The meeting took place in the ruins of an old government building, half-collapsed but still standing. Isaac, Nyla, and a few key members of their team sat across from the military council, their faces lined with the weight of their own struggles.
The leader of the council, a stern woman named General Maren, eyed Isaac with suspicion.
"We know who you are, Isaac Hargrave," she said coldly. "The man who nearly destroyed the world. And now you expect us to trust you?"
Isaac didn't flinch. He had anticipated this. He knew that his reputation would precede him, but he also knew that their survival depended on cooperation.
"I don't expect you to trust me," Isaac replied, his voice steady. "But I can help you. The old systems are gone, and centralized control is no longer an option. The world needs a decentralized network—one that no single entity can dominate. It's the only way forward."
General Maren studied him for a long moment before responding.
"You want us to rebuild, but you've given us no guarantees. How do we know this isn't another one of your grand experiments?"
Nyla stepped in. "We're not here to control anything. We're offering a way to connect people, to restore order. But we need your help. If we don't work together, these rogue factions will tear the world apart before we can save it."
The room fell silent. The council exchanged glances, weighing their options.
Finally, General Maren spoke. "We'll give you what you need—supplies, protection—but in return, we want something from you."
Isaac nodded. "What do you need?"
Maren's eyes were hard as she answered. "We need you to eliminate the rogue factions that threaten our stability. If we're going to survive, we can't have chaos at our borders."
Isaac hesitated. He had wanted to focus on rebuilding, not becoming a weapon in someone else's war. But he also knew that without the council's support, their work would be doomed.
"I'll help," Isaac said quietly. "But we do it on our terms."
Maren nodded. "Then we have a deal."