Free Web NovelChapter 160: Warm Welcome (2)
The meeting room doors swung open, revealing a tense atmosphere within. Shinon’s gaze swept across the room, taking in the presence of Nova, Lova, Sable, and the furious figure of Marcus.
As he stepped forward, memories of past encounters flooded his mind, reminding him of the turmoil that often ensued within these walls.
"Nothing good ever comes of me walking through those doors," Shinon sighed before smiling as if he was tired.
"This time, things will be different," Selena mumbled, placing her hand on his shoulder. "After all, you’re not alone."
Selena’s touch on his shoulder brought him back to the present. Her presence reassured him, reminding him that things were different now.
Moreover, he had forged connections with Lova and Nova, relationships that could sway the tide in his favour.
As Shinon approached the meeting room, he was taken aback when the guards at the entrance stepped forward, barring Kira and Rico from entering. The guards’ stern expressions indicated that they were under strict orders.
"Sorry, but only Shinon and Selena are allowed inside," one of the guards stated firmly, crossing their arms in front of their chest.
Kira’s brows furrowed in confusion, her voice tinged with frustration. "But why? We’ve been through everything together."
Rico’s fists clenched, his voice laced with determination. "We’re part of this team. We have a right to be there."
The guard shook their head, maintaining their stance. "I understand, but these are the orders we received. Only Shinon and Selena are permitted to enter." fгeewebnovёl.com
Shinon, who had been listening to the exchange, stepped forward, his voice calm yet authoritative.
"It’s alright," he said, reassuringly touching Kira’s shoulder. "I’ll handle this. Stay here for now."
Kira looked uncertain, her eyes filled with concern. "But Shinon..."
He offered her a reassuring smile. "Trust me," he said. "Besides, I need someone I trust to watch the girls while I’m inside."
Kira nodded and stepped aside along with Rico. Even though they were displeased by the event, they held back.
Rico’s jaw tightened, but he nodded in agreement. "We’ll be right here, Shinon. Just let us know if you need us."
With a final nod, Shinon turned and entered the meeting room, leaving Kira and Rico behind.
Inside the meeting room, Shinon found himself amidst a sea of intense gazes. Nova, Lova, Sable, and Marcus regarded him with curiosity. However, Marcus just had hatred boiling in his eyes. He resembled a bull, ready to charge at any given moment.
Marcus, his anger barely contained, sneered at Shinon. "You finally decided to grace us with your presence, did you?"
"What are you on about? You got here a second before I did?" Shinon rolled his eyes and wasn’t the only one who did.
The room fell silent, all eyes fixed upon Marcus. Marcus’s scowl deepened, his anger now accompanied by embarrassment simmering beneath the surface.
Seeing Marcus struggle, Sable decided to carry on with the meeting to determine the girls’ fate.
"I assume you all know why we’re here," Sable spoke, her voice filled with nonchalance as she turned to face Shinon and Selena. "The guards informed us about the girls you brought with you. Care to explain yourselves?"
"It is quite simple, actually," Shinon met her gaze head-on, his voice calm yet assertive. "We encountered them while on patrol. They were in danger, trapped by a horde of zombies. We saved and brought them along as they had nowhere else to go."
Lova’s voice cut through the tension, her tone measured but curious. "And do you have any idea who these girls are?"
Selena stepped up to answer Lova’s question, "We only know what the girls told us. They are slaves to the southern ruler, Aric, but escaped his clutches and sought refuge when we found them."
It was Nova who broke the silence, her voice carrying a sombre tone. "Before we proceed, there’s something you both need to know," she began, her gaze fixed on Shinon and Selena. "Lord Aric, the ruler of the southern city, is not one to be taken lightly. He is a powerful and ruthless individual."
Sable nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with worry. "Aric will stop at nothing to reclaim what he perceives as his property," she added. "These girls are undoubtedly a part of that." ƒreewebɳovel.com
"So, he’ll come after them?" Shinon asked, his voice laced with concern for the girls.
Marcus, who had remained relatively quiet throughout the meeting, finally spoke up, his tone edged with accusation.
"Of course, he’ll come for them! Instead of caring for the settlement, in turn, you’ve put the safety of our entire settlement at risk," he interjected, his gaze locked onto Shinon and Selena.
"We acted out of compassion," Selena retorted, her voice laced with defiance. "We couldn’t leave those girls to suffer!"
Nova sighed, her voice calm but filled with concern. "While we understand your intentions, we must also consider the potential consequences," she explained. "We need to ensure the safety of our settlement and its inhabitants first and foremost."
"We must take precautions," Lova suggested. "Increase our security measures, bolster our defences."
Marcus slammed his hands on the table, his face contorted with rage. "What the hell do you mean? What we need to do is hand over the girls to Aric!"
"I’m afraid I can’t let you do that," Shinon stood up, a dark aura swirling around him.
"How will you stop me?" Marcus scoffed. "You’re an outsider! Don’t forget that!"
"That’s where you are wrong," Shinon calmly replied. "I’m an outsider who has put his life on the line for this settlement when you didn’t have the guts to take the right step."
"You- Lova, take him down now!" Marcus yelled at the top of his lungs, but Lova simply stared at him and shook her head.
At that moment, Marcus realised that no one was going to support him. Not even Sable, who only looked at him, her eyes asking him to stop.
Marcus might have been strong enough to take down Shinon on his own, but since everyone else had sided with him, he had no choice but to back down and agree with everyone else.
