The Hall of Gods, with approval from Artea, arranged a meeting of influential leaders from various nations. This collaboration, if fruitful, would pave the way for future gatherings of a similar nature.
“I can just ignore the representative from Glorian as long as they don’t get under my skin,” Willem remarked, lifting his wine glass and savoring it quietly.
After brief introductions and getting acquainted, the attendees engaged in casual conversations.
As time passed, the clock struck 8:30 pm, half an hour past the agreed-upon time. Still, there was no sign of the Glorian delegation.
While the other powerful nations refrained from openly criticizing, discontent was visible on their faces. They arrived promptly for this significant gathering, anxious not to miss any crucial information.
However, the Glorians had the nerve to show up late-not just a few minutes late, but a considerable delay of half an hour, as if it didn’t matter.
Artea, as the world’s leading nation with abundant resources and clout, might have been excused for such behavior.
However, Glorian, the weakest nation, dared to keep everyone waiting, displaying a profound lack of awareness of their position.
“Bailey, time’s ticking. Glorian’s representative probably won’t show up. Shall we begin?” Willem’s impatience was evident as he swirled the drink in his glass.
“Let’s give them a little more time.
They might have run into some trouble. “Bailey glanced at the time, feeling increasingly annoyed.
Being so late for such an important matter only confirmed Glorian’s unreliability. He began to question whether including Glorian in the alliance was a mistake.
“How much longer are we supposed to wait? We need an answer,” Willem said blandly. “Are we just supposed to keep waiting if they never show up?”
“Mr. Bailey, we can handle anything with our strength without Glorian’s help. So, whether they come or not, it doesn’t make a difference.” Vanzan interjected.
He didn’t have a favorable opinion of Glorian’s people either. Previously, it was just hearsay, but now, experiencing it firsthand, he felt nothing but disgust.
“Let’s wait another five minutes. If the Glorian representative doesn’t arrive by then, we’ll count them out,” Bailey declared firmly. He had organized this meeting, and Glorian’s continued absence was a direct insult.
“Okay, let’s wait another five minutes, “Willem relented.
As the minutes dragged on, the anticipated time quickly passed.
Noting the absence of the Glorian delegation, Bailey rose with a stern countenance. “In light of Glorian’s unexplained absence, the Hall of Gods hereby revokes their alliance status. The subsequent actions will be a collective effort among the five nations.
Before Bailey’s words could fully sink in, the tranquility of the courtyard was disrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps approaching the door.
A middle-aged man in shining golden armor entered, flanked by an entourage of silver-armored guards. With longbows in hand, silver spears at their sides, and a demeanor of authority, they exuded an air of dominance and pride.
“I’m sorry for the delay, Mr. Bailey.” The man in golden armor chuckled as he approached Bailey with a handshake.
Bailey frowned, staying silent before posing his query. “Mr. Jasper Crest, I reminded you that this meeting was set for 8:00 pm with discretion. Why the large entourage?”
For a clandestine gathering, bringing two trusted aides would have sufficed.
Yet, Jasper had arrived with over a hundred people, seemingly unconcerned about attracting attention from Dragonmarsh.
In response, Jasper shrugged and pretended to have a headache. Then, he bragged, “Mr. Bailey, I’ve been trying to stay unnoticed, but my skills tend to draw attention! In Glorian, we’re blessed with abundant talent and resources.”
