Sometimes, running away isn't the worst choice.
As a great leader once put it: strategic retreat.
But Chicago isn't infinite. The city is encircled by six military defense bases, with a combined troop strength of at least 30,000. Unless you plan to leave Chicago altogether, sooner or later, you'll have to face the problem head-on.
Mary glanced at Miles with a trace of surprise, a faint smile curling her lips. "I thought you'd choose the former. After all, with the resources you hold, you could live comfortably anywhere."
"If you'd asked me two weeks ago, I probably would've." Miles chuckled lightly. "To be honest, this villa alone is enough to keep me safe as long as no missile strikes come my way."
Mary said nothing, her gaze shifting briefly to the incredibly complex front gate.
"But things are different now."
Miles rose and walked to the window, his eyes fixed on the towering wind turbine that stretched over twenty meters high. "This place is my home. It bears the mark of my efforts. If I can't even hold on to my home, then what's the point of surviving?"
"Since you've decided to stay, let's focus on the issue at hand." Mary pulled a few blueprints from her pocket and spread them on the table. "Right now, we have two paths to choose from."
"Go on," Miles said, his gaze falling on the plans before nodding.
"First: destroy the Southwest Base." Mary's voice was sharp and resolute. "The six defense bases in Chicago are all connected behind the scenes. If we take down the Cody family, the other factions will think twice before coming after us. At least for a while, we'll have the breathing room to grow stronger."
"Are you talking about magic?" Miles retorted, rolling his eyes. "With our current strength, what do you expect us to fight with? You think I'm invincible?"
"Then the only other option is the second path."
Mary's expression remained cool as she crossed her arms. "Surrender."
Miles laughed bitterly. "Surrender because we can't win?"
"Exactly. What other choice do you have?"
Mary's voice turned colder. "The fact that they attacked means your information has already been leaked. Though it's likely they don't have the full picture yet. If you surrender now, there's a chance you could secure a decent position for yourself."
"Cut the nonsense."
Miles waved his hand dismissively, his tone firm. "They must already know I hold those supplies. But because I'm an esper, they sent a small team to test the waters. If I surrender, my future is either as a pawn or a caged asset. Neither of those options is acceptable to me!"
Mary's words turned sharp. "You want to be a hero, but you don't want to suffer or sacrifice anything? Where in the world does such a dream exist?"
Miles paused, stung by her bluntness. After a moment of silence, he spoke. "What if I choose the first option? Then I'll need your help, my dear strategist!"
"Pfft…"
Lisa, who had just bitten into a cherry, nearly spat it out, laughing as she teased, "My love, you really know how to bend and stretch when needed."
Mary shot Miles an unimpressed look, though she stifled a chuckle. "Didn't someone once say, 'The world doesn't stop turning just because of me'?"
"Who said that?"
Miles stood, placing his hands on his hips as he scanned the room. "Whoever said that, I'll make them understand what modern technology is capable of!"
"If you're determined to fight," Mary continued, her tone regaining its seriousness, "this isn't something we can decide between the two of us. You'll need to hear what everyone else thinks."
Miles grinned. "Stick and carrot, then?"
"Perhaps you'll also need a set of chains," she quipped.
…
Across the street, the villa that now served as the security team's headquarters buzzed with activity.
Ryan, Isaac, and the others had all gathered, joined by a bandaged and crutch-supported Ansel, who had insisted on attending.
"Ansel!"
Miles rubbed his temples at the sight of him. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Anthony, standing nearby, chuckled and flicked Ansel on the forehead. "This is a high-level meeting. What are you doing here?"
"Screw you!" Ansel straightened his neck, his dark face full of defiance. "I've carried guns for the boss, taken bullets, and even worked as Mary's lackey—"
Before he could finish, a sharp glare from Mary silenced him. Hastily, he changed his tune, grinning apologetically. "I misspoke, Mary. My bad!"
"One day, I swear I'll shut that mouth of yours for good," Miles muttered before turning back to the group. "Alright, let's get to business. Yesterday's attackers may have been wiped out, but this is just the beginning. We now face two choices: surrender or relocate. What are your thoughts?"
"Where would we move to?" Nathan asked.
Ryan frowned. "If this were before, I'd say fine, we pack up and leave. But now we've built something here. Walking away just feels… wasteful."
Since Mary's arrival, Cloud City had undergone a transformation.
The protective fences, wind turbines, and fortified walls were all testaments to the progress they'd made. Without these, yesterday's battle could have ended very differently.
Isaac pondered for a moment before speaking. "Where would we even go? Chicago is a complicated place. Even if we move, we'll be discovered again sooner or later."
The room buzzed with discussion, everyone offering their thoughts—except for Thomas, who remained silent throughout.
"Alright, enough talking," Miles said, clapping his hands to regain control of the room. "Here's my stance: if friends come, we welcome them with good wine. If enemies come, they'll meet our guns."
Thomas, his expression unreadable, asked plainly, "So, you're saying we fight?"
"If we don't fight now, we'll fight later. And if we don't fight, someone else will fight us," Mary interjected, stepping forward. "The wind turbine is complete and will be operational soon. Leaving now would render all our previous efforts meaningless."
Thomas didn't respond, though his silence spoke volumes. The resources at stake were Miles's—if lost, it was Miles's loss.
Anthony's face betrayed a similar thought.
Miles glanced at them both, his tone calm but firm. "I've made my position clear. If anyone has objections, now's the time to speak. Whether we fight or flee, I won't force anyone."
"I'm not leaving!" Ansel was the first to speak, his voice full of bravado. "Let those bastards come. I'll take them down one by one!"
Ryan grinned. "I don't need to say much. Whatever you decide, I'm with you."
Nathan hesitated, glancing at Isaac, who finally broke his silence. "As I've said before, there's nowhere to run. If we can't avoid this, we might as well face it head-on."
"Then we fight!" Nathan declared, his voice firm. "The Southwest Base may outnumber us, but with Cloud City's defenses, we've got a chance."
The room fell silent, the weight of the decision sinking in.
Miles turned his gaze to Thomas, who hesitated briefly before smiling. "If everyone wants to fight, then we fight. I have no objections."
Anthony sighed deeply. "We just started enjoying some peace, and now this? Damn it all."