"My goal is the Dark Continent. Whoever wants to take over the Association's affairs can have them," Odin said to the Zodiacs seated before him from his place at the head of the conference table.
A scruffy old man sat nearby, listening with a chuckle that made Odin grind his teeth.
Cheadle and the others paused, then nodded.
This was for the best. Although they now knew how astonishingly powerful Odin was, they had no idea whether he could manage the Association.
But poor management skills would not be a problem, either. The chairman only needed to be strong. That was how things had worked all these years, and they were used to it.
Pariston raised his hand. "Chairman, as far as I know, we can't go to the Dark Continent right now, can we?"
"We can," Odin said, looking at him. "Anything else?"
Pariston paused, then smiled. "No."
"Then that settles it." Odin glanced around the room. "Meeting adjourned."
Odin stood and followed Beans to the chairman's office.
The room was small, with a desk, a meditation area, a bookshelf, and a window.
The window offered a view of the entire city's skyline.
The Zodiacs stayed where they were, continuing their meeting in the conference room.
Netero followed Odin into the chairman's office and chuckled. "Time to show you that thing."
Netero walked behind the desk and sat down.
He took a wooden box from a drawer and placed it on the desk.
The box was palm-sized, its surface engraved with intricate markings.
The markings were fine, resembling both some kind of writing and a pattern.
"This is your reward," Netero said. "Only the chairman can open it."
Odin walked over and picked up the box.
It felt a little heavy. The wood was smooth, but the engraved markings