The diplomats of the world had not expected the European Union to possess an entire surviving lineage dedicated to the taming, breeding, and study of animals. Yet once the rumors surfaced, they spread across humanity faster than wildfire in a dry forest. In only a few days, every major government on Earth had turned its attention toward a single family hidden between the Alps and Venice. The reason was simple: humanity was terrified. Ever since the System announced the coming planetary expansion, fear regarding magical beasts had quietly spread through military circles. At first, scholars and biologists had been consulted, but modern science had suddenly found itself crippled. Machines that humanity once relied upon no longer worked properly under the influence of mana. X-ray scanners failed to penetrate flesh. Satellites produced distorted readings. Even the most advanced laboratories struggled to explain the new laws of reality. Humanity had entered an age where centuries of accumulated scientific certainty were crumbling before their eyes.
That was why the diplomats now found themselves climbing a winding stone road toward a secluded mountain estate that looked as though it had survived untouched since the Roman Empire. The villa sat proudly upon a forest-covered mountain, surrounded by ancient walls and sprawling gardens overflowing with medicinal herbs and towering trees. Yet what truly unsettled the visitors were the animals. Wolves watched silently from the tree line. Massive hawks circled overhead. Bears wandered through the woods without chains or cages. Worse still, several species thought extinct by modern civilization roamed the mountain freely. The Sardinian lynx stalked the underbrush like a phantom from another age, while enormous black-coated aurochs grazed lazily in open fields. The sight alone nearly caused several conservation officials to explode in outrage, but none dared voice their anger aloud. The Arcidiacono family commanded immense respect throughout Europe. Though few members ever left their ancestral lands, those who did were considered among the greatest zoologists and behavioral specialists alive. No government wished to offend them.
The diplomats were eventually guided into a large open hall supported by marble pillars. Warm sunlight filtered through the ceiling windows while the distant cries of beasts echoed from outside. At the center of the room sat Narciso Arcidiacono, the current patriarch of the family. He appeared surprisingly relaxed for a man currently hosting representatives from nearly every major nation on Earth. Dressed in simple dark clothing, he calmly fed strips of meat to a hawk perched beside him while an enormous wolfdog rested behind his chair. The creature lazily yawned, exposing rows of massive teeth that immediately caused several bodyguards to tense. Narciso noticed their reactions and smiled faintly, though whether from amusement or mockery was impossible to tell.
"So," Narciso said casually as he leaned back in his chair, "to what do I owe the honor of hosting the world today?"
The diplomats exchanged uncertain glances before finally pushing forward the unfortunate European representative chosen to speak on behalf of the gathering. Bjior, a veteran diplomat whose exhausted face already suggested years of stress, adjusted his collar nervously before stepping forward. Even he looked uncomfortable standing before the Arcidiacono patriarch. "We came seeking your opinion regarding the future of magical beasts," Bjior began carefully. "More specifically… we wish to know whether animals will eventually gain true intelligence and oppose humanity's expansion."
The question caused the entire hall to fall silent. Even the hawk stopped moving for a moment.
Then Narciso laughed.
It was not a polite laugh either. It was genuine, loud amusement, as though he had just heard something obvious spoken aloud by children. Several diplomats shifted awkwardly in their seats while others frowned in irritation. Narciso eventually calmed himself before wiping his eyes slightly.
"Of course they will gain intelligence," he replied bluntly. "What else did you expect? Strength naturally drives evolution. Every creature seeks a superior form. Humans know this better than anything else." He paused briefly before his expression became more thoughtful. "Now, whether that intelligence appears after the First Stage or later… that I cannot answer. No one truly understands what lies beyond the First Stage yet."
Narciso's golden eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the diplomats before him. "Though I suspect," he continued slowly, "that some of your governments already know more than they pretend."
Bjior immediately frowned. "Stop fishing for information. If someone had broken through already, the entire world would know. We have theories, yes, but nothing conclusive." His eyes sharpened. "Now continue your explanation."
Narciso simply smiled as though he had not been caught probing for secrets. "Very well. Personally, my family does not believe animals immediately gain human-like intelligence after the First Stage. Smarter? Absolutely. More cunning? Without question. They will likely become capable of planning, setting traps, organizing hunts, and adapting quickly." His fingers gently stroked the hawk's feathers. "But true civilization-level intelligence? No. Not yet."
Several diplomats visibly relaxed at those words.
Unfortunately, Narciso immediately ruined that relief.
"Do not relax too soon," he said coldly. "That stage may actually be the most dangerous period of all."
The tension instantly returned to the room.
"Why?" one diplomat blurted out nervously.
"Because instinct will still dominate them," Narciso answered. "A beast may become clever enough to strategize, but if instinct still governs its actions, then the result becomes terrifying." His smile faded entirely. "And what do carnivorous species instinctively seek?"
No one answered.
"Food," Narciso said simply. "Specifically mana-rich flesh."
The room became deathly quiet.
One of the Asian diplomats raised a hand carefully. "Why specifically carnivorous species? Would herbivores not evolve similarly?"
"They will evolve," Narciso admitted. "But predators cultivate faster. Mana-rich meat dramatically accelerates physical development. Carnivores will naturally grow stronger quicker than most herbivores." His smile slowly returned, though this time it carried something unsettling beneath it. "Now imagine a predator intelligent enough to recognize cities as concentrated nests of mana-rich prey."
Several faces lost their color instantly.
"They will come," Narciso continued calmly. "At first only smaller groups. Then larger organized beast tides once stronger creatures emerge. The smarter beasts will realize cities are humanity's shells. Crack the shell, and food pours out endlessly."
Even the military officers watching remotely through recording devices felt cold sweat run down their backs.
"But," Narciso suddenly added, raising a finger, "ironically, this may only be humanity's second most dangerous period."
The diplomats stared at him in confusion.
"Once beasts gain true civilization-level intelligence," he explained, "they will eventually realize something obvious." A dangerous grin spread across his face. "Living in caves and forests is miserable compared to human civilization. Why spend your life hunting in the rain when humans possess heated homes, medicine, entertainment, and endless comforts?" He chuckled softly. "No intelligent creature wishes to remain an animal forever."
The room fell silent once again as people processed the horrifying implications.
Narciso leaned back lazily in his chair. "By then, humanity will no longer face mindless monsters. You will face competitors."
The diplomats hurriedly thanked him soon afterward, clearly eager to leave the mountain as quickly as possible. Yet just as Bjior reached the doorway, Narciso spoke one final time.
"And truly," he said with an amused smile, "why fear retaliation so much? Humanity has stood at the apex of this world for thousands of years. If the beasts wish to challenge us…" His eyes gleamed sharply. "Then let them try."
Every instinct the diplomats possessed screamed at them to leave immediately. Within moments, the hall was empty save for Narciso and his beasts.
As silence returned to the villa, the massive wolfdog behind Narciso slowly stood and walked beside him. The patriarch calmly scratched behind its ears while gazing out toward the forests covering the mountain.
The world misunderstood the Arcidiacono family.
Yes, they were beast tamers. Yes, they formed lifelong bonds with animals and treated their companions like family. Many outsiders assumed such loyalty was built purely on affection and trust.
But that was only half the truth.
The real reason none of the beasts upon that mountain had ever turned against the Arcidiacono bloodline was far simpler.
Every creature living there understood one absolute law.
Among all predators upon that mountain…
…the Arcidiacono family stood at the very top.