Damien stood in his study at midnight, surrounded by maps and intelligence reports, planning his first move with the precision of a military campaign.
Seven days. Seventy-seven corruption points.
The mathematics were simple. The execution would be complicated.
He'd spent the day after Elara's visit reviewing every asset his father controlled, every piece of leverage the Duke had accumulated through decades of ruthless governance. House Valcrest's power wasn't built on honor or justice – it was built on understanding exactly which pressure points would make people bend.
Damien had been raised watching this. Now he'd use it more efficiently than his father ever had.
His first target: Millworth, a prosperous village on the estate's southern border. Population roughly three hundred, primary industry grain production, governed by a village elder named Garrett who'd served loyally for twenty years.
Loyal to the Duke. Not necessarily to the Duke's son.
That would change.
[TARGET IDENTIFIED: Millworth Village]
[CORRUPTION APPROACH RECOMMENDED: Economic Pressure + Social Engineering]
[ESTIMATED CP GAIN: 25-40 points]
[TIME REQUIRED: 2-3 days]
Damien reviewed his intelligence on Elder Garrett. Honest man, devoted to his village's wellbeing, proud of maintaining independence despite noble oversight. Three children, all married and working the land. Well-respected by his community.
In other words, a man with pressure points everywhere.
The old Damien would have used crude intimidation – threats, violence, overwhelming force. Effective but unstable. Loyalty based on fear corroded quickly.
Damien preferred something more sophisticated.
He drafted three letters by candlelight, choosing each word with care.
The first went to the village's primary grain merchant, offering an exclusive contract at above-market rates – if the merchant agreed to route all trade through Damien's personal oversight rather than the Duke's general taxation system.
The second went to Garrett's eldest son, expressing interest in promoting him to regional agricultural coordinator – a position that didn't exist yet, but would grant significant authority and income. All contingent on the family's cooperation with some "administrative restructuring."
The third went to the village priest, with a generous donation for church repairs and a subtle suggestion that spiritual guidance might help the community accept upcoming changes in leadership structure.
Economic incentive. Social pressure. Religious legitimization.
Three vectors of corruption, all designed to make Elder Garrett's position untenable unless he bent.
"Cialdini's Principle of Social Proof," Damien murmured, sealing the letters. "People follow what they perceive others are already doing. Once the merchant and priest support me, Garrett will be isolated. He'll capitulate to maintain village cohesion."
It was cleaner than his father's methods. More efficient. Morally flexible rather than overtly cruel.
Exactly the kind of thinking that would let him sleep at night while accumulating corruption points.
He sent the letters with three different couriers at dawn, then turned his attention to target two: the trade route between Millworth and the neighboring Duke's territory.
Bandits had been a problem there for months – his father's men had half-heartedly patrolled, but the Duke preferred a certain level of chaos on border territories. Kept everyone dependent on noble protection.
Damien saw opportunity.
He requisitioned twenty mercenaries from the family's reserve forces, men who'd follow orders and ask minimal questions. His instructions were specific: eliminate the bandits, secure the trade route, but ensure everyone knew it was Damien Valcrest who'd made it safe, not Duke Cornelius.
Establishing his own reputation. His own power base. Separate from his father's shadow.
The kind of move that would earn respect, gratitude, and most importantly – loyalty that could be shaped into corruption later.
[QUEST PROGRESS: The Path of Power]
[Corruption Points: 423/500]
[Active Operations: 2]
[Estimated Timeline: On track]
---
Day Two brought results faster than anticipated.
The grain merchant accepted his contract immediately – the profit margin was too good to refuse. One pressure point secured.
The village priest responded with carefully worded gratitude and a suggestion that "Lord Damien's progressive approach to community welfare" would be mentioned in next service's sermon. Religious authority co-opted.
Garrett's son took longer to respond, but the intelligence reports indicated he'd been seen discussing the offer with his wife, his expression caught between temptation and filial loyalty.
Perfect. He'd let the family pressure build naturally.
Meanwhile, his mercenaries engaged the bandits. The encounter was brief and decisive – professional soldiers against opportunistic criminals was never a fair fight. By midday, the trade route was secure and heads were mounted on pikes as warning.
Brutal, but effective. The merchant caravans would spread word quickly.
Damien received the first corruption point notification that evening:
[CORRUPTION ACHIEVED: Millworth Merchant - Virtuous to Complicit]
[CP GAINED: +15]
[Current Total: 438/500]
The feeling was strange – a warmth in his chest, like satisfaction but darker. The System was rewarding him for turning an honest merchant into someone willing to circumvent proper taxation for profit.
He'd just made a good man slightly less good.
And it had been easy.
"Sixty-two points to go," Damien said aloud, pushing down the discomfort.
---
Day Three brought Elder Garrett to the estate personally.
Damien received him in the same study where his father conducted business – a deliberate choice. The room reeked of authority and intimidation, three generations of Valcrest power staring down from portraits.
Garrett was in his sixties, weathered from farm work, back straight despite obvious tension. A proud man, uncomfortable being summoned but too politically aware to refuse.
"Lord Damien." He bowed with exact propriety. "You requested my presence?"
"Elder Garrett." Damien gestured to a chair. "Please, sit. Would you like wine?"
"I'm fine, my lord."
"Suit yourself." Damien poured himself a glass, deliberately casual. "I'll be direct. I'm reorganizing how our family's southern territories are managed. More efficient oversight, better resource allocation, improved community support."
"I see." Garrett's expression was carefully neutral. "The Duke's current system has served well for twenty years – "
"Has it?" Damien interrupted gently. "Your grain yields have stagnated for five years. Bandit attacks increased thirty percent last season. Your village infrastructure is aging with no repair budget. The Duke's system has maintained basic function, but it hasn't actually improved anyone's quality of life."
Garrett's jaw tightened. Every point was accurate and the elder knew it.
"I'm offering something better," Damien continued. "Direct investment in your village. Improved trade terms. Protected routes. Modern irrigation. All I need is cooperation with new administrative structures."
"New structures that consolidate your personal power rather than your father's." Garrett wasn't stupid.
"Yes," Damien agreed simply. "I'm building my own power base. I'm being honest about that. But my method of rule will benefit you more than my father's neglect ever has. So the question is – do you care more about abstract loyalty to the Duke, or about your village thriving?"
It was a false dichotomy, but an effective one. Frame the choice as principle versus pragmatism, and pragmatism usually won.
Garrett was silent for a long moment.
"Your offer to my son," he said finally. "The coordinator position. That's real?"
"Completely real. With appropriate salary and authority." Damien leaned forward slightly. "Your family has served loyally for two decades. I want to reward that service while building something better. Help me restructure southern governance, and Millworth becomes the model other villages aspire to."
Another false dichotomy – frame cooperation as leadership rather than submission.
Garrett's weathered face showed the internal struggle. Pride versus practicality. Old loyalty versus new opportunity.
"If I agree," he said slowly, "I want guarantees. Written contracts for the trade terms. Verified budget for village improvements. My son's position formalized through proper legal channels."
"Done." Damien had prepared the documents already, knowing Garrett would demand proof. He slid them across the desk. "Everything documented. Everything binding."
The elder reviewed the papers with surprising legal acuity, checking terms and conditions. Finally, he looked up.
"This is genuinely beneficial for my village."
"Yes."
"But it's also subverting your father's authority and building your personal power base."
"Yes," Damien repeated.
"Why should I trust you over the Duke?"
"Because I'm offering contracts and investment. My father offers neglect and the threat of worse if you displease him." Damien met the elder's eyes directly. "I'm not asking for faith, Garrett. I'm proposing a mutually beneficial arrangement. You get genuine improvements. I get loyal support. We both win."
Garrett stared at the documents for another long moment, then picked up the quill.
"My village comes first," he said quietly, signing. "If you betray these terms, I will not stand idle."
"I wouldn't expect anything less." Damien collected the signed contracts. "Welcome to the new southern administrative structure. Your village will see improvements within the week."
After Garrett left, Damien felt the now-familiar warmth:
[CORRUPTION ACHIEVED: Elder Garrett - Loyal Traditionalist to Pragmatic Collaborator]
[CP GAINED: +30]
[Current Total: 468/500]
[TERRITORY CLAIMED: Millworth Village - Now under player direct influence]
He'd just turned a proud, honest village elder into someone willing to undermine his own Duke for community benefit.
The rationalization was easy – Garrett's village would improve. Damien wasn't lying about the benefits.
But the elder had still betrayed two decades of loyal service based on promises and contracts.
Corruption didn't have to look like evil. Sometimes it looked like reasonable compromise.
That might be more insidious.