In a secluded private club, the lights were dim and the atmosphere oppressive. Snow walked down the corridor to the designated room. Inside, the representatives of the Brand and Calder Families had already arrived, their expressions varied.
"Everyone should be here by now, right?"
Straightening his tie slightly, Snow entered the secret room unknown to the outside world. The dull yellow lights flickered in the reflections on his glasses. The representatives of the Brand and Calder Families were already there, seated at opposite ends of the sofa.
The Brand representative's brow was slightly furrowed, his expression uneasy, while the Calder representative remained expressionless, his arms folded across his chest.
Lin Gong sat in the shadows of the room, tapping her fingers lightly against the table. Each tap was crisp and rhythmic, betraying her unsettled mood.
Snow sat down on the sofa and cleared his throat. "Everyone, I've called you here today because we face a common predicament and a common enemy. We can't fight alone. We need to join forces."
"A common predicament and enemy? Who? District 25? Or Dorothy? Whatever you're planning, I won't agree to it."
The Calder Family's representative cut Snow off coldly, his words steeped in wariness and distrust.
Snow smiled faintly. Instead of answering directly, he turned toward Lin Gong. In this enclosed space, her presence was like a bottomless black hole, impossible to ignore.
Lin Gong sat in the shadows of the room, tapping her fingers lightly against the table. Each tap was crisp and rhythmic, betraying her unsettled mood.
Lin Gong gently adjusted her glasses, her voice even. "Representative of the Calder Family, we're not here to argue today. We're here to cooperate. I believe neither the Brand Family nor the Calder Family wants to see its interests harmed."
The Brand Family's representative