Chapter 46: Lottery Of Fate.

The room erupted into murmurs. Mandatory enlistment was a political nightmare. Citizens would become unruly overnight, there would be lootings, shootings and all sorts of chaos.

"I have a better idea," Gregory interrupted, a smug smile returning to his face as he tapped his fingers together. "Why play defense? Let’s send our best soldiers straight to the other side to kill a Somnivore and get a core. It’s simple math, really. One Somnivore core, strong veil...no apocalypse. Problem solved!"

Lady Valarie turned her head slowly, looking at Gregory as if he had just suggested they all eat rocks for breakfast. She let out a loud, dramatic scoff.

"Oh, brilliant strategy, Gregory!" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You are absolutely right. And since it’s your wonderful idea, your sons should be the very first ones to cross the veil. Let them lead the charge into the meat grinder!"

Gregory’s face instantly turned the color of a ripe plum. "My sons are high-born citizens, not common people! How dare you...."

"Ah, so it’s a great plan until your own children have to die for it?" Valarie shot back, leaning across the table.

Before the two could start pulling each other’s hair out, Trinity raised a single, pale hand. "QUIET! EVERYONE!" she said softly.

The argument died instantly. The two rulers practically swallowed their own tongues to keep quiet.

Trinity sighed, her beautiful features clouding over with immense gravity. "I have already said it, a Somnivore has not been seen for over two decades. But they have been very active beyond the veil, because that is their territory. From the information we have gathered from the hunters that have been there recently, they have already laid deadly traps for us.

They have corrupted the souls of wild beasts in new ways, and they have been kidnapping our hunters, Soul maidens and soldiers. Going over there carelessly is not a good idea. Anyone that goes should do so knowing the cost."

The rulers looked at each other. The weight of her words sank deep into their chests like heavy stones. The arguing, the fighting over money and territory, the pointing of fingers—it all felt very small now. This was not a political game anymore. It was just about staying alive.

Jackson let out a very heavy sigh. He leaned back in his big chair and rubbed his tired face. "Look as much as it hurts to say this, I actually agree with Gregory. We need more people to enlist, and we need them fast because lately, more beasts have been attacking the towns, especially those close to the wild lands. Now that we know the veil is weakening, we must prepare for the worst.

We need more hunters to join hunting guilds to find these resonance stones. We all know those who are motivated by money work faster than ordinary soldiers, and they are willing to take more risks too. So, here is the plan: every nation will make a new law. We will politely force citizens to join the army or government backed hunting guilds. Everyone must belong to one of the two organizations."

He looked around the room to see if anyone was going to scream at him, then continued. "The life of a soldier is hard, so we know people won’t choose it easily, most will go for guilds because only the best go on serious hunts. The rest spend their lives doing nothing, simply flashing their guild IDs like tickets to heaven.

So, to keep things fair, the choice should be completely random. Like a lottery. A lucky draw from a jar. That way, people cannot get angry at us or say it is unfair. If your name gets pulled, it is just your bad luck. It was your fate."

Gregory’s eyes lit up. He smoothed down his expensive silk clothes, a slow, sneaky smile spreading across his face.

"Works for me," Gregory said quickly, nodding his head. His mind was already busy making a plan. A lucky draw? Perfect, he thought. He would just order the people holding the jar, fix the name slips, and make sure only the low-born citizens got picked. His own precious sons would never get selected for the army.

The rest of the leaders nodded each thinking of how to keep their own family members from getting unlucky.

"And what do we tell the public when they notice the sudden need for training and hunting journeys?" Someone asked.

Trinity smiled softly, "Tell the people that we have noticed more activity in the wild mutated beasts and that is the reason for the reinforcements, nothing more."

"Yes, divine maiden," They chorused.

Lady Valarie’s brows came close together, her forehead wrinkling with deep worry. She leaned forward, thinking of her citizens who were still locked up.

"Mayor, what about my people in the fortress?" she demanded, her voice full of emotion. "You must set them free right now. They have done nothing wrong! I have four clans on my back demanding for answers."

Trinity turned her calm but heavy gaze toward the Mayor. "Why are you still holding them?" she asked softly.

The Mayor let out a breath, his face twisting with anger. "I only kept them because I wanted to know if they knew anything about the Scorpion girl. But those useless fools? None of them knew anything! They didn’t even know about the Scorpion deposit box. I am cutting them loose today."

"The Scorpion deposit box? What is that?" Gregory asked.

The room instantly went quiet. Every single ruler leaned in, their eyes wide with curiosity.

"I traced Zyra’s movements very carefully," the Mayor explained, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Before she disappeared, she went to the bank. I spoke to the manager who attended to her. She opened a private box and retrieved something from inside."

Trinity’s beautiful brows rose up in surprise. "What was inside the box?"

"He couldn’t see," the Mayor said, shaking his head. "But it must be something incredibly important. Think about it...right after she got that item, she completely cut ties with her own clan and ran off into the night. She didn’t hesitate at all, as if she was following instructions or something."

Clap!

Gregory clapped his hands together once, his eyes shining with sudden excitement. "Aha! What if whatever she took from there was left by Zena? Could her mother have left instructions? Like a secret hideout or helper? Or perhaps, something to find the dungeons like a map! We need to find out what it is quickly."

The Mayor scoffed, but for the first time, he didn’t look angry. "Well, look at that. For once, Gregory, you and I are actually thinking alike." He pinched his mouth because whatever was in there, he was going to keep to himself but telling them made them trust him more.

At least, if there was no new apocalypse before the next elections, his position was very safe. And when he got his hands on Zena’s secret, the tables would turn.