“So what did you want to say to me? Also, what’s your name again? I believe I didn’t ask you for it?” asked Zero, sitting across from the former duke.

“Please forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. My full name is Aurelius Torin,” said the former duke as he stood up and slightly bowed his head.

“It’s a pleasure, Aurelius. Now, I ask again, what do you want?” said Zero in a nonchalant manner.

“Is it truly impossible for you to return my daughter to me as you did with my wife?” asked the former duke Aurelius.

Zero had a surprised look on his face for a second before he started to laugh. He then said, “I’m honestly surprised. I thought you’d ask me something like who am I or what I want with you. I even expected why I chose you, but your question threw me for a second there.”

Aurelius Torin looked puzzled by Zero's laughter, but he remained composed. "I apologize if my question caught you off guard," he said, his voice serious. "But yes, I am desperate to have my daughter back. She means everything to me, and I cannot bear her absence any longer."

Zero's laughter subsided, and he regarded Aurelius with a more serious expression. "I understand your concern as a father," he said. "But I assure you that returning your wife was a unique circumstance. Your wife’s spirit was still here, so I simply needed to recreate a vessel for her to inhabit. As for your daughter, she is not within my realm of influence. Her soul has already moved on, so I cannot return her to you. My abilities are limited."

Aurelius sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I see," he said, disappointment evident in his voice. "I had hoped that you could help me reunite with my daughter. But I understand if it is beyond your capabilities."

Zero leaned forward, his eyes locked with Aurelius's. "I sympathize with your situation," he said earnestly. "Besides, even if I could help you, I no longer have anything I require from you, so we cannot make this trade. If you find something I need, then I will provide you with an alternative."

Aurelius looked up at Zero and stammered, “A… a…alternative?”

Zero nodded, his expression grave. "Yes, an alternative. If you come across something that I need, we can negotiate a different arrangement for your request. But until then, I regret to inform you that I cannot fulfill your current request to bring back your daughter. Now what else did you bring me here for?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Aurelius looked at Zero with a serious expression as he asked, “Who or what are you?”

“Well, that’s a difficult question. For the who, my name is Zero, and that is who I am, nothing more, nothing less. As for the what, let’s just say I am a unique existence that you would rarely encounter, so you’re either very lucky or very unfortunate to have met me,” said Zero with a smirk.

Aurelius listened attentively to Zero's response, his curiosity piqued. He couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and apprehension towards the enigmatic being sitting in front of him.

"I see," Aurelius said slowly, processing the information. "You are certainly unlike anything I've encountered before, Sir Zero." He took a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing. "I brought you here because I have information that might be of interest to you. Information that could be mutually beneficial to both of us."

Zero's interest was piqued as well. "Really, and how do you know what is beneficial to me? Well, go on then," he said, leaning in slightly with a smirk.

Aurelius took a deep breath and began, "I have knowledge of a powerful artifact, hidden deep within the ancient ruins. Legends say that it holds unimaginable power, capable of granting immense abilities to whoever possesses it. I have been searching for it for years, but the ruins are treacherous and filled with dangers. I have managed to gather some clues, but I am unable to retrieve it on my own."

Zero listened intently, his curiosity fully aroused. "Interesting," he said, his eyes glinting with intrigue. "And what do you propose, Aurelius?"

Aurelius looked straight into Zero's eyes and said, "I propose a partnership. I will help you obtain the artifact, and in return, you will help me with my request to bring down the royal family who took everything from me. With your abilities, I’m sure we can overcome the obstacles in the ruins and retrieve the artifact together."

Zero laughed at Aurelius's proposal, "No deal," he said. "I don’t accept your proposal, Aurelius. First of all, even if I wanted the artifact, I could retrieve it all on my own. Secondly, I don’t take kindly to when others attempt to use me for their own means," as he tapped a finger on the armrest of the chair, causing Aurelius to fall on the floor as if dragged by some invisible force.

Aurelius looked shocked and scrambled to his feet, his face pale with fear. "I apologize, I did not mean to offend you, Sir Zero," he stammered. "I only thought that our partnership could be mutually beneficial."

Zero leaned back in his chair, his expression stern. "Mutually beneficial partnerships are built on trust, equal standing, and most importantly respect, Aurelius," he said. "Attempting to use me or take advantage of my abilities will not end well for you. If you have any other information that you think may be of genuine interest to me, you may share it. Otherwise, I suggest we end this meeting while you’re still in good health."

Aurelius nodded hastily, realizing his mistake. "I apologize once again, Sir Zero," he said, his voice sincere. "I have no intention of disrespecting you. I only thought to offer my assistance in exchange for yours. If you change your mind or need my help in the future, you know where to find me." With that, he quickly made his way to the door and left, leaving Zero alone in the room.

Zero chuckled as he leaned back in his chair and mulled over the encounter. He was intrigued by the mention of the artifact, due to the fact he knew Yoko would want it. As a demigod being with unique abilities, it wouldn’t be good for Zero to be manipulated or used by others. He decided to keep an eye on Aurelius and the information about the artifact, but for now, he had other more pressing matters to attend to. He needed to find out if Nova was happy staying here. He also still needed to deal with Princess Pia and the other girls. Since Aurelius was so eager to take on the royal family just like Pia, it would make for a more interesting turn of events if they teamed up.