Walking in that territory felt like walking on a narrow beam. You stay steady or you fall and make noise. The small building under construction was a blocky structure with exposed beams and dusty boards.

It had no finished walls yet. The wood and nails and scaffolding looked almost raw. It felt like a place that had been chosen for a meeting because the builders had not yet put up signs of ownership. It felt neutral in a way that was safer than meeting inside a known headquarters.

As they walked Maya said to Ryan softly, "Ryan, do not get nervous or something. Nothing wrong will happen." She said it so he would feel calm. Her voice was practical. It was not trying to promise safety.

It simply tried to prevent fear from taking over him. Ryan gave a small nod. He felt grateful for the reassurance but he did not depend on it. He had to trust his own training too.

Kai added, "I have been to the annual meet twice with Warren. It is just a normal show off kind of thing. I will give you a tip. Do not fall for their mocking." He said this with the kind of eyed-old experience that meant he had seen the same tricks before.

When a rival begins to mock, they often try to shift the other side's attention or make people act out of anger. Kai's tip was a small and useful tool: if you do not argue, they have nothing to use against you.

Daniel rolled his shoulders and made a small pout. "They can mock as much as they can mock," he said, smiling. His words were full of bravado but not bravado that acted stupid. He meant it as lightness to keep himself and others from getting tense. The joke was clear to everyone. It broke the stiff air for a second.

They reached the meeting place after a short walk. The small building under construction looked more imposing up close. The space inside smelled of sawdust and wet cement. The air had a dry roughness that made the throat tingle for a moment.

When they entered the building they saw a group already gathered inside. The room was full of people who held themselves like leaders. Their outfits were clean enough to show status. Their faces had lines that came from decisions and from the kind of life that keeps you on guard.

The leaders were arranged in a loose circle with chairs and crates used as seats. Some of them stood. Some sat. Their eyes moved across the room like a searching light. The way they watched said, We are here to negotiate but we are ready to fight if that is the only language left.

Ryan felt his palms sweat a little. The small fear was not a thought he wanted to hide. He felt it because the place felt like an exam room for people who made their living in pressure. He was human and nervous. He also felt steady.

The training, the sleep, the simulation, and the pep talk to himself had done something. They had made a little space inside him that was not full of panic. It was filled with purpose.

They moved further in and took a place among the other leaders. Maya walked to the center as if to show she would do the talking. She had an air of calm competence. When she looked at Ryan he felt a small confidence that she believed in him enough to bring him.

That belief did something inside his chest. It was not a showy feeling. It was quiet and firm. It was the trust of your people pressed into your shoulders. He accepted it like a weight he could bear.

At that moment the leaders all stopped what they were doing and turned toward the door as one figure entered. The entrance held a small hush. The room seemed to breathe a little slower. Everyone's face shifted focus.

They looked at the newcomer as if measuring him and measuring their options. Ryan's heart beat faster for a single breath and then steadied. He had practiced steadiness more than fear.

Inside the building he counted faces and watched postures. He tried to measure who looked like they wanted to talk and who looked like they wanted to watch for someone to make a mistake.

There was an unreadable tension around the room. It held the feeling that a bad joke in the wrong moment could flare into trouble. It felt like the edge of a field after rain where lightning could strike.

Then he realized the leaders were not only above him in status but also human, the same as the people he knew. They had their own small worries.

They carried their own reasons for being there. The room that felt heavy and dangerous at first now also felt like a meeting place where decisions would affect many lives. It felt important.

Maya spoke in a voice that asked for order, "Everyone, sit if you want to. We are here to talk. We want no sudden moves." She said it plainly. No one laughed. They all obeyed because they had reasons for being careful. The leaders settled in. Chairs creaked. A few people shifted. The light from the unfinished windows cut across the floor.

Ryan settled with Arthur and Daniel at his side. He felt the small welcome of a team beside him. Arthur's presence was quiet. Daniel was still smiling but his grin had a sharper edge now.

Kai watched the room like a man who preferred to measure distance with his eyes first. Aiden and Leon were not with them. They were back at the land keeping watch. Knowing that made Ryan feel steadier since he believed the front lines were secure for now.

Then all the other leaders were there, and the room fell into a low expectant silence. They sat and waited for the conversation to begin. The air tasted like possibilities and small risks. The meeting had begun.

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