Jeffrey let out a long, exhausted sigh.

  "Goddamn… that exam was brutal. And those two? Straight-up monstrous. To think they smashed two world records on the same day—first that Eva girl obliterates the crusher test record, then Nier strolls in right after and breaks her mark like it's nothing. Is this world seriously packed with this many freaks?"

  He rubbed the back of his neck, still muttering to himself.

  "Well… silver lining, I guess. At least I finally qualified for the license. Only downside is the month-long wait to actually get the damn thing. Still, the temporary permit means I can hit the field right away. Now I just need to find a decent zone to hunt fluxes in. Heard the corrupt users who take the collector path can get filthy rich…”

  Jeffrey said to himself, as he went towards the automatic door, when the sensors picked him up it opened up, and he began to walk out.

  He goes for his pockets, looking for his car keys.

  But as he exited the building, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

  "Hello Jeffrey. How was the exams?"

  Jeffrey froze, caught off guard by the sudden voice. He turned around—and there he was.

  "You’re…”

  "Just call me Nier."

  "Ah, yeah… sure."

  Jeffrey managed to say, while still processing. Nier stood there watching him, those glowing red eyes piercing straight through the shadows of his hoodie.

  'This guy again. Talk about coincidence—I was literally just thinking about him. He and that Eva chick are both straight-up monsters. No surprise if they breeze through the special admission course. But… why the hell is he approaching me like this?'

  Jeffrey thought to himself, confusion creeping in as he tried to read Nier's intentions.

  Easier said than done. Still, he wasn't a complete asshole—he was actually pretty social when he wanted to be.

  "Oh hey, uh… Nier, right? Yo, wassup bro?"

  He asked, giving a casual nod. Nier responded without missing a beat.

  "Hey, hey. Jeffrey, you good?"

  "Wait—how'd you know my name?"

  Jeffrey asked, a little suspicious now. Nier shrugged it off with a smooth excuse.

  "Ah, sorry if I surprised you. I actually just overheard it from the receptionist up front."

  "Oh. I see. Yeah, my name's Jeffrey. Not like I was hiding it or anything."

  He chuckled lightly.

  "But still, dude—congrats on making it as a partaker in the special admission exams."

  'He knows, huh… Guess it's not exactly a secret in the association then. Well, not that I care either way. I promise Kaly I would bring this man creature in the cult, and that is exactly what I will do.'

  Nier thought to himself, then spoke up again.

  "Hahaha, thanks I guess. But you were pretty impressive too, my dude."

  "You think so? Compared to your scores in the physical, I feel kinda mediocre."

  Jeffrey said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

  "Come on now, don't sell yourself short like that. I'm just built different."

  Nier gave a small ugh.

  "For a rookie—well, I guess I'm technically one too—I've had a lot going for me. Training, money, and a damn good teacher who also happens to be my wife. Without her, I would never have reached this level of power so quickly."

  "Oh damn, you’re married?"

  "Yeah."

  Nier said with a smile—of course Jeffrey couldn't see it under the deep shadows of the hoodie.

  "Hmm. Well, she must be a very lucky woman."

  Jeffrey grinned.

  But then, he took out his phone as he felt it vibrate in his pocket, someone was clearly texting him.

  "Anyway, dude, I gotta bounce. Still got a ton of stuff to handle today. Maybe we'll run into each other again soon."

  "Of course."

  Nier replied, extending his hand for a fist bump.

  Jeffrey met it with his own, pumping their fists together.

  "Haha, respect bro. Anyway, I'm out."

  With that, Jeffrey started to walk off.

  But that brief moment of contact was all Nier needed. In an instant, he activated his newly created Voice of the Lord spell, channeling a total of 2,300 units of Negativity into the mark.

  Without Jeffrey noticing a thing, a faint goat-like symbol manifested on the back of his hand. The Geas itself was visible only to Nier—but Jeffrey was officially marked.

  Nier watched Jeffrey’s retreating back for a few seconds longer, the faint goat-like Geas pulsing invisibly on the man’s hand.

  A slow, devious smile curled under the shadows of his hoodie.

  "What a stupid man-creature."

  He murmured to himself, voice low and amused.

  Kaly's delighted gigged.

  "You did it, darling. Now take over his mind."

  "Yeah… just give me a moment."

  Nier replied, eyes already sharpening as the Voice of the Lord began its quiet, insidious work.

  Jeffrey jogged across the parking lot toward his beat-up sedan, keys already jingling in his hand.

  "Shit, shit, shit—if I don't leave now I am gonna miss Marcus’ whole performance. The kid has been practicing that piano piece for weeks. He'll never let me live it down if I am te again, but I had to stop by hear today."

  He slid into the driver's seat, smmed the door, and jammed the key into the ignition. The engine coughed to life.

  "Okay, let's mo..

  His right foot froze mid-press on the gas.

  Not… stuck. Just… nothing.

  He frowned, tried again. The muscle in his calf felt distant, like someone else’s leg attached at the knee. He stared down at it.

  "What the…w-why can't I move!?"