The chairman paused, hands still resting on the table.
"The military representative and the noble representative may tell the council about the developments."
Two figures rose from the center table.
The military representative was broad across the shoulders with a weathered face and a scar running from temple to cheek, moving like a soldier even in his civilian dress, spine rigid and hands already forming fists at his sides.
The noble representative stood more slowly, taller and thinner, wearing robes that probably cost more than some mayors’ annual salaries, his face smooth and ageless with his dark hair swept back.
The military representative spoke first, his voice sharp.
"We already warned this council that the elves couldn’t be trusted."
His fist hit the table.
BANG
The noble representative’s eyebrow lifted fractionally.
"The Light Elves have been the ones to help us when the portals first opened." His voice was cool and measured. "Unlike the other species, they have always been cordial with us."
The military representative’s jaw clenched hard enough that the muscles stood out.
"Only because of their World Tree making them help us at the start." He leaned forward, both hands flat on the table now. "And we still don’t know what intentions that entity has for our world."
His voice rose.
"Not to mention, all the elves are the same. The Dark Elves are the ones who make humans their slaves! Not one of our soldiers captured by them has ever been returned to us. Not. One."
The noble representative brushed an invisible speck of dust from his sleeve.
"We ourselves have also captured many of their species and are conducting experiments on them in the southern region. This is how it is for every race." He paused, meeting the military representative’s glare with perfect calm. "So no need to be so agitated."
The military representative’s face flushed red.
"Agitated?" His voice cracked like a whip. "You made a deal with those filthy Dark Elves and allowed their delegation to enter our world to look for treasures!"
The chamber erupted.
Mayors shot to their feet, their voices overlapped.
"What deal?"
"When was this decided?"
"The Dark Elves are in our world?"
"How many–"
"This is insane–"
"We weren’t consulted!"
The Chairman didn’t move or speak.
He simply raised one hand.
"..."
And silence fell like a curtain dropping.
The noble representative adjusted his robes, completely unruffled.
"The deal was discussed with some of the marshals of the military as well." His tone suggested he was explaining something simple to children. "It is a small price to pay for peace."
He turned slightly, addressing the wider chamber now.
"Everyone, the world is changing. Many portals have shown signs of becoming unstable, their rank increasing. We need to make sure to reduce the number of enemies we face. We cannot fight all the races at once."
His voice hardened fractionally.
"The giants are already preparing for war again."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"I represent the Imperial Council. We will not be sending our private armies to be butchered everywhere." His eyes swept the room. "The Sage has made the decision to make a peace deal with the elves. The matter is over."
Nobody spoke or moved at the mention of the Sage.
The sage was none other than the Murdock Patriarch... The man who’d made the decisions that kept the Federation alive when everything else was falling apart.
Nobody argued with the Sage.
The military representative’s fists shook, but he sat down.
The noble representative smoothed his robes and sat as well, back perfectly straight.
The Chairman remained standing. His expression hadn’t changed, neutral and patient, giving away nothing.
’Always the same... The Imperials decide and everyone else follows.’
He turned toward the five masked figures.
"Can the regional governors talk about the state of their regions after the red sky phenomenon?"
One of the masked figures rose. The mask caught the light, featureless and black. When he spoke, his voice came out filtered, distorted by whatever technology the mask used.
"The north remains the most chaotic and the military is spread thin. They need more people, we might have to start the recruitments again." A pause. "...There is also the Shadow Council causing a lot of trouble everywhere."
The Chairman’s fingers tapped once against the table.
"Hm? Isn’t that organization just like the usual terrorist organizations? Why are we not able to handle them?"
Another figure at the center table leaned forward.
He was the Director of the SFD with a hard face, wearing the black uniform of the Federation’s law enforcement agency. His hands were clasped on the table in front of him, knuckles white.
"Chairman, all along we thought this was just another organization." He paused. "But after personally investigating, I have managed to find some disturbing information."
Every eye in the chamber turned toward him as nobody spoke.
The Director continued, voice steady but strained.
"This organization is deeply rooted in every section of society... From the commoners to the nobles. But even after finding their spies, we couldn’t find any worthwhile information."
The Chairman’s jaw tightened fractionally.
"You don’t have any information?"
"When I took over the investigation, I did manage to find something."
The military representative leaned forward.
"What is it?"
The Director’s hands unclenched slowly.
"The organization is very structural. The lower ranked members think they are an organization fighting for equal rights. No one knows who started this organization, but it seems to be active for more than a decade."
He paused.
"And at the top of it are the Shadow Kings. They are the ones who control everything. We don’t know how many of them there are, but based on my assumption, all of them are at least... S ranked."
Whispers started in the upper tiers.
"S ranked?"
"How many?"
"Who are they?"
"–could be anyone–"
"Equal rights... sounds like–"
The noble representative’s fingers drummed once against the armrest.
"I feel like it’s an organization of people who want to change the world order... Mostly commoners. Probably people who are dissatisfied with us."
His tone suggested this was barely worth discussing.
One of the other masked figures stood.
"I don’t know about the Shadow Council, but we need to do something about the Death Cult. They have become very active in the central region and are carrying out all sorts of assassinations."
The masked figure turned toward the noble representative.
"Not to mention, the Murdock family’s heir Elizabeth Murdock was almost assassinated as well."
"..."
The chamber went silent.
The masked figure’s voice went cold.
"Aren’t the Imperials worried? Elizabeth Murdock is not just any heir. Just like the Sage, she is very important to the Federation. She can very well be the next Sage."
He leaned forward slightly.
"If this is some sort of family heir fight, I suggest you think with your brains. Our enemies have seers as well... We need them."
The noble representative’s face remained perfectly neutral. He said nothing for several long seconds, then he opened his mouth.
"Matters of the Imperials are not for us to interfere."
The Chairman’s eyes narrowed fractionally.
’They’re going to get her killed... And then what? We lose our best chance at another Sage.’
A new voice spoke up from the center table.
It was the ACC President. Younger than the others and wearing a suit that looked expensive but uncomfortable, tie slightly loosened. She’d only been appointed a few weeks ago, after Eleanor’s... incident.
"Um, Sorry to interrupt, but there is something else that needs attention. I suggest letting the old generation come out and start teaching the new generations as well." Her voice was firm despite the slight tremor in her hands. "The catastrophe is approaching and the new generation is not ready."
Discussions erupted across the chamber.
"The old generation retired for a reason–"
"We need their experience–"
"–can’t force them back–"
"–not enough time to train replacements–"
Then a movement happened in the upper tiers.
A fat man raised his shaking hand. His face was pale, sweating despite the climate control.
The Chairman’s gaze shifted.
"Tranquil City mayor... Is there something you would like to speak?"
The fat man stood slowly, gripping the desk in front of him for support.
"I think... I think all of us are ignoring something." He swallowed. "The beasts... Ever since the red sky phenomenon started, it’s not just humans who are becoming more powerful. Beasts are also becoming stronger day by day."
His voice gained a little strength.
"We need stronger wards to protect the cities in case of the beast tides. I suggest making the Arcane Dynamics corporation lower the prices for the wards, defensive systems and the Aura-powered machinery–"
The noble representative didn’t stand or even turn to look at him.
"Tranquil City mayor, I think you should focus more on the Mafia taking over your city." His tone was ice. "Beasts have always just been resources for us. Even after this phenomenon, there would just be more and more resources."
Laughter erupted across the chambers filled with sharp mocking, echoing from tier after tier.
"Can’t even control his own city–"
"Wants to tell us about beasts–"
"–Mafia runs Tranquil now–"
"Pathetic–"
The Tranquil City mayor’s face flushed red, his hands clenched on the desk edge and his jaw worked.
But he said nothing as he sat down slowly with his head bowed.
The noble representative continued as if nothing had happened.
"Speaking of resources, I think we should discuss the treasures. Our world will start making more and more treasures. Who would they belong to is the issue." He paused. "Imperials think whoever manages to get them should have ownership... What do you all say?"
Arguments exploded across the chamber like a bomb going off.
Voices shouting over each other, fists slamming on desks with Mayors standing and pointing, faces red.
"That’s insane–"
"–should belong to the Federation–"
"–private ownership will cause–"
"The Imperials can’t just–"
"–already have all the power–"
The Chairman remained seated as his eyes moved slowly across the chaos.
The military representative arguing with two mayors about resource distribution, gesturing sharply.
The noble representative leaning back in his chair, fingers steepled, completely unmoved by the shouting around him.
The masked regional governors sitting motionless and silent, watching everything.
’This is why I wanted humanity united...’
’Too many factions... Nobles want more power, commoners want to rise, the military is spread too thin... Regional governors keep their own counsel and criminal organizations grow in the shadows.’
’Internal enemies... External enemies... And I can only maintain the balance.’
’That’s all I can do... Maintain the fucking balance!’
The Tranquil City mayor stood up, his face was still red, but his expression had gone flat and empty.
He gathered his tablet, nodded to his aide and walked toward the exit.
Nobody noticed or cared.
The arguments continued, voices rising, fists hitting tables, the chaos of hundreds of powerful people all fighting for their own interests while the world burned outside.
The mayor’s footsteps echoed in the hallway beyond the chamber doors.
His fist clenched at his side.
’Mafia... At least they care for the people. This Federation is too far gone.’
The doors closed behind him with a soft click that nobody heard.
Inside, the shouting continued.
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