The cool night air whispered across the rooftop deck, carrying with it the faint hum of the city below.


    From this height, the sprawling metropolis looked almost peaceful, its twinkling lights stretching into the distance like a beautiful carpet.


    dimir satfortably in a plush chair, a ss of deep red wine in hand. His posture was rxed, but his eyes, sharp and calcting, never left the horizon.


    He''d always loved this view. It reminded him of his position. Above the world, observing, controlling, manipting from in sight. But this time, his mind was not on the city but on Solomon and whatever he was nning.


    Solomon had half of the reason he was fighting this war in his hands and he was perfectly happy to throw it away just to have Yuri''s subjects.


    Something wasn''t right.


    The soft sound of footsteps approaching from behind didn''t pull his attention. He had been expecting the vampire.


    "You''rete." dimir said casually, without turning around.


    "Apologies." The Necromancer said as he stepped onto the rooftop deck, his dark cloak billowing in the night breeze. "You summoned me, my lord."


    "Yes, I did." dimir gesturedzily to the empty chair across from him, indicating for the Necromancer to sit. "There''s been a change of ns."


    "My lord?" The Necromancer sat, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. "Which of the ns?"


    dimir took a sip of his wine, savoring the taste before responding. "Halt all operations regarding Ico and Armand. I''ve decided to hold off on killing them. We need more time."


    The Necromancer''s eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his face. "My lord? Hold off? Why?"


    "That is not for you to know." dimir said coldly, his gaze shifting from the horizon to meet the Necromancer''s eyes. "Understand?"


    The Necromancer bowed slightly from where he sat, epting the reprimand. "Yes, my lord."


    "Good." dimir turned back to the horizon, taking a sip of his wine. "I have a new task for you."


    The Necromancer waited patiently.


    "I want you to investigate Yuri''s Subjects."


    dimir caught the Necromancer stiffening slightly in the corner of his eye. Was he that shocked by the task? It didn''t matter. Whatever it was about Yuri''s Subjects that is making Solomon act out of character, he needed to know what it was.


    "I want to know everything about her Subjects. Their strengths, their weaknesses, where theye from, who they were before bing vampires, their dirty secrets, everything. Use those… zombies you have lying around."


    "I will." The Necromancer bowed slightly.


    "Good." dimir nodded, satisfied. "And while you''re at it, make sure no one notices. Not a sign of your… information gathering must be detected."


    "Of course, my lord. I''ll act immediately."


    As the Necromancer disappeared into the night, dimir remained seated, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. He sipped his wine, savoring the taste.


    Patience was a virtue many vampirescked, but dimir had always known better. Victory wasn''t about speed. It was about the right moment, the perfect strike, when every thread of fate aligned in his favor.


    Patience was after all, just another weapon in his immortal arsenal.


    **********


    The constant ticking of the clock echoed through the dim room, creating a rhythmic pulse that reverberated off the stone walls.


    Solomon stood by arge, grimy window, the cold ss pressing against his fingers as he stared out over the city. The clock tower, with its loud, creaking gears, was the perfect meeting ce. Isted, neutral, and filled with a quiet, ticking tension that mirrored the anticipation in his chest.


    He waited, knowing this meeting could be the one to give him what he wanted. With this meeting, he''d get Ezra and also be able to maintain the standoff between dimir, Yuri and himself until Itachi gets back.


    It had taken some effort to arrange this moment, but he had a suspicion that Yuri was too pragmatic to refuse the possibility of putting an end to the war. Even if the invitation had been met with skepticism, if she came, that would be enough.


    The heavy door creaked open, the sound of footsteps echoing against the stone floor. Solomon didn''t turn, already knowing who it was. The air shifted, growing colder as Yuri entered the room, her presencemanding even in silence.


    She approached with deliberate steps, stopping beside him and peering down at the city just like he was. Solomon could feel the tension crackling between them. Decades of bad blood, of schemes and rivalries, all culminating in this moment.


    "A part of me didn''t expect you to show up." He joked, trying to lighten up the moment.


    "Cut the crap, Solomon." Yuri said, her voice cold. "I have reports of your very… public meeting with dimir. If you didn''t want me here, you wouldn''t have let me know you were nning something."


    "I see." Solomon chuckled.


    "Why here, Solomon?" Yuri asked, her voice as sharp as a de. "Why now?"


    Solomon finally turned to face her. She was as he expected. Dressed in a stylish pantsuit, her expression unreadable but her eyes piercing. Behind that mask of calm authority, he could sense her suspicion, the careful calction in every movement.


    "I thought it appropriate." Solomon replied evenly, gesturing toward the tower''s grand clock face, its hands slowly ticking away. "A ce where time is measured carefully, much like the decisions we make."


    Yuri''s eyes narrowed as she stared at him. "Don''t waste my time with metaphors. Why did you call for this meeting?"


    Solomon smiled faintly. "Direct, as always." He stepped forward, keeping his voice measured. "To end this war."


    Yuri''s eyes flickered with surprise for the briefest of moments before her mask of control returned. She crossed her arms, her stance rigid. "You really expect me to believe that?"


    "I do." Solomon''s voice was calm. "This war will cost both of us resources, alliances, and time. But it doesn''t have to reach the third phase. We can stop it in its tracks, right here, right now."


    Yuri''s expression remained hard, but her eyes reflected the calctions running through her mind. The one trait mostmonly associated with Solomon was greed. He wouldn''t be abandoning this war without getting something from it.


    "And what, exactly, are you offering?" She asked.


    Solomon nodded, confirming that she''d asked the right question.


    "I''m offering you a deal."