A calm smile spread across Nero's lips.
"However," the woman added, "we'll retain a share of the guild's stakes until you've fulfilled the promise you made in exchange. You have two years. If, within that time, you manage to honor your commitment, we'll hand over the guild to you entirely. If not—if, after this period, the exchange doesn't happen—the contract will be voided, the guild will revert to the council's control, and you'll be required to work for us."
She locked eyes with Nero. "Do these terms suit you?"
Nero fell silent for a moment, carefully considering the proposal. "I see no issue with them—they suit me fine." His smile, though, took on a subtle hint of cynicism. "However," he continued, "I've yet to see any contract. I doubt you'd want this agreement to be mere words in the wind. What should I make of that?"
The woman nodded. "Indeed, we won't settle for empty promises, and a written contract can always be broken by either party."
At that moment, the man who'd worn the serpent mask turned to Nero. He was an imposing figure—tall, with dark, piercing eyes, a bald head, and a neatly trimmed beard. "Mr. Grimwald, have you ever heard of 'Sacred Oaths'?"
Nero's gaze grew slightly more serious. "I have. A Sacred Oath is a solemn vow between the involved parties, sealed with a spell that makes it utterly binding and irrevocable. It demands total, unconditional commitment from everyone involved. There's no room for deception, hidden clauses, or loopholes. The terms must be clearly defined and fairly understood by all. To seal it, an etheric mark is placed on the parties to solidify their pledge. Once bound, a Sacred Oath is guarded by an ethereal barrier that makes violation nearly impossible, with consequences like physical pain, curses, confinement spells, or karmic retribution triggered if anyone tries to back out."
The council members showed a flicker of surprise at Nero's detailed explanation.
He'd clearly outlined the concept—though what they didn't know was that he wasn't drawing from some book, but from the original Nero's memories.
Sacred Oaths were so rare and perilous that they were almost never used in equal exchanges. They were more common in deals where one party dominated the other, though even then, they were rare since the stronger side could already enforce submission without them. The original Nero, a renowned occult scholar, had mastered their use, wielding them multiple times.
The man who'd worn the serpent mask nodded. "Well, since you already know so much, that'll save us time."
The woman who'd accompanied Nero—Pilar—stood up.
"Pilar here is a deviant capable of sealing Sacred Oath marks," said the woman who'd once worn the lion mask.
"I see. I'm eager to experience it," Nero replied, his enthusiasm evident. "When do we begin?"
The former lion-masked woman glanced at Pilar.
"Very well, I'll proceed," Pilar announced. "I ask everyone to listen carefully to my words. If any changes are needed, they must be made now. Once I place the seals, there's no turning back."
At her words, everyone nodded in agreement. Satisfied, Pilar began reciting the contract's terms: "Hereby, the Council of Zion's High Dignitaries and Zeref Grimwald agree to transfer the Zion guild to Zeref Grimwald in exchange for possession of the Jayeros Kingdom. Zeref Grimwald has two years to deliver the Jayeros Kingdom to the Zion Council. During this time, the Zion Council will retain 50% of the guild's shares. If, by the end of this period, Zeref Grimwald fails to fulfill his obligation to hand over the Jayeros Kingdom, governance of the Zion guild will revert to the council, and Zeref Grimwald will be bound to serve the Zion agency indefinitely."
As she finished, Pilar's hair suddenly rose, floating despite the still air, while she lifted her hands toward the ceiling. "Let the parties raise their right hands if they agree to these terms—or voice their dissent now!"
With no objections, the six council members and Nero raised their right hands. Pilar clapped her palms together sharply. A shockwave rippled through the room, a faint breeze emanating from her hands.
Nero felt a warmth on the back of his raised right hand. Looking down, he saw a tattoo had appeared—the distinctive mark of a Sacred Oath.
"With these seals, I declare the agreement bound and irrevocable," Pilar concluded, her hair settling back into place.
Nero lowered his hand, admiring the tattoo for a moment. Then, with a smile, he addressed the group. "Now, we can say Zion is mine, can't we?"
"Didn't you hear the terms?" interjected a woman with short, black hair cut in a bob and deep blue eyes, her tone dripping with condescension. She'd once worn the cat mask.
"Until you fulfill your end, we still hold 50% of the agency. In other words, you're far from fully owning Zion," added a man with long brown hair and hazel eyes—the former tiger mask wearer.
"Well, it's only a matter of time," Nero countered. "It won't be long before I deliver Jayeros to you."
"I'm genuinely curious how you're so confident you can manipulate a nation like Jayeros," said a middle-aged man with short black hair, the former bear mask wearer. "In the past, I'd have called you mad, but now…"
"It's pure trickery," cut in a woman with ebony skin, short dark brown hair, and vivid green eyes—the former eagle mask wearer. "No matter what you're planning, you can't harm the guild in any way. I'm already looking forward to seeing you serve us in two years, Mr. Grimwald."
Nero simply smiled and stood. "In any case, I assume my presence here is no longer needed, is it?"
"We'll hold an extraordinary meeting with Zion's key members in a week. That's when we'll officially introduce you," announced the silver-haired woman.
Nero nodded casually and left.
The council members sat in silence, watching his back as he exited. "Who is this guy, really?" the ebony-skinned woman muttered the moment the door closed behind him.
"He didn't flinch, even facing a Sacred Oath. Could Jayeros actually fall to him?" wondered the man with long brown hair.
"Either way, the oath is sealed. There's no escaping it. Whether he succeeds or fails, we win," noted the bald, bearded man.
"He claims he'll bring peace to the world. I don't know if that's true, but I, for one, can't wait to see what he pulls off," the silver-haired woman said, a faint smile curling her lips.