CHAPTER 72: MARCUS RETURNS

Marcus Thorne pushed through the crowd with the arrogant confidence of someone accustomed to getting his way through intimidation rather than merit.

His expensive robes marked him as wealthy, but his thin frame and soft features spoke of a life spent in boardrooms rather than battlefields.

Behind him, two enforcers moved with the predatory grace of professional killers, their hands resting casually near weapon hilts as they surveyed the crowd for potential threats.

"EXCUSE ME!" Marcus’s voice cut through the crowd’s chatter with aristocratic authority. "CLEAR THE WAY! PHALLANX SOLUTIONS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ACCESS!"

The crowd parted reluctantly, murmurs of recognition and concern rippling through the gathered nobility.

Phallanx Solutions’ reputation for aggressive business practices preceded them, stories of hostile takeovers and destroyed competitors that had made their name synonymous with corporate ruthlessness.

Jack felt lightning crackle faintly around his fingertips as Marcus approached, the electrical discharge responding to his rising anger. Through their soul link, Corvin tensed as he watched from across the street, the small raven’s supernatural senses detecting the approaching threat.

"You there!" Marcus pointed directly at Jack with a jeweled finger that probably cost more than most people earned in a year. "Fetch your manager! Phallanx Solutions demands to speak with whoever’s responsible for this establishment!"

The casual dismissal hit Jack like a slap across the face. Marcus was treating him like a common servant, clearly having no idea that he was addressing the heir to the Kaiser bloodline.

’This idiot doesn’t even know where he is,’ Jack thought, his jaw clenching with barely contained fury. ’He’s standing in Sorne, demanding service from a Kaiser, and treating me like hired help.’

"I think there’s been a misunderstanding," Jack replied calmly. "Perhaps you should identify yourself and explain your business before making demands."

Marcus’s expression darkened at being questioned by someone he clearly considered beneath his notice. His enforcers shifted position slightly, their movements subtle but clearly threatening to anyone with combat experience.

"Do you know who I am, boy?" Marcus’s voice rose with indignation, drawing more attention from the crowd. "I am Marcus Thorne, chief acquisitions specialist for Phallanx Solutions! We have contracts with noble houses throughout the kingdom!"

"WHOOOOO!"

"PHALLANX SOLUTIONS!"

"WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE!"

Whispers erupted through the crowd as recognition dawned on various faces. Some customers looked concerned, others excited by the prospect of witnessing a business confrontation between powerful interests.

Jack felt his temper flare like a bonfire doused with oil. The man’s arrogance, his casual dismissal of Jack’s authority, his obvious assumption that threats and intimidation would accomplish his goals.

"And what exactly does Phallanx Solutions want with our establishment?" Jack asked, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper. Lightning began to leak from his form in visible sparks, making the air around him feel heavier.

"Your establishment?" Marcus laughed, the sound sharp and grating like fingernails on glass. "Boy, you’re clearly confused about your position here. Phallanx Solutions is interested in acquiring the production methods for these... novelty items. We’re prepared to offer fair compensation for the formulas and existing inventory."

The offer was delivered with the casual authority of someone who expected immediate compliance. Marcus clearly believed that his company’s reputation would be sufficient to intimidate any resistance.

But before Jack could respond with the verbal evisceration that was building in his chest, a familiar voice cut through the tension like a blade through silk.

"I think you gentlemen are lost."

Finn stepped from the crowd with the fluid grace of a predator, his scarred face showing no emotion as he positioned himself between Jack and the Phallanx representatives. The former chosen one’s one good eye blazed with cold fire as he assessed the threat.

Despite his casual appearance, there was something about Finn’s presence that made the enforcers tense visibly. Their professional instincts recognized another predator, someone whose dangerousness couldn’t be measured by appearance alone.

"And who might you be?" Marcus demanded, his voice rising with aristocratic indignation. "This is private business between Phallanx Solutions and the proprietors of this establishment!"

"The name’s Finn," the former chosen one replied with a smile that was all teeth and promised violence. "I handle security for the Kaiser family. And you gentlemen are trespassing on Kaiser property, making threats against Kaiser interests, and generally behaving like the kind of people who need to be removed from the premises."

The color drained from Marcus’s face as recognition crashed over him like a cold wave. His eyes darted between Finn’s scarred features and the Kaiser family crest displayed prominently throughout the store.

"Kaiser... family?" Marcus’s voice cracked slightly as the implications of his mistake became clear. "This is... this establishment belongs to..."

"To House Kaiser," Jack said with quiet satisfaction, stepping forward slightly so that his formal attire and noble bearing became more apparent. "And you’ve been making demands of the heir to that house while threatening his business interests. I trust you can see how that might be problematic."

Marcus swallowed hard, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead despite the morning’s cool air. His enforcers had gone very still, clearly recognizing that they were vastly outmatched in a confrontation with the Kaiser family.

But instead of backing down gracefully, Marcus’s face flushed red with embarrassment and anger. His voice rose to near-shouting as pride overrode common sense.

"I don’t care whose brat you are!" Marcus snarled, spittle flying from his lips as his composure cracked completely. "Phallanx Solutions has business interests that supersede noble privileges! You’ll hand over those formulas or face the consequences!"

"GASP!"

"HE DIDN’T!"

"DID HE JUST THREATEN A KAISER!"

The crowd’s reaction was immediate and electric. Nobles who had been casually shopping suddenly found themselves witnessing what could be a significant political incident. Some pressed closer for a better view, while others began edging toward the exits.

Jack felt a smile spread across his face, predatory and sharp. Marcus had just provided him with everything he needed to justify what came next.

"Consequences?" Jack’s voice carried clearly across the suddenly silent store, each word infused with the kind of authority that made people instinctively step back. "What kind of consequences did you have in mind?"

Lightning crackled more visibly around Jack’s form now, purple arcs dancing between his fingers as his anger transformed into something far more dangerous.

The electrical discharge made his hair stand slightly on end, creating an aura of barely contained power that made even hardened warriors nervous.

Marcus’s enforcers finally recognized the magnitude of their mistake. Their hands moved toward their weapons with the desperate speed of people who realized they might need to fight for their lives.

"Enough talk," the larger enforcer growled, his voice carrying the gravelly tone of someone accustomed to violence. His sword cleared its sheath with a ring of steel on leather. "Stand down, boy, or we’ll put you down."

The second enforcer followed suit, producing a curved blade that gleamed with obvious quality. Both men moved with the coordinated precision of partners who had worked together before, positioning themselves to attack from different angles.

"CLANG!"

"SHING!"

The sound of drawn steel echoed through the store, sending customers scrambling for cover behind display cases and store fixtures. What had been a crowded retail space moments before suddenly became a potential battlefield.

Jack’s grin widened as adrenaline surged through his system. Three weeks of Sera’s brutal training had prepared him for exactly this moment. No magic, no overwhelming power, just skill against skill.

"Finn," Jack said without taking his eyes off the approaching threats, "I’ve got this. Make sure the customers stay safe."

"You sure about that, kid?" Finn’s voice carried a note of concern, though he made no move to interfere. "Those two look like they know what they’re doing."

"So do I."

Jack’s hand moved to the ceremonial spear mounted on the store’s wall, a weapon chosen more for its aesthetic appeal than its practical application. But as his fingers closed around the familiar shaft, muscle memory from weeks of training took over.

The weapon felt natural in his grip, perfectly balanced despite its decorative origins. The spear point was real steel, sharp enough to pierce armor if properly applied.

"WHOOSH!"

The spear moved through the air as Jack assumed the ready position Sera had drilled into him through countless hours of brutal practice. His stance was perfect, his grip firm but flexible, his weight balanced on the balls of his feet for maximum mobility.

The enforcers exchanged glances, their professional assessment clearly shifting as they recognized the quality of Jack’s technique. This wasn’t some pampered noble playing with weapons; this was someone who had been trained properly.

"Last chance, boy," the larger enforcer warned, though his voice carried less confidence than before. "Drop the weapon and nobody gets hurt."