With Thomas and Alaric gone, the three commanders felt as if a weight was lifted from their shoulders.

Noticing the shift, Nova couldn't help but call them out. "You three."

Their heads snapped toward him in unison.

"Yes, Boss?" Elric answered on behalf of the group.

"Split up and let the others know they're welcome to use the training room I set up," Nova instructed, his gaze drifting toward the window. "If it gets crowded, let them fight for space as long as they don't go too far."

His eyes narrowed slightly as the first rays of sunlight spilled in through the glass.

'Looks like a good day to take a break.'

Elric rose to his feet with a nod, Neve following close behind. Jasmine lingered for a moment longer before finally standing as well. Just as the three turned to leave, Nova's voice echoed behind them.

"You should train too."

They paused, exchanged glances, and gave another round of nods before exiting the room, leaving Nova alone in the quiet.

He let out a soft sigh, glancing toward the window. "When are the others coming back…" he muttered.

With a stretch that loosened the tension in his shoulders, he added, "Whatever. I'll take a walk through the city."

And with that, he strolled out of the room and soon after, out of the complex.

////////

"I'm back!"

Thomas stepped into the warehouse, lifting his head with a grin—only to be met by three very unamused faces. Of the group, only Amelia offered a small, apologetic smile.

He blinked. "What's with the long faces?"

Rachel shot to her feet, jabbing a finger at him. "How dare you even speak! We've been sitting here nearly a full day waiting for you while you were off—who knows where!"

"Calm down," Samuel said, raising a hand to ease the tension before turning to Thomas. "Seriously though—where have you been?"

Not wanting to reveal he'd met with Nova—or that he now knew exactly where the man was—Thomas forced a lie through gritted teeth.

"The coronation took longer than expected. I rushed over as soon as I could. Why are you blaming me without knowing the full story? And waiting for me to do what exactly?"

"We d—" Rachel started, but Jack cut in smoothly.

"Some things came up. We've got a meeting in about an hour."

Without missing a beat, he launched into a quick summary of the events that had unfolded while Thomas was off participating in the tournament.

Thomas listened, his head nodding absently through the retelling. When Jack finished, he looked up, brows drawn together in confusion.

"Seriously? Why are you all so tense? It's just a meeting. No need to treat it like a life-or-death mission."

Massaging her temples, Rachel snapped, "Did you even listen? If they're really as strong as that guy claimed, we might not have a choice but to go along with whatever they want." She paused, then added through gritted teeth, "Even working for them isn't off the table."

Amelia nodded quietly beside her.

"You're overthinking it," Thomas said, waving a hand dismissively. "We might not be the strongest out there, but we're far from weak." His gaze shifted to Jack. "And since Jack said it was fine, why all the drama? Did three days of thinking fry your brain or something?"

By the time he finished, his eyes were locked on Rachel.

"Give me back the old Thomas!" she shouted, rising to her feet and ready to pounce—only to be held back just in time by Samuel and Amelia, who quickly grabbed her by the arms and pulled her back into her seat.

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Wagging a finger from side to side, Thomas said, "That's not the point. You really need to stop turning to violence every time things don't go your way." His head swayed along with his finger."

Seeing that Rachel was about to curse but, just then, Jack's eyes narrowed slightly. "By the way… who are the two behind you?"

Only now had he noticed Alaric and Wesley. The former looked perfectly composed—neat, clean, and unfazed—while the latter sported a bruised, slightly swollen face that made the contrast almost comical. Though Jack had seen Alaric in passing at the academy, his attention back then had been completely absorbed by Nova.

Flustered, Thomas quickly said, "Oh, them? Made some new friends during the tournament. Thought I'd show them around."

Alaric stepped forward with a polite smile. "Hi, I'm Al—"

Before he could finish, Thomas's elbow landed squarely in his stomach, cutting him off mid-sentence and sending him into a sudden fit of coughing. Doubling over, Alaric gave Thomas a bewildered, accusatory stare.

In response, Thomas shot him a subtle but urgent look, his eyes silently screaming, Don't say your name.

Realization flickered in Alaric's eyes, and with a quick recovery, he introduced himself again.

"Hi, I'm…" His voice faltered for a split second as he scrambled for a name—then an image flashed in his mind. With a dazzling smile, he finished, "…Elric. Nice to meet you!"

"I'm Wesley," said the real Wesley beside him, offering a simple nod.

After the rest of the group took turns introducing themselves, Jack stood up and addressed the newcomers.

"It's not exactly the best time for a visit," he said, "but feel free to tag along. We're about to meet with another group—and it might turn into something interesting."

With nods of agreement, both Alaric and Wesley fell in step as the team left the warehouse. Casual conversation sparked among them as they walked, getting to know one another during the brief journey toward Hollis' villa—the same place where, just days before, they had met with Galen and Hollis.

Waiting at the gate of the villa was Galen, a wide grin spreading across his face as the group approached.

"You've made it just in time. How are you feeling?" he asked warmly.

"I'll feel better after punching you," Jack replied calmly, not missing a beat.

Galen's smile twitched. A brief flinch betrayed him before irritation crept into his expression.

"Where's your leader?" Jack asked, ignoring Galen's change in mood entirely.

With a snort, Galen gave them all a glance before turning on his heel. "Follow me."

He led them through the familiar parts of the villa and into a section Jack had never seen before—a grand hall, expansive enough to host a hundred people and still leave space to breathe.

Stopping a dozen meters short of a plush, dark sofa, Galen bowed his head slightly. "We're here, Leader."

All eyes shifted to the woman seated before them.

Jack and the others found themselves drawn in by her presence. This was the figure Galen had spoken of so reverently—the one with the audacity to claim her final goal was to conquer Earth. Whether that ambition was attainable didn't matter. The sheer boldness of it was something to be wary of.

A sweet smile played on her lips as black hair streaked with fire-red highlights cascaded down her shoulders, trailing along her back. When she slightly turned her head, striking green eyes met theirs—sharp, discerning, quietly evaluating each person in the group.

The silence stretched, seconds slipping into a full minute before the woman finally broke it with a soft chuckle.

"Where are my manners? I'm Sophia," she said, her voice warm but composed. "Please, take a seat—there's more than enough room for everyone."

Jack and the others settled into the surrounding sofas offering only light nods if even. In their minds as long as Jack introduced himself it was the same as introducing the group. But Thomas didn't see it that way.

"Hello there! I'm Thom-" said Thomas flashing a bright smile—only for Jack to cut him off mid-sentence.

"I assume Galen already filled you in on what happened," Jack said, his tone steady. "So there's no need for me to repeat it, is there?"

Sophia met Jack's gaze and gave a calm nod. "He briefed me on the situation."

"Good. Then I'll make this quick," Jack said, his tone firm. "Leave Hollis' manpower to me. Find someone else to assist you, and we can both go on our merry way." His stare sharpened. He had been the first to strike a deal with Hollis, and he wasn't about to let it slip—not when it was a crucial move in securing his position in Altura.

A soft laugh escaped Sophia's lips. "Galen mentioned you don't take no for an answer. I assumed he was exaggerating to save face, but it seems he was right." She gave a faint shake of her head. "Believe me, Jack. You'd be wise to walk away willingly—before things get ugly for you and your friends." Her eyes swept across the group.

Jack's frown deepened, echoed by Samuel, Rachel, and Amelia. The other three—Alaric, Wesley, and Thomas—remained unbothered, their calm expressions hinting at quiet confidence. They had good reason.

Rachel leaned forward slightly, her gaze narrowing. "Are you seriously trying to escalate this?"

Sophia scoffed, her voice tinged with amusement. "Escalate? You think you have the power to escalate anything with me?"

"What makes you so sure we can't?" Jack challenged, his voice steady.

Sophia's smile returned. "I was told about your little sneak attack, how you forced him to summon me. If you need such underhanded tactics just to handle him..." Her smile twisted into a mocking smirk. "Then you have no hope of walking out of here alive if you keep pushing your luck."

"Sneak attack?" Jack's eyes narrowed. He glanced sharply at Galen. "Did you really tell her I sneak attacked you?"

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Galen shrugged with a smirk. "So what? That's exactly what happened. Denying it will only make you look worse."

Jack couldn't hold it in—he laughed, loud and genuine, leaving both Galen and Sophia momentarily stunned.

When his laughter finally died down, he met their gazes evenly. "Then... let me sneak attack you once more."

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