Rafiq scanned the room, observing the many other alliances already present. Some unfamiliar faces sat in silence, maintaining a respectful demeanor but occasionally watching each other with cautious glances. Rafiq cleared his throat softly, then murmured, "Many people have already gathered…"
After a moment of observation, a slight smile appeared on his face, and he let out a quiet laugh. "Hahaha… it's rare to see these people gathered in one place," he said, stepping towards a table in the corner of the room, followed by his two loyal guards. With calm composure, they took their positions, observing the room while keeping a measured distance.
Not long after Sayyid Rafiq's arrival, a different aura filled the hall as a tall woman with pale skin and neatly pinned blonde hair entered the room. Her movements were graceful and poised, her aura exuding strength and authority, evoking an aristocratic presence that could not be ignored. The woman was Elizabeth, the leader of the British Alliance, whose arrival immediately drew attention.
One of the female guards behind her whispered softly, "Miss Elizabeth, Mr. William is over there," nodding towards the other side of the room.
Elizabeth glanced in the indicated direction, and sure enough, she spotted William, the leader of the American Alliance, sitting at a table with a cigarette in his hand. They exchanged a brief look, and William gave a slight nod, smiling faintly.
With elegance, Elizabeth walked toward a table near the American delegation. She passed several other alliances, who watched her with curiosity, acknowledging her presence without needing a single word. Upon reaching the table, Elizabeth sat down, her posture relaxed yet graceful, then looked at William with a small smile.
"Have you been waiting long?" she asked in a casual yet familiar tone.
William leaned back in his chair, extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray before him. "Yeah… just a little early," he replied lightly, his voice soft but clear, hinting at a close relationship between them.
Elizabeth glanced around the room, observing the prominent figures from various alliances seated in their respective formations, with their guards standing watchfully nearby to prevent any disturbances. While still surveying her surroundings, she asked William, "Any new information about Cosmos?"
William sighed, shaking his head. "Nothing yet," he answered regretfully. "Even with the help of that young oracle, we haven't managed to track him down."
Elizabeth nodded slightly, appearing unsurprised. Although their conversation was simple, the two looked perfectly at ease, a sign of their long-standing closeness.
They continued their private conversation, occasionally laughing softly or whispering to each other, undeterred by the people around them who watched from a distance.
The strongest alliances of humanity continued to arrive, filling the hall with a vigilant presence. Each group took their designated seats. Some leaders who had known each other for a long time conversed casually, while newer leaders exchanged glances, trying to grasp who was among them. This meeting was a rare opportunity to get to know one another more closely, especially since circumstances had forced them to attend without an official invitation.
Amid the small conversations taking place in the hall, the atmosphere was disrupted by the arrival of a large, muscular man, calmly walking towards the entrance of the alliance building. The clock showed 9:10, and at that moment, a bare-chested man with massive muscles walked through the gateway. His physique was powerful, his skin sunburned, bearing scars of past battles and intense training. Several alliance groups undergoing inspection by the guards paused, casting glances of admiration and envy at the man, but no one dared to voice a complaint.
"Isn't that Mr. Bagus…" murmured one of the alliance leaders sitting in his car, gazing with respect and a hint of curiosity. The figure they saw was one of the ten core members of the World Market Trade Alliance. Although most of them had never met him in person, they recognized his name and face from widely circulated information on the internet.
Bagus looked at the crowd in front of the building with a puzzled expression, then chuckled. "Is there a wedding going on?" he joked in a low tone. From the gate to the path leading to the reception hall, many people were gathered, unfamiliar faces filling the area. His gaze was drawn to a car moving slowly beside him. Inside sat a woman dressed in a purple kimono, seated gracefully, gazing calmly toward the building.
Bagus shook his head slightly, as if brushing off his own thoughts, and continued walking steadily toward the reception hall.
"Mr. Bagus!!" a loud shout echoed from a distance. Bagus paused and turned his head. In the distance, a young man wearing a black jacket and black helmet was riding a large motorcycle, speeding toward him.
"Who's this?" Bagus muttered, curious, then recognized the figure beneath the helmet. A smile spread across his face as the young man stopped his motorcycle right beside him.
"Yo… Arya, you finally made it," he greeted warmly.
The young man, Arya, smiled as he removed his helmet. His messy black hair appeared, and his gaze was sharp yet full of friendliness. Arya, one of the core members of the World Market Trade Alliance, was a fighter who specialized in defense, known for his exceptional endurance in battle.
"Want a ride?" Arya patted the back seat of his motorcycle, raising an eyebrow in invitation.
Bagus looked at the large bike for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Let's go," he replied casually, then sat on the back seat.
Arya placed his helmet at the front of the bike, then started the engine, which rumbled softly, ready to take them to the reception hall. "Ready?" he asked, glancing slightly at Bagus behind him.
After receiving a confirming nod from Bagus, Arya twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle set off steadily, carrying the two of them toward the hall. Along the way, the gazes of other alliance members followed their journey, realizing that two key figures from the World Market Trade Alliance had arrived.