Beneath the Calamity Wind (thanks to Death Omen Star Is Shining for becoming a League Leader)

As the interminable meeting dragged on, everyone's expression grew uglier.

They traded barbs, bickered, and passed the buck. Nobody wanted to commit their resources, and nobody wanted to be the first sacrificial lamb to stick their neck out. For a time, they remained deadlocked.

"What, do you think we can still strike first?" Garisto sneered. "If you ask me, it's already useless. That Ji guy has built up his power, and Luo Island is too firmly entrenched to shake. Can none of you grasp even the basics of the situation? Do you really want this to spiral out of control?"

"If it really does spiral out of control, we certainly won't be the ones who lose the most."

Seeing that the moment was ripe, the old woman from Ma City spoke decisively, her expression dark. "If it comes down to mutual destruction, are we supposed to just bare our necks for the blade?

"If everything is reduced to scorched earth, then fine, we lose. That Ji guy can squat in the ruins of the Seven Cities and scavenge for scraps. Are we really going to hand an outsider the fruits of centuries of work by all our cities and families?"

"Oh?"

Garisto laughed in amusement. "Will the Old Woman lead the charge, then, and take us all to attack Luo Island?"

"Why attack?"

The old woman looked over expressionlessly and gave a cold laugh. "Since Luocheng and Elephant Isle don't like playing with the rest of us, let them go play by themselves!"

Everyone froze at her words.

Stunned.

"Enough!"

Speaker Fernan, who had remained silent throughout, couldn't help slamming the table, his face livid. "Do you know what you're saying?"

"At this point, does Mr. Fernan have any other solution?"

The old woman asked indifferently, "If the original three