The morning sun offered a peaceful gleam of hopeful rays upon the city of Leon and the people within. The mixed smell of a putrid stench and fragrant aroma hung at the top, center of each lively city area. Citizens swarmed the streets as they carried on with basic tasks, among them were fanatics of the supernatural.

The indulgers, all of different status, factions and ages joined the ignorant people in carrying daily tasks. From extermination of unnatural beings and possible threats, to high stakes hunting for mystical artifacts and scavenging for powerful items.

Two different sides existed not only in the city, but the entire of False Earth as a whole. Within the chaotic mash of different variables, a gathering was held at "Blue Vena" Hotel, a 15-story building of modern engineering and unimaginable comfort.

Its luxurious decor and high-class hospitality made it a hotspot for various events and people. On this day, it was also the gathering of 6 faction Heads.

At the very depths of the Hotel, several meters below the ground, Heads of the Plotters Smoke, Eerie Gothel, Spokes Reaper, Curse Ridder, Arc Drainer and Transparent Bind Factions Assembled. Their identities shrouded by a blurry static as they sat on well-crafted chairs round a furnished table. The room was fairly lit by orange bulbs in an equal manner.

A distorted voice uttered, "Considering the number of factions that spawned, I'm disappointed only this few attended."

"It's not surprising, they're all freshly spawned after all." Another answered.

"Fresh blood or not, this recent spike in wavelength along the north pole is worrying."

"For now it seems like a rapid spike in the number of man-eaters. I'm just bewildered as to how all the indulgers were killed." The head of Curse Ridder in a grim manner.

"Indulger casualties are over a hundred and two, all the indulgers in the north pole are dead. At least 50 people are confirmed dead and over a hundred missing."

The room was stricken by a sweeping tension as all the faction heads kept silent, even the sound of a dropped pen would resemble a loud explosion.

"I fail to believe all these problems were caused by an increase in the number of man-eaters."

"So do I, but now the north pole has no indulgers. They're sitting ducks waiting to be slaughtered."

The air turned thick.

"As of yesterday, some of the citizens claimed to see walking shadows and mysterious creatures. At least, that's what the final briefing of Carlos stated before he died in the hospital."

"Carlos? The indulger with the teleportation ability? So he was from the Antarctic side, huh."

"He suffered internal and external wounds beyond reversion. His soul couldn't be conjured up either like the other indulgers; in his hand he brought a stack of papers with investigation recordings. Most of the contents are unknown because the blood stains have merged with the ink."

"What about the reversion boy? Can't he revert the paper to its original state?"

"Unfortunately he can't; whatever bound Carlos to death is binding some essential parts of the paper's words to concealment. More advanced techniques are being used rather than a basic wavelength ability."

"His investigations and our seers' result seem to contradict each other. From a more basic standpoint, it's illogical for mindless man-eaters to be capable of such; these Carlos' recordings are far more substantial."

"Are you discrediting the competence and capability of my seer?" The tone bore a threatening question.

"When exactly did I say that?"

"It's bait." Eerie Gothel's faction Head spoke with a firm resolution. "Whatever or whomever is behind this is trying to trick us. It probably wants us to send our adherers and progressor classes after it."

"Why would anything be so foolish as to do such? Going up against top tiers from at least 6 factions, each with at least 3 is lunacy. Unless it's more than 1 creature?"

"I can't say for sure." They responded, a deducting aura clung to their words."My previous statement was just speculation, but to me it was also the most likely possibility."

"Your reason being?"

"I can't say for sure." They spoke with an usual boldness. "It was just a hunch I voiced out."

The others retained brief seconds of silence, considering the assumption in relation to all the facts present.

Arc Dainer's seer was respected for having an almost accurate perception of events, making him the best supernatural detective in all factions. Simply discrediting his deduction was a risky move, on top of which there was a chance the reports in Carlos' dying hands were fabricated to lure them in.

All in all, a trap was the most logical conclusion. Surprisingly, after a duration of 10 years an opening existed for the seer's results to be inaccurate; that alone posed a large menace. After all, it was the same seer who revealed Cole was an accomplice and had been tailing him before he left Leon.

"If our seer was outsmarted then we might be dealing with a being from True Earth; regardless though, even True Earth beings can't escape his perceptive and investigative prowess."

'Unless he's misleading us on purpose; does he have an ulterior motive? He's always been quite cunning and difficult to control,' the faction Head of Arc Dainers construed.

"It's extremely risky to send our vital trump cards into unknown territory with no clear idea what waits beyond. And if it turns out the seer was right, they'll be on our asses about it."

"Should we send our mid-ranks?"

"Why should we? After all that's been discussed, it's a bad idea; the mid-ranks are every faction's workforce. Similar to soldier ants, they carry out many tasks and indulger activities; they are essential. Sending them into a probable top-tier mission is handing them over for a slaughter." The faction Head of Eerie Gothel reasoned. "We need more concrete evidence; investigations have to be carried out; something credible must be gotten before we risk putting our factions at a disadvantage."

After a deep pause, Eerie Gothel's faction Head concluded, "We need to send a disposable unit to gather solid proof of what lies in the north pole. A unit that wouldn't affect us to lose; people we can brush off easily with a valid reason."

"Do you mean....." The feeling of a large stone stuck in his throat obstructed the Curse Ridder's faction Head from completing his sentence.

"....we're sending the fresh bloods to investigate as a trial." Plotters Smoke head completed in a comfortable way. "Not a bad idea; if it's a swarm of man-eaters then no problem; if it's not....well, whoever survives becomes an immediate member. Nothing out of the ordinary."

"He's right; that's the best option without incurring serious losses. It'll work; the rookies aren't exactly pushovers after all."

Curse Ridder's head tried to oppose but nothing could be done; five against one in the decision was a red stamp on the paper. Even if he wanted to argue he had no solid points; their logic was solid and the gamble was worth taking even if he didn't like it.

'All I can do is hope the seer is right and it's nothing serious,' Curse Ridder's head thought.

"Should we spread the message across the stream? The more factions involved, the higher their chances of surviving."

"Why not? All the information we gained is between us; if need be we'll tamper with the truth and trick them into sending their forces."

"I'm sure majority won't even agree; inviting other factions' rookies to a trial is obviously very suspicious. They'll do some digging and find the loose threads left behind in the north pole."

"So what do we do?" The head of Eerie Gothel pondered for a bit, then spoke, "it's simple really. To the 6 of us it's a trial; to other factions interested it'll be a task. We'll fake the rewards, quests and missions; if they send some mid-tiers, no problem—all the more benefits."

"Your right; fortunately the Antarctic is a secluded place that's only close to Leon in terms of indulger and supernatural activities. They won't be able to authenticate the task themselves."

'Even the current state of the north pole is unknown to many; for those who are aware, it's written off as an increase in man-eaters.' The head of plotters smoke reasoned

The Eerie Gothel's head distorted voice let out a clear chuckle. "Do you all see? It's indeed a good thing attendees of such meetings are always scarce. We wouldn't want too many people finding out about this."

"Words exchanged between faction heads in a gathering stays in the gathering. That is the universal law of these meetings."

The others nodded in agreement.

"It's settled then; by noon the arrival of a new challenge will be shared with every faction in False Earth."

Though indiscernible, the head of Plotters Smoke was grinning with joy. The blurry depictions disappeared, and the room was flooded by an inescapable emptiness.

The fancy table, decorations and ornaments deconstructed as the room broke down into molecular fragments. The result was a room that didn't exist; only rock and sand remained. The place was returned to a piece of the ground, lacking any evidence of a meeting or presence of life, just stone and soil. With that, the meeting was adjourned.

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