"And his endgame in the original plot?"
"He captured Estov, dragged him back to their original world, and the story just... ended. The author never explained what happened after that because it was a side plot."
Heena groaned. "Of course it was. Why would anything be simple?"
She thought for a moment, then asked, "Can I negotiate with him?"
The System looked doubtful. "Host... he's been chasing Estov across 'hundreds' of worlds. I don't think he's in a negotiating mood."
"Everyone can be negotiated with," Heena said firmly. "You just need to find the right leverage."
"What leverage could you possibly have against someone that powerful and that obsessed?"
Heena smiled coldly. "I have what he wants. Estov. And more importantly, I have Estov's cooperation. If I talk to Estov and convince him to meet with Kaelen under controlled circumstances—"
"Host, that's a terrible idea!" the System squeaked. "The moment they're in the same room, Kaelen will just grab him and leave!"
