"I have understood who this guild is," retorted the young female member, Miss Hartley, "however, I find it rather audacious of them to demand such a sum, especially in Jil!"
"How many members do they plan to send?" inquired the member who had suggested the evacuation of the population and the bombing of Damos.
"Mr. Rees, don't tell me you agree to pay such an amount!" exclaimed Miss Hartley.
"It is true that the Zion guild is known for its greed. But consider this: if their intervention can truly save our city, then the colossal sum they demand could be seen as an investment in the protection of our citizens, in preserving one of our country's most important metropolises," the man, Mr. Rees, retorted. "Mr. Tish, how many mages are they willing to provide us with?"
All eyes turned to Tish.
He seemed to hesitate before replying: "One."
"A group? How many exactly?" Rees asked again.
"One. Just one person..." Tachi replied, feeling the weight of his words as well.
"You're joking with us, Mr. Tish!" exclaimed one of the members, a woman, not Harley. "You've made us waste precious time for such a thing? Is the Zion guild mocking us?!"
"Please calm down, Mrs. Sui," Tish tried to appease. "It does seem unreasonable indeed, but believe me, it is not."
"Then explain yourself," intervened the man who had suggested calling upon the Senkai.
Once again, all attention turned to Tish.
He took a breath and said, "According to them, one of their agents is currently in the city. But that's not the only information. The agent in question is an S-rank mage."
"S?!" exclaimed a good portion of the assembly.
"Well, with that, everything makes sense," Rees said, nodding.
"Nevertheless," interjected Miss Hartley, "I still find the amount requested too high!"
The council members were divided between those who believed sacrificing such a sum was negligible compared to saving their city and those who felt deeply insulted by the idea of resorting to clandestine external forces to solve their problem.
Debates erupted, fueled by passionate discussions and fervent exchanges.
Voices mingled in the room, expressing opposing opinions with unmatched fervor.
Some argued that the salvation of the city should not be hindered by matters of pride and that such a sum was nothing compared to the devastating consequences of an uncontrolled invasion.
Others, however, remained firmly attached to the idea that their country's pride could not be tarnished by the aid of foreign forces.
In this simmering atmosphere of conflicting emotions, the final decision seemed out of reach. The council members seemed unable to find a consensus, locked in their deep convictions.
"Silence!"
It was at this moment that a thunderous voice resonated from the end of the meeting table, filling the entire room.
Immediately, the members fell silent, abruptly turning their gaze toward the source of the voice.
There stood the head of this meeting.
Until now, he had refrained from intervening, letting his collaborators exchange ideas.
It was none other than the chief of staff of the country's internal protection forces.
He sternly surveyed each member with his severe gaze.
His deep voice echoed in the room, imposing silence.
"Do I have collaborators at my table or debaters?" he declared with a voice imbued with unwavering authority. "One of our cities is currently suffering, and it is our responsibility to remedy it as soon as possible. Every second counts! While you fantasize, lives and property are being lost!"
A collective nod of acknowledgment escaped from the council members, recognizing the importance of his words.
The chief continued, their eyes riveted on him. "Mr. Tish." He turned to the man. "Please contact Zion, informing them that we accept their offer."
Murmurs of incomprehension and protest rose among the council members.
The chief raised his hand to silence them, his military grip accustomed to being respected.
"However, we will add a condition and also deploy Aramel from Senkai. Her abilities will be very useful, and she will ensure the effectiveness of the eradication task."
His words resonated in the room, filled with unwavering determination.
"Let us be clear, dear collaborators," he continued with a firm voice. "I will not tolerate a city under my responsibility being destroyed. Even if it means exhausting all our military resources, we will defend this metropolis to the end! Am I clear?"
Incredulous and perplexed looks crossed among the council members.
The chief concluded his speech with a hint of emotion in his voice. "Let us rid ourselves once and for all of these monsters and restore the honor of our country!"
Another Scene
A man stood on the edge of the building, dominating the scene with his imposing stature. Every strand of his silver hair seemed to shimmer under the moonlight.
His black suit exuded timeless elegance. His jacket was tailored with millimeter precision. His trousers boasted an impeccable cut.
His dark red eyes were like molten lava.
The nocturnal wind rustled his black coat. The folds of the fabric seemed to dance joyfully around him.
The once bustling streets of the city were now plunged into utter chaos.
Humanoid monsters, with deformed bodies and twisted limbs, wreaked havoc in every corner.
Their terrifying roars echoed in the atmosphere, lending a palpable tension to the air.
In the distance, emerging from imposing buildings like ancient giants, stood humanoid monsters of colossal size.
Their massive bodies mercilessly crushed everything around them, reducing to rubble the buildings that dared to stand in their way. Their empathy-deprived eyes gleamed with a malevolent light as they unleashed beastly roars, shaking the foundations of the city.
As the man still stood on the edge of the building, observing the scene below with intense concentration, a feminine voice reached him through the earpiece hidden under his left ear.
"The big shots of this country have agreed for you to intervene," the woman announced in a professional yet warm voice.
Zeref was slightly surprised by this news.
He did not expect the authorities to react so quickly to his offer of help.
Officials tended to be more cautious and wary when dealing with external elements.
"Really? It's surprising that things have been resolved so quickly," he said in a calm but slightly ironic tone.
The woman couldn't help but laugh, adding with a hint of mockery, "Well, they seem quite desperate. Believe it or not, they are even willing to double the amount I proposed to them on the condition that you agree to wear their outfit before operating, just to conceal the details about the one who will handle their crisis. Apparently, the authorities don't want anyone to think they've called upon a clandestine guild."
An amused smile formed on Zeref's face.
He suspected that the authorities would seek to protect their image by using his skills while maintaining their reputation intact.
It was a facet of politics he knew well.
"So be it," he said teasingly. "Otherwise, I admire these leaders' unconditional love for their country, willing to sacrifice their honor to protect their population."
The woman couldn't help but laugh even louder at this remark.
"Tell me, why did you want to intervene in this crisis?" she asked, suddenly curious.
In reality, it was Zeref who had asked her to offer the services of the guild to the authorities of this country.
Zeref took a short pause, pondering his response, before sharing his sincere motivation: "I want to become a symbol of hope. I want to show people that even in the darkest times, there is always a glimmer of hope. I want to be the hero who saves this world."
An ironic laughter slipped into the woman's voice as she responded, recalling with a hint of mockery his troubled past: "You? A symbol of hope? You were a criminal once, my dear. You have no credibility."
Zeref nodded.
"It is precisely because I have been on the other side of the room that I can become a credible symbol. I know the ins and outs of both worlds, and I know where the true value lies," he retorted.
The woman let out a tired sigh, having lost all interest in continuing the discussion.
"I don't care anyway. As long as you bring profit to the guild, that's all that matters."
The woman's cold words pierced through Zeref's earpiece, but he remained unfazed.
"You're right," Zeref said with a smile, "and that's exactly why I chose to work for you."
The woman couldn't help but let out a small amused chuckle. "Well, if you manage to complete this mission successfully, I promise you a bottle of whiskey. That whiskey you asked for once."
A mischievous gleam flashed in Zeref's eyes as he replied in a playful tone, "Then prepare the bottle already."
Without waiting any longer, the woman hung up, thus ending their conversation.
Zeref found himself alone, the sounds of the city echoing around him.
The warm wind blew, ruffling his hair.