Chapter 4: Uncle Nitin... you're alive?

Chapter 4: Uncle Nitin… you're alive?

"There's no need for that. It's not like you have any citizens to make use of that law anyway." Neva said and turned towards his home.

Right now, there was a barrier between him and them.

"Once I'm stronger, I'll come back. Not for revenge but to peacefully take over so that we can all live in my glory." Neva clenched his fists, vowing to return one day.

Setting a noble goal for himself, Neva's heart eased as a fire of ambition burned inside of him.

"Who said that?" America asked suddenly.

"Asked what?" Neva replied, confused.

Did he say something? He didn't think out loud, did he?

He wasn't sure anymore.

"That I don't have any citizens. That would be embarrassing if I didn't have at least one." America smirked, looking deeply into Neva's eyes.

Neva frowned and looked around. He did a double-take but still didn't see a single person.

The rolling fog was as ominous as ever, and the faint horrors within the fog hadn't rushed to slaughter him yet.

"Where?"

"In me?" America rolled her eyes as if it were apparent.

"As a Nation Avatar, I hold all my citizens inside me. Let me take them out for a second."

America threw her scroll in the air. It unfurled, and instead of a blank page as before, it showed a map of the United States of America borders, including every state and territory.

The scroll rippled like water before shooting out several beams of light.

Before Neva could react, the beams of light rapidly expanded. They turned into people, filling every available space in the tiny domain.

"Too cramped," Neva grumbled as he was squeezed between them.

If he moved even the slightest bit, he would touch someone.

Given the size of his domain, there were too many people, and America herself was occupying a significant amount of space.

"Send them – Uncle Nitin?"

Just as Neva was about to tell America to send them back to her, he noticed a figure he hadn't seen in decades. His heart lurched as he blinked as if unsure.

"Send everyone back except for him," Neva said, trying to communicate with America through his eyes.

America smirked, "This isn't even everyone. I have five more people, but as you wish."

Before the people could adjust to their new environment, they all turned back into light and flew back inside the scroll.

Only an older man in his late fifties was left behind. His hair was entirely gray, yet his presence was still as uptight as it was decades ago. His face was filled with wrinkles from age, yet his handsome looks remained.

Even his clothes, though completely unrecognizable to Neva, were managed and organized.

This old man was definitely that Uncle Nitin who had gone missing decades ago.

"Uncle Nitin, this is where you've been?" Neva breathed.

The old man, who was dazed, shook his head. But when he recognized Neva, his eyes expanded.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he fell to his knees.

"Your Highness, it's… It's good to see you. I…I never thought I would survive long enough for this day." Nitin stuttered, his voice filled with emotions.

Seeing the state Nitin was in, Neva choked with emotion. Memories of believing Nitin had died flooded back, making his chest ache.

He had cried for days.

To think that Uncle Nitin had always been by his side.

"What did you do to him?" Neva asked coldly.

America casually put her hands on her head.

"Nothing. He had just lived inside my border for the last twenty years. He aged naturally. Though having eight kids probably took a toll on him." She said leisurely.

"Is what she said true, Uncle Nitin? You don't have to lie. She is under my control, so she can't hurt you." Neva said with a serious and noble expression.

"So glorious. Your Highness, you have truly grown up over the last twenty years. I wish I were there to see it." Nitin said with teary eyes.

"As for your question, Your Highness. She is correct. After becoming a citizen so long ago, I and a few other servants have been living our best lives there."

"It's incredible what our nation has. There are so many different kinds of food. If I weren't careful, I would have gotten fat. A lot of your servants did." Nitin said with absolute love.

Nitin froze, then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rectangular object. It was half open, showing a hard brown block.

"Your Highness, this is called chocolate. There are so many brands of this candy. But this one is mine. I added coconut shavings and peanuts."

"If we sell this in the kingdom, I'm sure the royal family will get richer than ever before," Nitin said with excitement.

Neva raised his eyebrow in confusion. He had no idea what chocolate was, nor did he understand why this small food would make them wealthier than being a member of the royal family.

Seeing how excited Nitin was, he took the chocolate and took a bite. After chewing it, he shrugged his shoulders.

"I like the taste but hate the aftertaste. But it will do as a snack." Neva said as he continued to eat the entire bar of chocolate.

"The aftertaste, huh? I'll take a look into fixing that, Your Highness." Nitin said with a smile.

"Your Highness, may I ask... why are we outside the kingdom? I had assumed that you would have inherited the kingdom by now." Nitin said that after noticing they weren't inside the kingdom he had grown up in.

"Uh?" Neva stuttered awkwardly.

His face tightened up as he didn't know what to say that he had been expelled from the very kingdom he had been supposed to inherit.

Nitin might have a heart attack if he were to hear that.

Luckily, America had no qualms.

"Our Domain Lord was expelled from that decaying kingdom. Good riddance, in my opinion. Gives us the freedom to do whatever we want and, more importantly, the freedom to make money." America smirked with satisfaction.

Nitin's jaw dropped. He looked at Neva for confirmation but saw the awkward expression on Neva's face, and he guessed that it was true.

But the heart attack Neva expected didn't come. Instead, Nitin sighed as if he had already guessed.

"Your Highness, did you get expelled because you beat up one of your siblings?" Nitin asked, already knowing the answer.

"Perhaps," Neva said, feeling a pang of guilt for not meeting Nitin's expectations.

"As expected. My absence caused your violent tendencies not to be resolved. That is my fault."

"But don't worry, Your Highness, after living as an American citizen, I have learned that freedom to live your life the way you want might be the most precious thing of all. Being restricted by the kingdom's laws might not be life for you." Nitin said sagely.

"Uncle Nitin —" Neva choked on his words.

"That's damn right. A true American through and through." America said with a broad, prideful grin.