Chapter 254: The Grand Strategy Meeting

Chapter 254: The Grand Strategy Meeting



Back in the grand hall, Alister stood before Lady Aiko, close to a table where the remaining members of the White Comet gathered for the event, all waiting for the Union branch director to start the strategy meeting.

She adjusted her glasses as she gazed at Alister skeptically, proceeding to ask, "Where have you been, and what were you doing?"

Alister paused for a moment, locking his eyes with Lady Aiko's. He let out a sigh before saying, "I was having a chat with the Berserkers' Guild Master."

His words caused Lady Aiko to narrow her gaze slightly, her eyes becoming somewhat intense as she asked, "What were you talking about?"

Alister waited for a moment before he spoke in a slightly serious tone, "That I would prefer to keep to myself, if you don't mind."

Lady Aiko felt slightly insulted by his tone and wanted to say something when Yuuto called out to her.

"Enough with that, Aiko. The branch director is already climbing the stage."

Redirecting her gaze toward the center of the massive grand hall, she saw an elevated platform, perhaps three to four feet above the ground level.

As the branch director climbed, all the other lights in the grand hall dimmed, and only a couple of white lights were pointed at the branch director as he ascended the stage.

As Aethel approached the podium, his presence drew everyone's attention. Dressed in a tailored suit that blended seamlessly with his mescular frame.

"These incidents, occurring predominantly in the outer ring, have created an atmosphere of fear. While I recognize the complexity of these investigations, the lack of progress is troubling."

The room was silent as Aethel's words seemed to hang in the air.

"We cannot afford to continue down this path. The reputation of our guilds is on the line, and more importantly, the safety and well-being of our citizens depend on our collective actions."

He pointed to a series of holo-graphs detailing the specific cases of drained victims. "These individuals were found without a single wound yet completely devoid of blood and mana." "It raises questions about the nature of the threats we are facing. We must demand accountability and urge our guilds to expedite their investigations. Lives are at stake." The members shifted uneasily, some taking notes while others whispered among themselves. Aethel then projected a series of graphs illustrating the rise in prices for food and essential items, showing a steep upward trend. "The economic impact of these failures is profound." "Our citizens are suffering from inflated prices, leading to dissatisfaction and unrest. If we do not address the underlying issues, we risk further destabilizing our city."

"We need a coordinated response from all sectors. We the Union will enforce stricter regulations and oversight, particularly in areas where the guilds have demonstrated shortcomings."

He looked around the room, gauging the reactions of the attendees. "I urge each guild to reevaluate their strategies and improve their response times. I expect to see detailed reports on the measures you plan to implement to counteract these challenges. We need to strengthen our defenses against external threats and foster a safer environment for our citizens."

With a calm yet resolute tone, Aethel then added, "We cannot continue to shift blame or evade responsibility. The time for action is now. Each guild must come together to share

intelligence."

"It is imperative that we collaborate, leveraging our unique strengths to combat the rising tide of crime and chaos that threatens our city."

He concluded, "I trust that we can all agree on the importance of this mission. Let us not only protect our interests but also honor our duty to the people we serve."

"I am counting on each of you to take these concerns to heart and return with actionable plans. We will reconvene in one month to assess our progress. Together, we can create a better future for Megacity I."