Chapter 119: The Evil-Cult Meet (2)
The chamber remained silent for a moment, the weight of the Third Shadow Corps' failure lingering in the air.
Then, a new voice cut through the stillness.
"Well, that was disappointing," the Eighth Elder remarked, her tone casual yet laced with something sharper beneath. "But let's not dwell on failures. We have more pressing matters to discuss."
A few heads turned in her direction, sensing where the conversation was about to lead.
"Tell me," she continued, her fingers tapping lightly against the table. "Are we proceeding with the kidnapping this year? Or are we delaying the plan yet again?"
The question sent a ripple of interest through the chamber. Some leaned in slightly, others remained motionless, but all eyes were now focused on the First Elder—awaiting his response.
"Kidnapping the son of the Black Serpents' Guild Master is NOT the solution to our problems," the First Elder stated firmly, as if he were fed up with this question being asked to him year after year.
"The Universal Government will never allow the Black Serpents to exchange the [Shadow's Embrace] skill scroll for a hostage—no matter who it is. That much is certain."
His words sent a ripple of murmurs across the table, but he continued before anyone could object.
"Even if we manage to successfully take the boy, they won't negotiate. They won't hesitate. They will declare war.
They will either launch an all-out assault to retrieve him or, if that proves impossible, they'll cut their losses and let him die before they ever consider handing over the scroll."
He leaned back slightly, his gaze sweeping over the masked figures before him.
"No matter how you look at it, this plan is doomed to fail."
His statement hung heavy in the air, but despite his conviction, frustration crackled beneath the surface of the room.
Murmurs of disagreement stirred among the gathered Elders, whispers of defiance slipping through the silence.
"It's not the best plan, I agree, but what other choice do we have?
We can't retrieve it with a heist. Hell, we can't even slip through the first gate!
So what other options do we have, First Elder?" The Ninth Elder argued, his frustration evident in his tone.
"It's a known fact that the Black Serpents' Guild Master is a glazer for his son.
He has but a single child from his late wife, and he spoils him rotten.
If it's for that child, there's a good chance he'd betray even the Black Serpents Guild and the Universal Government to save his life—" The Eleventh Elder added, his words drawing murmurs of agreement from several others.
For a brief moment, the chamber erupted into a chaotic free-for-all, voices overlapping in heated debate as small factions formed, each arguing their stance.
But then—
"SILENCE!"
A single word, thunderous and absolute, echoed through the chamber as the First Elder slammed his fist against the obsidian table.
The noise died instantly.
"All discussions stop now." His tone was sharp, his patience visibly thin.
"The Twelfth Elder has devised a plan to retrieve the scroll, which he will present before the chamber today.
Should the chamber find his plan insufficient, we will put the kidnapping proposal to a vote—and the majority decision will be final." The first elder said, as order was restored within the chamber, with all eyes turning towards the twelfth and youngest elder.
"The plan that I have devised will take at least a couple more years to come to fruition, if it comes to fruition at all–" The twelfth elder began, his voice deep and commanding as he spoke with a practiced calm.
"I am grooming a boy, a potential Dragon Candidate, to infiltrate the Black Serpents.
He is a genuine menace, who is very loyal to the cause, but with his memories wiped out, he manages to fly under the Righteous Alliance's radar—"
"As things stand, there's at least a 60% chance that he gets recruited into the Black Serpents Guild, but whether or not he's able to steal the scroll from there on out, is anyone's guess—" The twelfth elder said, as he took a long pause.
"It's a long shot—we could waste two years achieving nothing, and it may still end in failure.
However, only one life will be put at risk in this plan, and that will be the boy's alone—the one daring to attempt the impossible." The twelfth elder said, as he pitched the idea exactly as it was, which did not convince the chamber at all.
"No disrespect, twelfth elder, but that plan sounds more like a prayer rather than an actual plan!" The eleventh elder pointed out, as everyone else nodded their heads in agreement.
There were too many variables in the twelfth elders plan, and too many things that could go wrong at any stage.
It was undeniably a new approach, however, it wasn't a promising one.
"I for one would not want to wait two years on this iffy plan…. I propose we move forward with the kidnapping plan vote," The eighth elder proposed, as all eyes once again turned to the first elder, who let out a deep sigh beneath his mask.
"Very well….. since it seems the chamber is not satisfied with the twelfth elders plan, we will now hear the second elders kidnapping plan, and then vote on whether or not we should go ahead with it—" The first elder said reluctantly, as the second elder excitedly stood up from his seat, as if waiting for this exact moment from the start of the meeting.
"The kidnapping plan has already been perfected by the Second Shadow Corps under my command.
The chances of success stand at 85%." The Second Elder declared confidently, his voice cutting through the chamber with unwavering conviction.
Unlike the Twelfth Elder, who stated the success rate of his plan as it was, the Second Elder boldly pushed forward with airy promises, determined to rally the council behind his plan.
"The operation will take place during the Inter-School Circuits.
The Guildmaster's son is a student of Geneva Military Academy, and according to our latest intelligence, he has been selected for their Circuits team this year." He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle over the gathered Elders, as the room fell into absolute silence.
"As you all recall, five years ago, we approved a long-term infiltration plan to embed our agents within the Circuit's security—not for this kidnapping, but for an entirely different purpose.
Back then, we sought to orchestrate a mass-murder incident—a bloodbath that would shake the foundations of the so-called 'righteous' world.
However, that is no longer necessary."
The Second Elder's lips curled into a knowing smirk beneath his mask, his voice laced with excitement.
"We already have key security personnel stationed in the right places within the Grand Combat Arena.
So, instead of executing a mass-casualty event, we can repurpose our deeply embedded assets to pull off this kidnapping, eliminating the need for separate infiltration efforts."
A dark satisfaction radiated from his tone as his eyes scanned the council, gauging their reactions.
"If we snatch the son of the Black Serpents' Guildmaster in front of a packed arena, with the whole universe watching, the blow to the Universal Government's reputation will be catastrophic!
Giving us the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone!"
He leaned forward, voice brimming with fervor.
"In my humble opinion, this is the perfect time to strike.
Since the death of our previous Dragon, we have been entirely on the back foot.
We have been hunted. Cornered. Forced into hiding.
We need to make a statement.
A bold, undeniable declaration of our resurgence." He declared, as ripple of agreement spread through the room, murmurs of approval rising among the masked Elders.
For the first time in years, the Evil Cult had a chance—not just to strike back, but to humiliate their enemies on a universal stage and the chamber seemed keen to take it.