A chilling silence fell over the group.
Nero, meanwhile, rubbed his left temple, looking deep in thought. He didn't seem rattled—calm, maybe too calm. "Hmm," he began, "you're the top brass of the Zion guild. An underground deviant outfit that's been around for three centuries, with branches spanning nearly the whole world. Your clout and power are so big you've earned the unofficial title of 'Sixth Great Power.' Who am I next to that? A former war hero turned criminal, an enemy of my own country. A fugitive who's lost everything. Who am I compared to the mighty Zion guild and its towering pillars?"
"Good to know you've got a grip on reality," the tiger-masked member cut in.
"Now, Mr. Grimwald, drop the act," the snake-masked member added. "The guild doesn't care about your past. As long as you pull off missions with top efficiency—like you've done these past five months—we've got your back. That should be enough for you, right?"
"If it's perks you're after with all this nonsense," the cat-masked member chimed in, "there was no need. You're the first to stand here with just five months under your belt. We factored in your identity and your mission record, letting you sit with us. From the start, we planned to give you a high rank in the guild. So hearing you spout this garbage makes me wonder if we're right to trust you."
"I was always against this move," the eagle-masked member said. "But no one listened. Now look—some infamous runaway thinks he can bite off more than he can chew. What a waste of time!"
"Tiger, you okay?" the bear-masked member suddenly asked, noticing his colleague seemed distracted.
The tiger-masked member stayed quiet, then vanished from the meeting without warning.
"That jerk! Logging off without a heads-up!" the eagle-masked member huffed.
"Understandable, given…"
The snake-masked member didn't finish his sentence, going silent mid-thought.
"Snake? Snake!" the bear-masked member shouted, getting no response.
Then, just like the tiger-masked member, the snake-masked member disappeared.
As confusion took hold, Nero's faint murmurs cut through, his hand still at his temple. "Who am I compared to them? Who am I compared to them? Who am I compared to them?"
He kept repeating it under his breath.
"Is this you? What did you do to them?" the bear-masked member demanded, struck by a sudden realization.
"What are you on about, Bear?" the eagle-masked member asked, mildly curious. "How could he touch us? That's impossible. Tiger and Snake probably just got fed up with this meeting."
Meanwhile, Nero kept up his soft chant. "Who am I compared to them? Who am I compared to them? Who am I compared to them?"
"Are you gonna answer me?!" the bear-masked member barked, his tone turning harsh.
At that moment, Pilar vanished from her seat too, without a word.
"What's going on?" the cat-masked member exclaimed, unsure how to process it.
"Isn't it obvious yet?"
The lion-masked member finally spoke, drawing the remaining members' eyes as they waited for answers. Ignoring their stares, she turned to Nero.
"So this is your answer to my question?" she threw at him.
Nero stopped murmuring. He looked over the remaining members, disappointment clear on his face. His voice wavered as he addressed them: "I didn't want it to come to this, but you left me no choice."
An icy silence settled in.
The bear-masked member's voice broke through, thick with outrage: "What did you do to them?!"
Nero ignored him, pressing on with unwavering resolve. "Still, I believe everyone deserves a second shot. So I'll ask again: will you bargain with me?"
Tension crackled in the air.
"Is this a declaration of war, Mr. Grimwald?" the lion-masked member asked, her tone edged with menace.
Nero smiled, locking eyes with her. "War? Oh, no, that's the last thing I want. I'm just offering another path—one of change, renewal. If you see it as a threat, it's only because you're clinging to outdated power."
"You think you're clever, huh?" the cat-masked member snapped. "I don't know how you pulled it off, but it's reckless to challenge our authority like this."
"See, war wouldn't do either of us any good," Nero replied, still smiling. "But unlike you, I'd only lose one potential tool among many. You? You'd lose everything."
Eyes drifted to the empty seats once occupied by Tiger, Snake, and Pilar.
"What's your goal?" the lion-masked member asked.
"I just want to make the world better," Nero said with a wicked grin, loud enough for all to hear.
A hearty laugh burst from the bear-masked member. "Make the world better, huh? That's rich," he said, amused. "What are you, some do-gooder now?"
"Actually, my ultimate dream is to become the symbol of peace and hope for this messed-up world," Nero shot back shamelessly, stunning them further.
It was beyond comprehension. The guy in front of them was threatening them one minute, then claiming to be some kind of crusader the next.
What kind of nonsense was this?
"How would owning this guild help you reach those goals?" the lion-masked member pressed, more curious than angry now.
Nero flashed a sly grin. "Isn't it obvious? I plan to use its resources to push my goal of world peace. Peace ain't cheap, you know."
"What do we get out of it? If I'm not mistaken, you started this talking about a trade, right?"
A mocking smile curled Nero's lips. "You're still underestimating me, I see. I know you've got your own agendas and stakes. In exchange for the guild, I'll hand you a country—and not just any country. Jayeros, one of the five big ones. How's that? Pretty sweet deal, huh?"
The members exchanged uncertain glances, unsure if they'd heard him right.
Picking up on their disbelief, Nero pressed on. "Believe it or not, just like I tracked you down, I can deliver Jayeros into your hands. All you've got to do is hand over the guild."
"And if we turn you down, what then?" the bear-masked member cut in, his voice dripping with suspicion.
"Well, my friends, I'm afraid we'd be stuck staring each other down until our differences destroy us all," Nero replied, a subtle threat lacing his words. "I'll give you time to think about what that choice means. Don't let me down."
With that, Nero swept his gaze over the group one last time before removing his glasses, exiting the meeting in the same move.
The masked members sat in silence, his words echoing in their heads.
As Nero faded into the shadows, the lion-masked member finally spoke up. "Let's meet tomorrow night to hash this out."
"What about the others?" the bear-masked member asked.
"They're probably fine," the cat-masked member said. "Hurting them would tank the negotiation. This guy's not that dumb."
"Are we seriously going to give him the guild?" the eagle-masked member demanded.
"Given what he's claiming to offer, it's not out of the question," the cat-masked member replied.
"Are you nuts?" the bear-masked member shot back. "You really think he can pull that off? I say we make him regret crossing us!"
"You're forgetting—"
"Enough!"
The cat-masked member was about to snap back at Bear when the lion-masked member's voice cut through sharply.
"I said we'll pick this up tomorrow night with the others here," she added, her tone heavier. "Until then, figure out how he got to us. I want answers by the next meeting."
The masked members nodded, each lost in their own thoughts.