The Offer

Nioh had been in a daze for a week. No food or water had passed his lips in the last seven days. He hadn't uttered a single word or responded to any question. He sat like a statue, unbothered and untouched by the world around him.

"This poor boy has been in shock since the incident," one of the prison guards remarked, leaning against the bars and glancing at the motionless figure within.

"Then why is he still here?" another guard questioned, crossing his arms as he peered into the cell.

"They've got no leads on the crime," the first guard replied. "And since he was the only one on the scene and refuses to speak, they're holding him here until they figure something out."

Both guards sighed and moved on to their duties, the echoes of their boots fading down the corridor.

But inside the cell, Nioh was anything but unfocused. In truth, his mind had never been sharper. With the help of Ekoh, he had spent every waking moment reconstructing the events of the crime scene. Every bloodstain, every object out of place had seen that day he examined them endlessly in his mind.

At first, he thought he might have had a hand in what happened to Granny Leah, but the clues said otherwise. The more he pieced things together, the clearer it became this was a carefully orchestrated act.

He knew Granny Leah had a sensitive identity, but he lacked the details to connect the dots. 

She use to tell him, if I die you must know "I exist within, but have no form of my own. I connect parts, making a whole unknown. I'm the essence between, the space in the middle, A hidden relation, a secret riddle." He never managed to solve the riddle, but now knowing it was the only lead, he had been hyper focusing on a solution.

"You look pitiful for someone who claims to have ambition."

The sharp voice broke Nioh's concentration. He looked up to see a tall man in military attire standing outside his cell. The insignia on his uniform marked him as someone of significant rank: Lieutenant X.

"Are you here with an offer?" Nioh asked, meeting the officer's gaze without a hint of hesitation.

The lieutenant smirked. "Take him out," he ordered the guards.

Without delay, the cell doors creaked open, and Nioh rose carefully, his movements deliberate as if he were testing the weight of his own body after days of inactivity.

"Thank you," Nioh said, his voice quiet but firm, as he stepped out and followed the lieutenant.

They walked through the gray, oppressive corridors of the prison, the air thick with despair. After a short journey, they stopped in front of a sealed metal door.

"Go in," X instructed, gesturing toward the door.

Nioh hesitated, studying the man's expression, before stepping inside.

The moment he entered, an oppressive aura enveloped him, heavy and suffocating. It pressed down on his very being, demanding submission.

'Careful. He has an S-tier biocore,' Ekoh warned in his mind.

Seated in the center of the room was an elderly man. His traditional robe, adorned with subtle floral patterns, was an anachronism in this modern era. His face was deeply wrinkled, framed by a long white beard, but his sharp, were piercing eyes burned with undiminished intensity.

His posture was straight, exuding the discipline of a military man. The overwhelming aura made it clear that this was someone who had commanded legions and could crush anyone who dared defy him.

'He could kill me with just a flick of his finger,' Nioh thought grimly.

"Sit," the old man commanded. The single word carried a force that tugged at Nioh's psyche, compelling him to obey. But the pressure felt strangely muted, as if filtered.

'His biocore ability influences the psyche through sound,' Ekoh noted.

Nioh's brow furrowed as he caught onto the application. "Apologies, but I'm deaf," he said with a slight smirk. "The effect is reduced."

The old man's eyes narrowed slightly. "You understand what I just did?"

"Yes. My ability is related to sound, so I can more or less feel its resonance," Nioh replied, his confidence returning.

"Xavier, told me you had some talent. I guess it is true." The old man commented

"You flatter me, sir. He told me you had a proposal for me." Nioh added.

"He also said you were cocky! My name is Inanos Glev" 

Nioh feeling confused, tilted his head, "You can also call me the absolute monarch" the old man added. Nioh's eyes widened in shock. The title "Monarch" was reserved for the ten strongest human beings under the Overlord himself they were legends who represented the pinnacle of humanity's power.

"What could someone of your rank possibly want with me?" Nioh asked, his voice betraying both awe and skepticism.

Inanos leaned forward, his gaze scanning Nioh once more. "I have spent my life working for the betterment of humanity. I sacrificed everything: time, family, and my blood to protect what remains of this fractured world and now," his voice grew colder, "the very people I served are trying to steal the fruits of my labor."

"I don't understand," Nioh said.

"The ten Marshals originate from the ten noble families that led humanity's offensive over the biocores. Centuries ago each family earned its position, through bloodshed and conquest. They remain at the top because each generation was as strong or stronger than the previous one." the old man explained.

"S-tiers?" Nioh echoed.

"Yes," the Monarch confirmed. "I am the oldest among the current Monarchs. And my only child died during a mission a few days ago."

"My condolences," Nioh replied, bowing his head in respect.

"Although my son lacked military talent, he was utterly dedicated to the cause. He carved his own path to serve humanity. But greed is a hell of a motivator. Enemy within the fiefdom and outside have been conspiring for the Glev family's downfall for years. The circumstances of his death remain suspicious, and rumors of my impending abdication are already spreading."

The Monarch's gaze hardened, though his voice betrayed a trace of sorrow. "I had hoped to groom my grandson and granddaughter into worthy successors, but time... time is not on my side."

"How much time do you have?" Nioh asked carefully.

"Six years, perhaps eight at best." The old man exhaled deeply as if the weight of those years pressed against his chest. "Using my position, I managed to suppress news of my son's death, but eventually, the truth will emerge. Xavier, like many others in the military, is one of the loyalists I've nurtured to protect the Glev family's legacy. I have been musing for a solution and you appeared, providing me with an unexpected opportunity."

"For what exactly?"

"You have a sound-related biocore, just like many in the Glev family. You're old enough age to act as my heir apparent. The goal is for you to act as a distraction granting me enough time to prepare my grandchildren for their future roles as monarchs"

"And what's in it for me?" Nioh's expression turned calculating.

"To deceive our enemies, there must be a kernel of truth. I intend to present you as my illegitimate son. This implies that I will not be adding you to the family registry. But I believe in equivalent exchange."

"If you accept, you'll inherit the enmity of my family's enemies, while taking on a position that will ultimately belong to another. In return, you'll receive the full backing and resources of the Glev family." He said making a sign for money. "I have accumulated a lot of wealth over the years, and having the current Monarch as your father and the future Monarchs as your nephews is an advantage few can claim. This would surely support your own ambitions, whatever they may be."

"It seems you've done your research," Nioh remarked, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "This son greets his father. "

"Good." A rare smile crossed the old man's face. "Go see Xavier. He will arrange everything."

"Thank you, Father. I'll take my leave now. You can relax... and grieve."

Nioh turned and exited the room with quiet confidence, leaving the Monarch in stunned silence.

The word grieve hung heavily in the air, shifting the atmosphere. The man who once dominated the world allowed a single tear to roll down his weathered face.

"This kid…" he muttered, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and amusement. "He just used absolute command on me. Impressive! Things are about to get very interesting."