The Author's POV

"Are you here to kill time, or do you intend to declare war on us directly?"

"I wonder about that..."

"Don't feign ignorance."

It was the sound of Octavious and Hemlock's voices that roused me awake.

When I opened my eyes, I noticed that the scene was continuing to unfold exactly as it had been when I had closed them.

I lowered my head to check the time.

'Only two minutes have passed.'

I was surprised to see that not much time had passed since I had activated Monarch's Indifference and that the scene had not changed much since I had left.

'You'll find out in due time.'

These were the words that Kevin told me before ending the connection.

What did they mean? ...I didn't know. There were so many questions that I had, yet at the same time, had no one to answer them.

Whatever was happening was fucked up.

All this secrecy bullshit, I was fucking tired of it.

'In the end, I'm still probably not strong enough.'

I silently clenched my fist under the table. All it took was a deep breath to calm my nerves down.

There was something else that needed my immediate attention at the moment.

"I don't get it; why are you people willing to throw away your lives in such a reckless way? Do you have any idea how formidable the Demon King really is? Do you honestly believe that you have even the smallest chance of beating him?"

"What I'm doing is for the good of humanity, which you guys are unwilling to acknowledge. I have already spoken with the Demon King, and he has promised me that if we choose to submit to him, he will provide us with a land where we can survive in the future."

"Why must we waste so many lives when the solution is right in front of us? Are you really willing to let our race go extinct?"

The air resounded with Hemlock's voice. His voice had a peculiar allure that briefly hypnotized me, but I was able to quickly shake off the effect and my gaze fell on Octavious.

For some reason, Octavious was strangely calm.

Even stranger was the fact that he appeared to be quietly listening to Hemlock's voice without any hints of rage or impatience.

The Octavious that I was familiar with would have almost certainly put an end to Hemlock's life right then and there; however, for some inexplicable reason, he had remained perfectly still the entire time.

For some strange reason, it appeared as if they were both stalling for time.

'It can't be right?'

Another ridiculous notion occurred to me, and I turned my attention to the direction in which Octavious was sitting.

'What exactly are you planning?'

"You seem to be waiting for something."

"I am―"

sentence. The expressions of the other people in the room began to shift at the same time that the muffled sound of explosions began to reverberate in the

"What's going on?"

"What's happening?"

might have anticipated it would as a result of the unexpected situation; however, it was obvious that the people present weren't exactly

no one was able to communicate with the outside world

There is no cause for concern. I will provide everyone present with

able to

some people would have already exited the building to see what

head to look at Hemlock, who was seated on his chair with a

you have

right eyebrow twitched slightly in

"I believe so too."

fact that he appeared to be

he had not expected Everblood to go as far as blowing up half

actions weren't

Tap. Tap. Tap.

me for

Thud―!

turned to look at him, they discovered to their shock that his figure had

"He's left."

voice echoed beside

great deal transpired in the span of a few minutes, and it was unavoidable that everyone would be a little unnerved by

do you think the

her head raised to look up at

glanced at her from the corner of my eyes and shrugged

I've been trapped in this room the entire time, if you want to ask someone,

nudged in Octavious's direction with my head and Monica's head turned to gaze in

at him. From a glance, I could count more than ten of the people in the room already staring in his general

tense, and before

something about the situation, don't

in the chair directly to his left, was the first person to comment. A smattering of solemnity

of what is going on. I'm sure you haven't forgotten what you said,

crossed and wearing a tight black suit, his basketball-sized muscles were accentuated by his attire, which seemed to be a size too

the room's occupants made him extremely intimidating. In fact, he appeared quite comical seated

Jordan, the new 7th

extremely oppressive, with the people around him put in a somewhat

seem to be intimidated by Hemlock, his gaze remaining firm throughout the entire

do or say anything. Then again, he

with an explanation, and I will.

the room

his fingers together, Octavious

stated that I wanted to discuss two topics with you guys

something about

Krala was the one to speak this

in her chair with her legs crossed and her glossy red hair falling over her shoulder, Ivana's disposition

the color of her pupils, which were yellow like Liam's, added

stand out from the others were, in fact, her pupils, which

elbow, she smiled, exposing her

brief us on how the alliance is going to work before finally getting to the main