"Damn… what kind of artifact is this… reducing skill cooldown by 80%?"
"Even if a skill's cooldown is one hour, it becomes just 12 minutes. This artifact is terrifying."
All the core members of the alliance displayed various expressions—ranging from awe to sheer disbelief—as they examined the contents of the black bags handed to them by Lein. Some even froze for a moment, as if they couldn't believe what they had just received.
"This… this is crazy!" exclaimed Dion, his eyes wide as he stared at the (Galactic Fortress) in his hands. "An item ... it should cost a fortune! And not just anyone can buy it, right?!"
Laras, still holding the (Time Ring) in her hand, could only nod slowly. "I never imagined I would see such a high-level item this powerful," she whispered softly.
"Amazing…" said Hana, admiring the (Time Ring) on her finger. "But when exactly should we use all of this?"
Lein, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "You're right, don't rush to use these items. The real threat hasn't arrived yet. But when the time comes—when all the islands require our best defense—you'll know what to do."
He looked at all the members with a gaze full of conviction. "Be ready, because we're going to face enemies stronger than anything we've ever imagined."
All the core members listened carefully to Lein's words, determined to follow his instructions. They continued to inspect the contents of the black bags, unable to hide their shocked expressions.
"Well then, if there are no more questions, we'll end the meeting here," said Lein as he noticed there were no further inquiries.
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
"Thank you, brother Lein."
With those words, all the core members stood up from their seats and expressed their gratitude. Lein quickly left the hall with Nita, as he needed to act fast and help as many islands as possible. The more islands he saved, the stronger Earth's human race would become.
After Lein and Nita left, Laras followed suit. She stood up, backed away from her seat, and hurriedly left the hall, looking as if she was in a rush.
Hana, noticing Laras leaving immediately, turned to Gusti, who was seated beside her. "Mr. Gusti, why do you think Sister Laras left so quickly? She didn't even say a word after the meeting ended."
Gusti, a large, muscular man, shifted his gaze towards the hall's door. He too had noticed Laras's hurried departure. "I don't know, Miss Hana. Maybe she has something urgent to attend to," he replied with an innocent expression, not giving it much thought.
"I think she has pressing matters in the Chinese Alliance islands. I've heard her father's business there is quite large," said the old man Haikal, who had also noticed Laras's swift exit. He didn't find it strange, given that foreign enemies were attacking. With his vast network, Haikal could easily guess a logical reason for Laras's haste.
"Ah, yes, you're right, Mr. Haikal. I've been to the Chinese Alliance islands, and indeed, her father's business there is quite substantial. It's just as big as what they have in our alliance," Hana said, nodding slightly.
She recalled her visit to the Chinese Alliance islands to set up a branch store for their alliance. When she arrived, the dominant force in the market was the Chinese Alliance, followed closely by Laras's family business.
The Laras family's main business involved selling various system-related items, from rare monster materials to finished products like combat suits specially designed to protect adventurers. They also produced combat weapons renowned for their durability, as well as support items like potions that granted extra strength and talismans that aided in various situations.
The success achieved by Laras's family in the Chinese Alliance was a clear reflection of her father's extraordinary abilities as a merchant.
After Lein left the hall with Nita, the atmosphere in the room began to calm down slightly, but the sense of responsibility among the core members remained strong. Each of them knew that a great threat was looming, and they couldn't stay idle for too long.
In one corner of the room, Efan was speaking with the old man Takulani, an elderly man with the job of a swordsman. Their conversation sounded casual, reflecting the close bond they had built as the first ones to join the alliance together.
"Mr. Takulani, will you oversee the East or the West?" asked Efan with a smile, though he already knew the answer.
Takulani, with his hair turning white but his posture still firm, let out a short sigh. "I'll be heading East, of course. My Heaven Sword City is there. There's no way I'd leave that place unprotected." He looked out the large window, watching the sun dip towards the West. "Besides, the Eastern region is always more vulnerable to enemy attacks. That's my responsibility."
Efan nodded in understanding. "Alright then, I'll focus on the West and make sure everything stays secure there."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, some of the other core members also began casually discussing things after the official meeting had ended. Arya, a large man who always carried a shield with him, was speaking with Budi, a young man with green hair and a friendly face.
"So, which alliance will you be helping?" asked Arya, his voice calm but firm.
Budi let out a sigh. "I'll be supporting the Dragon Heart Alliance. The situation there is tough because most of their forces are Tier-2 and below," he replied.
Budi, being a mage, was a perfect fit for the task since his abilities excelled at area-of-effect attacks. It would be easy for him to deal with the Tier-2 and lower monsters.
Arya nodded, then turned his gaze towards Elen, who was sitting in the corner of the room. "Elen, what about you? Which alliance will you help?"
Elen, known for being shy, blushed slightly before answering. "I'll help the Japanese Alliance." Her voice was soft but loud enough for the room to hear. "I... I used to watch anime, so I thought I could help them. I don't want their anime industry to die."