Chapter 699

Chapter 699

My voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the noisy chatter with a strange, piercing clarity.

"Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Carr, and all the representatives here. It's normal for you to question my qualifications and doubt the authenticity of the parchment. If I were in your shoes, facing some sudden 'savior' who popped out of nowhere, I'd have doubts too."

I paused for a moment, then my tone shifted, becoming heavy with an undeniable urgency. "But let me ask you this. Is the growing energy reaction in the Mariana Trench, reported by the New World Alliance, fake? Are the flashing red dots on the real-time map Sabrina showed us just an illusion? Is the threat of the Mind Control Elixir something Chief Leader Marshall made up?"

My three questions hit hard, ringing in the air.

The meeting room fell silent instantly. Even Francis was at a loss for words.

I pointed at the massive holographic map. The dense red dots looked like bleeding wounds, stinging everyone's nerves.

"These are real threats! They're happening right now, at this very moment! We don't have time to argue over who's more 'respected' or to go through endless formalities! The enemy isn't going to wait for us to hold a hundred board meetings before they act!"

I took a deep breath, my gaze turning rock-solid, as if flames were burning in my eyes. "You want proof? Fine! Tick is decoding the parchment right now! The results will be your proof! You want ability? I'm standing here telling you I have a way to activate the Control Spirit Crystal! That method is on the parchment! This is my one and only 'qualification,' and I'm the only person right now who might be able to stop this disaster!"

My voice shook everyone to their core. "You're worried I don't understand the Alliance? I'll admit, I don't get the tangled web of interests or the outdated rules you've followed for centuries! But I do understand one thing—if the Elite Alliance falls apart under the New World Alliance's schemes, or worse, turns on itself, everything you value—your family legacies, your military power, your status—will be gone!"

"Now is not the time to debate if I'm qualified to sit in this position!"

I slammed my fist hard on the heavy circular conference table, making a deep thud. The whole room seemed to shake.

"Now is the time to decide if the Elite Alliance will unite, take a chance, and seize this one shot at survival! Or will we keep bickering and doubting each other, sitting here waiting for doomsday while the New World Alliance's plot succeeds!"

My gaze was like a sharp blade, cutting into every hesitant representative.

"The choice is in your hands! I'm only asking one thing: Do you choose survival or destruction? Do you choose to trust me just this once and fight together? Or do you cling to old prejudices and watch the Alliance—and your families—fall into the abyss?"

Silence.

Absolute silence enveloped the entire meeting room.

My words were like a heavy hammer, smashing through fake politeness and selfish calculations, laying bare the brutal reality and the urgent choice between life and death for everyone to see.

Francis's face turned pale, his lips moved, but he couldn't find a way to argue back.

Alfonso's expression was complicated, his fingers tapping the armrest unconsciously, clearly wrestling with himself inside. The other family representatives showed shock, deep thought, and uncertainty on their faces.

Just then, a powerful, invisible wave of mental energy swept through the entire central building without warning!

The lights in the meeting room flickered wildly, the holographic map distorted and blurred, crackling with static! The defensive runes on the walls lit up in response but dimmed just as quickly!

Several representatives with weaker spiritual energy or older age clutched their heads in pain, letting out muffled groans.

Sabrina's face changed drastically. "Mental interference! It's the New World Alliance! They're attacking our mental barrier!"

One of the directors shouted in panic. "It's the Mind Control Elixir taking effect!"

"James! Scanning complete! Initial analysis!" Tick's voice suddenly cut in, urgent and with a strange tremor. "The text on the parchment isn't just some ancient language! It's a highly encrypted command stream! The core content points to a coordinate and a mental frequency resonance formula! The formula starts with—'Aether Blood, Resonance Crystal Nexus'…"

Before Tick could finish, an even bigger shock hit!

The command center's emergency communication forced its way onto the meeting room's main screen. A distorted, terrified face of a communicator appeared. "Report! Massive spiritual energy eruption detected from the Mariana direction! Target is Elite Alliance headquarters! Repeat, target locked on Elite Alliance headquarters! Mind Control Elixir is suspected to have activated!"

On the screen, the holographic map showing global energy waves was instantly covered by a terrifying, spreading crimson red! The red moved like a plague, expanding at an alarming speed!

"What?"

"How dare they!"

"So soon?"

The meeting room erupted in horror! The doubt on Francis and Alfonso's faces was replaced by disbelief and overwhelming fear! The representatives, who had just been arguing endlessly, now felt a chilling dread and crushing despair!

The Mind Control Elixir had actually activated! And its target was everyone in the Elite Alliance!

Gilbert suddenly turned to me, his eyes filled with unprecedented seriousness and resolve. "James! There's no time! The Control Spirit Crystal! Only you can activate it to stop this! No matter the outcome, the Elite Alliance follows your command!"

Everyone's gaze, a mix of last hope and despair, focused on me in an instant.

Life and death hung by a thread!

My heart pounded in my chest, Tick's decoded phrase echoing in my mind—"Aether Blood, Resonance Crystal Nexus"! Without a second of hesitation, facing the crimson tide that could swallow everything, a brilliant light burst from my eyes!

"Sabrina, Chief Leader Harvey, take me to the basement of Elite Alliance headquarters! Everyone, Elite Alliance is now in war mode!"

I gave the order to everyone almost as if I were the new Grand Leader.

The meeting room fell dead silent for a moment, then Cecil was the first to shout. "Alright, I follow the new Grand Leader's orders!"

One by one, the directors from the major families responded positively.

At this life-or-death moment, there was no room for hesitation!

Then, Gilbert and Sabrina led me to that basement. In this very basement, Gilbert had given me the Control Spirit Crystal.

"I'm going to activate the Control Spirit Crystal here," I said, holding the crystal and looking at Gilbert. "Besides the phrase on the parchment, is there anything else you need to tell me?"

Gilbert shook his head. "I've told you everything I can! From here on, whether you can activate the Control Spirit Crystal is up to you! If…"

He suddenly went quiet, a worried look on his face.

I knew what he wanted to say.

If I failed to activate the Control Spirit Crystal, there was a chance its power could backfire, rupturing my veins and killing me!

"James!" Sabrina suddenly threw herself into my arms, holding me tight.