"I beg your pardon?!" Robin raised a single eyebrow, his voice thick with disbelief, struggling to process the words he had just heard.
Across from him, Theo sat upright, his expression unwaveringly serious, undeterred by his father's confusion.
"Father," he said firmly, "in a world like ours, where power rules and morality bends, anything becomes possible if you have enough money to push the limits."
His tone darkened slightly as he leaned forward.
"True Nexus State experts aren't exactly available for purchase—not in the conventional sense, not even in the infamous black markets. But I've dug deeper than most, far enough to uncover truths others dare not even whisper."
His eyes narrowed, brows drawing together in intense focus.
"That syndicate... one of its core, most well-hidden operations involves raising Nexus State experts from birth —nurturing them, training them, breaking them— all for the sole purpose of leasing or selling them to the highest bidder."
