Alex admired this type of person. Since the catastrophe began, most people hadn't even had time to think. For someone to manage all of this in such a short time proved he was both brave and a natural-born leader.
"Alright, everyone. I'll go in with Mike, Terry, and Joanna. The four of us have unique abilities that allow us to handle various threats inside. My younger brother, Philip, will take over leadership in my absence, with Jon Emond as his deputy," Henry announced.
Jon and Alex were both surprised. Alex knew his close friend well—Jon was never the type to seek the spotlight. But given Henry's instructions, no one seemed opposed. Apparently, Jon hadn't told Alex everything. The respect the others showed indicated that they had recognized Jon's abilities, making Alex curious about what exactly those abilities were.
Henry approached with a slightly shorter young man who shared his golden hair and similar features. He looked like a smaller, younger version of Henry.
"Jon, you'll be Philip's deputy. I trust you to help lead the group alongside my brother," Henry said with an unyielding tone that allowed no objections, as if his words were absolute law. When Alex looked at him, he felt a rare sense of danger radiating from Henry. No one else had ever given him that impression.
Henry noticed Alex's gaze and sized him up, taking particular interest in the blood sword in his hand, which now looked like solid metal. He seemed to be guessing at Alex's abilities.
"You must be Jon's friend. Any friend of Jon's is a friend of mine. Welcome to our group," Henry said, extending his hand to Alex. His words carried a clear message: as long as you're with my group, you're under my leadership.
"Thanks, I'm Alex. I'd like to join you in entering the tower. My abilities are strong, and I think I can help," Alex replied, shaking Henry's hand. He appreciated directness, so he went straight to the point. He was curious about what was inside the building and wanted to confirm a few of his suspicions.
Henry frowned slightly at Alex's response. He hadn't planned on adding a potential wildcard to his team. But the aura Alex gave off was powerful; he seemed to be a serious person, not one to take lightly. After a few moments of thought, Henry made his decision.
"Alright, I welcome you, but you'll need to follow my orders once we're inside. Otherwise, you can't come along," Henry said firmly, meeting Alex's gaze directly. Any hesitation or refusal would've meant Alex couldn't join.
"Fine, you're the leader. But if we face any unexpected threats, I reserve the right to act independently," Alex replied. He understood the importance of a well-coordinated team but prioritized his survival. If the team wasn't capable, he'd act alone.
"Alright then. Let me introduce you to the team. We need to set up a plan before going in—we can't just charge in randomly," Henry agreed, moving toward a group of his companions gathered near the entrance. Alex, Jon, and Henry's younger brother followed him.
In front of the entrance stood three people—two men and a woman. One of the men had dark skin and an athletic build, like a basketball player, standing nearly as tall as Henry. Beside him was a young man in his early twenties, dressed formally with glasses and black hair. The woman wore a black dress with a dark scarf, creating a striking look, especially with her dark skin and black attire—a perfect combination.
"Everyone, this is Alex. He'll be joining us. Now, let's each give a brief introduction of our abilities so that we're all aware of each other's strengths," Henry said to the group.