He assumed Zero was someone from that side.
Someone who had touched essence.
And so... he chose to retreat.
Then, during the two weeks that followed, he happened — by chance — to begin working under one of the ancient families.
And with their power behind him, he began preparing to finish what he had started with Miles.
Like that, he began gathering information.
Not just on Miles — but on those around him.
He started having doubts.
That maybe... he wasn’t just someone who trained in essence.
Maybe he was something else entirely.
With the plan to attack set for tomorrow, Christian had finally come to clean up the mess that both Zero and Miles had unknowingly created.
Why hadn’t Zero known any of this?
But the answer was simple.
He just wasn’t capable enough.
At least, not compared to Iris and Christian.
Zero was an android — not an AI specialized in hacking and data control.
He could hack when he needed to, sure. Retrieve information when required.
But that was the extent of it.
It wasn’t like he could keep monitoring every single device and signal around him like Iris could.
He was far behind in that department.
And with the current situation as it was, that gap in capability had left him blind.
That’s why, even now, he was still in the dark.
"And so," Christian said, after Alpha finished her report, his voice calm and cutting, "with the Drevane family now having set their eyes on you... you are all, technically, finished."
The words settled like lead in the air.
All four of them tensed immediately.
Just one week after finally learning what truly extraordinary power mean —
Now, to be marked by someone who possessed that same terrifying power...
Mina’s face lost all its color.
Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she looked like she might collapse.
Miles — the one at the center of all this — grimaced.
He was already wondering if there was any solution at all.
Or if this was already too far gone.
Jonathan was wondering if it was too late to escape.
If breaking away from this group might just save his life.
"Is there no solution to this problem?" Miles suddenly asked, his voice tight as he clenched his fists.
His eyes locked onto Christian’s, as he added, "Can’t you help?"
Christian didn’t reply.
Instead, he moved his gaze to Zero, curious to see how he would respond.
"Is the Dalton family no match for the ancient family now targeting us? Can’t they help?" Zero finally asked.
The Dalton family — a small ancient family Zero had managed to form a connection with.
Hearing the name, Christian chuckled lightly and answered, "That’s impossible."
"They’re far weaker than the Drevane family — the one now targeting you."
"And if they find out who you’ve provoked? They won’t help. They’ll cut ties immediately."
"They’ll become your enemies instead of your allies."
The room went quiet again, weighed down by that truth.
Christian leaned back slightly and added, "At the end of the day, it’s a relationship built on benefit, not anything genuine. So... what exactly were you expecting?"
An ancient family even stronger than the Ashvale family — the same one Christian had been concerned about more than a year ago.
He almost wanted to applaud Zero for managing to create a problem of this magnitude.
Amidst the tension, with no one daring to speak, the door suddenly opened.
Every pair of eyes turned toward her, trying to assess who she was.
She simply walked across the room and took her place behind Christian, silent and still.
Maybe that interruption stirred something in the group.
Because suddenly, he spoke.
"Even if the situation as a whole is hopeless..."
"The groups attacking us tomorrow shouldn’t be that strong, right?"
"So... can’t I just dispose of them and find another solution later?"
His tone was calm, but a spark of determination lit his eyes.
He looked directly at Christian — steady, unwavering.
In contrast Christian, with a leisurely attitude, replied.
"The ones attacking tomorrow? Naturally, they’re not the problem."
"In fact, I was already planning to finish all of them today."
Then, his tone shifted just slightly.
"Based on my estimation, even you should be able to handle them with all your assistants."
"But in the process, your identity will be exposed."
"And some of those assistants will be destroyed."
"So yes, even if you win... it’ll be a close victory."
"A victory that, by my standard, can’t even be called a win."
"And after that... the real mess begins."
"A stronger group will come next."
"And it’s not like you can just run — not with your company, and all your assets tied down here."
"And so, the conflict will just keep escalating."
The situation felt more and more hopeless.
Miles and Jonathan were drenched in cold sweat.
And Mina — worse off than either of them — collapsed to the ground, her knees hitting the floor as she began to cry.
Her voice broke as she pleaded, tears running down her cheeks.
"Please... please help us... I don’t want Elias to die ..."
Seeing the scene, Zero moved toward her.
He crouched beside her, gently trying to calm her down.
His voice was quiet, but steady.
Then he looked at Christian.
This time, the answer was simple.
"You’ll run away. I’ll take it from here."
Zero’s eyes narrowed.
"Are they included in this ’you’?" he asked.
Christian raised an eyebrow — then smiled.
Behind Zero’s arm, Mina bit her lip, staring at Christian with a resentful expression.
Then, slowly, she shifted her gaze toward the woman who had entered earlier — Nina, the one who gave off the strongest sense of danger in the entire room.
Should I beg her instead?
The thought crossed her mind as she felt Zero’s arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders.
But before she could say anything, another voice interrupted.
He looked at Christian — not with his usual calm or calculative expression, but something else.
Something more desperate.
"If I surrender to them..."
"Is there a chance this can be solved?"
Christian, for a moment, wondered if this man — always so calculating — could truly be this naive.
But he didn’t answer.
Instead, he cotninued looking at Zero.
Who, with a downcast expression, softly asked.
"Is there... no way for them to come with me?"