Chapter 102: The Gathering Before the Storm

William stood up slowly. His usual composure and authority seemed even more solemn at this moment. He glanced at Kohei's lifeless body, then scanned the room where grief and rage seemed to smolder within everyone. His voice was low but firm, cutting through the tension like a blade.

"Rayl, sit down."

"Leader—!"

"I said, sit." William's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a cold sharpness that forced Rayl to regain his composure.

Rayl clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead. Finally, he slumped into his chair, his jaw tightening as a guttural growl escaped his throat.

William looked around, his tone steady but laced with an undeniable chill. "The Watcher has revealed their identity, exposing their existence to the world. This move was to seize control of the situation early on. Now, Kohei's death…" He paused, his eyes turning even colder. "...is both a provocation and a declaration of war."

"Declaration of war?" Myouka's voice was filled with disbelief as she stared at William. "They're insane! Killing someone outright—this is pushing the entire world toward chaos!"

Elder Kasamaki shook his head, his voice calm but tinged with unease. "No, this is precisely the chaos they desire. The more unstable things become, the easier it is for them to solidify their power."

Yahageshii's eyes widened. "So, they murdered Kohei? That's their strategy?"

"Perhaps it's more than that," Yame said softly, her gaze troubled. "They could be testing our reaction."

William nodded, his face like a frozen lake. "Exactly. If we act rashly now, we'll play right into their hands. That livestream wasn't random."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Finally, Myouka broke the stillness. "So, what do we do now?"

William inhaled deeply, his weariness showing for just a moment. Then his voice regained its unwavering authority. "We wait. First, we gather all the facts. The Watcher's premeditated strike leaves no room for impulsive action."

"Wait?" Rayl's bitter laugh broke the air. His eyes still burned with fury. "While we wait, Kohei's killer walks free. What if we're next?"

"Rayl!" Elder Kasamaki's voice was stern. "William is right. Rage clouds judgment. If we lose our heads, the enemy wins without lifting a finger."

Rayl gritted his teeth, slamming a fist into the wall. A visible crack formed, but he turned and stormed out without another word, his shoulders stiff with barely contained anger.

William watched him go, his voice cutting through the lingering tension. "From this moment forward, everyone must remain vigilant. This storm has only just begun."

The room, heavy with tension, was filled with familiar faces: Riyugi, Myouka, Yahageshii, Elder Kasamaki, and Rayl. The latter still wore the remnants of his earlier anger, while concern shadowed Riyugi and Myouka's expressions.

William stood at the head of the table, his gaze sharp as steel. "This is the final decision."

Rayl slammed his palm against the table, his voice raised. "Finally, no more waiting! Leader, this is what we should've done from the start! Kohei is dead—if we don't respond, more will follow!"

Riyugi frowned. "But going to war now means exposing ourselves completely. The Watcher has been planning this for a long time. If we rush in, do we even stand a chance?"

Elder Kasamaki sighed deeply, his tone measured yet heavy. "War is unavoidable. From the moment Kohei fell, we were forced onto the stage. Even if we don't move, the Watcher won't stop."

Yame's quiet voice broke through. "But… do we have any real chance of winning? The Watcher may have been growing their strength all this time. They could already surpass us."

William closed his eyes, his face unreadable as if weighing every possible outcome. When he opened them, his determination was evident. "We have no choice."

Silence engulfed the room until Myouka asked, "What's our next step?"

William's voice was unyielding. "We go to Shingin's hometown—the city he fled to. Kohei's final words suggest Shingin might have returned there. Whatever the case, we need to find him and bring him back."

Yuko, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, scoffed. "Hah! That coward ran off? Good riddance! He shouldn't have been part of our plans in the first place."

Elder Kasamaki frowned and interrupted. "Yuko, don't jump to conclusions. Shingin's sudden departure without notifying anyone is far too strange. He might not be fleeing; he could've been forced out."

William's expression darkened further. "What worries me most is that this could be another ploy by the Watcher. They've tried to take Shingin's life before. If they're involved this time, the situation might be worse than we imagined."

Yahageshii slammed a fist onto the table as he stood, his voice blazing with fury. "William, stop hesitating! Gather everyone and attack! If the Watcher's target is Shingin, then waiting only seals his fate. Whether it's a trap or not, we'll have to fight eventually—better to strike now!"

Harutemi, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement. "I'm with Yahageshii! The Watcher wouldn't target us without reason. If we have to fight, we should act before it's too late."

Elder Kasamaki didn't rush to reply. Instead, he gave William a pointed look. "The Watcher never acts without purpose. They've targeted Shingin multiple times—it's not a coincidence. There's a deeper reason behind their actions, and we must tread carefully."

William's cold gaze swept over Yahageshii and Harutemi, his tone as sharp as a blade. "Yahageshii, I understand your impatience, but this isn't a battle won by brute force. The Watcher is more than a few strong individuals—they're a well-coordinated system. If we act without preparation, we'll only be walking into their trap."

Yahageshii clenched his fists but said nothing more.

Rayl couldn't hold back any longer, standing abruptly. "Then let's finalize the plan! Leader, when do we move?"

William looked around the room, his eyes filled with a deadly resolve. "In three days. Summon every ally we have. We'll march to Shingin's hometown, and if we encounter the Watcher on the way…" His voice turned icy, each word carrying the weight of an impending storm.

"Show no mercy."