NOVGO.NET Chapter 261: The Anomaly Speaks...
Chapter 261: The Anomaly Speaks…
Not seeing Bale, Bruce understood immediately. Bale would preside over the meeting. Until then, it wasn’t his place to speak.
He inclined his head slightly in a measured nod, not submission, not arrogance, but acknowledgment, and then his gaze found the only empty seat remaining. Without hesitation, he crossed the space and took it.
As he settled in, Bruce noted something else.
They were early.
People with this level of strength and authority did not respect time out of habit. They did so only when it benefited them, or when the matter at hand was important enough to demand it. That alone told him something.
The room fell into silence.
There was still time before the official start of the meeting, and so no one spoke. The seven SSS-rank figures remained still, breathing slow and controlled, heartbeats steady. Too steady. Bruce observed them quietly, not intruding, not retreating, simply present.
Then,
The elevator doors opened again.
Almost on cue.
Bale stepped out.
The atmosphere shifted, subtly but unmistakably. Not heavier, sharper. More focused. Bale walked forward with unhurried confidence and stopped at the head of the table, posture straight, presence authoritative without being domineering.
“Good day, everyone,” he said, voice polite but firm. “I apologize for disturbing your busy schedules and personal plans for today.”
No one responded.
Bale did not expect them to.
“This meeting has been called by the Anomaly of Velmora,” he continued smoothly.
All eyes turned.
Bruce stood.
He placed one hand lightly on the table, posture relaxed yet unmistakably solid, gaze steady as it met each of theirs in turn. There was no rush in his movements, no attempt to command the room, yet the space seemed to tighten around him regardless.
“I called this meeting for two reasons,” he said calmly. “The second is the more important one, but I’ll begin with the first.”
No theatrics. No hesitation.
“First,” Bruce continued, “the Ackerman Transport Company. A transport company that operates solely with SS-rank Shadow Beasts.”
One of the men raised an eyebrow, just slightly.
Bruce noticed, and continued regardless.
“These Shadow Beasts are not theoretical,” he said evenly. “Their speed, endurance, and control are proven. If any of you doubt this, the Adventurer Guild is welcome to sponsor a verification run and assess the validity of my claims firsthand.”
He paused, letting the words settle.
“The company seeks backing from the Adventurer Guild.”
The statement landed without flourish, but its implications rippled outward.
“The Adventurer Guild maintains operational bases across all twelve kingdoms of Velmora,” Bruce went on. “A network unmatched in reach. In return, Ackerman Transport offers something equally rare, reliable, high-rank mobility.”
His gaze swept the table again, meeting each presence without flinching.
“These Shadow Wolves are not limited to transportation alone. They can be deployed for dungeon breakout containment, emergency evacuations, and high-risk dungeon raiding support.”
One of the women tapped a finger lightly against the table, the soft sound echoing faintly in the open space.
Bruce did not slow.
“I give you my word,” he said, voice level. “These beasts are loyal. Disciplined. Responsive to command. They do not panic. They do not rebel.”
Silence followed.
No scoffs. No interruptions. No immediate rebuttals.
The seven leaders listened without visible reaction, faces composed, heartbeats steady, auras unchanged. Not indifference. Assessment. These were people who did not react until they had already decided how dangerous, or how useful, something was.
Bruce straightened slightly.
“That concludes the first reason,” he said.
His gaze hardened just a fraction.
“The second reason,” he continued, “is the one I truly wish to discuss with you.”
The room seemed to grow quieter, not because sound vanished, but because attention sharpened. Even the wind slipping through the open pillars felt more distant, as though the space itself had leaned inward to listen.
“This concerns Invaders,” Bruce said evenly. “As you may, or may not, be aware, invaders are actively attempting to take over Velmora using countless methods at their disposal.”
His gaze hardened, just a fraction.
“In the span of a single week,” he continued, “I have personally made contact with more than two.”
That was when it happened.
The reactions were subtle, so subtle that anyone beneath SSS-rank would have missed them entirely. A faint tremor rippled through the air, barely perceptible. A heartbeat skipped, then steadied. A pair of eyes widened for the briefest instant before narrowing again behind practiced composure. One man’s fingers tightened against the edge of the table, knuckles paling. Another’s aura flickered, just once, before settling back into perfect control.
No one spoke. But Bruce saw it.
“If Valkrin alone is facing this many breakthrough attempts,” he continued calmly, voice unhurried, “then it raises an obvious question.” His gaze swept the table. “What is the situation in the other eleven kingdoms of Velmora?”
He let the silence stretch, heavy and deliberate.
“How are they handling this?” Bruce asked. “Are they even aware of how close these incursions already are?”
Still, no one answered.
“So,” Bruce went on, as if the pause had been expected, “I plan to visit every kingdom in Velmora. Personally.”
This time, the shift in the room was undeniable.
Auras stirred, not flaring, not clashing, but tightening, like drawn bowstrings. Postures adjusted. Breathing patterns changed ever so slightly. The weight of the statement settled heavily across the circular table.
“And the reason I called this meeting,” Bruce continued, “is not only to hear your thoughts, but to inform you that I intend to utilize the Adventurer Guild’s influence to achieve optimal results.”
Silence followed.
Then, One of the men finally spoke.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, his presence steady in a way that suggested long years of command rather than brute force. When he spoke, his voice was calm, measured, and unmistakably authoritative.
“For that,” he said, “you will need the Traveler.”
Several of the others nodded faintly, the motion minimal but deliberate.
“Due to his unique class and skills,” the man continued, “he has traveled to every kingdom in Velmora. He can teleport freely between them. Working with him would make your task significantly faster, and far easier.”
He paused, expression unreadable.
“That said,” he added, “convincing him will not be simple. Though he is an adventurer, he is stubborn. Eccentric. His temperament is unpredictable, and his behavior often defies reason.”
A faint smile touched Bruce’s lips.
“Actually,” Bruce said, voice light but certain, “I don’t need the Traveler’s teleportation.”