Chapter 698

Chapter 698

We walked along the stone path toward the Defense Command Center. Along the way, the soldiers we passed stood tall and saluted us.

There was no doubt in their eyes, only loyalty to the Alliance. This made me realize even more clearly that the burden on my shoulders was far heavier than I had imagined.

Inside the Command Center, a massive holographic map was displaying real-time global energy fluctuations. Red dots kept blinking in the Mariana Trench area—that was the energy signature of the New World Alliance.

"That's their main base," Sabrina said, pointing to the spot with the densest cluster of dots. "In the past few days, the energy fluctuations there have tripled. I'm afraid they're planning something big against the Elite Alliance!"

I traced my finger across the map, sketching out a battle plan in my mind. Suddenly, I remembered the parchment. "By the way, any progress on decoding the parchment?"

Sabrina shook her head. "On the way back from Forbidden Island, the ancient text experts have been studying it, but the writing is too old. No breakthroughs yet. However, at the board meeting, we might get some clues from the older generation."

"Tick!" I thought, since the experts couldn't figure it out, it's time to call on my AI friend for help.

"James, what can I do for you?" Tick, my robotic bird, hovered above my head.

I said, "Scan the parchment right now and decode the text. Tell me what the chant is!"

"Sure, James! Please take out the parchment for me to scan!" Tick replied.

I pulled out the parchment and held up the side with the writing for Tick to scan.

After scanning, Tick went into deep processing mode. A flood of programming code flashed across its small screen.

I couldn't help but be amazed. Tick's processor is incredibly powerful, and its computing ability is top-notch!

Suddenly, my communicator buzzed. It was Gilbert's voice. "James, representatives from all the families have arrived. Come to the top-floor meeting room in the Central Building now."

"Got it!" I turned off the communicator and took a deep breath.

Sabrina intertwined her fingers with mine. "I'll take you there!"

We hurried through the corridors of the Central Building, our reflections moving side by side on the metallic floor.

Sabrina's fingertips felt slightly cool, but her touch was like a warm current spreading from my palm to every part of my body, washing away the last bit of unease in my heart.

The door to the top-floor meeting room was made of a single slab of obsidian, engraved with the Elite Alliance emblem—a crossed bronze sword and an olive branch.

Gilbert was already waiting at the door. When he saw us, he stepped aside and pushed open the heavy door. "The atmosphere inside isn't great. The Carr family and others are still questioning your qualifications. I was too optimistic before!"

I nodded to show I understood. The moment I pushed the door open and stepped in, dozens of eyes turned to me at once. There were far more people at today's meeting than at the previous board meetings I'd seen.

Earlier, Bodhi had proposed holding an early election for the new Grand Leader of the Elite Alliance, but very few people showed up for that meeting. Now, it seemed many of these people had been swayed by benefits from the Harrison family father and son, so they didn't attend that day.

But with Bodhi and his son dead and the Harrison family's influence collapsed, they dared to show up for this meeting!

The meeting room was circular, with representatives from each major family seated around a large, ring-shaped table. Some had their eyes closed, resting, while others whispered among themselves. When I walked in, all chatter stopped abruptly.

Alfonso sat to the left of the head seat. He glanced at me, his tone carrying a hint of scrutiny. "You're calmer than I expected."

"When things have come to this, panicking won't solve anything," I said, walking to the head of the table. Gilbert nodded at me, signaling for me to sit.

This chair felt heavier than I'd imagined, as if it carried the weight of a hundred years.

Sabrina stood by my side and whispered, "To your left are the Vasquez family and the Wheeler family. To your right are the Chapman family and the Banks family. They're all old, established families in the Alliance, with a lot of military power in their hands."

Gilbert cleared his throat, and the room instantly fell silent. "Everyone, we've gathered today for two reasons: to elect a new Grand Leader and to discuss strategies against the New World Alliance. As for James's abilities, I don't think I need to say much—"

"Wait." Francis, the head of the Vasquez family, suddenly interrupted. He tapped his fingers on the table. "Chief Leader Harvey, we acknowledge that James has helped the Elite Alliance, but the position of Grand Leader affects everything. As far as I know, he doesn't even understand the basic structure of the Alliance. What makes him qualified to lead us?"

"Because Mr. Smith can save us, and only he can save us!" Cecil's voice was loud and firm, his gaze steady as he looked at Francis. "The New World Alliance plans to activate the Mind Control Elixir to make us in the Elite Alliance turn against each other. Mr. Smith is of the Divine Clan, and the New World Alliance is just a puppet of the Divine Clan."

"Only Mr. Smith, with his divine bloodline and the chant on the parchment, can activate the Control Spirit Crystal and stop the New World Alliance's actions! If we don't unite around Mr. Smith, how can he fully dedicate himself to protecting the Elite Alliance?"

Cecil's words were like a massive rock dropped into a calm lake, stirring up waves of reaction.

"Divine bloodline? Control Spirit Crystal? Cecil, have you been brainwashed by the Harrison family's nonsense?" Francis slammed the table and stood up, his face full of mockery and disbelief. "A kid with an unknown background, holding a piece of parchment of questionable authenticity, can decide the fate of the Elite Alliance? What a joke! How can such far-fetched stories be the basis for electing a Grand Leader?"

Alfonso didn't stand, but his gaze was sharp as a blade, his voice low yet carrying an undeniable pressure. "Director Marshall, we understand your loyalty. But when it comes to the survival of the Alliance, we can't treat this as a game. You say he can activate the Control Spirit Crystal and stop the Mind Control Elixir—where's the proof? Even the ancient text experts can't decode the parchment. Are we supposed to rely on this mechanical bird?"

His eyes swept over Tick, perched on my shoulder with code still flashing rapidly across its screen. The contempt in his tone was unmistakable.

"You're far too naive!"

"Exactly!" A representative from the Vasquez family behind Francis quickly chimed in. "Our Vasquez family members are fighting and bleeding at the borders, protecting real territory! Not some fairy tale! The position of Grand Leader must be held by someone respected and deeply familiar with how the Alliance works! If Chief Leader Harvey insists on stepping down and electing a new Grand Leader, I think Alfonso is the perfect choice!"

"Francis, you flatter me. I'm not worthy," Alfonso said with a slight nod, his posture humble, but a glint of ambition flashed in his eyes. "However, for the sake of the Alliance, we do need a leader who can stabilize the situation, coordinate all sides, and understand military and internal affairs. The standard for a Grand Leader isn't brute strength, but leadership qualities! Mr. Smith may have great potential, but right now, he lacks both popularity and prestige."

The meeting room buzzed with murmurs.

The Wheeler family representative stroked his beard, remaining neutral. Yasmin Chapman from the Chapman family had a calculating look in her eyes, as if weighing her options. Patrick Banks, the elderly representative from the Banks family who had been resting with his eyes closed, now slightly opened them. His cloudy gaze swept over me with a hint of curiosity.

The pressure felt almost tangible, pressing down on me.

I could feel Sabrina's grip on my hand tighten slightly, offering silent support.

Gilbert frowned, about to speak.

I gently patted Sabrina's hand, signaling her to relax.

Then I slowly stood up from the head seat, my gaze calmly sweeping across the room before settling on Francis and Alfonso.