“We need to free Nero and his siblings.”

Miko’s words caused various expressions on the faces of those sitting around the table.

“….Denied.”

Rouge spoke up.

“I want to free Gamiko as much as you, but I think we can all agree that he’s too unpredictable to be set free at a delicate time like this. As for his siblings, they’re worse. If we let those three loose, then it’ll cause a lot of problems.”

Miko nodded.

“What you said is true, but I honestly don’t care.”

“What?”

“I understand the logic behind what you’re saying, but enigmas like my grandfather are sometimes needed to win wars. Their unpredictability, which makes both their allies and enemies confused alike, is a great asset if used correctly. Leaving him sealed away has more demerits than you think.”

Miko approached the table.

“Alright, let’s do it like this.”

Miko took something out of his pocket. It was an insignia with a crow and dragon on it. He placed the insignia on the table.

“I’m going to talk to you all not as a member of the Dragna Clan, but the Don King of Renacido.”

The leaders of the three clans looked at each other in confusion. Tia stood up.

“As I’m closely related to both sides, I will not take part.”

She stepped away from her seat. Miko immediately sat down in her place.

(So he refused to sit earlier to show that he’s below us as a member of the Dragna Clan; and now, he’s sitting to show that he’s our equal as the leader of Renacido…)

Markus smirked.

“This kid makes a great politician.”

“So…What do you want to say, Don King?”

Joesph spoke up.

“As I’m the one who currently holds your grandfather, I think I should lead the negotiations from this side.”

Miko nodded.

“I agree with you there. So let’s get straight to the point.”

Miko rested his head in his hands and showed a bright smile.

“Free Nero and his siblings or you’ll have another rebellion on your hands.”

“?!”

Ignoring gasps around him Miko continued.

“Just how long do you think Nova will keep quiet?”

He looked at his aunt and Secundus Guardian, Alisa.

“Having his wives keep under control is a good idea. After all, those bearing the name of Gamiko are weak to the women we love. However, there’s a limit to everything.”

He tapped the desk with his finger.

“His father was fatally wounded and sealed while his mother was put into a coma.”

He smirked.

“All by the same person much less. As the days pass, this fact will remain in the back of his head. He’ll smile with his wives and children but inside he’s burning with rage. Of course, the news that his sister is well will calm him down a bit, but only for a short time. If things are left as it is, Nova will come for your heads. Not just Joesph Flameheart’s, every single one of you. Why? Because you’re all allowing his parents to remain in such conditions.”

Miko pointed at himself.

“Just so you know, if my uncle rebels I’m rebelling too.”

“?!”

Miko shrugged off the glares he was getting.

“It’s not that surprising, right? I mean, I love Nana and I look up to Gramps. I also consider them necessities to win upcoming battles. If I can’t get them because of the short-sightedness of those in power…”

His smile broadened.

“I just need to reorganize the chain of command.”

“…Is that a threat?”

“Oh no. That was merely a small prediction.”

The pace of his finger tapping the table sped up.

“A threat would be me saying that if you don’t do as I say, I will help New Era kill everyone at this table.”

“?!”

In a blink of an eye, Miko was surrounded by all the guardians. Despite having Divine Level Beings directly their bloodlust at him, the smile didn’t leave his face. He pointed at the nearest guardian.

“See? This is the type of reaction you’re supposed to get when you’re threatening someone.”

“That’s because what you said didn’t seem like an empty threat.”

Joesph’s eyes narrowed.

“Miko, are you connected to New Era?”

“Connected is a vague way of asking if I’m a member.”

“Answer the question.”

The Tertitus Guardian, Mikel nudged Miko’s head.

“New Era just wrecked the empire and Krow shattered your pride as Guardians, so I’ll let you touching me without permission slide, just this once.”

Miko looked up at Mikel and showed him a warm smile.

“But, do that again and I’ll eradicate your bloodline off the face of this earth.”

Mikel’s eyes widened. Miko ignored him and turned back to Joesph and the leaders.

“To answer your question, yes I’m connected to them. However, I’m not really a member. We just have an understanding.”

“What kind of understanding?”

Markus was becoming anxious.

“They see me as a future member, so they’re willing to help me out every now and again. I, on the other hand, take their help while occasionally messing around with their members. Although, they consider it testing me.”

The smile fell from Miko’s face.

“However, they overstepped their boundaries when their members touched my mother.”

He resumed smiling.

“But that doesn’t mean that our relationship has changed. I’m sure they won’t mind if I kill a few of their members here and there. Killing Krow might cause a problem, but it should be fine if I gouge Marc Saevus and Ranga Flameheart’s eyes and replace them with their testicles…Oh.”

He looked at Joesph and Markus.

“Sorry. It’s bad taste talking about killing people in front of their parents.”

“…It’s fine. All that matters is how you see New Era.”

Joesph leaned forward.

“Do you consider New Era your ally or not?”

“We’re more like business partners.”

“That answer isn’t enough. We need to know if you can be trusted or not.”

“That’s for you to decide.”

“Miko, stop making this hard for yourself.”

Leon spoke up.

“New Era are our enemies, but no one here thinks of you as one. So just say you’re not with them and we can move on.”

“I can’t do that, Father. I need to prove a point with these people.”

“Miko, you do realize that we have all right to execute you on the spot for suspicion of treachery, right?”

“Wait!”

“Let’s calm down a bit.”

Andreas's words made Momo and Sasha flustered.

“Execute me?”

Miko laughed.

“Go ahead.”

“What?

“I said go ahead.”

He sighed.

“Did you listen to anything I said before? I made committing suicide into a hobby. You think threatening to kill me will have any effect?”

He smirked.

“Honestly, I want to see you try. Come on, humor me. Make my day.”

“Miko!”

“Kill me?”

He ignored his mother’s outburst as his eyes became Draconic and turned a neon blue.

“None of you fools have the qualifications to even dream of such a thing. None of you are worthy.”

“Miko, calm down before you saying something you can’t take back.”

“What?”

He glanced at Ecko. He nodded after a pause.

“So you people think I’m all talk? You find it hard to believe that someone like me can threaten you. I see. I see.”

He nodded repeatedly.

“I got worked up and forgot that we were negotiating. Because of that, I forgot the first rule of negotiating.”

Suddenly, everyone had an ominous feeling.

“You must make those you’re negotiating with know that they’re beneath you.”

He tapped the table with his finger. Magic circles and runes covered the entire table.

“?!”

“I wouldn’t move too much if I were you.”

Miko smirked.

“You might activate it.”

“Miko, what is this?”

“What, Joesph? You can’t decipher it even with your immense knowledge and experience?”

Joesph looked at the table again and shook his head. Miko chuckled.

“Do you remember that gate I summoned during the competition?”

The ominous gate that was on the verge of opening before Sasha appeared.

“Out of pure curiosity, just what do you think was beyond that gate?”

“………”

No one knew but they knew that gate had stirred primal fear inside them.

“Death, beyond that gate was death in its purest form.”

Miko pointed at his head.

“I didn’t go through hell for no reason. I collected a lot of information and learned forgotten techniques. Also, I can use them whenever I want. I don’t need to let my Irregularity take over. Do you get what I’m saying?”

Miko pointed at the table.

“This spell is similar to that gate. It can bring death upon this world. Oh, killing me will only make it stronger. After all, it requires my life to activate.”

He laughed.

“You people really don’t understand how dangerous someone who has no fear for his own life can be. I mean, if I resolve myself to activate it I’m sure that some will survive but I’m certain that half of you at this table will die with me.”

He showed a fanged grin.

“So what will you do? Will you listen to me while we’re all alive and well, or do you want to continue our conversation in hell?”

Cold sweat covered everyone in the room. The guardians surrounding Miko didn’t make a move. They were trying to decipher the spell in front of them, but it was no use. It only confused them. Miko smirked and tapped the table again. The spell disappeared.

“I was just joking. Why are you all so tense?”

He burst out laughing. However, no one else laughed.

(Joking? Who are you kidding? He was 100% serious! When did he draw that spell anyway?!)

Joesph suddenly remembered how Miko activated the spell.

(He tapped the table….Wait, he’s been tapping the table since he sat down. Don’t tell me that he’s been secretly writing that spell under our noses?!)

Joesph gritted his teeth. Miko showed a mocking smile.

“Listen, Joesph. At that the moment, my only goal is to make the Dragna Clan into an untouchable existence. My relationship with New Era is nothing to worry about because of that. Don’t think too much, it will only complicate things. Just consider me a tool and use me for the benefit of the empire. If you do, I promise that when everything is over with, you guys will be the ones on top.”

“You’re sure selling yourself after threatening us seconds before.”

“I showed you that I’m not to be underestimated. Now you know you can’t afford to make me your enemy just yet.”

Miko’s eyes narrowed.

“It won’t end well for you.”

He became gleeful the next second.

“Just free Nero and his siblings like I ask and I’ll ensure that Augustus's legacy will live on forever. Also, you should know by now that you’re a bit short on time. It won’t be long before your enemies come knocking at your door.”

(He put us through a roller coaster of emotions, whisper words of temptation, and then remind us of the bleak future that could await us…What a terrifying child.)

He glanced at Tiamat who was standing at the side.

(She didn’t say a word no matter what happened… This means she’s in full support of whatever Miko does…So she has that much faith in him, huh?)

He sighed.

“Your family is still here. Out of pure curiosity, what if we had tried to hold them hostage? You don’t care about your own life, but it’s obvious that you care about theirs. Wouldn’t you lose your advantage?”

“That wouldn’t happen.”

“Why?”

“You’ve all lived for thousands of years. So I’m sure you’ve learned a very important lesson by now.”

The smile left Miko’s face.

“There’s just some buttons that you don’t push.”

A heavy pressure fell on the room. Tia’s insignia appeared on the table. Miko pointed at it.

“In case it wasn’t clear, the people wearing this mark are not to be touched. Break this rule, and even the devil himself will pity your souls once I’m done with it.

He locked eyes with Joesph.

“Don’t fuck with me. I will burn this empire to the ground and stained the earth with the blood of everyone you ever cared for if you break this rule.”

He started smiling again.

“But as I said, it won’t happen because you won’t stoop so low.”

“Of course. It’s not my style to involve bystanders in disputes.”

Joesph thrust his hand in front of him. It disappeared into a void.

(Spatial Magic? I don’t know this one.)

Miko saw Joesph pulled Nero out of thin air and made him float above the table. The wound he sustained was still there.

“Daddy!”

Sasha wanted to approach him but was stopped by Leon.

“I take it that you’re returning him.”

“I am. Not because of your threats but what you said made sense. Gamiko is too great of an asset to leave out in times like this. However, it’s a different matter when it comes to Ravel and Falkon. Before I can back their release I must ask, can you keep them under control?”

“Nope.”

“Huh?... Come again?”

“I don’t think I can control them. From what I’ve heard, dealing with them will be a problem even for me.”

“And yet, you want to free them? Are you mad…Wait, don’t answer that.”

Rouge was having a headache.

“I can’t control them but Gramps should be able to.”

“Gamiko? And why are you so certain?”

“Gramps isn’t as unreasonable as you may all believe. The fact that he pushed so hard to have them released, even risking his own life, means that he’s certain that he can keep them under control. It’s just that you people didn’t allow him to show you he could.”

“And how do you know that?”

“How?”

Miko laughed.

“Because I’m also Gamiko Dragna, and we Gamikos understand each other.”

Joesph thought about what Miko said and then his eyes widened.

“Don’t tell me this is what Gamiko wanted from the beginning? He knew that you would start making big moves with your mother injured and the empire in a crisis. He knew that you would eventually aim to become Clan Leader or a position with similar authority. Once you’re successful, you who heard about his siblings would most likely research them and learn of their strength. So naturally, you would want their release along with his.”

“That’s how I see it too.”

Miko looked up at the unconscious Nero who still wore a smile.

“Gramps know how all of you operate and know that a Clan Leader would be needed. Just like I did, he deduced that Rouge would be the main candidate to fill in until I grow up. He also knew that Rouge would turn it down resulting in you guys being unable to make any moves. This buys me time to handle some things before I come to the capital. He also expected me to use his capture to my advantage which I did when I put on a show for the world.”

Miko sighed.

“He made my job easier but the task he gave me in return wasn’t worth it. Having a clash of wits with thousand-year-old monsters isn’t easy. Uncle Nova had a far easier task.”

“Easier task? Nova was in on this?”

“Of course, this was something all 3 Gamikos accomplished together. Uncle Nova had it easy. All he needed to do was to pressure you guys and the best way to do that was to lay in the background. Those of you who know his track record couldn’t ignore him even if he did nothing thanks to the impression he left on you.”

“…So we were getting played?”

“Not exactly. We just made the best use of the options and opportunities that appeared in front of us. It only went so well because we think alike.”

Miko answered Andreas.

“Also, don’t be mistaken. Gramps didn’t plan for his wife to end up the way she did. Uncle Nova was probably supposed to stop her, but he realized what Gramps was planning a second too late. So the rage shown that day was genuine. Also, when I said Uncle Nova was getting impatient, I was serious. Nana’s injury pushed him over the edge. If he has to wait too long, he’ll take the Primus Branch and rebel.”

Miko pointed at himself.

“Once again, if he rebels so will I. The 3 Gamikos are united.”

“In other words, hand over your grandfather?”

“Unless you’re upset because you were dancing in Gramps’ hand?”

Joesph shook his head. Nero landed in front of Miko.

“I’m fed up with all of these internal conflicts. Let’s end it all here and focus on moving forward together.”

“Such wise words. Augustus would be proud.”

Joesph shrugged. Miko looked down on Nero and smirked.

“I guess it’s a win for Gamiko.”