The first meeting of the Eastern Alliance was finally held, marking a turning point for the cities and guilds that had chosen to place their trust in one another.

Representatives from various regions gathered in a spacious meeting hall, the atmosphere filled with cautious optimism and quiet tension.

This was the first time many of them had sat together under a single banner, and every word spoken in this room carried weight that could shape the future of the eastern continent.

Ashley was the first to open the discussion. She deliberately chose a topic that aligned perfectly with her strengths and expertise, the economy.

Among all the issues faced by the alliance, economic cooperation was the most fundamental and, in her view, the easiest to agree upon.

Stability in trade and resources would naturally lead to strength in other areas.

She was confident that discussions about economic collaboration between alliance members would be easy for everyone to follow.

Compared to military strategy or political maneuvering, economic planning was relatively straightforward, especially when framed as mutual benefit rather than competition.

To Ashley, this discussion was not heavy or burdensome. Instead, it was a practical starting point that could quickly bring tangible results.

As Ashley explained her ideas, the representatives listened attentively. The sound of rustling paper and quiet murmurs occasionally broke the silence, but overall, the room was focused.

Some of the guild leaders raised their hands, one after another, offering suggestions, adjustments, or additional ideas to build upon Ashley's proposal.

Ashley listened carefully to every suggestion without showing impatience or dismissal. She accepted all of them and explained calmly that each proposal would be reviewed and followed up appropriately.

Her attitude reassured the others that this alliance was not merely symbolic, but a platform where every member's voice mattered.

"Mavelard is the only major city on the eastern continent," Ashley said clearly, making sure her words carried to every corner of the hall.

"Many guilds have placed their fate in this city."

Her statement was not an exaggeration. Mavelard was the economic heart of the east, a hub where goods, information, and influence converged.

Control over Mavelard meant control over trade routes and supply chains that extended far beyond the city walls.

"I will allow you to sell your commodities at market prices to our stores in the City of Mavelard," Ashley continued.

"Those who are part of this alliance will receive benefits, such as exemption from city trade taxes."

The impact of her words was immediate. A low wave of murmurs spread across the room as the representatives quickly grasped the significance of this offer.

Tax exemption alone could drastically increase profit margins, especially for guilds whose cities struggled to attract large-scale traders.

Ayaka, the Guild Master of Yotsuba, was the most visibly interested. Her expression sharpened as she listened, her thoughts already racing ahead.

Kuniko City produced many unique commodities, but its limited reach had always restricted their profits.

Being able to sell freely in Mavelard without paying city trade taxes would change everything.

With such an advantage, merchants from Kuniko could earn profits far beyond what they had ever managed before. It was an opportunity that was simply too valuable to ignore.

Kuniko was not alone in this. Other guilds quickly realized that they would receive the same opportunity.

Many of them faced similar problems, limited markets, logistical challenges, or lack of influence to secure favorable trade terms. Ashley's proposal offered them all a shared solution.

By making Mavelard City their central market, these guilds could gain access to a far larger customer base.

The profits they could earn there would easily surpass what they made by trading solely within their own cities. The appeal of the proposal was undeniable.

One by one, the guild masters who represented their cities began to raise their hands. Each raised hand was a declaration of support, a signal that they agreed with Ashley's vision.

The number steadily increased until it nearly encompassed the entire alliance.

"Thank you," Ashley said, a small but genuine smile forming on her face.

"We are also determined to help other cities grow. We are open to establishing cooperation between cities."

As she spoke, her gaze shifted toward several city rulers present in the room.

Her words made it clear that the alliance was not just about benefiting Mavelard, but about creating a network of mutual growth across the eastern continent.

Ayaka nodded in approval, and Gregor did the same. Both of them felt a sense of relief and satisfaction.

Joining the Eastern Alliance had already proven to be a wise decision. Beyond economic advantages, they could see the potential for military cooperation and shared security in the future.

However, the meeting did not end with economic matters alone. Once Ashley finished her presentation, the discussion naturally shifted toward other urgent issues affecting the member cities.

Among those who raised concerns, Ayaka spoke up once more.

Standing firmly, she addressed the room with a serious expression. She spoke clearly about the growing problems related to security and regional stability.

According to her, the Shadow Guild had been acting increasingly out of control, pushing beyond acceptable limits.

Her words immediately changed the atmosphere in the room. What had been a discussion filled with optimism now carried an undercurrent of unease.

To Ethan's surprise, Ayaka was not alone in her experience. Representatives from Avalon confirmed that they too had suffered similar incidents.

This revelation caused visible concern among the guild masters. Some exchanged glances, while others frowned deeply, realizing that this was not an isolated problem.

Ashley turned her head toward Ethan, silently passing the responsibility to him. Ethan responded with a slight nod.

Since Ayaka's concerns were directly related to security and military affairs, it was his role to provide answers.

"It's not just you," Ethan began.

"Mavelard has experienced the same thing. The incident happened a few days ago in the southern district of Ring 3."

His calm tone did little to ease the tension, as the implications of his words were serious.

"We are currently investigating the case," he continued.

"We found evidence that Mr. X is the one controlling the Shadow Guild from behind the scenes."

The mention of that name immediately drew attention.

"Mr. X?" someone asked, their voice filled with confusion.

"No one knows for sure who he is," Ethan explained.

"Even the perpetrators themselves do not know who he is or which guild he belongs to."

He turned his gaze toward Ayaka as he finished speaking, acknowledging the weight of her concern.

"Then what should we do?" Gregor from Star Shield asked, his voice steady but tense.

Ethan fell silent for a brief moment. Every pair of eyes in the room was fixed on him. He knew that whatever he said next would influence the actions of multiple cities.

Although he had not yet formed a perfect strategy to completely eliminate the Shadow Guild, he did know how to limit their movements.

"Enforce a curfew," Ethan said at last.

"Monitor players with the assassin class closely."

Ayaka frowned slightly. "Assassins? Isn't that too discriminatory?"

"Most of the perpetrators are assassin-class players," Ethan replied calmly.

"I believe that because only assassins are capable of carrying out silent killings."

He paused briefly, then continued, making sure his reasoning was clear.

"This is not discrimination. It is reality. Among the common classes, only assassins possess abilities that allow them to do that."

Ayaka nodded slowly. She had already taken similar measures since her first consultation with Ethan.

While those actions had reduced the intensity of the chaos, the Shadow Guild's influence had not disappeared entirely.

Even so, Ayaka felt confident. She trusted that Ethan would eventually find a solution.

She did not know what he planned next, but she believed that he would resolve the Shadow Guild problem in time.

The discussion regarding the Shadow Guild eventually came to an end. Ethan explained that he would form a special team to handle the issue, with representatives from each guild participating.

Since the Shadow Guild's activities always took place within city boundaries, his focus would remain there.

As the conversation shifted, Ethan's gaze drifted toward an empty table. It was a seat that should have belonged to Glorious Sword.

However, through careful maneuvering, Ethan had successfully sabotaged the situation so that the man could not attend the meeting.

As a result, everyone would assume that Glorious Sword, the ruler of Arkban City, had voluntarily withdrawn from the alliance.

Gregor laughed loudly, clearly amused. He seemed convinced that Glorious Sword was nothing more than a cowardly guild that lacked the courage to appear after betraying Ethan and LionArk.

"I already expected that," Gregor said.

"What are you going to do about them?"

Ethan did not answer immediately. He had been planning this since the incident the day before, when that man had openly opposed him.

From Ethan's perspective, keeping Glorious Sword within the alliance would only cause future problems.

"The issue with Glorious Sword is quite complex," Ethan said finally.

"I will discuss it carefully with the permanent members of the alliance."

Gregor nodded in understanding. The meeting then continued with discussions on other matters aligned with the Eastern Alliance's objectives.

These included requests for assistance against bandits and monsters, as well as internal conflicts within the cities governed by each guild.

By the time the meeting ended, an entire day had passed. As evening approached, Ethan brought the discussions to a close and allowed most of the representatives to return to their respective inns.

However, not everyone was dismissed.

The Guild Masters of Yotsuba, Star Shield, Avalon, and Trident Sea remained seated in the meeting room. Ethan had specifically asked them to stay behind.

"Glorious Sword's decision cannot be forced," Ethan said once the room was quieter.

"It seems they have not shifted away from their support of Silver Star."

"Then what is your decision?" Ayaka asked.

Ethan paused, carefully observing the faces before him. These were the people who held real decision-making power.

In his mind, an alliance had to be built on collective agreement, not unilateral commands.

After taking a long, steady breath, Ethan lifted his gaze. His eyes were sharp, filled with ambition and resolve.

"I plan to stage a coup against the status of the Ruler of Arkban City."

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