Alex and Venedikt ascended the staircase in silence, their footsteps echoing faintly across the dark marble steps. The polished surface mirrored their forms in clear fragments of light, as each step carried them higher until the stairway opened into a vast roof, an open space without walls or rails. The horizon stretched endlessly in every direction, painted in molten shades of red and gold. The rising sun hung low, its light bleeding through the air like slow fire, casting long, liquid shadows across the black marble floor. The air was cool and fresh. At the roof's center stood a triangular table of dark glass, its sharp edges gleaming faintly in the waning light. At its furthest point sat a man, neatly composed, unnervingly calm. His square face and clean-shaven jaw framed a faint, unchanging smile that seemed almost fake. Every detail about him was precise: his hair was perfectly arranged, his silver three-piece suit was without a single crease, and his presence carried the quiet confidence of someone who always knew more than he let on. Alex and Venedikt took the two empty seats opposite him. They offered nothing but a silent nod by way of greeting. Zero's smile widened slightly, the kind that could have belonged to a host or a predator. "Check your plates," he said, his voice warm yet impossibly smooth. "I had something prepared especially to welcome you. You must be hungry, coming straight here after leaving the Realm." Alex didn't reach for the plate. "If you already know that," he said, his tone tight, "Then tell me, what's Andrei's situation?" The question cut through the air like a blade. There was no point in delaying anymore. Alex had wanted to return to the Realm the moment he had learned that Andrei had been in that terrible state for the past two months, but Zero's warning on the situation had stopped him. Zero could have forced Andrei to awaken, but he didn't, and that meant either he had complete control over the situation and there was no possibility of mortal harm, or forcibly pulling Andrei from his slumber meant breaking the delicate balance of his mind and putting him under great danger. Zero leaned back in his chair, the smile never leaving his face. "You three have a talent for stumbling into storms," he said lightly. "Let's hope, Alex, that in our next meeting, it isn't you." Venedikt couldn't help but clench his jaw, while Alex's aura stirred, dark and heavy, filling the space with a subtle pressure that made the air ripple. But just as quickly as it flared, it vanished, smothered beneath his iron restraint. The last thing he wanted was to offend Zero, as easy-going as he was, he was still the entity with sole control over the Ancient world and billions of lives that visited it. Zero's eyes gleamed with quiet amusement. "It was a little joke to lighten your worries," He followed with, "At this point, we could be considered acquaintances." After seeing Alex quentioning gaze, he gave a fake sigh before his voice cut through the gentle hum of the wind. "Your brother Andrei will be fine." He said pleasantly. "The food is losing its taste, so let's eat." He reached for the iron cover on his plate and lifted it with a faint metallic chime. Steam curled upward, carrying the scent of sea salt and lemon butter. On the plate rested a golden lobster, its shell glistening beneath a drizzle of molten red sauce. Thin ribbons of herbs framed the dish, their aroma sharp and clean. "Try it," Zero said, cutting into the lobster with surgical precision. "I have prepared the best delicacies according to your taste." The dishes before Alex and Venedikt hissed softly as the metal lids lifted on their own, releasing trails of fragrant steam that curled and vanished into the cool air. On Alex's plate lay a cut of deep red meat. A thin layer of honeyed glaze shimmered over it, while beside it rested a small mound of pale-blue grain, glowing faintly with residual warmth. While Venedikt received a shallow bowl of ashen-root stew, thick, dark, and simmering with threads of white meat that gleamed faintly in the dim light. Thin slices of crystal fruit rested at the side, their sweet aroma softening the stew's deep, bitter undertone. "I don't know whether your brother is daring," Zero continued casually, "or if he is simply lost a few screws...Probably both." He carved a piece of lobster, unfazed by the weight of their silent gazes. "He consumed an Origin Beast core, knowing fully well it was extremely dangerous." Zero paused and gave a vague explanation on the origin of the beast, "Let's just say, an entity on a completely different scale from the beast king hearts he's been consuming before." Venedikt blinked as he murmured slowly. "That idiot" Zero smiled faintly, tilting his fork. "Yes, quite reckless, but fortune seems to favor him. Because of his unique circumstances, the Origin Beast's will couldn't consume him, and since he already carries the incomplete legacy of a Beast King, he can slowly digest the core." He leaned back slightly, eyes half-lidded. "He will survive, though it'll take some time, maybe a couple of months in Earth time." Alex exhaled, some of the tightness in his shoulders easing. But before he could speak, Zero raised a finger. "Before you ask, you can't help him hasten the digestion process. He is already on the natural path to completing it, and interfering would only make things worse." He paused, studying Alex with mild amusement. "Still, I'll take precautions to ensure he doesn't lose all his law tokens. You wouldn't want me to forcibly pull him out." "It would… complicate his mind." Zero speared another piece of lobster, his tone light, "A single Ruler's Wish should do the trick." The words settled heavily, but their meaning brought relief to both Alex and Venedikt, a weight lifted from their minds. There was still unease gripping their hearts. The image of Andrei's mind caught in that endless rage painted a picture of their brother roaming as a rampaging beast, but knowing he was fine, that his path wasn't lost, was enough. For now, that was all they needed. "You should eat," Zero said, pointing with the faintest motion of his hand. "The Nerath-silk extract changes as it cools, and right now it is at its finest." Alex and Venedikt, still silencing the last of their worry, sighed and took their first bites. Relief warmed them like sunlight. For a single measured heartbeat, their mind went blank as they felt flavours unlike anything they had ever eaten coat their mouth. Zero watched them with a small, pleased smile, and then with a flat face, he said, "Now," he said, voice as smooth and unreadable as glass, "Give me half of it." Alex froze with his second bite halfway to his mouth. Venedikt's hand stilled too, and for a moment there was an awkward silence. Zero chuckled, light, amused, the sound of a man who enjoyed seeing the world rearrange itself to his whims. "Heh. Heh." He shook his head like a host at an old joke. "I am not asking for the food. I want half the Galactic coins you earn from the Malefis Domain each year, for the next four years." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩 Alex's fingers tightened on metal, mirroring the reaction of Venedikt. Zero held up a hand. "And not only that. I want you to support the Human Empire and keep it from falling to the Eldravian. I imagine that is not an unpleasant thing for you to do in any case." There was no need for explanation, as everyone present understood for what purposes Zero had demanded such an outrageous price. "This is the price to protect every member of your organization, and people related to them, both their personal health and finances." He didn't mention anything about mental health, because he knew that going that far was not possible even for him. "It is intensive work," he added, folding his fingers. "It will force me to stretch and bend, many of my own rules, so I believe the price is justified." Relief and fury swept across Alex's mind. Relief because the offer meant security for all of the organization's members and their lives, something he was unsure he could buy with galactic coins, and fury because the cost was obscene. Alex thought of the sums already paid, over the ten years he had agreed to pay Zero a hundred billion Galactic coins in exchange for awakening his Dark ancient physique in the real world. He had no regret about paying 100 billion galactic coins to awaken his physique, because Alex believed Zero took away a part of his resources to maintain balance, since he wouldn't wish to have one person wield enough advanced technology to topple countries. Such power would have forced major powers to retaliate against him, which could in turn bring far-reaching consequences. But now asking 50% more than that was just too much, as it would leave Alex and his organization with nothing more than crumbs, not even enough to cover their own expenses. Alex met Zero's unblinking gaze, voice steady and low. "If I did that, then I might as well disband my organization." Zero's smile did not fade, but something in it sharpened, like a blade with an old, polite edge. The wind moved once through the open roof, and the sky beyond the glass darkened a shade.