Chapter 70: Council of Spiteful words

What did it feel like to be stuck in a room with a monster? The people of the disquisitive party which had arrived early to the weekly Prosperity council would know.

Caelan Striker was the monster. As the leader of the party, he was to at all times have composure but… how could he!? Caelan's current countenance reminded one of a lion ready to hunt and kill its prey.

"Ha…." He finally let out a breath which seemed to calm down his inner fury. The meeting would start soon.

Most of the other members of the Planetary and Reformative party took about 30 minutes to enter and find their seats in the darkroom where they had their round table meetings. Everyone was early by at least 10 minutes.

"Tsk, now we have to wait on the old brute" Vidor the only neutral member said. He was the last to find a seat and as always the most irritated.

To an extent, Caelan agreed with Vidor this time. He had swept his gaze past everyone in the room and couldn't help but make an ugly expression. He really wanted to kill them all.

Well, perhaps his thoughts were a bit more extreme. These thoughts were quickly suppressed once more. Calean unclenched his fists and calmed down his emotion. THE MINDSET OF A LEADER. He had to be this pride's male.

Soon enough, the last person came in. The old monster from the reformative party, Aldan. The aged man closed the door with a clang behind him.

Tap tap

He took his sweet time reaching his seat at the other end of the room.

"Sigh… It's been a long day for us of the Reformative party…" He mumbled audibly. His tone suggested exhaustion, but Caelan's face twitched.

"Ah, right! It looks like we are all here, let's get started" The old man said suddenly as he rapidly stood up from his seat with a smile.

"Let's start today's round of issues" He said before pointing a device at a screen.

The flat-screen turned on and revealed the array of issues they had to try and settle for the day. The words Termina insurgence were tactfully bolded for anyone that might be unaware of the issue or might miss it at the end of the list.

"Starting…" They had a long list of problems and the members went through a lot of back and forth on these matters.

"Finally, the last bullet point" Aldan said before pressing another button on his device. A video feed started playing on the screen. It highlighted the intrusion of gangs in Termina into its sole library.

Everyone in the meeting watched on quietly except for Caelan who leaned back on his seat and closed his eyes. He rapped his finger on the table, making the rhythmic sound of impatience.

But the video never stopped playing, for no one paid the man any mind. They watched even as a mutant started to trash bookshelves containing precious information. The feed only ended much later when it started to glitch out.

"Now I'm sure we've all seen this video before but I believe it was worth watching again" Aldan said still holding a caring smile. But the grandpa was fooling no one.

"The investigation which started two days ago has already brought us results, we found a link to some of our own people." Aldan continued before presenting a new screen.

[MGE-4 Vial - Mutant Substance: Gila Mutant

MANUFACTURE DATE: (EXPUNGED)

EXPIRY: UNKNOWN]

"The Gene exaltant found on the scene used by one of the unruly thugs contained little information on the origin, but we've managed to trace the potential masterminds through this all the same…" Aldan said, slurring the end of his words as he turned to face the screen.

[(EXPUNGED). Military Base - Mutant Resource Request

The _(EXPUNGED)__ Military base formally requests _G_I_L_A_M_U_T_A_N_T_ parts for the funding of military expeditions and research at _M_T._ (REDACTED)_ military base]

"Hmph, sloppy…" Caelan said with clear disdain. Aldan ignored his words and started to talk.

"As we all know the records for all research and military facilities must write a formal request for funding and for security reasons, the address must be removed…" If by chance any of the slides leaked there would be trouble so all confidential matters were removed from presented documents.

"The point is this military base has not requested just the specific monster parts but coincidentally, has months before also requested materials for creating Gene Exaltants" Aldan's words came as no surprise to anyone, actually, the points were even a bit odd.

"You know everyone requests for those materials" The voice of the always cool Lot spoke and said.

Aldan chose not to comment.

"Caelan, any words of defense?" The military base in question was one located at a mountain not too far away from Eden. It was owned by the disquisitive party, the only one known to try and conquer difficult terrain.

"I said what I had to already, this frame job is awfully sloppy" Caelan said still leaned back with his arms crossed.

"We are just following the evidence trail" Aldan responded.

"Evidence trail or not, your side is the only one with a motive!" Aleena shouted, she pointed at Caelan with an evidently angry expression. She and her Planetary party were being wronged!

"You are so noisy, since you all know me so well, do you think I'd do such a crappy job?!" Caelan retorted angrily.

"Silence, it's time to decide. How will we manage this issue? Termina Sector B has been left without a rule" Aldan said brazenly ignoring the conflict. That was because it was time to get to the important part.

"Wha- Left without a rule?!" Aleena shot up once more and asked. Had her entire party been destroyed in the paltry attack!?!

"Your party is incapable" Vidor said with a sneer. The low light conditions could not hide his jeering face. Aleena gnashed her teeth but could only sit down helplessly under the stare of her only fellow party member, Sylvester.

The position of the only neutral party could be said to be lavish in a way. As one of the few capable of swaying the vote, Vidor was allowed to laze around and mock others.

If the Planetary party and reformative party were to team up, they would still need to pay Vidor some dividends. If not, he could take the side of the disquisitive party and cause whatever they were voting for to fall through. Naturally, the disquisitive party also had to pay him his due or the opposite could happen.

"Ahem, we will begin the voting process. This time, the reformative party has personally made the request to manage the Termina Sector B, those against please show hands" Aldan said speaking clearly and observing the reactions.

The disquisitive party opposed and so did the planetary party. That was six against. The matter was, unfortunately, to be handed over to someone else unless…

"In that case, anyone against the Disquisitive party handling the Sector B, please show of hands" Aldan said making sure to add please to the sentence.

Five hands including Aldan's were raised accounting for 5 votes.

"Sigh… For?" Aldan said making sure to shoot Vidor a tired glance.

But it was as he feared. The carefree young man did raise his hand.

"A tie, this matter will be postponed…" That was akin to letting the Disquisitive party handle things. This was because the reformative party was not able to assist in time with Sectors A and C belonging to the Disquisitive party.

That meant that the Disquisitive party's military affiliates were first to aid quell the library situation. With their military already managing the sector, stalling the appointment of a legal ruler would maintain this status quo.

"For not being the mastermind it sure turned out well for you…" Aleena spat some poisonous words having been informed of the possible outcomes before the start of the meeting.

Yet, Calean was not smiling. He really did not put anyone up to this. The turn of events was only making this harder for him down the line.

'When I catch the real culprit…' Calean would not hold back.