Jonathan’s gaze locked onto Benjamin, his tone cold and unwavering. “Do you think I’m here to waste everyone’s time?” His sharp eyes bore into the man, leaving no room for doubt.

  Benjamin hesitated but quickly regained his composure. “No, but what you’re saying—it doesn’t sound real at all!” His voice was calmer now, though still filled with disbelief.

  Victor, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “What did I tell you, Benjamin?” His tone was measured, indifferent, but carried undeniable weight.

  Benjamin turned toward him, frowning. “You told me the same thing, and I told you it sounded insane. It still does.”

  Victor exhaled, clearly unimpressed. “No, I’m talking about what I told you after.”

  Benjamin thought for a moment but shook his head. “I don’t remember.”

  Victor’s gaze hardened. “I told you to take everything said in this assembly seriously, yet here you are, still treating it like a joke.” His voice carried a chilling edge as he leaned forward slightly. “So tell me—are you here to disrupt the assembly, or are you here to stand with Humanity?”

  The room fell into a heavy silence. The temperature seemed to drop as all eyes focused on the tense exchange.

  Nova, watching from the sidelines, nodded to himself. ‘Victor knows exactly when to be ruthless.’ His gaze swept across the room, taking in the uncertain expressions. ‘The others still think we’re here for idle chatter, as if this is some political meeting instead of a matter of survival.’

  His thoughts drifted to Vragor. ‘If only we had people half as competent as him, we’d already be executing our plan instead of wasting time convincing fools.’ Sighing, he refocused on the discussion.

  Before Benjamin could speak again, Eva Bennett interjected. “We all want to support Humanity, but let’s be honest—these claims are insane. Aliens are farming us? Why?” She shook her head. “To them, we’re nothing more than ants. This doesn’t add up.”

  Nova thought. ‘Another one…’

  Jonathan fixed his gaze on Eva, his expression unreadable. “Because the classes we’ve picked aren’t truly ours. They belong to the sons and daughters of the aliens. Does that sound like a good enough reason?”

  Eva scoffed. “So what? They’re ours now. What can they do about it?”

  Benjamin nodded in agreement. “Eva’s right. We’re the ones using these powers—they belong to us.”

  Jonathan clenched his fists, barely restraining his frustration. “That power is borrowed.” His voice dropped, each word laced with cold certainty. “Once you level up enough, the aliens will strip you of everything. All your progress, your abilities—everything will return to its rightful owners. The real ones. Do you understand now?”

  Silence stretched for a moment before Henry Winters finally spoke. “Let’s assume all of this is true. Can’t we just become stronger than the aliens?”

  Victor’s answer was immediate. “No, we can’t.”

  Henry turned to him, his eyes narrowing. “Why not? Do you think we’re lesser than them?”

  Victor exhaled, his tone calm but firm. “Because we don’t have enough time. Out there, there are beings who can destroy solar systems—entire galaxies—with a single punch. Do you honestly believe you can reach that level?”

  “WHAT?!”

  The entire hall erupted into chaos.

  Destroy solar systems? Galaxies?

  The sheer scale of power Victor described sent ripples of disbelief through the crowd.

  Eva snapped, her voice filled with anger. “Do you take us for idiots, Victor?”

  "At the moment, yes, I do think you are." Victor’s voice was steady, unshaken by the growing hostility in the room. "Tell me—have you ever seen me joke about serious matters?"

  Silence.

  Everyone present knew Victor’s reputation. While he might be easygoing in casual settings, when it came to business or high-stakes discussions, he was a completely different person. No one built the wealthiest family on Earth by being a pushover.

  Victor met Jonathan’s gaze and gave a small nod. Taking the cue, Jonathan resumed, his tone unwavering. "We have at least twenty years, at most a hundred, before we’re either slaughtered or caged like animals."

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The weight of his words settled over the assembly like a suffocating fog.

  Before he could continue, Edwin interjected. "Why that specific timeframe?"

  "Allow me to explain."

  A new voice cut through the murmurs, and all heads turned as Jack stepped forward.

  The moment they saw his youthful face—one unfamiliar to most in the room—whispers spread like wildfire.

  Eva frowned, arms crossed. "Even kids get to speak now?"

  Benjamin sneered. "Looks like this assembly is turning into a joke."

  Jack ignored them. Their opinions didn’t matter. Instead, he locked eyes with Edwin and spoke with a confidence that silenced the room.

  "Portals exist to train people, not to kill them. They operate on a timer—one tied to a civilization’s advancement. When a world reaches a certain threshold of power, it edges closer to joining the lowest-ranked civilizations of the Universe. The fastest a civilization has ever crossed that threshold is twenty years."

  "What about the hundred years? Why not a thousand?" Edwin asked. His tone wasn’t dismissive—he genuinely wanted answers. If Jonathan wasn’t objecting to this young man speaking, then he must have already accepted his credibility.

  Jack remained composed. "Because after a hundred years, if our civilization hasn’t crossed the threshold, the Universe will abandon us. The portals will disappear, and with them, any chance of survival."

  The weight of those words settled heavily over the room.

  Henry leaned forward. "Then why are we wasting time here instead of training?"

  Jack sighed. "Because if everyone rushes to train, we’ll cross the threshold too early—before we’re ready. We need to follow a structured plan and delay mass training for a few years—"

  "Are you telling us to stay weak? What kind of bullshit plan is this?" Eva snapped, unable to hold back any longer.

  Benjamin nodded in agreement. "Even if we accept all of this as truth, delaying our growth is the same as dooming ourselves."

  Before Jack could respond, the doors to the chamber burst open.

  A man and a woman strode in, their presence immediately commanding attention.

  Dominic Sykes and Aurora Brooks. The heads of the first and second-ranked families.

  "I agree with Benjamin" Dominic declared, his voice carrying the weight of authority.

  Aurora’s gaze was sharp as she added, "So do I. How can we trust information with no proof?"

  Jonathan exhaled slowly, already feeling the onset of a headache. Meanwhile, Victor’s expression darkened. The assembly wasn’t even halfway through, and already, obstacle after obstacle was piling up.

  Jack turned his gaze toward the newcomers, his expression unreadable. "Are you here just to cause problems, or do you have something useful to say?"

  Aurora’s eyes narrowed. "Who do you think you are, speaking to me like that?" Her tone was icy, laced with contempt.

  Dominic smirked. "He must be some homeless stray Jonathan decided to shelter. We should at least commend the President for his generosity."

  Silence.

  The weight of his words hung in the air.

  This was the second time someone had openly disrespected Jonathan today. But this time, the shift was undeniable. The power dynamics in the room were changing—fast.

  Before, the high families would have never dared to speak to the President this way. But the old world was gone.

  Jonathan's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "What do you two want?"

  Dominic didn’t hesitate. He had no need for deception. "We want to establish a new order. You're no longer fit to be President."

  Aurora scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "With all the nonsense you’ve been spewing, you must be going senile already."

  Jonathan exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay composed. But his patience was running thin. His grip on control—on authority—was slipping through his fingers. Enough was enough.

  His voice rang through the hall. "Guards!"

  Nothing.

  Not a single one moved.

  Dominic let out a quiet chuckle before shaking his head. "No one listens to you anymore, Jonathan."

  The room grew colder as Jonathan's gaze hardened. "What did you do?"

  Aurora laughed, a victorious glint in her eyes. "They serve us now." Then, without missing a beat, she commanded, "Guards!"

  A wave of armored figures answered the call, stepping into formation behind Dominic and Aurora.

  The outcry was immediate.

  "How dare you rebel?" one of the government officials roared.

  "This is treason!" another shouted. "We'll execute every last one of you!"

  "We stand with you, President!" others declared, their anger boiling over.

  But in the midst of the chaos, Nova remained perfectly still. He turned to Thomas, a smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like your services won’t be needed after all—someone else took your job."

  Thomas, who had been tense since the start of the assembly, let out a slow sigh of relief, finally allowing himself to slump into his chair.

  Samuel arched an eyebrow at the exchange but said nothing. If he needed to know, they would tell him.

  Meanwhile, back at the center of the hall, Jonathan had yet to speak. He simply turned, his expression unreadable, and locked eyes with the other seated family heads.

  Then, in an eerily calm voice, he asked, "Will you join them too?"

  Edwin remained silent, choosing to observe rather than act. His instincts told him that picking the wrong side too soon could be fatal.

  Across the room, Eva and Benjamin exchanged a glance before slowly rising from their seats. Without hesitation, they strode toward Dominic and Aurora.

  Eva’s voice carried through the tense air. "With all that crazy talk, I can’t allow my family to follow such a ruler."

  Benjamin nodded in agreement. "We never should’ve come here. What a waste of time."

  Their departure sent ripples through the assembly.

  Henry’s gaze flickered between Jonathan and Dominic’s group. A war waged in his mind, but in the end, he clenched his fists and turned to Jonathan. "I will stay."

  It was a gamble—he knew that. But something told him his odds were better here.

  Jonathan gave him a firm nod before turning his attention to Edwin, his voice sharp. "You need to choose. If you hesitate, I will consider you their ally."

  Edwin stiffened. He gritted his teeth, anger flashing in his eyes. Being forced into a choice like this was infuriating, but he knew the weight of Jonathan’s words. After a long pause, he exhaled sharply, stood, and walked toward Dominic’s side without saying another word.

  Aurora's smile was cold and victorious. "You’ve made the right choice," she told Edwin, Eva, and Benjamin as they settled beside her.

  Dominic took a step forward, surveying the room with a smirk. His voice rang with confidence. "Whoever wants to join us, do it now. Later, we might not be so welcoming."

  But instead of the response he anticipated, a laugh echoed through the room.

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