Hana stood in front of the main building, awaiting the approaching group with a relaxed yet authoritative demeanor. From experience, Hana knew they were important people, though to her, they were merely guests with limited influence within the alliance. Her task was simple: to welcome them, guide them, and later relay the results of the alliance's internal meeting—all under Lein's direction.
Her gaze then landed on a woman with black hair walking toward her. A flowing red dress followed each graceful movement. Her skin was smooth, nearly flawless, and her almond-shaped eyes radiated a firmness that reminded Hana of the mysterious allure typical of Chinese culture. Behind her, two authoritative figures flanked her, both appearing middle-aged but exuding an aura as intimidating as any Tier-3 ruler Hana had ever encountered.
The man to the woman's right had a fierce face with a predatory gaze, like a resting beast ready to strike at any moment. The woman beside him, slightly more at ease, presented a different side—her face was calm, but her gaze sharp and calculating, making ordinary people reluctant to meet her eyes for too long.
"Miss Bai Qi, welcome," greeted Hana, her voice firm yet respectful. She stepped forward, offering a polite salute as a gesture of respect.
Bai Qi gave a slight nod. "Miss Hana, no need for such formality," she said in a neutral tone, neither excessive nor the least bit arrogant. Her eyes briefly glanced at the building behind Hana, and a faint crease appeared on her brow. Hana noticed her look of awe as she examined the building's material—a metal with a silvery sheen and a glossy texture, as if sculpted from a substance she had never encountered before.
Bai Qi's gaze grew sharper as she observed several robots moving along the street, carrying equipment and performing their tasks efficiently. For a moment, she even heard a faint hum from one of the robots as it paused to check a device on the roadside before continuing on its way.
"The Alliance World Market Trade has grown rapidly…" murmured Bai Qi, her eyes still scanning the surroundings with keen interest.
Behind her, the soldiers who had come along were also alert. Some appeared busy scanning the area; a few activated their observation abilities, while others instinctively positioned themselves to maintain a defensive formation, as if anticipating any sudden attack.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Hana extended her hand to shake hands with Bai Qi and each member of the group. She then gestured with her hand, inviting them to step inside the large building behind her. In the lobby, they would wait until the internal meeting concluded.
Bai Qi's entourage walked through the welcoming hall at the front. They were greeted by a grand interior: a large room adorned with beautiful accessories—artistic paintings with sharp, vivid strokes, sculpted statues symbolizing strength and honor, technological prototypes gleaming like artifacts from the future, and hologram panels in every corner displaying visual information and digital graphics gracefully in motion.
Several staff members of the Alliance World Market Trade passed by, offering polite greetings with professional expressions before quickly returning to their tasks, unlike ordinary people who might stop to admire Bai Qi and her entourage or ask for photos with them.
Behind Bai Qi, the fierce-faced man whispered in a low, serious tone, "Miss, I believe we need to reassess our evaluation of this Alliance World Market Trade."
Hearing this, Bai Qi paused, then turned and looked at the man with a sharp gaze. Her eyes narrowed, her lips moved slowly, "Do not speak for the rest of the day," she ordered briefly, her voice low yet forceful, ensuring that every word was understood clearly.
The man felt a subtle tremor in his chest, a clear warning to restrain himself. He nodded slightly, choosing silence, dismissing whatever he had just considered.
After passing through several rooms, they finally arrived at a vast hall stretching out like a grand banquet room. Rows of carved wooden tables were spaced widely apart, each set up specifically for honorary guests from other alliances. Each table was equipped with four chairs, while guards stood alert around, forming a protective formation around their leaders.
Bai Qi observed the hall, her gaze landing on a table already occupied by members from another alliance. In one corner, she noticed William from the American Alliance sitting casually, his right leg crossed over his left. A cigarette hung from his lips, thick smoke billowing around him in rings that seemed to encircle him. Beside William sat an old man and two young men with impressive strength, their aura nearing Tier-3 levels, although they were officially still classified as Tier-2.
As Bai Qi entered the hall, William lowered his cigarette, looking at her with a slight smile, then called out softly, "Miss Bai Qi, you're a bit late." His voice was low, yet somehow carried clearly to Bai Qi's ears despite the distance across the room.
Bai Qi didn't respond, briefly raising an eyebrow without expression before dismissing him and continuing to one of the nearby tables. She sat down calmly, unhurriedly, followed by the middle-aged man and woman behind her, who also took their seats, while the guards stood alert beside them, watching every corner of the room cautiously.
From his spot, William only smiled slightly, entirely unfazed by Bai Qi's attitude. He raised the cigarette back to his lips, taking a deep drag, the smoke swirling into gentle spirals in the air—a sight that, to some, might seem beautiful and soothing, even in this room filled with tension.
As time passed, one by one, the alliance delegations arrived, filling the hall with the presence of important figures from around the world.
The steady, calm footsteps echoed as a middle-aged man with a thick black beard entered the room. A large sword with a jeweled hilt hung securely on his back, gleaming whenever the light touched it.
His long, layered robe draped over him in heavy, elegant fabric, marking his identity as Sayyid Rafiq, the leader of the Arab Alliance. His deep, serene gaze radiated the calmness of a thinker who had long pondered the world.