Gathering

The ride back home was silent and peaceful. Harris kept staring at Damian, inexplicable emotions dancing in his eyes. He noticed that Damian's aura had undergone a subtle shift, his usual excitement towards life was subdued, a calm aura settling in its place.

'How odd. I wonder…. just what happened in there that could change someone so much, he seems more like his father now.'

Whether or not this was a good thing, only time would tell. While he was lost in his thoughts, Damian's voice brought him out of his reverie, his tone laced with confusion.

"Is there something on my face, Harris?", he asked, pointing at himself.

"Certainly not. Just lost in my thoughts is all."

Damian raised an eyebrow, sceptical, but didn't pursue the matter. Instead he shifted the conversation;

"How's Josh been doing the past few days?"

Harris' expression faltered at those words, his response a little forced.

"He… he was taken by your father to a meeting with the other leaders."

Damian sighed, ignoring the tension in Harris' voice. It was as he had expected, his little brother still overshadowed him in more ways than one.

"It's alright, Harris. I might be a little jealous, but he's still my brother."

Hearing that, Harris kept out a sigh of relief.

A long silence ensued after that, the flight back home being a blur to all its occupants.

....

The round table wasn't just a table made to resemble the folktale, it was way more. Sleek and black, its surface shimmered with faint streaks of blue light, and with every touch, it displayed holographic data in perfect clarity. Around it, the leaders of six continents sat in their designated chairs, each bearing the insignia of their respective territories. Antarctica's chair remained empty, Erik Volsung's reclusiveness taking centre stage once more.

Above the table, a holographic globe rotated slowly, glowing with faint red markers on several continents—areas where an illegal gene-enhancing drug had reportedly surfaced. An oriental man's image hovered over the centre, his sharp features illuminated in blue light. Kenta Hamura, a middle-ranking member of the Hamura family, presented the briefing.

"Divine Beasts," Kenta began, his voice clipped and precise, "as you are aware, rumours have surfaced regarding the circulation of an unregulated gene-enhancing compound. Our initial findings suggest it is not derived from the approved serum distributed by your families. This poses a potential risk to the order you've worked to maintain."

Michael's dark brown eyes scanned the table, his face betraying nothing. His hands rested on the armrests of his chair, fingers steepled in contemplation. When he finally spoke, his baritone voice was calm but carried the weight of authority. "This is troubling. If someone has cracked the formula, it could destabilise the system we've built." His gaze shifted briefly to Chris Brooks, whose smirk betrayed his impatience.

Chris leaned back in his chair, feet casually propped up on the edge of the table—a lack of decorum that none bothered to comment on. His booming laughter cut through the tension. "Destabilise? Let's not get carried away. It's probably just some wannabe trying to play God. Let them have their fun; they'll be crushed the moment they cross the wrong line." He gestured grandly, his tone dripping with bravado. "My American forces are more than equipped to handle this."

Adele Hoffman's chair creaked as she leaned forward, her piercing blue eyes narrowing at Chris. "Your arrogance is showing again, Brooks," she said, her accent sharp as steel. Her hands, calloused from years of combat, clenched into fists on the table. "This isn't a matter of handling it alone. If this drug gains traction, it could lead to chaos. You might enjoy a bit of anarchy, but I don't."

Before Chris could retort, Chen Lu interjected, her tone gentle yet commanding. "Please, let us not devolve into petty squabbles." She folded her hands neatly in her lap, her movements as smooth as silk. Her serene demeanour was a stark contrast to the regular fiery exchange between Chris and Adele. "This matter requires unity. If the rumours are true, the distribution of this drug must be traced and eradicated before it becomes a widespread threat."

Antonio Silva chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair with a devil-may-care air. His dark eyes darted between the other leaders. "Trace it, eradicate it—easier said than done," he muttered, his voice tinged with scepticism. "Whoever's behind this is smart enough to stay hidden. Let them make the first move, and then…" He mimed a predator striking, his hand snapping closed into a fist. "That's when we act."

Ava Martin, her emerald-green dress shimmering under the soft glow of the holograms, placed a hand on her chin. "Antonio has a point," she purred, her voice laced with a seductive charm. "But we can't be too reactive. If this spreads, the commoners will see it as a way to challenge the families' power." She tilted her head, her crimson lips curling into a mischievous smile. "And we wouldn't want that, would we?"

Kenta cleared his throat, bringing the focus back to the hologram. "If I may, we have identified preliminary distribution hubs in South America, Southeast Asia, and parts of Eastern Europe." As the map displayed glowing red hotspots, Chen Lu's expression tightened, though her posture remained composed.

Michael's gaze shifted to Adele. "Eastern Europe is under your jurisdiction. Can your forces investigate without causing unnecessary alarm?"

Adele nodded curtly. "Consider it done. I'll personally ensure my subordinates handle it swiftly."

Chris raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "How noble. Maybe the great Adele Hoffman will finally loosen up and join the fun."

Michael's sharp gaze silenced him, though his expression remained unbothered. "This isn't a game, Chris. A united response is required. Let's not waste time on ego."

The tension simmered as Kenta continued his report, his holographic figure flickering slightly. "We believe the formula is a crude imitation of the original serum, but its side effects appear unpredictable. Some users experience only minor enhancements, while others develop extreme aggression and instability. The potential for catastrophe is significant."

As Kenta's image dissolved into motes of light and the hologram faded, Michael rose to his feet, his imposing figure drawing the others' attention. "Then we must act decisively. This council exists to maintain order, not to let petty ambition or negligence threaten what we've built."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Each leader understood the stakes. The new age of humanity had been born in blood and ambition, and it would take both to protect it.