🤝 Akira Seals the Bargain
Akira listened to Hestia's conditions, not with annoyance, but with a flicker of genuine appreciation. Her terms were a moral anchor, something his purely self-serving objective had desperately lacked. He hadn't expected a complete surrender, but a structured resistance was, in its own way, an asset.
He gave a slow, measured nod.
"Accepted," Akira stated, his voice firm, cutting through the silence that followed Hestia's declaration. He didn't hesitate or attempt to negotiate the specifics.
"To Hestia, to Ristarte, to Eris, and to Palutena—the collective, binding veto on the Domain's strategic and moral policy is granted. The Redemption Clause and the Power Mandate are now operational law within this Ark."
He let his eyes sweep over the powerful Servants, deliberately ensuring his next words were heard by all.
"Furthermore, since my true objective relies on the absolute, highest-tier utility, it is illogical to exclude the beings with the greatest strategic insight and reality-warping authority."
The Extended Veto
Akira extended his hand toward the Fate Goddess-Servants.
"The veto power is not limited to the spontaneously awakened. It is extended to all goddess-tier entities present who witnessed this confession and are willing to cooperate in the strategic continuity of this Domain."
He paused, his gaze landing on Ishtar and Quetzalcoatl.
"Your divine cores and strategic minds are not assets to be managed; they are pillars of this new reality. The collective consensus of all goddess-tier entities here—the Awakened and the Servants—will hold veto power over any decision that risks the Domain's purpose, its inhabitants' safety, or its long-term viability."
Akira had just fundamentally altered the power structure of the Ark. He had willingly placed his absolute authority under the scrutiny of the powerful beings he had summoned, giving them a formal mechanism to resist his selfishness.
"This is not a matter of trust," Akira concluded, his expression utterly serious. "This is a matter of utility. Your combined wisdom is simply a better safeguard for my own survival than my solitary arrogance. Consider yourselves the Executive Divine Council. Now, the negotiations are over. The work begins."
🎲 The Servants' Silent Calculation
The reaction from the Fate Goddess-Servants was one of grudging respect mixed with heightened scrutiny. Akira hadn't just yielded; he had leveraged Hestia's moral demand into a way to secure the full strategic buy-in of the entire pantheon.
Ishtar scoffed again, but the sound lacked its usual bite. "Giving away authority to gain leverage. You truly are a resourceful mongrel," she muttered, her eyes narrowing. She saw the trap—accept the veto, and you accept the responsibility for the Domain's survival. Refuse, and you lose any claim to shaping this new reality.
Quetzalcoatl simply grinned, a flash of ancient, terrifying power in her eyes. "A fair fight is always better than a rigged game. If we get to use our power to make a better future, instead of just running from the end, then I can work with that, Summoner." She accepted the challenge implicitly.
Palutena gave Akira a rare, slight smile—a sign of approval for his pragmatic honesty. The game had shifted from a capture to a partnership of necessity, however volatile.
The foundation for the new Divine Council was set, forged in deception, confessed in truth, and solidified by an iron-clad veto.
With the new power structure established, the immediate priorities will shift from negotiation to execution.