"It's time," Jace continued calmly. "I hope none of you are rusty… because this will be a challenge."
A faint smile curved his lips.
"It's time we say hello to one of the Three Great Powers of the world."
Drako shot to his feet instantly.
"Yessss! Finally! Some real action!" he shouted in excitement. "That's what I'm talking about!"
Nalia turned toward Jace. "Your lord Jace… which nation do you have in mind?"
"The Unified Nation of Warmark," Jace replied.
Pyon's expression shifted.
"seriously… pardon me my lord, but They possess the strongest offensive power in the world. Those strange weapons of theirs—every single one created by the genius princess known as the Golden Mind… Clover von Warmark." He narrowed his eyes. "Why them, Lord Jace?"
Jace exhaled slowly, looking mildly irritated.
"I shouldn't have to explain that to you, Pyon. If you truly pay attention to the affairs of the world, you already know why."
"Among the Three Powers," Nass spoke calmly, "Warmark is currently the most unstable."
Jace snapped his fingers lightly.
"Exactly. We won't be taking the nation yet—this is only to shake them up a little."
His smile widened.
"Destroy some facilities. Kill a few nobles. If possible… take out their king or someone from the royal family. And if we can get our hands on Clover…"
His eyes glinted.
"That would be most excellent."
"In other words," Nass added, "we'll be keeping them from fully recovering. Teasing them… weakening them ahead of the real war."
Jace nodded.
"The Three Powers only grow stronger together because of their shared guilt from the last war. If we move openly on one, the others will react immediately."
He chuckled coldly.
"And they've already figured out how to eliminate the Lost. That girl Clover's mind is truly frightening."
His smile sharpened.
"So we'll keep them exactly where we want them. Broken. Afraid. Desperate."
Drako cracked his knuckles eagerly.
"Enough talk already—let's get to the crushing part."
Jace's gaze drifted toward him.
"Oh, did I forget to mention? Not all of you are going."
Drako froze.
"Most of you already have tasks too important to abandon. This is only a disruption mission. One general commanding a host of Lost will be enough."
Jace turned slightly.
"Pyon. This mission is yours."
Pyon immediately stood and bowed.
"Your will shall be done, my lord."
"Whaaaaat?!" Drako shouted. "Come on, your lordship! I need this! I haven't seen action in months! I'm dying of boredom!"
Jace's expression darkened.
"Your task is far more important, Drako. You are the only one among my Grand Four capable of managing our intelligence network inside Righteous. Cause of your reputation as a Mercenary within the kingdom." His voice grew colder.
"I feel a massive change approaching… and it will begin in Righteous. I refuse to be caught unprepared. Information is power—and I want that power to belong to me."
Drako groaned.
"My sources are still gathering intel—it'll take time before they report back. I just need something to kill the boredom. Let me go with Pyon!"
"Are you stupid?" Pyon snapped. "His lordship already said no. Stop acting like a child and shut up."
Drako's eyes narrowed.
"…What did you just call me, you idiot?"
"You heard me."
"That's enough."
Jace's voice sliced through the tension instantly. Pyon went silent at once.
Jace exhaled.
"…Fine."
Drako's face lit up instantly.
"You may join Pyon—but only after you complete the urgent mission in the Great Forest of Dawn."
Jace's stare hardened.
"That mission comes first. You'll have at least a month. And don't even think about rushing it… I will know."
Drako grinned widely.
"Yes, my lord! I'll handle the Forest perfectly—you have my word!"
He laughed, then smirked at Pyon.
Jace stood from his throne.
"Make your preparations. Carry out your tasks—and don't disappoint me."
His gaze swept across the room.
"Pyon and Drako… move on Warmark in two months. Until then, get your affairs in order."
Then his eyes locked on Drako once more.
"Begin your investigation immediately."
All present bowed.
Only then did Jace's gaze shift… and settle on the two new contract candidates standing silently near Nass.
Oh… right. Them.
"Nalia. Pyon. Drako."
His voice was calm, final.
"You may leave."
The three generals stood at once, bowed, and exited the audience chamber without a word.
The massive doors groaned shut.
Now only Jace, Kolpa, Demiurge, Nass… and the two trembling humans remained.
Jace rose slowly from his throne and turned fully toward Kento and Jen.
"Nass may trust you enough to stand boldly and place you before me," he said quietly.
His eyes began to glow crimson.
"But I do not."
Pressure flooded the chamber.
"Give me one reason," Jace continued, his voice shaking with divine malice,
"why I should not erase you from existence… right now."
Fear crushed them instantly.
Kento and Jen collapsed to their knees, their bodies trembling violently. Neither of them could lift their heads.
Jen forced herself to speak.
"M-My lord…" her voice quivered. "As the princess of the Sea Port Nation of Oceanus… if you grant me the honor of bearing your blessing, you will gain absolute dominion over the vessels of the sea."
Jace didn't blink.
"Our ships are the pride of Lit Oceanus—relic vessels not even Warmark possesses. You are a being who seeks control… and with me, you will rule the seas as well."
His gaze sharpened.
"And what makes you think I need you for that," he said coldly,
"if I am ready to have control over Oceanus, I can easily acquire it… I am the lord of the world, no one resists my will."
Jen stiffened—but she pushed forward.
"Y-Yes… that is true, my lord. But those ships are ancient relics passed down only through the pure royal bloodline of Oceanus. Only a true royal can command them."
That caught his attention.
Jace's brow lifted slightly.
"And… before the coup," Jen continued, "my family was deeply loved by the people. If you announce that you destroyed the corrupt nobles and rescued me from execution… their hatred will turn into devotion. It will smooth your ascension far more than fear ever could."
She lowered her head.
"I offer you the sea… and the hearts of my people."
Silence followed.
Jace stared at her for several long seconds—his face unreadable.
Then his gaze slid sideways.
"You," he said.
"Speak."
Kento swallowed hard.
"Y-Yes, your lordship. I am the head of the Willburg Trading Empire. Through my company, I gain access to the true flow of information across all nations… not rumors—intel. Reliable. Verified."
He lifted his head just enough to speak clearly.
"You once said it yourself, young master—information is power… information is control. That is what I offer you."
Jace's eyes narrowed.
"I am also a citizen of one of the Three Great Powers—the Kingdom of Kosuke. If my loyalty to you remains secret, I can operate freely inside enemy territory as your shadow."
Kento bowed deeper.
"And I am confident in my ability to shape markets, manipulate trade, and build wealth on a continental scale. Your empire will need more than armies—it will need foundations."
Jace stepped down from the throne.
Slowly.
Each footstep echoed as he approached them.
They could feel him standing over them.
"I have made my decision."
Both of their hearts nearly stopped.
Behind them, Nass took a few steps back, a knowing smile on her face.
"You had better not make me regret it."
Jace raised one hand.
Blood slid from the tip of his finger.
The crimson drop glowed as it fused with his life force, twisting into a complex soul chant.
"Dear universe… hear my call."
The air began to tremble.
"I am the light of mercy… yet also the darkness that devours all."
Wind exploded through the chamber.
His blood ignited.
"Bear witness to this pact… and grant it form."
His voice dropped.
"Soul Casting — Unbreakable."
A pair of crimson beams tore from his fingers and pierced directly into Kento's and Jen's chests.
Both of them screamed.
Their bodies slammed into the floor as red light wrapped around them, their bones convulsing under the surge of foreign power.
The screaming slowly died.
The glow faded.
They gasped… and struggled back to their feet.
A lightning-shaped mark burned brightly on Jen's left shoulder—and on Kento's right shoulder blade.
It stung. They felt different. Even Jace felt it.
{Interesting…
Their soul flow activated instantly…}
His eyes narrowed, as he thought.
"Is this the work of those incompetent gods…?" he wondered silently.
Demiurge stepped closer, whispering to Jace, using the language of the divine.
[Young master Jace… something is wrong. The ignition of dormant human soul flow should be slow. Humans are not like Demonoids or Drakials… they should not adapt this quickly.]
Jace's jaw tightened.
[I felt it the moment I saw them. When we finish here, contact Father. Something is shifting… and it is not natural.]
Demiurge nodded and stepped back.
The chamber slowly returned to stillness.
The wind died.
The red glow vanished.
Only the faint scent of scorched air remained.
Kento and Jen stood unsteadily on their feet, their breaths uneven. The lightning-shaped marks on their bodies still pulsed faintly with dull crimson light before slowly fading beneath their skin.
Jace watched them in silence.
No satisfaction.
No excitement.
Only calculation.
"Well?" he asked calmly. "Can you stand?"
"Yes, my lord," Kento replied immediately, though his legs still trembled.
"I can as well," Jen added, bowing deeply despite the weakness clinging to her body.
Jace turned away from them and walked back toward his throne.
"Good. Then listen carefully."
Kolpa folded his arms. Nass straightened behind the two newly bound humans. Demiurge remained eerily still.
"You now belong to my dominion," Jace said. "Not as tools… not as property… but as assets. And assets that fail to produce results are no different from corpses."
A thin pressure pushed down on Kento and Jen's souls.
Not enough to hurt.
Just enough to warn.
"You will retain your free will," Jace continued. "You may even betray me if you somehow find the courage to try."
His eyes hardened.
"But there are commands bound into your souls that you will never be able to refuse."
They both felt it then.
A deep, invisible chain tightening around something far deeper than flesh.
"Disobedience to my direct authority will tear your souls apart from the inside," Jace said calmly.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord," they both said at once.
"Good."
Jace leaned back into his throne.
"Kento Willburg."
"Yes, young master."
"You will resume operations under the identity of the last surviving heir of the Willburg Trading Empire. Maintain your neutrality publicly. Secretly, every major trade route, black market deal, weapon shipment, and economic disruption will pass through me first…. And also assist Nass in her governing affair, when ever she requires the assistance. You are her subordinate, not mine."
Kento's eyes sharpened.
"I will build your shadow economy, my lord."
"See that you do."
Jace then turned his gaze to Jen.
"Jen Von Oceanus."
She stiffened.
"You will remain hidden for now. Your death is still officially recorded. That lie will become one of my greatest advantages. When the time comes… you will return as a symbol.for now you will shadow Nass and help her while you learn of our structure."
Jen lowered her head deeply.
"I will reclaim Oceanus in your name."
"That was never in question."
A faint pressure vanished from their bodies.
They both exhaled in relief.
Nass then stepped forward, placing a hand lightly over her chest and bowing.
"Thank you, young master. You have given them a fate far greater than death."
Jace did not respond.
Instead, his eyes shifted back to the two of them.
"There is one more thing you should understand about the Contract."
Their attention locked onto him instantly.
"The more power I gain," he said, "the more you will gain."
Their eyes widened.
"But the moment your growth ever threatens balance—"
His eyes glowed red for a fraction of a second.
"—I will reclaim that power personally."
Both of them bowed low.
"We will never forget our place," Kento said.
"Our lives are yours," Jen added.
Jace stood once more.
"You may leave. Nass will assign your initial operations."
They bowed deeply and followed Nass out of the chamber.
The doors closed behind them. Silence returned.
Kolpa exhaled slowly.
"That awakening was unnatural," he said. "Too fast. Too clean."
Demiurge's eyes narrowed.
"The gods' interference is becoming sloppier."
Jace stared at the door in silence.
"The board is shifting. Pieces are awakening too soon. And when that happens…"
His lips curled faintly.
"War becomes inevitable."
The audience chamber was silent once more.
Only Jace remained within it now—seated upon his throne—with Kolpa standing to his right and Demiurge to his left.
Jace rested his chin against his knuckles, eyes half-lidded in thought.
"Hm… Demiurge," he said at last, "contact Father. Inform him of what has occurred here today. I want to know his thoughts on the matter."
"At once, young master," Demiurge replied with a bow. Then he hesitated. "However… before I depart, I must speak on one concern."
Jace glanced at him. "Go on."
"Drako," Demiurge said. "Are you certain it is wise to assign him to an operation as delicate as the Warmark invasion? His temperament is reckless. He may become more of a liability than an asset."
Jace exhaled through his nose, faintly amused.
"Under normal circumstances, that would be a disastrous judgment on my part. But Father was very clear—Warmark must be thrown into chaos. Their balance must be shattered beyond easy repair."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"And for indiscriminate destruction… I can think of no better weapon than Drako."
Demiurge remained silent.
"Whether through precision or catastrophe," Jace continued, "our objective will be achieved. And Father will be satisfied. Now go—let us uncover the truth behind those two humans. That feeling was no coincidence."
"…As you command," Demiurge replied, bowing deeply before turning and exiting the chamber.
The doors sealed shut behind him.
Kolpa stepped forward, arms folding across his chest.
"I still agree with Demiurge," he said coldly. "That madman will sooner or later become a problem we can no longer ignore. Using his instability is dangerous."
Jace leaned back lazily.
"Dangerous, yes. But necessary for now. Just like Nalia's. Although, she does make exciting sounds when we are in bed together."
"Too much info, my lord" Kolpa sigh, as Jace chuckles a little.
The Kolpa's eyes darkened.
"Still make no mistake," he said, voice heavy with threat. "If he ever crosses the line with you again, I do not care how valuable he is. I will kill him. Immediately."
Jace blinked—then sighed dramatically.
"Ah… Kolpa. How utterly terrifying you are. Truly, women must flee at the mere sound of your footsteps. See? This is exactly why Demiurge and I are so much more popular than you."
Kolpa froze.
"…My lord?"
Jace nodded seriously. "Chronic intimidation. Terrible for romance."
Kolpa scowled. "The women of this world are simply… strange. That is not my fault."
"Of course it isn't," Jace replied with a careless wave, smiling.
After a moment, Kolpa's expression shifted back to seriousness.
"Still… what was all that about?" he asked. "Why summon your father now?"
Jace's smile slowly sharpened into something far more dangerous.
"Oh, my dear Kolpa… because things on this world are about to become truly interesting. Fate is shifting unnaturally—and I intend to be ahead of it when the wave breaks."
He then explained everything.
The unnatural awakening of Kento and Jen.
The accelerated activation of their soul flow.
The familiar distortion he had once felt before—years ago.
Kolpa listened in silence.
When Jace finished—
"…I see," Kolpa said at last. A slow smile curved across his face. "That is indeed fascinating."
"Isn't it?" Jace chuckled softly.
Then his tone shifted.
"Kolpa, I have a task for you. One too important for any of my Grand Four."
His eyes gleamed.
"And frankly, you are the only one capable of handling it."
Kolpa dropped immediately to one knee.
"Any command you give shall be carried out."
Jace stepped forward.
"Keep watch over the prince of Righteous—Tazz. When the moment comes that he can no longer refuse, you have my permission to approach him."
"…Understood," Kolpa replied. "I will depart at once."
He rose and moved toward the exit.
"Kolpa," Jace added calmly.
Kolpa paused.
"Try not to erase any cities while you're out there," Jace said lightly. "At least… restrain yourself a little."
Kolpa grimaced. "…come on my lord, am not a barbarian. I am a sub-god."
With that, he vanished beyond the chamber doors.
Jace was alone once more.
He approached one of the towering windows, staring into the endless sky beyond.
"…Just what are you scheming now," he murmured softly, eyes glowing faintly,
"you incompetent gods?"