Chapter 20:The Meeting II

In the midst of their discussion, Ryland's hand shot up, capturing the attention of the room. "I'm keen on expanding my roster of summoned creatures," he announced. "I want to strengthen my abilities so that when we do find my father, I can demonstrate what I've accomplished with his staff."

The room buzzed with agreement as everyone offered their support.

Ash chimed in with a suggestion. "We should check the bounty boards in each town we pass through. I've traveled extensively, and I know that every town has its own board where they post a variety of bounties—whether it's locating lost items, undertaking construction work, exterminating beasts and monsters, or even more dangerous tasks."

Ryland nodded appreciatively, "I'll make sure to check the boards whenever we reach a new town."

All eyes then turned expectantly to Alan. He shook his head slightly and gestured to O'kuyo to proceed with the next topic.

O'kuyo shifted his focus to the next agenda item: Personnel. "Let's discuss the members of our party," he began, casting a pointed glance at Lambda and Wilson. "It's evident that there's a reason you both brought some of your men to this meeting. Care to elaborate?"

"Yeah" Lambda and Wilson answered simultaneously.

Lambda and Wilson exchanged a brief, knowing glance before Lambda addressed the room. "Rocco, Juice," he began, his voice firm yet tinged with regret, "I won't be taking either of you with me on this journey. I need you both to oversee the operations at the mine shaft."

A palpable sense of disappointment settled over Rocco and Juice at Lambda's words. Lambda continued, "We've had our share of adventures together. But as our mining contracts have grown, so has our responsibility to our staff and miners. If we all leave, there won't be anyone I trust to look after them properly."

Understanding the weight of Lambda's decision, Rocco and Juice nodded solemnly. They didn't have to like it, but they recognized the necessity. Lambda went on, "I wanted you both here today to be informed about my plans. You're not just trusted colleagues; you're the closest thing I have to family here. If anything were to happen to me, I'd want you to know what's going on."

Alan, sensing the emotions in the room, spoke up, "Decisions like these are never easy, but we all have responsibilities that sometimes take precedence."

Wilson, picking up where Alan left off, announced his own staffing decisions. "I'll be bringing two of my men along," he declared. "However, Daoist won't be joining us."

Daoist responded with a wry smile, "I figured as much. Someone's got to have the boss's back and keep the rest of the crew in line. Who else is up to the task?"

Ash Angel, hearing this, felt a growing sense of unease. Wilson noticed and turned to him, asking directly, "Are you going to be alright coming with us?"

Ash blinked, clearly taken aback. He had assumed he was there for his intimidating presence rather than any particular skill. Wilson quickly clarified, "No, we'll be relying on your expertise quite a bit on this journey."

Touched by Wilson's trust in him, Ash responded earnestly, "My loyalty to you and your cause has always been unwavering, boss. I'm in."

O'kuyo nodded approvingly, remarking, "A wise decision indeed. So, who's the second person you're bringing along?"

Wilson nodded, "You all remember Luke-man, right? He's been the mechanic overseeing 'The Thing' since its inception. His expertise is crucial for its maintenance and repairs."

Ash chimed in, echoing Wilson's sentiment, "If I'm going to be driving that beast, having Luke-man around for maintenance and repairs is essential."

The consensus among the group was unanimous. "That sounds like a solid plan," Ryland affirmed. "We'll need every capable hand we can get for this mission."

O'kuyo glanced around the room, "Does anyone else have any suggestions or concerns regarding our team composition?" Silence met his query. Alan broke the pause, "It seems we have a strong enough team with the current members. Let's proceed."

O'kuyo shifted the discussion to the next scope: "Operation." He gestured towards the more experienced members to take the lead.

Lambda initially offered Wilson the reins, but Wilson, with a nod towards Alan, suggested otherwise. Alan's smile was one of acknowledgment and acceptance.

Alan took charge of the operational briefing. "Now that we've established our team," he began, "it's crucial for us to familiarize ourselves with one another."

Alan cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention as he began his introduction. "As many of you are aware, and I see no reason to keep it a secret any longer, I am Alan 'Shadowstrike' Vorheus, once a General in Xavier's Army." He glanced towards Wilson, adding with a wry smile, "But, please, let's leave the 'General' title in the past. I'm just an old man now, enjoying time with my grandkids."

Wilson and the rest of the group nodded, accepting Alan's revelation. Meanwhile, Rocco and Juice exchanged surprised whispers. "He was a General in Xavier's Army?" Juice murmured, his eyes wide. "No wonder Boss kept that part of his history under wraps," Rocco responded, equally intrigued.

Alan continued, his tone taking on a reflective note. "The way titles are earned has changed over time. Nowadays, the New Human Resources Council evaluates and approves titles based on public recommendations. But back in my day, titles were earned on the battlefield, during wars and conflicts." He paused, letting a hint of mystery hang in the air. "As for how I earned mine... Well, I'll leave that to your imaginations."

Alan hesitated for a moment before deciding to delve into his own abilities, strengths, and vulnerabilities.

However, Wilson interrupted, raising an eyebrow as he posed a question to the group, "Are we really going to share all this? Abilities, perks, weaknesses?"

Alan responded with conviction, "Absolutely. If we're journeying together, understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses is essential. It allows us to better support one another and work as a united front."

Alan continued, revealing the depths of his capabilities. "I possess an ability called 'Shadow Dweller.' It grants me the power to traverse through shadows, moving between them as long as they remain interconnected."

Drawing attention to his expertise in combat, he unsheathed a dagger named Fenrir's Fang. The unique weapon drew curious glances from the group. "You might not recognize it now," Alan began, "but you will soon enough."

Shifting his tone to a more somber note, Alan shared his vulnerability. "However, I do have a weakness. I'm susceptible to life-detection abilities.

Some New Humans possess unique detection skills, like sensing heartbeats, detecting breath patterns, feeling earth vibrations, or even reading brainwaves. I once found myself hunted by an adversary with a brainwave detection ability. It was only thanks to General Ursula Fletcher's intervention that I escaped that perilous situation."

Following Alan's revelation, the room was filled with a sense of admiration and respect. Voices rose in collective acknowledgment of Alan's remarkable skills, affirming how such prowess had once earned him the title of General in Xavier's Army.

With a nod to Alan, Wilson stepped forward to share his own abilities. "Most of you are already familiar with my affinity for manipulating Mercurial," he began, "a skill I've come to call 'Mercurial Shift.'" Casting a glance towards Lambda, Wilson continued, "As a fellow giant, Lambda knows well the raw power we wield, and General Shadowstrike here is no stranger to my proficiency with melee weapons."

However, Wilson's expression grew more serious as he divulged his vulnerability. "My Achilles' heel lies in defending against heat or fire-based elemental attacks. Mercurial is a metal sensitive to extreme temperatures. Direct exposure to fire can cause it to melt, forcing me to reset my Mercurial Shift to reshape the metal back to its intended form."