Roundtable Meeting

The roundtable at TOPS headquarters symbolized the Paragon Federation's highest decision-making body.

Four seats ruled the financial conglomerates: Gaozhi Group of the Lead Staff, Withered Peak Group of the Copper Ring, Sacred Rain Group of the Tin Crown, and Black Branch.

Of the known companies under TOPS, only two were involved in anti-corrosion research: Qiao Group and Sacred Rain Group.

But judging by the logo's design—a sapling growing from a pair of lungs—it could represent resistance to corrosion.

Qiao Pharmacy's logo used letters, while Sacred Rain developed anti-corrosion foods for use inside Hollows. The sapling and the wood-related character in "Rain" fit the design better.

I put the odds at 70% for Sacred Rain, 20% for Qiao Group, and 10% for an unknown newcomer.

That was why I chose Sacred Rain Group for this story.

"It's been ages! How long has it been since all four seats met together?" came an old man's voice. He held the Lead Staff.

"Old man, drop the sanctimonious act and get to the point!" A short-haired woman in white cut him off. She represented Sacred Rain Group and held the Tin Crown.

"Come now! We're all one family. No fighting!"

A fashionably dressed man, the last to speak, tried to smooth things over. He was Edmund, the Copper Ring and head of Withered Peak Group—the powerful figure Hugo had contacted during the Sacrificial Ghost Core case.

After the Ravenlock Family's collusion with the Praise Society came to light, he had also appeared on television to distance TOPS from the Ravenlock Family.

"Enough!"

From the fourth seat, the head of Black Branch barked an order, cutting off the other three.

"There are two matters on today's agenda. First... I trust none of you had a hand in pushing the Ravenlock Family into colluding