Lila stepped forward, bent down, and picked up a button warped by the fire from the ashes.
Then she turned to look at the others.
Beneath the grapevine trellis, the woman stood with her back straight, moonlight outlining her calm profile.
Among the many Cloaked figures, she was the only one who had not concealed her face. At that moment, everyone's gaze was fixed on her.
She looked directly at them. Her gaze was not sharp, yet it carried a quiet pressure somewhat like Hawthorne's, as though it could pierce through their disguises and flesh to see into the deepest parts of their souls.
"Brothers, sisters, comrades in our shared cause!"
Lila spoke slowly, letting the weight of every word sink into their hearts.
"Tonight, there are no spotlights, no magnificent stage, and no hollow promises. There is only us—and the truth we protect together!"
"For many years, we have danced with darkness, set rules for chaos, and drawn boundaries around violence!"
"We have tolerated things that existed beyond the rules and used methods not recognized by the law, not because of the greed and desire the world accuses us of, but because controlled chaos is the foundation of stability!"
"Perhaps our hands are not spotless, but our goal has always been to make this nation's future clean and strong!"
"We cannot hand the fate of this country to those naive fools. It must be guided by those of us who truly understand how the world works!"
"Everyone, the time has come!"
"It is time... for people with greater resolve and greater ability to lead us forward! We are entering a new era—an era in which we make the rules and control the rules!"
"Together, we will establish a new order. At the same time, I will ensure that everyone's