Cronus' system: Against the gods
Chapter 34 A Meeting of Hot Tempers and Cold Threats

The air was thick and tense as both men sat opposite each other, with a large round table in the middle. Their eyes were locked onto each other, each one's aura trying to suppress the other, but none was willing to back down.

"Valenbrook! You better think wisely before deciding!! Don't be so hot-headed! Back out now, or you'll pay the consequences of your defiance!" Chairman Voss shouted, his bloodshot eyes glaring with barely concealed rage.

Lord Valenbrook, composed but with an edge of steel in his gaze, leaned forward slightly, his voice cold and deliberate. "How dare you! You're just a representative, Voss, and yet you speak with so much boldness. Go back and tell that fool you call your family head that I, Lord Valenbrook, will not stop until I take control of the Wolf-fang Hunter's Guild."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop as the weight of Lord Valenbrook's words hung in the air. He was known for his pride and influence in the city, but his ambitions were often tempered by reason. This, however, was a different matter altogether.

The Wolf-fang Guild was the most powerful and profitable hunter's guild in the city, and whoever controlled it held sway over not just the hunters but the economy as well. Valenbrook's desire to seize control was no mere whim, it was a strategic move, one that could tip the balance of power in his favor.

Chairman Voss narrowed his eyes. "You overestimate your influence, Valenbrook. My family has managed this guild for decades. The city thrives under our leadership. What makes you think you can just waltz in and take it?"

Valenbrook's eyes flickered with a dangerous glint. "Because the Valenbrook family has always been the backbone of this city's defense. Our resources, our connections, our fighters, all of it has been poured into ensuring the safety of this city, while your family simply reaps the benefits. The Wolf-fang Guild has thrived because of us, not because of your so-called leadership.

And now, it's time we take what's rightfully ours."

Chairman Voss clenched his fists. His family had held control of the guild for generations, building its wealth and influence from the ground up. The idea of losing that power was unthinkable. But Valenbrook's claims were not without merit. The Valenbrook family had indeed contributed significantly to the city's defense, and their wealth and military connections ran deep.

Still, Voss was not about to concede without a fight.

"You speak as if your family is the only one that matters in this city," Voss spat, his voice filled with contempt. "The Wolf-fang Guild has always been neutral, serving the interests of the entire city, not just a single family. We've kept it independent to prevent exactly this kind of power grab!"

Valenbrook's expression darkened, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Neutral? Don't make me laugh. The only reason the Wolf-fang Guild has stayed afloat is because my family has been bankrolling your operations for years. Your neutrality is nothing but an illusion, a way to keep yourselves at the top while others do the hard work. But that ends now.

It's time for real leadership."

The tension between the two men was palpable, like a coiled spring ready to snap. Neither was willing to back down, and it was clear that words alone would not resolve this dispute.

"You think you can just take over?" Voss growled, his voice low but filled with fury. "I won't allow it. The city council won't allow it. We have too much invested in the guild, too much at stake. Your family may be powerful, but you're not invincible."

Lord Valenbrook's lips curled into a smile, but it was devoid of warmth. "Oh, I'm well aware of the council's interest. But don't forget, Voss, the council also values results. And if the choice is between your family's complacency and my family's action, who do you think they'll side with?"

Voss was silent for a moment, his mind racing. He knew that Valenbrook wasn't bluffing. The Valenbrook name carried weight, and there were plenty of people in the city who would be more than willing to back a new regime if it meant more security or wealth. The council might be swayed, especially if Valenbrook could prove that his leadership would bring greater prosperity.

But Voss wasn't going to let that happen. He wasn't just fighting for his family's legacy—he was fighting for survival. He took a deep breath, leaning back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Valenbrook's.

"You underestimate us, Valenbrook. You may have power and influence, but you're too arrogant to see the full picture. There are forces at play here that even you can't control. And when they come for you, no amount of wealth or status will protect you."

Lord Valenbrook's smile faded, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Is that a threat, Voss?"

"Take it however you like," Voss replied, standing up slowly. "But mark my words: this isn't over. I will not let you take the Wolf-fang Guild from us. You've made many enemies in your pursuit of power, and you'd do well to remember that. Watch your back, Valenbrook, because the moment you slip, they'll be waiting to strike."

Valenbrook remained seated, his gaze cold and unwavering. "You talk a lot for a man with so little leverage. Leave while you still have some dignity, Voss."

Chairman Voss clenched his jaw but said nothing more. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. As the door slammed shut behind him, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate slightly, but the undercurrent of hostility remained.

Lord Valenbrook sat back in his chair, his mind already working through the next steps. He knew Voss wasn't someone to be taken lightly, and his warning about enemies waiting in the shadows wasn't just empty words. But Valenbrook had always thrived in the face of adversity. He had risen to power by outmaneuvering opponents far more dangerous than Voss.

Still, the Wolf-fang Guild was crucial to his plans. Securing control of it would solidify his family's position as the most powerful in the city, and he wasn't about to let that opportunity slip away.

He stood up, his eyes scanning the room as if seeing something beyond the walls. "Let them come," he muttered to himself, his voice filled with quiet resolve. "Let them try."

Valenbrook knew that this battle for the guild was only just beginning. There would be more challenges, and more threats, but he was prepared for them. He always was.

And as for Voss... well, Lord Valenbrook had dealt with men like him before. Men who thought they could hold onto power simply because they'd always had it. But Valenbrook knew better. Power wasn't something you inherited, it was something you took.

And soon, the Wolf-fang Guild would be his but before that, he would need to secure the loyalty of the hunters, the people, and perhaps, even forge new alliances, unexpected ones. His thoughts flickered briefly to his daughter, Seraphina. She was not yet fully aware of the weight of their family's legacy, but soon, she would be.

Valenbrook sighed, casting one last glance at the empty chair across from him where Voss had sat.

"The game has only just begun," he muttered to himself.

************************

General Silas sat behind his large desk, the dim light of his study casting long shadows across the room. His mind churned, replaying recent events over and over, haunted by the looming possibility that something vital could have slipped through his fingers. His fingers clenched a pen so tightly that it threatened to crack. Then, a sharp knock on the door interrupted his dark thoughts.

"May I come in, General?" Miss Layla's voice echoed from outside.

He quickly composed himself, hiding the tension that had been consuming him. "Enter," he called out.

Layla stepped inside gracefully, her expression calm, though her eyes held a hint of urgency. She approached his desk and gave a slight bow, her long, flowing robes shifting with the movement. Silas nodded at her, beckoning her to speak.

"I have news, General," she began, her voice measured. "It's about Rex Xander, the boy we thought hadn't awakened any powers."

Silas's brows furrowed in curiosity, though he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"It turns out..." Layla paused, her words carefully chosen. "He's a late bloomer. He's awakened after all, and he possesses super speed.

For a brief moment, Silas felt the weight on his chest lift. Relief washed over him, like a wave crashing against a rock. Rex, the boy who had been dismissed, written off by so many, had defied the odds. A surge of pride filled him, though it was quickly followed by a darker realization.

If Ralph had succeeded in his task... Silas's heart clenched as the thought played out in his mind. If that hired blade had taken Rex's life before his awakening, no one would have known. The boy would have died a perceived failure, a mere casualty of a ruthless world. The weight of that potential mistake hit him hard, but Silas was a master of hiding his emotions.

He nodded to Layla, keeping his face neutral. "That's... excellent news," he said, his voice steady. "I'm glad to hear it."

Layla smiled, seemingly satisfied with his reaction. "Yes, General. It seems there's more to the boy than we initially thought." She bowed again and, without another word, turned and left the room, her footsteps echoing faintly as she departed.

Once she was gone, Silas's face fell. The mask of professionalism he had worn in Layla's presence crumbled, replaced by a tight frown. His hands trembled as he recalled the night Ralph had been sent to eliminate Rex. The assassin had failed, and now, knowing what the boy was capable of, Silas was grateful for that failure. But it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

He stood up, his chair scraping across the wooden floor as he paced the room. His mind raced, thinking of the repercussions. Rex's survival meant much more than just an additional asset, it meant that Silas had almost made a grave mistake.

"Damn those assassins!" he spat, grabbing the pen that lay broken on his desk. With a single snap, he crushed it further, fragments of it falling to the ground. "Robbing me off my money! If I report them to Voss, there's nothing he could do to those mercenaries anyway!" He cursed again, feeling the anger boil within him.

Silas's thoughts whirled with the implications of what could have been. Ralph had failed him, but perhaps that failure had been a blessing in disguise. Yet, the bitter truth lingered, he had almost destroyed something vital, something important to the city's future.

The soft tap of another knock on the door interrupted his tirade again, snapping him back to reality. This time, however, it was one of his personal guards.

"General," the guard said, saluting smartly. "The council has requested your presence"