—July 5th, 2032 | 1 Hour Before Before the Negotiation Meeting | 2 Days Until the Rapture—
"Here's where you will live for the next three days." Evalyn said, leading everyone into a massive residential mansion built from rich dark woods, "And after if you choose to become a citizen."
"Can I ask you a question?" A beautiful brunette soldier with a straight ponytail asked inside the main living room.
It was Sandra Miles, the female special forces leader.
The soldiers shushed down. No one wanted to ask questions because they understood they could get wiped out by making a single mistake. So they cringed and awaited the blonde's reply.
"Go ahead." Evalyn nodded cordially.
"Mr. Lexicon knew what was coming." Sandra alleged, fighting past her beating heart, "So you planned all of this. I want to know why."
Everyone gasped, fearful that her blunt question would trigger immediate sanctions from the emotionless blonde.
"We're facing hell, and you're all valuable." Evalyn replied without hesitation, shocking everyone, "So instead of letting talent die, Kaze offered you power and security through citizenship."
"When you say [citizenship], do you mean equal or second-class citizens?" Sandra asked discerningly, making other people grimace.
"Immortal Skye organizes by talent alone." The blonde explained, "So once you've proven yourself trustworthy and become citizens, you will likely earn more privileges than average members."
Mixed emotions spread through the room. On one side, they were glad to hear they got offered full citizenship, letting them know they wouldn't be second-class citizens. However—
"How will we prove ourselves trustworthy?" The brunette asked coldly.
"You will remain in this mansion during Malta's attack on Immortal Skye." Evalyn replied, "And you will not betray us or break our national security rules."
Everyone was confused and whispered among themselves, trying to validate her words.
"You're not asking us to fight?" Sandra asked in bewilderment, "Not only that, you're asking we do the opposite?"
"Requiring it." The blonde clarified, "We care if you're trustworthy and won't betray us, not your loyalty.
Your aid is unnecessary, so we don't want competent people emotionally driven to betray us in a position to cause issues unless necessary." fr(e)ewebnovel
The soldiers stared at her blankly. Countless things were puzzling about what she had just said.
"Are you saying you're confident you can face the Maltian military head-on with the forces you have?" Sandra asked with mixed emotions.
"I'm confident Kaze alone can face the entire Malta military." Evalyn replied firmly.
Her voice's lack of hesitation or wavering chilled everyone to the bones. It sounded like she spoke from experience, which horrified them.
"Join us, and you will prosper." The blonde declared, "Give us your long-term potential, and we'll give you power, security, and wealth without requiring you betray your current country. "
All the soldiers smiled wryly, feeling the desire to be happy but having their emotions crash into their loyalties and obligations.
"I have to get the other groups, so don't leave this mansion or try to contact the outside world." Evalyn ordered ominously, "A single leak threatens the lives of 3,750 people.
Since there are 500 of you, Crux will kill everyone in this mansion if we uncover an organized effort to leak information.
So if you seek life, I suggest you do anything it takes to prevent people from breaking the rules."
A spider web of anxiety-driven negative synesthesia connected all the soldiers who heard her words and watched her walk away, leaving the mansion.
…
"Brad! You're here!" A woman cried, running up to the athlete, "Why did we hear screaming? What's going on!?"
The regular members could hear the mass panic and screaming from the amphitheater earlier and watched downcast soldiers moving to the mansions.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, getting his story straight.
"General Michaels and Coronel Ryker betrayed Malta to expose a plot to invade Immortal Skye." Brad lied boldly.
Everyone in the area gasped in shock, shaking nervously.
"Thankfully, they know that attacking Kaze is suicide." He continued, "So they exposed the plot, saving our lives in a surprise attack in exchange for living here. freewebn ovel.com
They want to be a resource to the country and build our strength, making us even more unstoppable.
Some soldiers didn't like that, but we stopped them with ease. Now, Kaze and Evalyn are negotiating with the military members."
The athlete cringed internally, understanding how ridiculously sales-like his words were. It was unnatural to speak that way, and he imagined he'd be found out.
However, thankfully, the words spoke for themselves.
Unfortunately, that wasn't necessarily a positive thing.
"Wait, did the Emperor say yes?" A woman asked with a beating heart.
"Yes." Brad confirmed, "However, he only did so because there is an equal number of female military members and the soldiers agreed to supervision."
He preemptively addressed a significant point, but it still pushed everyone's minds to the edge.
There were now three points of extreme conflict crashing into each other simultaneously.
Malta was planning an attack on Immortal Skye.
Faction members' families couldn't join Immortal Skye, but random soldiers were.
Soon, elite soldiers who still triggered feelings of powerlessness within the members would surround them soon.
Yet you're asking people to calm down? Are you insane, bitch?"
"Tell me, Haiden." The black-haired pixie scoffed, "What should we do?
Do you want to go against the Emperor's orders and end up on the outside?"
The woman scoffed, whipping her curly ponytail to the side. "No, I don't want to rush out and break the rules! I'm not an idiot.
That's not the issue here. We need to worry about our security!"
"Security?" Victoria laugh-scoffed, "Are you saying that we should go fight this invisible war you're implying is transpiring? Or threaten our security by breaking the rules?"
"You're disgustingly naive." Haiden scoffed in annoyance, "We can't; that's the issue!
Sure, a few of us have left after taking other jobs, but the rest of us? We're on our own.
There's something major going on right now. Where's the person sent to let us know what's happening? Hmmm?
People are getting hurt. Where's our security? Hmmm?
What will we do if our daily rations don't show up tomorrow?
We're totally fucked, Victoria. I'm not stupid enough to say people should break the rules, but I'm also not stupid enough to believe that standing around will always be the best option!"
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