As Judge entered, a small, exquisitely furnished conference room came into view.
The conference room's overall style exuded Eastern elegance. More than twenty very young-looking people sat around a huge circular conference table, many of whom Judge recognized. In the center stood a beveled screen, allowing anyone seated at the table to see its display from any angle.
Seated at the head of the table was Ayala, dressed sharply and radiating the bearing of a queen.
Seeing Judge arrive, she warmly said,
"Welcome, Mr. Judge. Please, have a seat!"
Everyone had already left him the seat to Ayala's left, the closest one to her. Below that seat sat the four Vinsmoke siblings, led by Reiju.
"Father!"
All four rose proactively to greet Judge. Reiju's voice carried complicated emotions, while her three brothers treated him as though he were a stranger.
"Mm."
Judge nodded in response and took his seat. Once everyone was seated, the meeting officially began.
"Before the meeting begins, allow me to first thank Mr. Judge. Lord Ye Mu entrusted me with full responsibility for dealing with the World Government's attacks against us this time. I was somewhat worried at first, but with Mr. Judge's assistance, I feel much more at ease."
"You flatter me, Lady Ayala!"
Judge did not dare put on airs before Ayala, whom Ye Mu adored so deeply.
He had come only to help these young people fill in the gaps and handle logistics. As the former head of the Vinsmoke Family and king of the Vinsmoke Kingdom, Judge had fought the Marines and the World Government for countless years, so he was still quite capable when it came to intelligence and experience.
"Then the meeting shall officially begin!"
"What we will discuss today is how to respond to the World Government's recent destructive