In Navia City's Rich District, a group of people concealing their identities gathered in a detached house with a garden.
This was the home of a wealthy merchant.
The merchant was well known for donating substantial sums to the Wealth Temple.
Everyone considered him a devout believer.
Now, however, the wealthy merchant stood before these people in his study, his expression grave.
His expression grew graver still when they removed their disguises and he saw that every one of them was wounded.
Instinctively, the merchant turned his gaze toward a middle-aged man among them.
Like the others, the middle-aged man had bandages wrapped around his arm. His face was rather ordinary, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp, like knives.
Those eyes alone set him apart. Even wounded and seated, he possessed a presence that ordinary people could hardly ignore.
In fact, as the leader of Oak Hand, the middle-aged man possessed strength to match his imposing presence.
Otherwise, he could never have made Oak Hand the longest-surviving gang in Navia City.
That history had also earned him extraordinary prestige.
Following the merchant's gaze, everyone turned toward the middle-aged man, clearly awaiting his orders.
"Activate 'that.'"
Under everyone's gaze, the middle-aged man spoke without hesitation.
That?
Those who knew nothing about it looked bewildered.
Those who knew the truth shuddered.
The wealthy merchant in particular.
As the person responsible for "that," he knew all too well what it would bring.
Or, more precisely, what they would have to pay.
"Boss, do we really have to do this?"
The merchant asked hesitantly, visibly reluctant.
"We have no choice!"
"Those bastards from Greenstone won't let this opportunity slip away. They'll launch an all-out attack on us now."
"Only 'that' can get us through this crisis!"
The middle-aged man took a deep breath, a