"Leave me alone, I'd like to enjoy my peace," the man said with a tired tone.
Glancing at the bottle that the woman took and put on the table, a spark of red lightning maneuvered over to it and yank the bottle back into his hand. In an instant, the man that many would recognize instantly as President Sebrof chugged the alcohol down his throat.
Seeing his condition, the woman can't help but feel helpless.
In a time of crisis such as this moment, the people in charge should be the ones that can keep their heads straight and find a way to deal with the problem. But from the looks of it, President Sebrof has no intention of doing that.
Just being in this nightclub shows that he was on the brink of collapsing already.
"I've gotten the official seat allocation that demands your signature, the signature is due in a couple of days," the woman who is his secretary said with a comforting tone. "President, you can't let this happen. I don't understand why are you being like this when the 25 Golden Crest Families are still on your side, you can still do something"
Upon hearing this, President Sebrof chuckled and chugged the alcohol again.
Around the evening of this day, the woman received an official document transfer which states that President Sebrof will transfer his position in the UWO to King John from the SCO, forcing the two organizations to fuse together.
Something like this shocks the woman, she didn't expect it in the least.
The woman always thought that President Sebrof is dealing with some important matters since he was absent for the last couple of days, but she then finds out that he was spending most of his time in the nightclub instead.
Out of everything, President Sebrof is not a person that regularly goes to a place like this.
Aside from his wife wouldn't probably like him going to this kind of place, he was also never a man that was fond of wasting time like this. So seeing him being like this, the woman felt uneasy.
"President, please, I know that you can still do something about this" the woman insisted.
But this makes President Sebrof glance at her with hazy eyes, he then reaches out his hand to hold the woman's shoulder, "I tried, but there's nothing that I can do. I'm stuck at the center, and my fate has already been sealed"
Upon hearing this, the woman bites her lower lip reluctantly.
It feels like she doesn't know a crucial part of the story that makes President Sebrof like this, and she was dying to know what it is that stripped President Sebrof's will to fight back. "The 25 Golden Crest Families, the Elpida Alliance, there must be something!"
With an underwhelming reaction, President Sebrof waved his hand.
"Stop it already, why do you think that you have that document in your hands?" He asked.
Glancing at the woman with hazy eyes, the corner of his mouth then curled up into a helpless smile. "As I'm the 'Leader' of humanity, the Executor arranged a duel between me and King John. It will be a battle to the death, and the winner will inherit the 'Leader' position"
"Of course, that's only a facade. The Executor will definitely make King John wins" He said.
"W-What...?" the woman gasped as she finally gain her hand on the missing piece.
Just when he was called into the Executor's castle, he was told about this. President Sebrof doesn't know how it came to this, but the Excecutor seems to be more fond of King John more than him.
It was clear from the way he spoke, he didn't even try to hide it.
Knowing the report about the Executor's fight against Rex, he knows that he would have no chance to defy the Executor. Heck, even Brigitta was turned into an errand girl despite having a ninth-rank realm power.
Now that she knows about this, she can't help but look at President Sebrof with pity.
As the supposed 'Leader' of humanity in one of the major cities of the Elpida Alliance, this is the burden he needs to bear. Despite knowing that he was bound to die, and despite the fact that he knew this beforehand, he wasn't able to simply avoid it and survive.
Doing so might risk the Executor's lethal hands being embedded more in the citizens.
President Sebrof recognizes that he's the most influential person in Ratmawati City, he's the main target to become the peak power in this city, so he needs to take responsibility for the situation by honoring the duel which would allow others to figure out a way to persevere.
Sensing the pity from the woman, he chuckled inwardly.
"Don't look at me like that. I know what's coming, my end will be death. But you on the other hand, you don't know what comes after my passing, so don't bother pitying me" President Sebrof said and chugs the alcohol until it was empty.
Upon hearing this, the woman agreed as the Executor's next move is unknown.
Reluctantly, the woman then looks down and clenched her fists on her lap tighter. In a trembling voice, she then said, "W-Why don't you get back to your wife, I'll make sure that y-you're not disturbed until the date of the duel"
"No, unlike me, she's kind, sincere, and soft. I don't want to see her cry before my death"
The woman simply nodded in understanding, her eyes began to be watery but she held it in and stands up. "Okay, I'll go and handle the paperwork in the office," she said before heading towards the door.
Just as her hand was about to reach the door, she stopped and hesitantly looks back.
"Maybe the others are blaming you for this, Lady Brigitta, Sir Denzel, and Lady Giana. But know that I don't, you're doing what you think was best to help humanity. I- I thank you for your service, President Sebrof" the woman said and bowed.
As she was about to leave, the door was suddenly pushed open.
President Sebrof glanced at the door before his eyes shot open when he saw about 8 Awakened enter the room, he was not expecting any visitors and definitely not expecting a meeting with these 8 Awakened.
Scanning the crowd, his eyes then landed on the man leading the crowd.
At the sight of this middle-aged man with tanned skin and white hair, wearing a white one-piece layered with a black trench coat President Sebrof immediately recognizes this man. "Cyrus, what is the meaning of this?"
Smiling lightly with a pliant expression, Cryus' eyes glowed white in response.
Even the woman that was pushed inside again was surprised when she heard the man's name, it's the first time she was seeing this man in person. 'I- It's the head family of the Macias Family, Cyrus Laureano Macias!'
President Sebrof look over to the other Awakened before a frown appear on his face.
Amongst the Awakened that abruptly enters the room, he somewhat recognizes some of them. But when their dense hidden aura was sensed by President Sebrof, his expression instantly darkens.
Each one of the Awakened inside the room is a ninth-rank realm Awakened!
"Cyrus, are you out of your mind?! If you bring Awakened from other major cities like this, then the Executor would have a reason to get back to their cities!" President Sebrof exclaimed in absolute shock.
But Cyrus didn't react that much, "No, Sebrof, this is the principle of must"
"If Ratmawati City falls to the Executor's hands, then the other major cities will be threatened. Our resources are too vast and too dangerous for them to be handed over to the Executor, and the other major cities also thought of the same thing" he added, his glowing white eyes brimming with resolve.
One of the Awakened, a muscular bearded man then steps forward.
Judging from the scar on his face that contains powerful lightning shows that this man is also a Lightning Elementalist, "I can't believe you are reduced to this state, Sebrof. Am I expecting too much from you to keep fighting until the end?"
"We're not going to let you die, Ratmawati City will keep standing" he added.
Upon hearing this, President Sebror covers his face with his hand, smiling while shaking his head in disbelief. Glancing to the side, he saw the woman's expression lightens up, and she was smiling all the way.
Despite the Executor's overwhelming power, the woman know now they had a chance.
Each one of the Awakened standing in this room is a legend in their own right, possessing war feats that would terrify any other Awakened, heroes of their own story. So with 8 of them gathered here, even the Executor wouldn't be able to take them out easily and will be forced to take them seriously.
After all, they are definitely a force to be reckoned with wherever they go.
"Really... I already accepted death and this happens" President Sebrof mutters to himself.
~
Meanwhile, the next day.
Rex has declined the Elves' convoy to meet with him as there's too much happening already and he has more important things to do, they rescheduled the meeting to a later date when the time is more appropriate.
Of course, Queen Shanaela didn't insist and apologized for disturbing him.
As the Dark Elves sent her a message to meet with the Silverstar Pack as soon as possible, Queen Shanalea decided to embark on the journey here without asking in advance, and that is why she apologized.
In the meantime, the Elves' convoys are going to be staying at the Dark Elf Kingdom.
For the sake of communication, Queen Shanaela left Hastios in Dargena City so that if Rex has finished attending to his matters then he could tell Hastios so that he can notify Queen Shanaela.
Now, Rex is inside the same room he used as his training room for his seclusion.
Since he was aiming for a breakthrough to the ninth-rank realm, propelling himself to a new height of power with the help of the mana stored inside Giana's spirit cores, he needs to prepare himself thoroughly.
The System told him that he needed to prepare before doing that.
Only those who have immense talent and unnatural gifts in their spirit cores/' durability can do a consecutive breakthrough. Even though Rex fulfilled that requirement, he still needs to prepare as the risk is quite high.
If his spirit core was overloaded and cracked, then he'll be injured for months.
Unlike physical scars that can be healed by his Werewolf bloodline, the spirit core is a completely different thing. So he needs to be careful, the last thing he wanted is to be injured.
Nothing is riskier than doing a consecutive breakthrough for an Awakened.
Rex follows the System's instruction in order to reach the necessary state to reach the ninth-rank realm, he consolidated his realm and also does a few spirit core exercises, breathing techniques, and meditation.
As he felt his foundation has gotten stronger, he nodded inwardly as he was ready.
"I told you that you can stay here inside the castle until the meeting with the Elves ended, but that doesn't mean you can disturb me while I'm in training" Rex suddenly said without opening his eyes.
Despite his eyes closed, he can sense that Calidora is inside the room, looking at him.
Even though he needs Calidora to cultivate his curse power, he wouldn't let her stay here. It's best that he was the one going to her instead of the other way around, Rex still doesn't trust Calidora.
But still, he finds that his mind is more at ease with Calidora here.
It's not that he was glad that she was here, but leaning more to the Eternal Curse effect.
"I've been sitting here in silence, I didn't disturb you at all" Calidora rebutted.
Rex sighs in annoyance, "Sitting right next to me and staring at the side of my face intently are considered disturbing. If you want to see me train, then go to the corner and stay there. Don't be near me"
As he said that, Rex opens his eyes before he frowns.
Glancing to the side, he saw that Delta is inside the room with them. She was laying on her stomach peacefully. Additionally, Calidora is leaning on her, and she doesn't seem to be hostile to her like earlier.
'I swear that Delta is hostile at her, how did it come to this state?' Rex thought in confusion.
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