PART 2 - Annual Celebration : Meeting.

As soon as the elevator arrived and its doors opened, the servant stepped out and respectfully gestured with his hand, saying, "This way, sir."

As Akirod stepped out, his gaze swept over the details of the floor they had reached.

A spacious corridor stretched before him, branching off in two directions.

Its walls were adorned with magnificent paintings placed between the doors of various rooms.

What caught his attention most was a grand door at the end, marked by an eight-pointed star at its center.

Towering statues stood guard on either side, suggesting that beyond it lay the heart of this floor.

The corridor itself was eerily devoid of human presence.

With steady steps, the servant approached the imposing door and knocked gently.

In response, the door slowly slid open, emitting a faint, subdued sound.

A brilliant light flared from the room the moment the gateway opened, veiled by a sheer curtain that concealed whatever lay within.

The servant turned with quiet steps, lowered his gaze slightly, and spoke with deep respect: "If you will excuse me, sir… this is where my duty ends."

"Thank you," Akriod said, watching as the servant left with a cheerful smile.

The three of them moved further into the room, and as they passed through the translucent veil, the grand hall was revealed.

It was an expansive space, opulently adorned, filled with a select group of important figures, no more than a few dozen in total.

Just then, a commanding voice echoed through the hall, drawing Akriod's attention. "Inar Agard, it's been far too long." The voice came from an elderly man, yet he remained remarkably fit, his white beard neatly trimmed along the sides of his face.

Beside him stood a woman in a black dress, her face bearing a distinctive scar beneath her lip.

The man extended his arms with a smile, stepping toward Akriod.

"Mr. Gustav," Akriod greeted him.

Gustav approached and embraced Akriod with deep affection and a refined style that reflected his immense love.

Inar stood at around 180 centimeters, while the man was just slightly taller.

Akriod didn't know the man personally, but he had spent the past week carefully studying the guest list, examining the important figures who would be attending the event.

He knew he couldn't attend such a significant occasion without being familiar with the identities of the guests and every detail about them.

He was well aware that ignoring this would be like throwing himself into an awkward situation, as it was unacceptable to speak with someone without knowing who they were or having any background information about them.

Akriod wasn't sure who Inar knew and who he didn't, but he decided to proceed with extreme caution, carefully considering every word that would come out of his mouth after reviewing the list and the basic information he had gathered about them.

Gustav, who was still embracing Akriod, was an old friend of Inar's father and came from the esteemed Nyorn family, known for their influence in democracy.

After a long, emotional embrace, he gestured toward the woman standing beside him, a calm smile gracing his lips.

"This is my wife, Sia."

The woman stepped forward, her elegant black dress flowing gracefully as her wide-brimmed hat concealed part of her features, lending her an air of captivating mystery.

She extended her hand gently toward Akriod, a confident smile adorning her face.

"It is an honor to meet the head of the Agard family. My name is Sia Gustav, his wife."

"It's an honor to meet you too," he said with a calm smile, his eyes briefly flicking toward the hall. It was spacious and luxurious, adorned with lavish sofas and long, chairless tables, where only the elite of the elite stood—those who had earned the rare privilege of reaching the ninetieth floor, a place where only the chosen set foot.

"This way, the Dysars are waiting for you," Gustav said, extending his hands toward a gate adorned with golden engravings in the hall.

After Akriod turned, accompanied by Mr. Gustav, who had left his wife with one of the women from the elite families, Liana gently tapped her high heel on the floor.

She stood with grace, radiating an aura of femininity and elegance.

Then, she opened her captivating eyes, raised her gaze toward Akriod, and said in a soft yet firm voice:

"I'm afraid that will be impossible, sir."

A look of surprise crossed Gustav's face, as he was caught off guard by hearing such words from a subordinate, directed not at just anyone, but at the Dysar himself!

However, despite his astonishment, he understood, as he was unaware of Liana's position, which allowed her the freedom to speak such words.

Akriod's gaze shifted toward her, fully aware of her role, which was limited to accompanying him.

He spoke calmly, "You can stay here with Ronan; I'll be fine." His words were simple—he was merely going to the room to meet the Dysars, and the meeting didn't require an escort.

"I apologize, sir, but my position requires me to be your shadow, so I must be by your side, guarding you from all danger." Her words flowed with determination, and her steady gaze reflected the strength of her will, as her features embodied an unwavering resolve, confirming her commitment to accompany him.

He no longer cared about the matter, especially after realizing that what she had said was true and that she was merely speaking the truth.

However, her insistence on accompanying him to the main room where the Dysars were gathered seemed strange.

He didn't need company for that, but he saw no point in arguing about it.

So, he raised his hand in a calm gesture, agreeing softly, "Alright, that's fine."

While her hands were in their usual position beneath her navel, and her eyes were closed in deep relaxation after he agreed to her request, she whispered, "Thank you, Sir."

Akroid, accompanied by Gustav, who opened the gate, walked ahead as Liana followed them like a shadow that never parted from Akroid's steps.

He cast a glance at the beautifully designed room, filled with a soothing scent.

Red carpets adorned with white patterns covered the floor, and the raised-legged armchairs added a touch of elegance.

But what caught his attention the most was the imposing presence that blended with the warm, orchestral-like music filling the room, emanating from the piano, skillfully played by a blond man.

On the right, a man sat with complete dignity on the sofa, absorbed in a book.

Gustav stood with pride and composure, his right hand neatly bent under his abdomen, while his other hand was extended behind him, as if clearly displaying his readiness to serve these men at any moment, despite his high rank and immense authority within a powerful family—he was its leader.

Although he belonged to the elite class in the democratic hierarchy of the Democracy of Elethra, he knew full well that, in the presence of these men, no matter his status, his position remained beneath theirs.