A wicked smile spread across Zeref's lips as he awaited the lion-masked member's next words.
Would they accept to become his pawns, or would they choose the path of destruction?
The gazes of those present in the room fixed on Zeref, eagerly awaiting his reaction, aware of the impact his involvement could have.
The lion-masked member let out a laugh through their mask and turned to their colleagues.
"Before we proceed, I believe there's no need to wear these masks. What do you say, my dear collaborators?" she asserted.
"It indeed serves no purpose," concurred the cat-masked member.
After a brief moment of silence, unanimously, each person removed their mask, revealing their true features.
"You look much better this way," Zeref remarked amusingly.
"Well, now that's settled, let's continue this session," announced the lion-masked member, her face now revealed.
She was a mature woman, with short silver hair and piercing intense blue eyes.
A palpable suspense settled in the room.
The woman took a breath.
"The council and I have decided to entrust you with the guild, Mr. Grimwald," she solemnly declared thereafter.
A calm smile formed on Zeref's lips.
"However," added the woman, "we will retain a share in the guild's actions until you have fulfilled the thing you promised us in return. The deadline is two years. If within this time frame, you manage to fulfill your commitment, we will hand over the guild entirely. Otherwise, if after this deadline, the exchange hasn't taken place, the contract would be terminated, the guild returning to the council's hands, and you will have to fully devote yourself to us."
The tension in the room was palpable as the clauses of this agreement were laid out.
The woman locked eyes with Zeref.
"Do these clauses suit you?" she asked him.
Zeref remained silent for a moment, carefully considering the proposition.
"I see no issue with them; these clauses are acceptable to me," he acquiesced with evident satisfaction, pleased with the agreement reached.
However, his smile was tinged with subtle cynicism.
"However," he added, "so far, I haven't seen any contract. I doubt you'd want this agreement to be merely hot air. What am I to make of this?"
The woman nodded, acknowledging Zeref's skepticism.
"Indeed, we won't settle for mere words, and a written contract can always be violated by either party," confirmed the woman.
At that moment, the man who had worn the serpent mask turned to Zeref.
He was a man of imposing stature, with dark, piercing eyes, and a bald head. He sported a neatly trimmed beard.
"Mr. Grimwald, have you ever heard of 'Sacred Oaths'?"
"I see. I'm eager to experience such a thing," Zeref replied, quite enthusiastic. "When do we begin?"
The woman who once wore the lion mask then looked at Pilar.
"Very well, I will proceed," announced Pilar. "I ask everyone to listen carefully to my words. If there are any changes to be made, they must be made during this stage. Once I apply the seals, there will be no turning back."
At Pilar's words, everyone nodded in agreement.
Ensuring everyone was in accord, Pilar then began to articulate the terms of the contract: "Hereby, the council of high dignitaries of Zion and the person of Vylrald Grimwald agree to entrust the Zion guild into the hands of Vylrald Grimwald in exchange for ownership of the Kingdom of Joranis. The deadline by which Vylrald Grimwald must offer the Kingdom of Joranis to the Zion council is two years. During this period, the Zion council will retain 50% ownership of the Zion guild. If at the end of this period, Vylrald Grimwald fails to fulfill his part of the bargain, which is to hand over the reins of the Kingdom of Joranis to the Zion council, governance of the Zion guild will revert to the council, and Vylrald Grimwald will be obliged to work indefinitely for the Zion agency, dedicating himself body and soul."
After this statement, Pilar's hair suddenly rose in the absence of wind as she raised her hands towards the ceiling.
"Let the concerned parties raise their right hands if they agree with the terms stated or express their disagreement!" Pilar exclaimed in a thunderous voice.
Without any dissenting voices, the six members representing the council and Zeref raised their right hands towards the ceiling.
Pilar then brought her palms together with a clap.
At this gesture, a shockwave reverberated as a light breeze swept through the room, emanating from Pilar's hands.
Zeref then felt a warmth on the back of his raised right hand. Upon it, he could see a tattoo that had appeared.
It was indeed the distinctive mark of a sacred oath.
"By these seals, I declare the agreement sealed and irrevocable," Pilar finally announced, as her hair returned to normal.
Zeref lowered his right hand and admired the tattoo for a moment.
Then, with a smile, he looked at the entire assembly.
"Now, can we say that Zion is mine?" he declared.
"Did you not hear the terms?" interjected a woman with square-cut black hair and deep blue eyes, in a condescending tone.
It was the member who once wore the cat mask.
"Until you fulfill your part of the bargain, we retain 50% ownership of this agency. In other words, you are not fully the owner of Zion," said a man with long brown hair and hazel eyes.
It was the member who once wore the tiger mask.
"Well, that's just a matter of time," retorted Zeref. "It's only until I offer you Joranis, which will happen soon enough."
"I'm truly intrigued by your confidence in being able to handle a country like Joranis," ventured a middle-aged man with short black hair. "If it were before, I would have called you mad, but now..."
It was he who once wore the bear mask.
"It's pure deception," interjected a woman with a dark complexion, short dark brown hair, and vivid green eyes. "Whatever you plan, it will be impossible for you to harm the guild in any way. I look forward to seeing you working for us in two years, Mr. Grimwald."
The woman once wore the eagle mask.
Zeref simply smiled and stood up.
"Anyway, I believe my presence among you is no longer necessary, is it?" he said.
"We plan to hold an extraordinary meeting with the important members of Zion in a week. That's where we will formalize your position," announced the woman with silver hair.
Zeref simply nodded, then left.
The present members remained silent, watching Zeref's back as he exited the room.
"Who is this guy really?" said the woman with the dark complexion, the moment after the door closed behind Zeref's back.
"He didn't even flinch in the face of the sacred oath. Will Joranis really fall to his power?" remarked the man with long brown hair.
"Regardless, the oath has been sealed. It is impossible to escape. Whether he can fulfill his part of the bargain or not, we will come out victorious either way," remarked the bearded, bald man.
"According to his words, he intends to bring peace to the world. I don't know if these claims are true, but, I don't know about you, but I'm eager to see what he plans to accomplish," the woman with silver hair declared as a subtle smile formed on her lips.
END OF PART ONE OF VOLUME 1