Rain tapped softly against the enormous glass windows of the Alliance Council Chamber.
The sound was calm.
Too calm.
Especially compared to the atmosphere inside the room.
A massive circular table stood at the center beneath glowing white lights while several large screens displayed maps of the continent. Borders, territories, trade routes, and defense zones covered nearly every surface.
The Hunters Alliance symbol glowed proudly on the floor beneath them.
Five councilors sat around the table.
Each one controlled a major division of the Alliance itself.
And tonight…
None of them were discussing monsters.
At the far end of the chamber, Councilor Varith leaned lazily against his chair while spinning a metal pen between his fingers. His black uniform remained perfectly neat despite the late hour, and the silver insignia of the Police Unit reflected faintly beneath the room lights.
Beside him sat Dravith.
Unlike the others, Dravith’s large frame nearly swallowed his chair entirely. His thick armored gloves rested against the table while reports regarding weapon production remained scattered before him.
Across from them sat Tharos, commander of all Bureau Scouts. Several files were stacked neatly beside him while his sharp eyes scanned the glowing map quietly.
Selune, councilor of War, Justice, and Law, remained perfectly straight in her seat with both hands folded calmly before her.
And beside her sat Nyxaris.
Commander of soldiers and tactical operations.
Unlike the others, Nyxaris looked exhausted.
Dark circles rested beneath his eyes while multiple battle reports remained open across the screen in front of him.
The outer defense zones were still struggling.
Yet somehow…
That wasn’t the council’s focus tonight.
Professor Velric stood near the center of the chamber with his hands behind his back. His long dark coat brushed lightly against the floor as he looked around the room carefully.
Something about tonight’s meeting felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Varith suddenly broke the silence first.
“The western continent remains politically unstable,” he said casually while tossing the pen onto the table. “Several smaller kingdoms are already struggling against monster attacks.”
Dravith nodded once.
“And their military strength is pathetic.”
Selune lifted one hand slightly before swiping across the screen in front of her. Several new territories immediately appeared highlighted in red.
“If the Hunters Alliance expands now,” she said calmly, “we could establish control before other nations organize themselves.”
Velric’s brows slowly furrowed.
Control?
Nyxaris leaned back in his chair while crossing his arms.
“Our soldiers already protect most trade routes in this region anyway.”
“Exactly,” Varith added immediately. “People already rely on us.”
Tharos finally looked up from his documents.
“The Bureau Scouts also confirmed rising instability across the southern territories.”
He slid a file slowly across the table.
Several photographs spilled partially from the folder.
Destroyed villages.
Collapsed walls.
Monster attacks.
Fear.
Tharos tapped one finger lightly against the reports.
“They need protection.”
Velric narrowed his eyes slightly.
Protection.
That word sounded strangely heavy tonight.
Selune stood from her seat slowly before walking toward the large continental map projected across the chamber wall.
Her boots echoed softly against the polished floor.
“We stand at the center of the strongest military force on the continent,” she said while staring at the map. “The Hunters Alliance already possesses trained soldiers, advanced weapon production, scouting systems, and political influence.”
Dravith leaned forward slightly.
“And superior technology.”
Selune nodded once.
“Exactly.”
She raised her hand toward the map.
“What happens if we stop limiting ourselves to simple defense?”
Velric’s expression darkened immediately.
Ah.
Now he understood.
The room suddenly felt colder.
Varith smirked faintly while resting his chin against one hand.
“We establish something greater.”
Nyxaris slowly exhaled before speaking quietly.
“A unified empire.”
Silence filled the chamber for a moment.
Rain continued tapping softly against the windows.
Velric stared at them carefully.
Then finally spoke.
“You want to conquer foreign territories?”
Selune turned toward him calmly.
“We want order.”
“That is not the same thing.”
Dravith let out a rough chuckle.
“Professor, those regions are already collapsing. Half their rulers can barely defend a single city.”
“And your solution is force?”
“No,” Varith interrupted lazily. “Our solution is control.”
Velric’s jaw tightened slightly.
Selune walked slowly around the circular table while speaking.
“The Alliance protects humanity better than any kingdom currently alive.”
Her voice remained calm.
Controlled.
Dangerously calm.
“If weaker nations refuse cooperation,” she continued, “then we simply make the decision for them.”
Velric stared at her in disbelief.
“You’re talking about forcing people beneath Alliance rule.”
Nyxaris rubbed his forehead tiredly before speaking.
“Not necessarily through violence.”
“But violence if needed,” Velric answered immediately.
Nobody denied it.
That silence alone gave him his answer.
Velric slowly stepped forward.
His coat shifted lightly behind him as frustration appeared across his face.
“The Hunters Alliance was never created to rule people.”
Tharos finally looked toward him again.
Velric pointed toward the glowing Alliance emblem beneath them.
“The Four Great Hunters formed this organization to protect humanity from extinction.”
His voice grew sharper.
“Not to build an empire.”
Varith clicked his tongue softly.
“Times change.”
“No,” Velric answered firmly. “People do.”
The atmosphere in the chamber became tense immediately.
Even the rain outside seemed quieter now.
Selune crossed her arms calmly.
“You speak as if morality alone protects nations.”
“And you speak as if power gives you the right to own them.”
Dravith leaned back heavily in his chair before folding his large arms across his chest.
“You’re naive, Professor.”
Velric looked toward him sharply.
“And you’ve forgotten what this Alliance stands for.”
Nyxaris suddenly stood from his chair.
The movement drew everyone’s attention immediately.
Unlike the others, he didn’t look interested in arguing.
Only tired.
He moved toward the map slowly before stopping beside Selune.
“The monster attacks are increasing every year,” he said quietly. “Resources are disappearing. Smaller territories are failing.”
He looked toward Velric.
“If humanity remains divided forever, eventually we lose.”
Velric remained silent briefly.
Because part of that was true.
But still—
“There’s a difference between unity and domination.”
Varith laughed softly under his breath.
“Depends who wins.”
Velric’s expression hardened instantly.
The room fell quiet again.
Then Selune spoke once more.
“We are continuing preparations regardless.”
Velric looked toward her sharply.
“You’ve already decided?”
“Most of the council already agrees.”
A heavy feeling settled in Velric’s chest.
This meeting had never been a discussion.
It was confirmation.
Plans were already moving.
Tharos reached for another file before sliding it across the table carefully.
Several locations were circled across the continent map.
Future targets.
Velric stared at them.
Then slowly looked around the room again.
One by one.
Varith.
Dravith.
Selune.
Nyxaris.
Even Tharos remained silent now.
Only Velric stood opposing them.
Finally, he stepped backward slightly before speaking coldly.
“If the Four Great Hunters were alive today…”
Varith interrupted immediately.
“They’re dead.”
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Velric’s eyes narrowed.
Varith leaned forward slightly while resting both elbows against the table.
“And dead ideals don’t protect the future.”
The professor clenched his fists behind his back.
For a moment, he looked ready to argue again.
But then…
He stopped.
Because he realized something terrifying.
None of them intended to change their minds.
The Alliance was already shifting into something new.
Something dangerous.
Selune moved toward her chair again before sitting down calmly.
“We continue preparations discreetly,” she ordered. “No unnecessary leaks.”
Tharos nodded once.
“The scouts will monitor neighboring territories.”
“Good,” Selune answered.
Nyxaris glanced toward the battlefield reports still displayed on part of the screen.
“The outer defense zones remain unstable,” he muttered.
Dravith scoffed.
“They’ll survive.”
Velric looked toward the reports too.
Hundreds of soldiers were still fighting and dying beyond the barriers.
Yet here the council discussed conquest.
The thought disgusted him.
Without another word, Velric turned and walked toward the chamber doors.
His boots echoed sharply against the polished floor.
Nobody stopped him.
Until—
“Professor Velric.”
He paused.
Slowly turning his head.
Varith sat watching him carefully now.
The playful expression from earlier had vanished completely.
Only coldness remained.
Varith tapped his fingers lightly against the table before speaking.
“You should be careful spreading false rumors.”
Velric stared at him.
“I spoke facts.”
Varith smiled faintly.
“No.”
His voice lowered slightly.
“You spoke opinions.”
The room suddenly felt far colder than before.
Velric narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
After a few seconds, he finally pushed the chamber doors open and stepped outside.
The hallway beyond was quiet.
Too quiet.
The large doors slowly closed behind him with a deep metallic sound.
Velric stopped walking.
Then exhaled slowly.
His chest felt tight.
A thought lingered heavily in his mind.
The Alliance was changing.
And nobody outside this room even realized it yet.
Rain continued falling beyond the towering windows lining the hallway.
Velric moved toward one slowly before stopping beside the glass.
Far below, the enormous Alliance city glowed brightly beneath the stormy night sky.
Peaceful.
Unaware.
His reflection stared back at him faintly from the window.
Tired eyes.
Worried expression.
And deep down…
Fear.
Not fear of monsters.
Fear of people.
Suddenly—
A loud alarm echoed through the building.
Velric’s eyes widened slightly.
Several workers in the hallway immediately stopped moving.
Then another alarm followed.
Sharper this time.
Urgent.
A nearby soldier suddenly ran past the corridor while speaking into a communication device.
“What do you mean the eastern line disappeared?!”
Velric immediately turned around.
His heartbeat quickened.
The soldier continued running toward the emergency elevators.
“The entire squad lost contact!”
Velric stared after him silently.
Then slowly looked back toward the council chamber doors behind him.
Inside those walls, the council dreamed about ruling continents.
But outside?
Something far worse was already beginning.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElGaZ9rTYq
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