Chapter 46: Chapter 46: System's Crossroads

Lucien rushed out of the office, leaving Varick and the young soldier looking at each other with uncertainty.

As Lucien hurried through the complex's corridors, his mind frantically reviewed recent events. The Locus attack, the lives lost, Marcus's decapitated body found without his 'drops' after the attack, and now Elio in the hands of Von Varen and the families

¿Could have Elio taken the cores? But that would go against what he has seen from Elio's behavior, something was missing...

"Hold on, Elio," he muttered to himself as he descended the stairs to the street. "I won't let them harm you. Not after what your father did for me."

The streets still showed signs of the recent battle. Lucien advanced with determination, his presence causing people to respectfully part from his path. Some looked at him with hope, others with trepidation, but all recognized the power he wielded.

As he approached the imposing families' building, Lucien felt the tension growing in his chest. The structure loomed before him, its white stone walls seeming to mock his urgency with their impassivity.

As he climbed the steps of the families' building, Lucien raised a silent prayer. Not to a god, the system, or a higher force, but to the memory of Farbe Elian.

"Give me strength, old friend," he whispered. "Together we're going to protect your son. It's time to leave behind peaceful methods and force real change from these old rotten fools."

♢♢♢♢

Several hours earlier, Varen carried Elio's unconscious body. The families' complex rose before him, its tall walls of indestructible white stone a testament to their status. Varen headed for a less frequented side entrance to avoid curious glances.

Through the corridors of the privileged families' complex, as he walked, Varen couldn't help but feel a pang of remorse.

Estin leaned forward, his bony fingers interlacing on the table. "What if we conduct another conscription? Arming another 5 to 10 thousand level 3 soldiers could be beneficial. Lucien's strategy, as much as it irks me to admit it, seems to be effective."

"Moreover," added Kairos, his voice dropping to an almost conspiratorial tone, "if what you showed me is true, grandfather, the 'Limit of God's City' is almost reached. It's inevitable that we start getting rid of... 'useless lives'."

A heavy silence fell over the room at these words. The elders looked at each other, the gravity of what they were considering reflected in their eyes.

Finally, Mordred spoke, his voice cracked by age but firm in his resolution: "The mana cost would be higher, both to invest and maintain. But our mana balance is considerable. We have been... conservative with our resources, but the advantages are evident."

"Besides," Mordred continued, "In the end, the result will always be the same, God's will is inevitable. If we manage to normalize the sacrifice, then we'll ensure that the city lives at least 1000 years."

Estin nodded slowly, his face a mask of cold calculation. "Yes, it could work. But we must be cautious. Lucien won't be long in coming to stick his nose in our business, as always."

"Speaking of Lucien," Kairos intervened, "how are we going to handle his inevitable intrusion? Knowing his temper, he won't be long in coming to demand explanations for the latest increase in breaches."

Mordred was about to respond when the doors of the room burst open. The elder, assuming it was Lucien, snapped irritably:

"Lucien! How many times do we have to tell you not to interrupt our meetings like this? Your lack of respect for protocols is..."

But the words died in his throat when he saw it wasn't Lucien who had entered, but Von Varen, carrying an unconscious young man over his shoulder.

"My apologies for the intrusion, honorable elders," said Von Varen, his voice laden with urgency. "But I bring news that can't wait."