A few days later, in a conference room somewhere in Dunmire.
A long black table stretched across the room, lined with about twenty seats on either side. Roughly two-thirds of them were occupied. And the people sitting there? They weren't just anyone. The leaders of the top ten guilds, high-ranking military officials from the faction-backed guilds, and even Nathaniel himself—all present.
But at this moment, not a single one of them spoke. The room was silent, heavy with anticipation, as if they were all waiting for something.
Tap, tap, tap…
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside. A moment later, the conference room doors swung open, and a man stepped aside, making a welcoming gesture.
"Mr. Ethan, please come in."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Instantly, every single person in the room stood up in unison, their gazes snapping toward the entrance.
Tap… tap… tap…