The hall remained quiet after the reward discussion. Seven classifications still hovered across the massive display.
BREACH. DOMAIN. TRIAL. SOVEREIGN. RELIC. CORRUPTION. ABYSS.
Three of them remained mysteries. Director Adrian Cross allowed the silence to linger for several seconds before speaking again. "Fortunately..." His voice carried calmly across the room. "...Korea has not experienced a large-scale gate emergence."
The screen behind him shifted. A world map appeared with clusters of red markers pulsing across multiple continents: Europe, North America, India, China. Several regions glowed intensely.
Cross continued. "Some nations experienced dozens of gates simultaneously." A quiet tension spread through the room. "By comparison..." He gestured toward the Korean peninsula. Only five markers had appeared. "All five gates that appeared within our borders have already been cleared."
Several guild members exchanged glances. Lucien leaned back slightly in his chair. "So we got lucky."
Cross answered evenly. "Yes." Then he added quietly: "For now."
The map faded, and a new diagram replaced it.
__
Five sectors appeared across the country. Cross continued. "As additional gates appear, KAMB will implement a regional monitoring system." The display highlighted the sectors. "Each major guild will be responsible for observing one operational zone."
Several heads lifted immediately—Tempest Choir, Iron Bastion, Crimson Banner, Aurora Covenant, and Regulated Order.
Cross spoke carefully. "This does not mean gates automatically belong to the nearest guild." Another layer appeared on the diagram: KAMB Raid Authorization Required. "The Bureau will maintain final authority over raid assignments."
Darius Kade leaned slightly forward. "So guilds monitor, but KAMB decides who raids."
"Correct." Cross nodded once. "The monitoring guild will act as the first response unit, but final raid authorization will depend on several factors."
Cassian stepped forward. "Gate classification. Estimated difficulty. Authority compatibility. And raid success history."
Several guild leaders understood immediately. Performance. The more successful a guild was, the more gates they would receive. Cross continued. "This structure allows rapid response while preventing reckless engagement."
Across the hall, Elara Voss spoke thoughtfully. "So each guild becomes responsible for defending part of the country."
Cross nodded. "Yes."
Iron Bastion's Ronan Calder folded his arms. "A regional defense structure."
"Exactly."
Across the room, Darius glanced toward Aurora. Eight members. Small compared to several other guilds, yet they had cleared the first S-Rank gate. He gave a faint smile.
Lucien noticed the look and simply shrugged.
Elias Verdan finally spoke, his voice calm. "Monitoring sectors is efficient, but raid authorization must remain flexible." Several people turned toward him. "Some threats require specific teams." He didn't elaborate; he didn't need to. Everyone in the room knew what he meant. The S-Rank gate. Aurora Covenant had survived it. Even Regulated Order acknowledged that.
__
Cross continued the briefing. "There is another matter." The screen shifted again to a list: Awakened Population Registration. Murmurs spread immediately.
Cross explained. "The number of awakened individuals continues to increase. Many remain unaffiliated, untrained, and unregulated."
Cassian added calmly: "Unorganized awakened populations present significant risks." The screen displayed statistics showing hundreds of awakened already identified across the country—most of them independent.
Cross spoke again. "To address this, KAMB will begin formal recruitment programs." Several guild leaders understood immediately: guild expansion. "Independent awakened will be encouraged to join existing guilds."
Across the hall, Tempest Choir exchanged excited looks, Iron Bastion members nodded thoughtfully, and Crimson Banner seemed pleased. Then Cross added another line. "Additionally... the Regulated Order will expand."
That caused a noticeable reaction. The government guild. Helena Vireaux remained perfectly composed, Caelum Richter simply crossed his arms, and Viktor Draeg stood quietly behind them.
Cross continued. "As the national defense guild, Regulated Order will require additional members."
Darius smirked faintly. "Of course they will." But there was no hostility in his tone, just recognition.
Elias finally spoke again. "Our role is oversight, but expansion will be necessary." He glanced briefly toward Aurora. "We cannot respond to every threat alone."
Lucien caught the look and gave a small shrug. "Fair."
Across Aurora, Mira leaned toward Garrick. "Are we recruiting too?"
Garrick looked slightly alarmed. "Please no."
Seris answered calmly. "Eventually."
Kaida nodded. "We will need research staff."
Orion added quietly. "And support personnel."
Lucien groaned. "Oh great."
Nox remained silent, watching the map and the structure forming. In the previous timeline, this was where it began: guild expansion, territorial defense, competition for gates, and power consolidating around the strongest groups. Humanity was organizing itself for war.
Lucien glanced sideways. "You're doing that thinking thing again."
Nox replied quietly. "Just observing."
Across the hall, Cassian Verity was also observing. His gaze moved slowly across the room—guild leaders, authorities, power structures—and finally, Nox Caelis. Still calm, still quiet, still looking like someone who already understood the rules of a game no one else had learned yet.
Cassian looked away. The meeting continued. And outside, the world waited for the next gate.