Chapter 188: The Federation Makes Its Move

Several leaders sat around the table, each one surrounded by floating data screens.

Some were sector leaders, while others were military officers, and a few were researchers who had been dragged into the meeting because of their knowledge of contaminated zones.

The discussion had already lasted for some time.

"The formation isn’t consistent with any known contaminated zone."

"Then the second space may have been created by an external pressure source."

"We need more samples to know the exact reason why this is possible."

"We already lost personnel trying to collect samples. We’ll need to dispatch another squad."

"Then we will need stronger equipment to resist the miasma and the monsters inside the dual zone."

The voices overlapped as the discussion continued, until a sudden sound cut through them.

Bang!

A palm struck the long conference table, and every conversation stopped.

An old man had risen from his seat, his face twisted with anger. His breathing was heavy as he stared at the people around him.

"Why are you sitting here calmly discussing samples and equipment when my daughter just died?!"

The room fell silent.

The man’s eyes were red, and this was Felipe Anatolia, Galithe’s father.

He slammed his palm onto the table again.

"You should be discussing how to make the Association pay for failing to protect her!"

Several leaders exchanged uncomfortable glances before one of them finally responded, "Your daughter entered the contaminated zone by herself when it wasn’t part of the joint operation. We can’t fully blame the Association here. Besides, the Admiral was also there, and he was injured before being extracted."

Felipe scoffed. "Injured?"

His voice rose as he pointed toward the holographic image. "The one who should’ve gotten out of that zone is my daughter!"

The leader who had just spoken stiffened, not expecting his response.

Felipe pointed toward the holographic image of the contaminated zone as he continued, "My daughter went in there with the Association! Knowing she came from the Federation and was a high-ranking Guide... She should be the one walking out!"

No one interrupted him.

Some of them understood his anger, and some even shared the same thoughts. A Sentinel of Zeke’s rank should have been able to save Galithe and extract them both out of the zone. They wondered if he was truly that powerful and strong as he was rumored to be. Was he truly an SS-rank Sentinel?

But there were some of them who disagreed with Felipe’s view on this. Zeke wasn’t just an ordinary Sentinel. Some of them had fought with him and knew that the Admiral of the Association was not that sort of person who would abandon a helpless Guide. There must be a reason why he was unable to do that and ended up injured.

Though they also could not say this to a grieving father.

However, Felipe wasn’t done. He angrily stared at the leader who had spoken earlier and said, "Zeke should have used his life to protect her!"

The words hung heavily in the room, and several people remained silent.

Then the man seated at the head of the table finally raised his eyes.

He was young for the position he held, handsome, with sharp features and dark hair neatly swept away from his forehead.

He was the current Commander of the Golden Wing military faction of the Federation, Amber Cedar.

He looked at Felipe for several seconds before speaking, his expression remaining calm despite the tension filling the room.

Amber watched the shifting expressions around the table without commenting, already aware that the decisions made during this meeting would affect the Federation, the Association, and Imperial forces as well.

Amber’s expression remained composed. "Calm yourself, Felipe."

Felipe turned toward him immediately.

"How can you tell me to calm down? My daughter is dead," Felipe continued, his voice rough with grief and fury. "She would have been the Federation’s future. She was supposed to be your..."

"Felipe."

Amber cut him off and stared at him.

The older man’s jaw tightened.

Amber Cedar placed one hand on the table, and although his voice remained even, the atmosphere in the room changed immediately.

"The moment we entered this room, this ceased to be a place for personal grievances and sentiments."

Felipe stared at him and gritted his teeth.

Amber continued, "This is a confidential military discussion regarding the first dual contaminated zone and the consequences of what occurred inside it."

Felipe opened his mouth again, but Amber didn’t allow him to finish.

"Those who cannot control themselves, as well as those who intend to disrupt this meeting, may leave," Amber said firmly.

Several people around the table straightened.

Amber’s gaze swept across the entire room before he continued, "Any further interference or act of disobedience will be met with corporal punishment and immediate removal from their position."

His expression hardened at Felipe. "That applies regardless of rank."

The room remained silent and heavy.

"It applies whether you’re a Federation soldier or a sector leader."

The room became completely still, and even Felipe understood that Amber was no longer speaking to him as a grieving father but as the Commander of the Golden Wings.

The old man slowly lowered himself back into his seat.

Amber waited until he settled before turning his attention to the holographic display again.

"The meeting continues."

The image of the dual contaminated zone rotated above them.

No one spoke for several seconds before one of the leaders quietly brought up another report, a message concerning the Association’s request for assistance.

The holographic screen expanded.

The leaders exchanged guarded looks as the report appeared, because everyone understood that Zeke’s condition was no longer a private medical matter and could quickly become a political crisis.

The room’s atmosphere changed again.

This time, no one was thinking about Galithe’s death because they were thinking about Zeke Valaerion, the only publicly known SS-ranked Sentinel on Gaia.

And now, with his condition hanging in the balance, the opportunity before the Federation had become impossible to ignore.