"Yes, that should work. Let's do it, have all the sailors ready, and pool our money together to buy that Secret Realm and register a new company to hold it," said Orazio. "We will buy shares in it with no trading allowed. Is that agreeable to everyone here?" Murmurs of yes and okay filled the air. Now that they had made the decision, it was no longer their concern, and someone else in the family would handle it.
The company was set up and fully compliant within thirty minutes. The money for the Secret Realm had already been transferred, and contracts were signed almost immediately. The new company was now hiring ships to serve as a taxi service to the island. Within an hour the operation was moving forward at full speed. Two hours later Brussels was filled with advertisements showing how people could make money and where they could register.
"The shipbuilding service was not originally on the agenda today, but I suggest we extend the meeting a little longer," said Orazio. "I am going to invest in making more ships as they will allow us to quickly connect various cities." Several people nodded in agreement. The value of traditional ships had risen dramatically after the recent discoveries. What had once been a prestige project now looked like a major strategic asset.
Thus the meeting continued for another four hours. A large number of topics came up for discussion, and everyone seemed satisfied with the results. Many profitable opportunities had been identified, and plans were already being drafted. The participants were especially pleased because they had already received reports that the first ship had set sail toward the island. Initial results would soon begin arriving.
Because the noble families had moved so quickly, the government was largely helpless to stop them. They were essentially using volunteers as test subjects to determine how dangerous the Secret Realm really was. The authorities could only watch and gather information. The military had taken a slower and more cautious approach with their own realms. Seeing someone else test the limits first was valuable information.
Everyone who boarded had signed willingly. The contracts were airtight thanks to the armies of lawyers employed by the great families. There was no legal basis to stop the operation. Even so, the military sent several hundred soldiers aboard the first ship. Officially it was for safety. Unofficially it was to make sure nobody hid important discoveries.
"I did not want to end this meeting on a sad note, but I have no choice," said Orazio after listening to an initial report from one of the attendants. His expression had become noticeably more serious. The cheerful atmosphere around the table faded almost immediately. Everyone present understood that Orazio rarely brought up unpleasant topics without a good reason.
"Well, what is it then?" asked Gustaw. He was visibly tired after maintaining a perfect poker face for hours. Even among people he trusted, showing weakness was a habit difficult to break. The younger patriarch leaned back in his chair and waited. Several others also shifted their attention toward Orazio.
"I have heard from credible reports that they have decided to return to the world and no longer hide away on their island," said Orazio. The statement immediately soured the mood in the room. Faces that had been smiling only moments ago turned bitter. Even those who had remained relaxed throughout the meeting now frowned.
"Are you sure?" asked Gustaw. "I thought they would never show themselves again. After all, governments consider their kind criminals." There was clear mockery in his voice. The situation sounded almost absurd. Yet nobody laughed.
"Please, you know as well as I do that governments would love to use them if they knew they existed," said Orazio. "The only reason they are appearing now is because the environment allows it once again. Their abilities would be incredibly useful if humanity faces another Trial. Especially if we have to fight species not as numerous and mindless as the goblins again."
The family they were discussing practiced the arts of espionage and assassination. In many ways they resembled the ninja clans of Japan. Long ago they had been subjects of a Dutch noble house that rose to prominence through the assistance of the Sonnebergs. Using those connections, the noble house secured wealth, influence, and control over trade. Eventually that same ambition led them down a dangerous path.
During their expansion they discovered the assassin family. Rather than forming a partnership, they forced them into service through threats and military pressure. The arrangement lasted for years despite resistance. At the same time the noble house drifted away from the Sonnebergs. Their obsession with profit slowly alienated both allies and rivals.
As their wealth grew, the great houses became increasingly alarmed. The noble house controlled too much money and too much influence. Eventually they were viewed as a threat rather than a partner. A coalition formed against them. What followed was a brutal conflict that left deep scars across Europe.
The war cost the noble houses dearly. Although they ultimately achieved their objective, many regretted the methods used. The Sonnebergs returned to their ancestral forest and remained there. As for the assassin family, most believed they had been wiped out entirely. With their homeland unknown and their records destroyed, nobody could find them.
The search eventually stopped. Trade families were furious about the conflict and had begun openly threatening resistance against the great houses. While they lacked political authority, they possessed enough real fighting power to be taken seriously. Escalating the situation further risked destabilizing the entire region. As a result, the matter was quietly buried.
"But that is all in the past," said Gustaw. "Surely it should not affect us anymore?" His family had played only a minor role in the conflict. To him the issue seemed distant and largely resolved. Many of the people involved were long dead. History should have remained history.
"Perhaps," said Orazio with a sigh. "But we killed so many of their people that we believed the family was extinct. If they survived, they may want revenge simply to prove they endured." His eyes moved around the room. Several patriarchs avoided meeting his gaze.
"And then there are the Sonnebergs," he continued. "Certain noble houses interfered with their ancestral lands. While many of those responsible are gone, some lines still survive. Everything happened under our authority. If our positions were reversed, we would want revenge as well."
Silence settled over the table after that. Nobody argued with his logic. These were families that measured grudges in centuries rather than years. The return of an enemy thought dead was never good news. Especially not in a world already changing faster than anyone could predict.