Franklin remained standing behind his desk.
His expression had become noticeably more serious.
"A rebellion."
The guild runner nodded.
"Yes, Guild Leader."
Franklin exchanged a glance with Osric.
A few minutes ago they had been discussing how to deal with a criminal organization.
Now that same organization was apparently tearing itself apart.
"Any idea who's leading it?" Franklin asked.
"Not yet."
The runner shook his head.
"Our informants only know that multiple groups are fighting each other. The situation is chaotic."
Franklin frowned.
That was both good and bad.
Good because Stoneclaw would be too busy fighting itself to focus on Osric.
Bad because chaos was unpredictable.
And unpredictable situations tended to create opportunities.
For everyone.
Including people he didn't trust.
Osric was already thinking ahead.
If Stoneclaw was collapsing from the inside, then the situation surrounding Reginald had just changed completely.
"Franklin."
The guild leader looked toward him.
"I think we should bring Samuel back upstairs."
Franklin immediately understood why.
The old retainer knew House Greydell.
He knew Reginald.
And most importantly—
He probably understood the political consequences of what was happening better than anyone else currently in the room.
After a short pause, Franklin nodded.
"Agreed."
He turned toward the runner.
"Send someone downstairs."
"Bring Samuel back up."
The runner left immediately.
The office became quiet once more.
Everyone waited.
Because they all understood the same thing.
The next conversation might determine what happened next.
A few minutes later, the office door opened once again.
Samuel stepped inside.
The older retainer looked noticeably less composed than before.
Being locked inside a guild holding cell had not improved his mood.
His eyes immediately moved toward Franklin.
Then toward Osric.
Then toward the guild runner still standing inside the room.
Something felt different.
"What happened?" Samuel asked cautiously.
Franklin didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he pointed toward an empty chair.
"Sit."
Samuel obeyed without argument.
That alone told everyone how nervous he was.
Franklin folded his arms.
"There is currently fighting inside the Stoneclaw Gang."
Samuel froze.
For the first time since entering the room, his composure completely cracked.
"What?"
The reaction wasn't fake.
Osric immediately noticed that.
Franklin did too.
"It appears the organization is splitting apart."
Samuel's face slowly paled.
"No…"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"That idiot."
"Who are you referring to?" Franklin asked.
Samuel gulped.
"Luke. I knew he was a bad leader. He lead his gang through strength and a promise of something great at the beginning, but it was obvious he would lose control once he was blinded by our castle's money."
"Then isn't it House Greydell's fault for leaving him in charge after taking over?" Osric added.
Samuel flinched.
"I agree. It was the Baron's mistake for making the third heir Reginald the middle man between the castle and the Stoneclaw gang. He barely did anything these past years to check how they've been doing. And now Luke is facing a revolt."
"Pfft. I guess he hasn't changed since you met him as a kid. Right Osric?" Garrick said.
"Seems that way. Not that I expected anything else. He was already a piece of trash as a teenager."
"Huh? You know the young master?" Samuel asked in shock.
"None of your business."
'Ugh.'
"Alright. So what do you think of this situation Samuel?" Franklin asked.
Samuel took a moment before answering.
When he finally spoke, his voice sounded far less confident than before.
"This is bad."
Nobody interrupted him.
Samuel looked directly at Franklin.
"If Stoneclaw is truly splitting apart, then the young master is in serious trouble."
"How so?" Franklin asked.
Samuel laughed bitterly.
"Because he's attached himself to them."
Everyone in the room listened carefully.
"For years, Reginald has treated Stoneclaw as his responsibility. Not officially, of course. But everyone important inside the organization knows he was the noble overseeing them."
Osric's eyes narrowed.
"And if the gang collapses?"
Samuel didn't hesitate.
"Then secrets start spreading."
His expression darkened.
"Gang members get arrested. Even the corrupt city guard has no choice but to do their jobs if such a huge conflict among criminals breaks out. It's not the same as when they do things in the dark."
"People start talking."
"Old grudges come out."
"Everyone starts looking for someone else to blame."
A heavy silence settled over the office.
Samuel slowly rubbed his forehead.
"The young master understands that much."
Franklin immediately picked up on the implication.
"You think he'll get involved."
Samuel looked at him as if the answer was obvious.
"He won't be able to stop himself."
Franklin remained silent for several seconds.
Then he asked the question everyone was already thinking.
"What exactly do you think Reginald will do?"
Samuel didn't even need to think about it.
"He'll go there."
The answer came instantly.
William frowned.
"To the Stoneclaw headquarters?"
"Yes."
Samuel looked almost certain.
"He has no choice."
"Why?" Dustin asked.
Samuel sighed.
"Because if he stays away and Stoneclaw collapses without him knowing what's happening, then he's blind."
"If evidence appears, if people get arrested, if information starts spreading through Lowbrook and the city, he won't have any way to control the damage."
"He'll convince himself that he can still fix it."
A bitter smile appeared on Samuel's face.
"That's how he always thinks."
"Even when he's causing the problem."
Garrick snorted.
"Sounds about right."
Samuel ignored him.
"The young master isn't brave."
"He isn't particularly clever either."
"But he hates losing face."
"Once he learns Stoneclaw is collapsing, he'll panic."
"And when Reginald panics, he starts making decisions."
The office became quiet.
Because everyone knew what that meant.
Osric exchanged a glance with Franklin.
For the first time since hearing about the rebellion, the guild leader's expression changed.
Just slightly.
But Osric noticed it.
Franklin was no longer looking at the situation as a problem.
He was beginning to see an opportunity.
"Interesting," Franklin said quietly.