Laying the Foundations (6)
The moment I stepped into the reception room, a heavy silence fell over the place. The air felt thick enough to cut with a knife. All eyes turned toward me at once.
At the head of the long table sat Cao Cao, her posture straight as a drawn bow. Her sharp, piercing gaze scanned me from head to toe without a hint of warmth. To her left and right sat her closest aides — Guo Jia and Xun Yu — both watching me with expressions that revealed nothing.
Guo Jia looked relaxed, almost bored, but her eyes gleamed with quiet curiosity. Xun Yu, on the other hand, maintained a perfectly neutral face, though I could sense the calculating mind working behind it. These two were the brains behind Cao Cao’s faction. One wrong word here and I’d be finished before I even began.
I offered a polite bow, keeping my movements measured and respectful.
“It is an honor to meet you, Prime Minister Cao. I am Jin Hwan, a humble wanderer who has come to offer his services.”
Cao Cao didn’t answer right away. Instead, she lifted a small cup of tea and took a slow sip. The silence stretched on, deliberate and oppressive. She was testing me. I remained standing, hands clasped behind my back, refusing to show even a flicker of discomfort.
Finally, she set the cup down with a soft clink.
“You claim to have information that could change the fate of this war. Speak plainly, wanderer. My time is not something to be wasted.”
Her voice was low and commanding, carrying the weight of someone who had already toppled kingdoms. I met her eyes without flinching.
“The Battle of Guandu is approaching. Yuan Shao’s forces outnumber yours three to one. His supply lines are vulnerable, yet he believes his overwhelming numbers will carry the day. But there is a critical weakness in his camp that even his own generals have failed to notice.”
Guo Jia’s eyebrow twitched slightly. A good sign. Xun Yu remained perfectly still, though I caught the subtle shift in her posture.
Cao Cao leaned forward, resting her chin on her interlaced fingers. Her dark eyes narrowed.
“And how would a mere wanderer know such things? You speak as if you have seen the future itself.”
I smiled faintly. If only you knew.
“I have my ways, Prime Minister. Information is my trade. And I have brought you something far more valuable than mere rumors.”
From my sleeve I produced a carefully folded map and several documents I had prepared in advance. They contained precise details of Yuan Shao’s supply depots, the internal friction between his generals, and even the exact timing of their next major troop movement. All of it was information I had “obtained” through the system’s guidance and my own strategic calculations.
I placed them on the table and slid them toward Cao Cao.
She didn’t reach for them immediately. Instead, she gestured to Xun Yu, who picked up the documents with elegant fingers and began reading. The silence returned, broken only by the soft rustle of paper.
After a long moment, Xun Yu’s eyes widened just a fraction. She passed the papers to Guo Jia without a word. Guo Jia scanned them quickly, then let out a low whistle.
“Well now… this is quite interesting. If these figures are accurate, Yuan Shao’s granaries at Wuchao are far less defended than we believed. And the rivalry between Yan Liang and Wen Chou has grown worse than we thought. This could be useful.”
Cao Cao’s expression didn’t change, but I could see the calculating gleam in her eyes deepen. She was hooked.
“You expect me to believe you offer this freely? What is your price, Jin Hwan?”
I had been waiting for that question.
“I ask for three things. First, a position within your inner circle where I can advise directly. Second, protection and resources to build my own small force. And third…”
I paused, letting the tension build for just a moment.
“I wish to stand beside you when you claim the world, Prime Minister. Not as a servant, but as a partner in shaping a new era.”
The room grew deathly quiet. Guo Jia’s lazy smile froze. Xun Yu’s gaze sharpened like a blade. Cao Cao stared at me for what felt like an eternity.
Then, unexpectedly, the corner of her mouth curved upward. It wasn’t a kind smile. It was the smile of a predator who had just found an intriguing new toy.
She rose from her seat with fluid grace. Her presence seemed to fill the entire room, overwhelming and magnetic. This was the woman who would one day become the ruler of the north — the Wolf of the North in the flesh.
“Very well. I will test your worth, Jin Hwan. Prove that your information is accurate and that your counsel holds value. If you succeed…”
Her eyes locked onto mine with burning intensity.
“I may just grant you everything you desire. And perhaps more.”
A surge of satisfaction rose within me. The first step had been taken. The foundation was being laid.
But even as I maintained a calm exterior, my mind was already racing ahead. Cao Cao, you have no idea what kind of monster you’ve just invited into your house.
The real game was only beginning.
Quest Updated: Laying the Foundations
Progress: 40% Complete
Reward: Increased favorability with Cao Cao faction, Access to restricted information, New skill unlocked upon completion
I bowed once more, hiding the dark smile threatening to break across my face.
The path to domination had just opened a little wider.