"…As for the rest…?" Vern turned towards Kaneki and added, "Only you have the potential."

Kaneki pointed at himself as he looked around in puzzlement. "…me?" Soon, however, his brain worked, and he shouted, "I—I'm honored!"

Illeana's lips gave way for a smile as she curtsied with deference.

The rest of the crowd, however, was in turmoil, their gazes laced with envy, panic, and regret.

"This…but Lord Axiom, we…we didn't know."

"Oh, great one, it was my fault. I chose wrongly. Please—please give us another opportunity."

The gathering turned chaotic as everyone shouted out their excuses. A hint of hesitation crossed Vern's mind, but he steeled himself and maintained the facade. Why would a god-like being have a need for those without sufficient merit?

I mean, I do because I want all of you to believe that Axiom is real, but I can't say that. This instead prompted him to raise the stakes and go all in. He waved his hand, and his voice cut through everyone else's, "All of you besides the chosen ones are free to leave. I have nothing to offer you."

"AH GREAT ONE! PLEASE! Please don't forsake me! I just wish to bask in your glory. To watch you from afar as your name spreads through the lands," beseeched the crazy one as he bashed his head into the ground harder.

This guy was a little scary, but his words unironically seemed to help the most in bolstering Axiom's singularity. So he let it be. There was no need to silence the man just yet.

"Oh, Lord Axiom, he's—he's right." Started the old man, his words coming out faster than ever, "As you've judged, I do not have the same talent as the young ones. However, simply being in your vicinity—having the opportunity to observe you balancing the realm's workings- would change this one's life. Please consider us letting be bystanders if not your honored attendants."

With his hat on his chest, he bowed and pleaded, "Please consider this, my lord. I vow on my viewpoint that I'll never do anything to sully the balance you've forged."

Well, your tone changed quite quickly. Before the questioning session, this very old man was skeptical of everything that went down. But now? Heh, Vern chuckled. It seems my efforts weren't in vain.

"Ah, yes!" The burly man bowed repeatedly, "They're right, they're right. Please don't abandon us, Lord Axiom. This—this is my only hope of ever taking revenge."

Then, as if a bright idea struck him in that moment, he perked up, "Right! As one of the Axioms of Observation suggests, it is impossible to predict the future accurately! While most of us are unworthy right now, there's a small chance that we might still become deserving of your grace!"

"Please don't forsake us. This is the only lucky encounter in my whole life."

Hahh, Vern turned his gaze over to the burly man without a word. It was a good point.

Should I take it? He wondered.

This was his plan, after all. To make them feel indebted to him for simply letting them stay in the Nexus, all the while not having to deal with all of them personally. There was too much risk of being exposed if he had to interact with each and every one of them all the time.

This, however, would create a sort of hierarchy where he would only deal with a select few while the rest would simply observe, allowing him to passively grow his singularity as Axiom.

It was the best of both worlds. More people to observe him act as Axiom, but fewer people to actually try to poke and find gaps in his performance. A fine balance, if I must say so myself.

Regardless, he shook his head internally. I shouldn't accept just yet. It would seem too fickle if he changed his mind so easily.

Since he didn't outright refute any of them, their voices grew more passionate. Those who were in shock recovered as they grasped for any chance to not be ejected.

Even the ones who he'd silenced previously stopped protesting, except obviously that one annoying woman who only grew more agitated. Vern lifted the restriction to speak from everyone but her.

"We beg of you, Mr. Axiom, we beg of you. We might not be the fulcrums you hoped we'd be, but you saw something within us that you brought us here. Please, for the sake of that possibility, don't throw us away."

This display made him wonder if he'd sold his position short previously. Hmm, not really. I think they only realized that this was a massive opportunity after I presented them with tangible benefits.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

He'd increased his leverage, and it was paying dividends now.

"I'll do anything you say, Lord Axiom."

"Yeah, me too! Your wish is my command, Mr. Axiom. I'd be honored to follow your word like the law it is."

Uhh… That was going a bit too far, wasn't it? He wasn't trying to become a cult leader.

With a soft sigh, he responded, "Your words are passionate," but then he shook his head, "Alas, passion alone isn't enough."

Vern raised his hand, and they literally lost their voices, their eyes widening in fear and realization as an oppressive silence fell over the gathering. He had made his decision—or so they thought.

This was the moment of truth. He probably didn't need to go this far, but he knew this would be better in the long term. It would solidify his status far more than if he just folded and let them in.

The silence stretched, becoming almost tangible. Each observer grappled with their own internal struggle. Stay and risk the wrath of a god, or leave and forfeit this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

The cowering man in armor couldn't bear it. His eyes darted frantically between Vern and the exit. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he took a stumbling step backward. Then another.

Suddenly, as if fleeing from death itself, he turned and ran. Just before reaching the exit, his form shimmered and vanished, leaving only a fading echo of his panicked footsteps.

His departure sent a ripple of unease through the group. The annoying woman closed her eyes, a hint of terror within them. "I…I shouldn't have to deal with this!" she whispered to no one in particular, and with a thought, she, too, dematerialized.

The remaining observers watched, torn between fear and determination. The burly man clenched and unclenched his fists, warring with himself. The soft-spoken girl bit her lip, eyes glistening with unshed tears of frustration and fear.

Amidst this silent turmoil, the zealot continued his fervent display. He repeatedly bashed his head against the ground, each impact punctuating his whispered pleas that only Vern could hear. "Please, great one... allow this unworthy one to stay... to witness your glory..."

His unwavering devotion seemed to stir something in the others. The burly man watched and watched before he set his jaw and stood his ground. The soft-spoken girl wiped her eyes, straightening her posture.

One by one, they firmed their resolve. They exchanged glances as if drawing strength from each other's determination. No words were spoken, but a silent pact seemed to have formed.

Vern observed this drama without comment. Hmm, that's more than I thought. He'd guessed at least four or five would be too scared to understand his implicit permission and run away. Surprisingly, only disturbing elements had left of their own volition.

Turning to the two he had chosen earlier, he ordered, "Come," his voice resonating through the Nexus, addressing only them. "Ascend."

He gestured towards the stairs leading up to the higher levels. Kaneki hesitantly left the ranks, looking behind every so often, whereas Illeana ascended with the same grace as last time.

When they reached the top, Vern waved his hand, and a shimmering barrier materialized, separating the lower rows from the top ones.

The remaining observers watched in silence, their expressions a mix of awe, envy, and newfound resolve. They hadn't been explicitly dismissed, but neither had they been acknowledged. Yet, they stood their ground, possibly risking the wrath of their host.

Still, it was telling of just how much their minds had changed regarding Nexus, Axiom, and this opportunity in such a short time.

As the barrier settled, Illeana's gaze swept over the silent observers below before returning to Axiom, her posture stately and expression serene.

"Mr. Axiom," she began, her voice smooth and measured. "May I ask how we should address each other in your presence?"

Vern regarded her for a moment before responding, "As you see fit." He'd been dying to mentally assign them proper names that weren't pretender lady and the weirdly dressed guy, so this was more than welcome.

She nodded, a subtle smile gracing her lips. "Thank you. In that case, might I make an observation?"

Ehh…? He inclined his head slightly, a gesture of allowance.

"I couldn't help but notice the... structure of this gathering," she continued, her tone thoughtful. "It's reminiscent of a court, wouldn't you agree? With you at the apex, as the arbiter of balance, and we, as your direct attendants." Her gaze flickered briefly to the observers below. "And finally them, the silent witnesses to your wisdom."

Her voice remained conversational, but there was an underlying current of purpose. "In such a setting, it would be imprudent to use our given names. Titles would be more fitting, don't you think? To reflect our roles in this...Court of Balance."

Others couldn't hear, but the phrase repeatedly echoed in his ears as most of the bystanders repeated it without knowing, "Court of Balance…"

Not understanding the effect of her comments, she turned to Kaneki, her expression expectant but not demanding. "What are your thoughts on this? Mr. Axiom has allowed us to pick our titles."

The poorly dressed chap shifted, clearly caught off guard. "I...suppose that makes sense. But what kind of titles?"

She nodded as if she had anticipated the question. "Something that resonates with our purpose here—with our positions in this cosmic court. For instance," she paused, her voice taking on a thoughtful quality, "I feel drawn to the concept of Harmony. It encapsulates the role I hope to play in maintaining the equilibrium Mr. Axiom embodies."

She fell silent, her gaze returning to Axiom. Her posture was attentive, ready for his response, yet her bearing had an underlying confidence.

Harmony… Vern recited. It rolled off the tongue easily. It fit her well. Especially considering that she's an Observer of the Listener pathway.

"Uh, I see. Then, I would…" He looked around the room, trying to find inspiration for his title, but he found nothing of use. However, in an odd moment of inspiration, it struck him, "Maybe…Fulminis?"

Vern narrowed his eyes. Fulminis, eh? If he remembered correctly, the word had connotations of being related to thunder and lightning.

Soon, however, he realized he had bigger things to worry about. His planned performance was heading towards its last segment, and things had changed beyond his expectations. He didn't know exactly where to go from here.

Hmm, I wonder if I can get more out of this setup today.