Chapter 104: Meeting the Supreme Families
The Council of Nigerian Families ancient bloodlines rooted not only in tradition but in deep, primal power were the invisible hands that shaped the nation's fate. Long before elections, before parties or movements, they had stood behind the scenes: shaping policy, preserving balance, and keeping Nigeria from collapsing under its own weight.
These weren't simply wealthy families or political dynasties.
No.
These were Awakened clans families who had lived through centuries of mystical change, who held secrets in their vaults older than the country's name.
And in recent weeks, the Council had watched one man upset everything.
When Philip Egboluche crushed the Triad stronghold in Ikoyi, and obliterated the Church of Darkness across the world in under 24 hours, they had watched.
They had not summoned him.
Had not praised him.
Had not scolded him.
They simply waited.
Philip, in his own way, had given them no cause. He returned quietly to his company Omni tech Industries reshaping its infrastructure, absorbing dozens of smaller Awakened firms, and continuing his training in the background.
He did not claim titles.
He did not move to fill the vacuum left by fallen powers.
He gave no speeches to the Awakened community.
He offered no alliances, made no demands.
His silence spoke volumes.
And that silence terrified the old guard more than warlords ever had.
The bold believed it was arrogance.
But the wise recognized something more dangerous.
Indifference.
That made him unpredictable.
So they watched.
And behind closed doors,
They whispered to government parastatals:
"Fast-track his paperwork."
They whispered to contractors, supply networks, and magical guilds:
"Do not stand in his way."
It was the least they could offer someone who had prevented a civil collapse.
It was also a bribe, subtle and desperate.
Then, without warning, the man himself made a request.
He wanted to meet.
They selected a neutral ground, The Sheraton Hotel in Lagos.
But they did not reserve a room.
They bought out the entire building.
Four blocks were cordoned off. A no-fly zone established above it, enforced by Awakened-controlled drones. Each floor was cloaked in privacy wards, sound silencing spells, and detection barriers that would fry any surveillance.
Inside the main suite, twelve figures waited around an obsidian table, its surface etched with glowing wards that responded to emotion and intent.
Two representatives from each of the Six Supreme Families:
The OkolisThe IwuchukwusThe AliyusThe ToyonsThe EffiongsThe Adebodes
These were no ceremonial figureheads.
Each of them either carried the blood of Awakened ancestors or were powerful in their own right. The average cultivation in the room was sage-level, with most reaching the rank of legendary. Artifacts pulsed softly beneath their garments, enchantments whispered through the air.
But despite all that, none of them were prepared for what came next.
The space at the far end of the room ripped open with a sound like fabric tearing through thunder.
All twelve leapt from their seats.
Hands instinctively glowed with spell formations.
Swords and artifacts were drawn without thought.
A dimensional gate tore into the room, purple-edged and jagged.
The wards screamed as they clashed against the sudden distortion of space. Mana howled through the crack.
Sweat formed on several brows.
Only a handful in the room had ever seen someone casually tear space this way.
Then… Philip Egboluche stepped through.
No fanfare.
No aura flare.
Just cold calm.
He wore a fitted black shirt, tailored slacks, and simple loafers..
But his presence filled the room.
One of the younger attendees Helena Okoli, older sister of Athena stiffened immediately.
She had seen him before, once when he came to Abuja and they all went out she, him frank and Athena. Now he was this un reachable entity
Philip offered her a polite nod.
That, more than anything, shook her composure.
No one spoke for a long moment.
Then, with regal precision, they resumed their seats.
No one postured. No one made speeches.
They began, instead, with what mattered most.
Nigeria.
The instability across the Awakened zones in the Middle Belt.The increase in foreign magical agents operating in Benue and Rivers State.The militarization of farmland, where mana surges were mutating the soil and wildlife.The large amount of mana beast that has been sited recently due to the growing mana in the air.
They spoke of these things with grim resolve.
They also spoke of the Conclave of World Powers, scheduled in two weeks.
Nigeria had to present a united, controlled, stable face… or risk being carved apart by "assistance" and economic invasion.
Philip listened.
For thirty full minutes, he said nothing.
He watched and listened to every political situation.
He noted who interrupted.
Who deferred.
Who spoke with conviction, and who with performance.
Then came the question.
Spoken not with challenge, but with heavy weight.
Bako Aliyu, the respected patriarch of the Aliyu line, asked:
"Mr. Egboluche… do you have any interest in leading this country?"
The air itself went still.
Philip's gaze drifted across the table, calm but edged with hidden fire.
Then he said, without flourish:
"No."
A few leaned back. One elder exhaled softly.
But Philip wasn't finished.
"I care about my company. My family. And becoming stronger."
He looked directly at them each one.
"I have no desire for power over people.
No crown.
No parliament.
No games.
But" his voice sharpened like a blade
"If anyone threatens what's mine, I will act. Swiftly. Permanently."
Silence followed.
Not out of fear.
Out of understanding.
The Effiong matriarch gave a faint nod of approval.
Chinedu Iwuchukwu stroked his beard thoughtfully.
The Adebodes whispered among themselves, expressions unreadable.
Helena Okoli, once again, stared at Philip like she was seeing a different creature altogether.
Bako Aliyu finally nodded.
"Then we understand one another."
The meeting continued, now under a different tone.
No more suggestions of power.
No veiled threats.
Only… respect.
As Philip rose to leave, , Bako Aliyu said one final thing:
"You are welcome here anytime, Mr. Egboluche."
Philip paused, glanced over his shoulder.
"Let's hope I don't need to come back."
Then he stepped forward, tore a thin ripple in space, and vanished leaving silence in his wake.