Chapter 181: Project Calamity

Chapter 181: Project CalamityThe aces of the agency were sitting around the sleek conference table, and at the head of the table stood Don Tiberius Leonidas, the man whose name commanded fear and respect across the continent.

Leonidas radiated power, his gold hair flowing down his back like a lion's mane. Rings adorned his fingers, their intricate designs catching the light with every subtle motion.

His piercing blue eyes were set in a face as sharp as a blade, and his perfectly tailored black suit, trimmed with gold accents, further emphasized his leader aura.

When he spoke, his voice was smooth, calm, and unnervingly authoritative.

"There are rare moments," he began, sitting slowly on his chair, "when an agency's strongest assets come together. These moments are not just for strategy, they are a statement. A declaration of power. And your presence here today is no exception."

His gaze swept across the room, pausing briefly on each of the assembled fighters.

"It is vital that an agency does more than wield strength. It must unite it. Public confidence rises when the elite stand together. Sponsors line up. Recruits flood in. Rivals... hesitate. You represent Infinite Twilight at its peak."

Despite the weight of his words, the reactions around the room varied wildly.

The young boy with bright orange hair, Sikver, was already losing his battle against sleep.

He slouched further into his chair, his head nodding forward before jerking back, eyelids fluttering as he fought to stay awake. S~eaʀᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Nyx, her dark eyes half-lidded, tapped her fingers rhythmically against the table, her gaze wandering lazily to the elaborate carvings on the ceiling.

Iris, her gum snapping softly in the silence, casually inspected her nails, her expression indifferent, as if the meeting was a minor inconvenience.

Finn, the teenager with short yellow hair, smirked as he scrolled through his phone, clearly absorbed in whatever entertained him more than the room's tension.

By contrast, Sia sat upright, her sharp gaze locked onto Leonidas, her focus unwavering.

Beside her, Devak leaned forward slightly, his fiery red hair catching the light as he watched in silence.

Even Arin, her round glasses reflecting the overhead lights, adjusted them slightly as her composed expression remained on Leonidas.

Leonidas continued, his tone cold and measured.

"Our agenda today includes discussions on recent matches, resource allocation, and updates to the roster for the upcoming team battles."

He paused, his sharp gaze snapping to Nyx, whose fingers froze mid-tap.

"This is a pivotal moment for us... but let's not waste time pretending this bullshit is some morale-boosting lecture."

Suddenly, he slammed his fist onto the table, the sound reverberating through the room.

Silver jolted awake, blinking rapidly, his orange hair sticking up awkwardly as he glanced around in confusion.

Nyx straightened in her seat, startled, while Iris let out an annoyed click of her tongue, her gum popping loudly.

Finn flinched slightly, dropping his phone onto the table, muttering under his breath as he hastily grabbed it.

Leonidas' tone sharpened, cutting through the silence like a blade.

"What matters," he said, his voice resonating rising, "is where we stand on Project Calamity."

The atmosphere shifted abruptly at the mention of the project. The casual postures of the room faded as tension filled the air.

Leonidas' piercing gaze swept over the group, his commanding presence bearing down on them.

His eyes settled on Sia.

"Report."

Sia uncrossed her arms, leaning forward slightly, her expression unreadable.

"There's been no progress," she said plainly. "I'm still adapting to Nivalys. I can barely manage beastification, let alone consider another beast. Even if I succeed, I wouldn't be able to assimilate anything else right now."

Leonidas' gaze shifted to Nyx, who sighed and shrugged.

"I've been focused on training for the national league," she said, her tone slightly annoyed. "If you want me to drop everything to chase invisible beasts, fine, but don't expect miracles

later."

Silver yawned loudly before sitting up straighter, scratching the back of his head.

"I've been trying," he said, his voice groggy. "No luck. I'll just waste time if I keep looking for something that doesn't want to be found."

Devak spoke next, his tone calm but tinged with frustration.

"I have no excuses," he admitted. "I've searched everywhere, but it's impossible to locate them. Frankly, I'm starting to question if this 'Ice Calamity' isn't a joke."

Leonidas' gaze turned to Arin, who met it without flinching.

"Sadly for you, your lack of results isn't on me. The beasts are unique," she said evenly, her voice steady. "That makes them infinitely rare. It's not a lack of expertise, it's the nature of what we're hunting. And if you doubt my abilities, what's about showing your strongest beast and I tell everyone what are its skills?"

One by one, the excuses filled the room. As the last words hung in the air, Leonidas slammed his hand onto the table again, the force of it silencing the room instantly.

"Incompetence," he growled, his blue eyes blazing. "You are the best this agency has to offer, yet you can't manage a single successful hunt? Unacceptable."

He straightened, his golden hair catching the light as his voice rose, cold and commanding.

"You've all been chosen because you are supposed to be our best. The very best. Yet here you sit, parading your excuses like failures masquerading as aces."

The room fell silent under his glare, his words cutting deep as he loomed over them.

"Let me make one thing clear," he continued, his tone like ice. "I don't care about your setbacks. I care about results. Find these beasts. Prove to me you're worthy of the title you carry, or don't bother coming back."

The room remained steeped in tension. The aces exchanged brief glances, their expressions a mixture of frustration and uncertainty.

Finally, Nyx broke the silence. She took a deep breath, her tone calm but edged with

politeness.

"Don Leonidas," she said carefully, "why are you so certain these beasts even exist? What makes them worth the effort if no one has even seen them? Maybe Sia's case has another

explanation?"

The silence that followed was suffocating. Every eye turned toward Nyx, and even her usual confidence seemed to falter under the weight of their gazes.

It was as though she had just uttered the stupidest thing possible, and leonidas' gaze admitted it already.