"Lukas, the master has a right hand and a left hand," Gustav remarked, looking the man straight in the eye. "And among all the limbs he has, only one hand can cut off the other."

"What are you getting at?"

"I didn’t hope to spell it out for you, but if the left hand is holding us back, I’m afraid I’ll have to cut it off myself," Gustav answered without missing a beat. "You have a day to decide."

He leaned back. "Once you do, either send the important business details to her office and come with me to meet her later, or book the earliest flight and leave the country."

"It’s the second day since the master collapsed." Gustav tapped his wristwatch. "We don’t have time, Lukas. You, of all people, should know that."

Another wave of silence fell between them before Lukas snorted.

"No way," he scoffed. "Never."

Having said that, Lukas stormed out of Gustav’s office. Gustav merely watched him leave before his phone pinged. His brows twitched, and he picked it up.

Two messages came in at the same time. One was from Khan. It read:

[Everything is set. The madam expects you to clear your side of the plan.]

Gustav almost laughed, either in ridicule or amusement, at how Khan was speaking to him as if they were equals. In Dominion, there were only a few people who could speak to Gustav that way. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Lukas was one of them. Then there was Lucian and the high ranks of the high chamber. Yet Ashley’s recruit was already positioning himself as part of her faction. Meaning, Khan was already acting as Gustav’s equal—as someone serving under the Madam of Dominion.

"This is how people move fast," he whispered as he checked the other message. "And how quickly power shifts in Dominion."

The second message came from Red.

[I need a list from your side of Dominion to identify a possible leak. Everyone who knew about the Master’s condition—not just within Dominion, but also the doctors, medical staff, and anyone who has had direct contact with the Black Dragon.]

Gustav went quiet after reading Red’s message.

Their message history mostly consisted of Gustav’s orders and Red’s short responses: Got it. Yes, sir. Done.

This was the first time Red had sent a request that didn’t sound careful at all.

Khan was one thing. He had only recently entered Dominion and knew too little about its structure. In other words, one could say Khan was simply ignorant.

But Red?

Red knew exactly what the rules were.

Yet, as Gustav had said, this was how quickly power shifted in Dominion without Lucian.

And Red, changing his tone to that of a senior, meant he and his crew had finally decided to leave their roles under Lucian. They had chosen to work directly under Ashley.

"A little insulting," Gustav whispered as he set his phone aside and returned to his computer. "But it’s best if we establish her authority now, before everything collides."

With that thought in mind, Gustav suppressed any personal feelings and sent Red the list of people who had direct contact with Lucian. Not only that, but also a list of people who could support Ashley and those who could easily be swayed by opposing forces.

Their board was moving.

But so was the board on the other side.

Gustav had to keep that in mind.