The lord of life and death

In a room high within Walter City, the slanted glass panel on the north side provided a sweeping view of the world outside. The sleek, dark surfaces inside contrasted with the brightness beyond the window, making the room feel both imposing and open. At its center, a red crystal table stood on a raised platform, surrounded by seven chairs—three on the east, three on the west, and a single prominent one at the north end, near the glass.

All but the northern chair were occupied. The person meant to sit there stood beside it, his posture calm but his presence commanding. The glass behind him reflected the city's vast skyline, amplifying the tension in the room.

The door on the southern side remained closed, further sealing the group within the high chamber. 

A man seated on the west side, in the middle chair, broke the silence. He had striking features: a Middle Eastern face, eyes like ruby-colored cat's eyes, and dark red hair. His black suit was immaculately tailored, but his tone, though polite, carried the weight of authority. "Secretary Jose," he said, his gaze narrowing, "where is Lord Martin? He should be present for this meeting. We've completely lost control of the factory floor."

Though his words were measured, the tension beneath them was unmistakable. His face remained expressionless, betraying no emotion, yet the gravity of the situation was clear—something was deeply wrong, and he was expecting answers.

A woman with golden hair and equally golden eyes, seated beside him and closer to the door, added, "Yes, only Lord Martin can help us navigate this crisis." Her voice carried a sense of urgency, her gaze flickering between the others at the table. Behind them, the murmurs of agreement grew louder as the occupants of the seven chairs echoed their concerns, with some even shouting in frustration.

Suddenly, a gentle tap sounded on the red crystal table, and the room fell into complete silence. Everyone shouting froze, their movements halted, like statues frozen in time. Only their eyes moved, wide with confusion and alarm.

At the source of this eerie stillness was a woman seated on the east side near the north window. Her light blue hair shimmered in the ambient light, and her cat-shaped eyes, a matching shade of icy blue, held an air of calm authority. She didn't need to speak—her mere gesture had commanded silence.

Breaking the quiet, a man with dark green hair and snake-like pupils of the same color, seated across from her, spoke in a low, measured tone. "Lady Caldwell," he said, inclining his head slightly, "their nervousness is justified. This is the most precarious moment our city has faced in years. We've lost control of the factory floor, and reports confirm that the army of the Black Tower is less than a day's march from our new mine location." His words lingered in the air, heavy with the gravity of their meaning.

As he finished speaking, he clapped his hands softly, and the previously frozen figures began to move again. However, none of them spoke. The silence in the room was thick, the tension still lingering, but the panicked shouts had been replaced by a quiet, uneasy stillness.

A woman with light golden hair and eyes, sitting beside Lady Caldwell, broke the silence with a soft laugh. "Mr. Hei, the Black Tower army could easily be handled by you, couldn't it? I've heard rumors that your family has connections with the Black Tower."

Mr. Hei's snake-like eyes narrowed, a dark gleam flashing in them. "Elswell, I don't know where you heard that absurd rumor, but let me be clear—my family is loyal to Spark Technology. We do not consort with our enemies." His voice grew cold, a murderous aura spreading through the room, targeting Elswell. "Be careful when you open your mouth—it might cost you your life."

The menacing energy faded as quickly as it came, and Mr. Hei shifted his gaze toward the man standing beside the northern chair. "Secretary Jose," he continued, "it's been six months since we've seen Lord Martin. Is he well? If there's a problem, perhaps you should tell us where he is, and we can all go visit him."

Secretary Jose, standing rigidly, replied with calm authority. "Mr. Hei, Lord Martin is currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to A-rank. He has not disclosed his location to anyone. However, he did send a message."

With that, a holographic image appeared above the red crystal table. It was Lord Martin, his silver hair and eyes shimmering in the light. His voice was firm and commanding. "Jose, inform the councilors that I will return to the city in one week, as an A-rank warrior. Tell them to protect the city in my absence. Once the holographic image flickered out, leaving the room in silence, the man with ruby-colored hair and eyes broke it. "The factory floor trouble can be contained for now by blocking the floor, but what about the Black Tower's army? If they capture the mine, they'll be just a day and a half away from the city."

The woman seated beside him added, "I've heard the army is led by General Malik, a peak B-rank warrior. If he attacks, the city will surely fall without Lord Martin. No one here can stand against him, and our energy shield wouldn't withstand a Peak B-rank assault for long."

Murmurs of concern rippled through the room. The gravity of the situation was sinking in, with no immediate solution in sight. But then, a voice came from the door, commanding the attention of all present. "You need not worry about General Malik and his army."

Heads turned, and as soon as they saw the speaker, everyone rose from their seats, fists to their hearts in a gesture of respect, bowing deeply. "General Sasaki," they greeted in unison.

General Sasaki, towering at seven feet with dark blue hair and eyes as cold and sharp as a shark's, strode toward the empty chair by the glass panel. His every step seemed to echo with the sound of falling water drops, a rhythmic cadence that eerily matched the heartbeat of everyone in the room. A wave of unease swept through the councilors as they glanced at him with a mixture of awe and fear. The sound alone seemed to tighten their chests, as if Sasaki carried the pulse of the entire room in his grasp. When he finally sat down, the atmosphere shifted, the weight of his presence palpable. The councilors stood in tense silence, awaiting his words.

The ruby-haired man, Mr. Diaz, was the first to speak, his voice measured, though a hint of anxiety slipped through. "General Sasaki, your arrival—but there was no news from the Capital?"

General Sasaki's cold gaze flickered to him. "I was sent by the board members themselves. But even if you now know that, Mr. Diaz, what exactly would you do with such information?" His tone carried a sharp edge, causing Mr. Hei's snake-like eyes to narrow in suspicion.

Mr. Diaz chuckled nervously, his earlier confidence draining away. "I wouldn't dream of doing anything, General. I only thought we could... celebrate your arrival with a party in your honor."

General Sasaki's expression turned icy. "This is no time for celebrations. How did the Black Tower find out about the Light Titanium mine? The board members specifically ordered that the information be kept confidential."

Mr. Hei, sensing the shift in tone, spoke up. "General, many in the city already knew about the mine. It's possible someone let it slip."

Sasaki's eyes narrowed, his voice a controlled growl. "The board has ordered an inquiry. They will find out who leaked the information, and those responsible will face the consequences." His gaze swept across the room, pausing briefly on each council member, his eyes hard and unforgiving. "And as I entered the city, I heard about your loss of control over the factory floor. How do you expect to maintain order when the city's heart is slipping into chaos?"

Mr. Diaz quickly interjected, attempting to shift the blame. "Let the inquiry proceed; it will show that this is not our fault. Someone is trying to smear us," he said, casting a sharp glance at the people sitting opposite him. "And as for the factory, its loss of control is due to Secretary Jose's department. The police are under his jurisdiction, and yet they still haven't identified the culprit behind the sudden influx of out-of-control weird items."

Sasaki's expression tightened as he thought aloud, "If the disruption on the factory floor is caused by a surge in these weird items, then I have an idea of who might be behind this."

Secretary Jose leaned forward, his voice tense. "General Sasaki, if you know who it is, please share it with us. It would help us capture the culprit before more damage is done."

Sasaki nodded and projected a holographic image of a frail-looking man with purple-silver hair. "This is Link Rhineheart. Even if you don't know the man, you must recognize the surname."

Elswell's eyes widened in recognition. "Who doesn't know the Rhineheart family? One of the shadow controllers behind the Silver Light Federation. There was a lot of news about them two years ago, especially after the mysterious death of their family head. He was a genius who became an A-rank Genetic Warrior before the age of 40—far younger than most. And yet, he died under mysterious circumstances. And no one knows how or why he died, at least nothing was made public."

Sasaki's voice dropped, laced with sharp cynicism. "How could they make his death public? He was killed jointly by his own family and the Silver Light Federation."

A stunned silence fell over the room, shock evident in the wide-eyed stares of everyone present.

Lady Caldwell finally broke the silence, her voice soft but cutting through the tension. "What could he have done to deserve such betrayal from his own family?"

Sasaki turned toward her with a slight smile. "Sylvia, as sharp-minded as you are beautiful," he said before shifting his gaze to Mr. Hei. "Hei Shun, judging by your expression, I'd say you already know the reason behind this, don't you?"

Hei Shun smiled calmly. "General Sasaki, how could I possibly know such closely guarded information?"

Sasaki hummed softly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "When the Weird Association was still legal, one of its strongest supporters and largest sources of funding was none other than the Rhineheart family. The family head who was later killed was also a researcher within the Association. However, since he didn't actively use Weird Domain energy and because of his family's status, he was allowed to walk away when the Association was dissolved."

Sasaki paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the room before continuing. "But after that, the Rhineheart family began conducting their own research on Weird energy. They made a groundbreaking discovery: by combining materials from different Weird Domains, they could neutralize the dangerous energy each domain emitted and create safe, usable items. This discovery, made over 150 years ago, is widely considered by many as the second great revolution, following the development of genetic medicine. It was this breakthrough that elevated the Rhineheart family to be the most influential among the Silver Light Federation—and, as a result, made the Federation the most powerful of the three dominant forces in the world."

Sasaki's gaze swept the room as he finished, leaving everyone to ponder the full significance of the Rhineheart family's influence and the turmoil it had wrought.