"You really know just the right words to say, don't you?" Ace scoffed, shaking his head as if snapping himself out of a trance. He locked eyes with Mrs. Martin and asked, "Can you guarantee it? Guarantee that my family will actually get to enjoy this so-called true freedom of yours? If you can, then until my last breath, I'll be my country's loyal hound."
Matthews had no answer. How could she possibly guarantee something as phantasmal as freedom?
Ace's lips curled into a sneer. "You can't, can you?" He leaned in slightly, voice laced with mockery. "Because the true freedom you're selling? It's just another illusion. Another leash they tighten around your neck to keep you doing their bidding. You know damn well that the only real freedom comes with absolute strength—strength neither of us has." He let his words linger for a moment before adding, "So cut the bullshit. Or do you want another shot at convincing me?"
Matthews exhaled sharply, tilting her head. "You might be right," she admitted. "No, I don't have the absolute strength for the ideal freedom. But I do have the power of the herd. Together, our forefathers built and protected this country. And now, it's our turn. We owe it to those who come after us."
She shook her head, her voice softening just a little. "I know the C.I.B. can't offer you anything. You were clearly blessed during your curse core initiation ceremony. That's why I'm not asking you to join for your sake." She met his gaze again, unwavering. "I'm asking you to join so you can share that blessing with those less fortunate than you. That is the responsibility of the strong."
She took a step back, arms folding across her chest, and gave Ace a way out, "If you disagree, you're free to head home. No one will stop you. Tomorrow, an agent will come to register you—then you can pretend none of this ever happened."
"I don't know about this responsibility of the strong you're talking about," Ace said, his tone even, but his eyes sharp. "My parents taught me to share, sure. But society? Society has taught me that sharing too much or selflessly just comes back to bite you." He crossed his arms, voice turning firm as he continued after a dramatic pause, "So if I'm doing this, I need to be paid—and I mean something that's worth my time. If you can make that happen, I'm in. Otherwise, I'll find somewhere else that actually appreciates my time. Or better yet, I'll build that place myself from the ground up."
He didn't take the out Mrs. Martins had given him. His family could use the royal privileges she spoke of—because no amount of money could buy them that unless he built it for them like the McSuiles have, however, that would take time. For now, C.I.B. will have to do.
Matthews studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I might not be able to guarantee your family the ideal version of freedom, but I can guarantee that you and your family will be treated fairly by the C.I.B.—as long as I'm alive, at least. Unless, of course, you give us a reason not to," Her voice was steady, and something about the way she said it made it sound less like a promise and more like an oath.
But she wasn't done. She took a step forward, her expression softening just a little, "And to prove I'm not just telling what you want to hear, I won't ask you about your innate curse tool or your innate curse art. Those sections in your file? They'll be left blank."
She held his gaze, letting the weight of her words settle before continuing adding, "And don't worry—no one will force you to reveal them later. If they do? You can just quit. I'll put it in your employment contract, in writing. Sound fair?"
"You really do know just the right words to say," Ace said, his gaze locked onto Matthews. "Hopefully, you can back them up—because let me make one thing clear." His voice dipped slightly, carrying a quiet warning. "If it ever comes down to choosing between my family and this country, I won't hesitate. And trust me, you don't want me as your enemy."
Matthews held his stare for a beat, then gave a firm nod. "Got it," she said, her tone serious. She did not let his mortal-tier strength undermine the seriousness of his words.
Then, without missing a beat, she added, "Let's head to my headquarters and make this official." She wasn't about to waste time—she needed to get Ace's name on those documents before he had a chance to rethink anything. The more she talked to him, the more she realized just how valuable he truly was.
She knew about his deal with the Cyclops having eavesdropped on them. And for Ace to have something that even Cyclops was greedy for? Matthews could already see it—the day their country would rise above the Curse Council in any one of the fields of curse was coming. For years, they had needed someone like him. It was sheer luck that their wait was finally over.
"Wow, young man. I never thought you'd actually join the C.I.B.," Evil Eyes remarked, genuine surprise flashing across his face.
He had assumed Ace would be like all the others—those who, after gaining a little special power from their curse core initiation, immediately started scheming for world domination. But Ace had proven him wrong.
Everything Evil Eyes had observed about Ace, combined with his own years of experience, told him one thing—C.I.B. wouldn't be Ace's final stop. No, the kid was going places. The mortal world was too small of a pond for him.
Like their patriarch used to say, 'No matter how many dams you build, you can't stop a river from finding the ocean. You can delay it but ultimately it will find its way and reach its destination.'