Wanting a horse to run without feeding it was impossible with Lake.
The consequences of not feeding the horse were plain to see.
Standing still was standard procedure, but kicking its legs and throwing you off was also perfectly understandable. After all, if someone followed you and you could not even guarantee them the most basic treatment, then they followed you out of fear, not because they sincerely submitted to you.
The guarantee Lake had given Alexander was the truth.
The Styx Ferryman.
That was one of the foremost demon gods in the Chaos Underworld. Lake had not been lying.
After Alexander Pierce heard the two choices, he fell silent for a while before decisively choosing the second. The first would only let him learn exactly what kind of background the boss he followed had, but the second offered a far more generous reward.
Seeing this, Lake smiled, then changed the subject directly. "Tomorrow is the day Nick Fury is being escorted to London. Are you going to see him off?"
Alexander shook his head. "The Security Council's investigation of S.H.I.E.L.D. is still ongoing. I need to remain at S.H.I.E.L.D. so they don't uncover certain things that must not be uncovered."
For example, the nonexistent underground base beneath the Three Feathers headquarters.
Lake nodded, finished the last glass of bourbon, rose, and walked straight toward the door. Without looking back, he waved his hand. "I have no intention of killing the donkey after it has done its work. As long as you work for me, whatever is yours will be yours. I'm leaving. See you around."
The Styx Ferryman was merely the price Lake had offered because Alexander had abandoned the darkness and embraced the light. As for what Alexander could win through his own efforts in the future, that