Zero sat in the opulent room, his thoughts swirling with a mixture of amusement and irritation after Aurelius's failed attempt to coerce him. Just as he was lost in his musings, there came a sharp knock at the door.

"Come in," Zero called, his voice carrying a commanding tone.

The door opened, revealing Meus, Aurelius's butler, followed by two maids. Meus bowed apologetically, while the maids exuded an aura of killing intent.

"I apologize for my master's discourtesy, Sir Zero," Meus said, his voice tinged with deference. "He is determined to obtain your cooperation at all costs. As his loyal servants, these maids and I are equally determined to retrieve it."

Zero raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden turn of events. "Oh? And how will you do that by killing me, Meus was it?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

The two maids lunged at Zero in a coordinated assault, moving with the precision of trained assassins. However, Zero was no ordinary opponent. His reflexes were lightning-fast, and he effortlessly evaded their attacks with graceful and calculated movements.

His movements were a blur of speed and agility as he dodged, weaved, and countered with deadly precision. His unique abilities allowed him to anticipate their moves and stay one step ahead, easily disarming them without causing any harm.

Meus watched with wide eyes as his well-planned attack crumbled in the face of Zero's skill. He realized he had severely underestimated the enigmatic being before him.

Zero held Meus and the two maids at bay, his eyes sharp and his expression calm. "Now, now, there's no need for violence," he said coolly. "I suggest you explain yourselves, Meus. Why did you attack me?"

Meus, panting and defeated, looked up at Zero with fear in his eyes. "Master Aurelius does not know we are here," he gasped. "He...he believes with your help, our dream of revenge can be obtained and...and we simply wanted to obtain it by any means necessary."

Zero's expression remained unchanged, "I see," Zero said, his voice icy. "Well, I will repeat the same word I said to your master. Mutually beneficial partnerships are built on trust, equal standing, and most importantly respect. Your master no longer has anything I require from him so I will not help him."

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Meus and the maids looked crestfallen, realizing that their attempt to obtain Zero's cooperation had failed. Meus spoke up again, his tone pleading. "Sir Zero, please reconsider," Meus said earnestly. "We have been loyal to the Torin family for years, and we seek revenge for the death of young Miss Shia. With your help, we can achieve our goal and bring the royal family the justice they so rightfully deserve."

Zero remained unmoved, his resolve unwavering. "I get your desire for revenge, especially since they killed his young daughter," he said, his voice firm. "But I will not be coerced into helping you or your master. Revenge obtained through the use of others is not true revenge."

Meus and the maids exchanged glances, realizing that their mission had failed. They lowered their weapons, defeated.

"I understand, Sir Zero," Meus said, his voice tinged with regret. "We will leave now and report back to Master Torin."

“But…” said Zero as they reached the door. “While I might not need anything from your master, I never said the same for you, Butler. It seems my daughter Nova might require a few things to truly make her feel at home in this place. I will also need you to prepare 6 rooms for the rest of my guests. Should you appease these wants, then I’d be inclined to repay your hard work which will obviously help your master.”

Meus and the maids turned back to face Zero, their expressions surprised yet hopeful.

"Yes, of course, Sir Zero!" Meus said, his voice filled with gratitude. "We would be honored to fulfill any requests you have for you. We will do everything in our power to make sure your stay here will be pleasant, so we implore you to help us."

Zero nodded, satisfied with Meus's response. "Very well then, I will send you a list of items that I believe would make Nova feel more comfortable in this place," he said, his voice calm. "But let me make one thing clear since I have asked you for 2 things I shall repay you twice and no more so decide wisely when you word your request."

Meus and the maids bowed deeply, their faces filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Sir Zero," Meus said, his voice filled with sincerity. "We will make sure to deliver everything on the list promptly and efficiently."

With that, they left the room, leaving Zero by himself. "I should head over to those girls soon. I need to get them ready after all they’ll help me make good on one of the requests that butler will make of me."

Zero looked out of the window, observing the cityscape below. Pia and the girls were staying at an inn, waiting for his arrival. Zero knew it was time to join them and discuss the future. With a mischievous smirk, he decided to take a more unconventional approach.

As he stood by the window, Zero's form began to shift into a shadow and contort. His body transformed into that of a sleek, silver bat, and he gracefully took flight, gliding through the night sky towards the inn where Pia and the girls were staying.

Zero navigated through the darkness, swiftly weaving between buildings and avoiding any potential obstacles in his path. After a short flight, he reached the inn and landed on a secluded rooftop nearby.

With a burst of energy, Zero's bat form transformed back into his usual human appearance. He stood there, adjusting his attire and ensuring he appeared presentable before making his way towards the entrance of the inn.

Inside, Pia and the girls were gathered around a table, engaged in quiet conversation. They looked up as Zero entered the room, their eyes shining with joy.

"Pia, ladies," Zero greeted them with a nod. "I trust you've managed to settle in?"

Pia stood up, excitement evident in her eyes. "Hey, where have you been for the past few hours?" she asked. "We thought something must have happened to you."

Zero smirked, enjoying the intrigue he had caused. "Just a small detour," he replied cryptically. "But I'm here now, and everything is going to be fine."

Pia's curiosity was piqued, but she didn't press further. She somewhat trusted Zero's judgment and knew he would reveal what was necessary in due time.

"Let's get down to business," Zero continued, taking a seat at the table. "We have an important meeting tomorrow. We’ll be going to meet the Lord of this territory, Earl Torin, I believe was his name. He’ll help you ladies settle into this town, and Pia, I believe you have something you want to discuss with him, correct?"