Ashley was clearly shocked when she heard that Ethan was planning to leave LionArk.

The color drained slightly from her face, and for a brief moment she simply stared at him as if she had misheard.

"Leave? Why?" Ashley asked, her voice rising in disbelief. "Aren’t we finally complete now?"

Ethan turned his head slowly, looking first at Gordon, then at Rick. One by one, he studied the faces of the people who had stood beside him during LionArk’s golden era.

Ashley was right.

They were complete again.

The old core members had reunited. The strength, experience, and coordination that once made LionArk untouchable were now restored.

If Ethan chose to remain, there was little doubt that they could maintain their dominance over every other guild in the Eastern Plains.

But power was not his true concern anymore.

His thoughts drifted back to the moment Ashley had once confronted him, speaking not as a subordinate, but as someone who cared deeply.

She had imagined the fate of all the players trapped inside the game world. She had forced him to look beyond guild rankings, beyond wars, beyond pride.

Thousands of lives were entangled in this world.

And many of them were depending on him.

After the Guild of Champions event, he had seen too much. Too many deaths. Too many players who should have logged out safely but instead vanished forever.

They had suffered and bled for something that should never have claimed their lives in the first place.

If he waited too long, if he hesitated too much, there might not be enough time left to save anyone.

"You’re right, Ashley," Ethan said at last, his voice steady but heavy. "I’m happy we’ve reunited."

Ashley’s eyes softened slightly.

"But I still have to do this," he continued.

"But you can do it without having to—"

Her protest was cut short.

Gordon stepped forward and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. Ashley turned, her brows furrowed in frustration.

Gordon’s expression, however, was calm and firm.

"What is it, Gordon?" she asked.

"I want to speak with Ethan alone," Gordon replied. "How about we take a short walk through the city and discuss it, Ethan?"

Ethan did not answer immediately. He looked at Gordon carefully, reading the seriousness in his eyes.

Then he glanced at Rick, who appeared curious but remained silent. Ashley still looked upset, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Alright," Ethan finally agreed.

He stood up.

"There are a lot of things we need to talk about," Gordon added. "And if I’m going to handle more responsibility in the Eastern Alliance, I need to understand certain matters properly."

Ashley shot Ethan a sharp look, clearly dissatisfied.

In the end, she sighed and looked away.

"Fine. Go."

Ethan and Gordon left the Mavelard headquarters together.

Outside, the city was alive with energy. Several LionArk members were busy preparing decorations and supplies for the celebration that would be held that night.

Laughter echoed through the courtyard. The mood was lighter than it had been in weeks.

Gordon glanced at them briefly.

He had originally planned to join the preparations. But Ethan’s declaration had stirred something inside him. Curiosity, concern, perhaps even fear.

As they walked further down the street, Gordon spoke.

"You really surprised her."

Ethan gave a small, almost helpless smile.

"Sooner or later, I would’ve left LionArk anyway."

Gordon shook his head slightly.

"There are things you need to consider before making that decision."

"Such as?"

Gordon turned toward him, a faint smile on his lips.

"There’s a tavern near the third ring district. Let’s sit down properly and talk."

Ethan nodded.

The streets of Mavelard were busier than he remembered. Shops were open, players moved in groups, and new guild banners could be seen in certain corners of the city.

Gordon noticed Ethan observing the changes.

"Mavelard and the Eastern Plains have changed a lot," Gordon explained. "Since the event ended, players from the Central Plains have been coming here in waves."

"Why?" Ethan asked.

"They’re looking for protection."

Gordon continued, explaining how LionArk’s headquarters had been flooded with guild representatives.

Many had abandoned unstable territories in the central region and were seeking the security of the east.

"What exactly did you promise them?" Gordon asked.

Ethan shook his head.

"I only promised safety to a few specific people. Not entire guilds."

"Then they must’ve come on their own," Gordon said. "Every guild that arrives says the same thing. They want protection. They want guarantees."

He paused.

"Whatever you did in that event, it changed the balance of power."

They stopped in front of a two-story tavern situated along the main road.

"This is the place," Gordon said.

They entered.

The interior was warm and filled with quiet chatter. Fortunately, news of LionArk’s victory had not yet fully spread among the general population.

Most players seemed unaware that they were sitting beside the leader of the event’s winning guild.

They ordered drinks and went upstairs.

The second floor was quieter.

They took seats at a wooden table near the window.

"About your decision," Gordon began once they were seated, "I don’t oppose it. If you want to leave, that’s your right."

Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly.

"But I can’t say I’m not disappointed," Gordon added.

"What do you mean?"

"You have two servants already," Gordon said. "You’re searching for the third so you can gather all three. That’s your plan, right?"

"Yes."

"And once you gather them?" Gordon asked.

Ethan froze.

That question again.

After I gather them... what then?

He had asked himself that countless times.

Two futures stood before him.

The first was simple. Remain inside the game. Become the strongest existence. Rule over the system itself.

Survive, even if it meant being hated by every other player.

The second was far more terrifying.

Sacrifice himself. Free everyone else. Destroy the system’s control and disappear completely.

He could not decide which was worse.

If I stay... I become a tyrant.

If I leave... I become a martyr.

"I don’t know," Ethan admitted quietly.

Gordon frowned slightly.

"You don’t know?"

"I’m stuck," Ethan said. "Either choice costs something."

Gordon leaned back in his chair.

"Alright," he said calmly. "I won’t push you about your ultimate goal."

Their drinks arrived.

For a while, they drank in silence. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Then Gordon spoke again.

"Set aside your personal objective for a moment. I want you to remain Chairman of the Eastern Alliance."

Ethan looked up.

"The post-event situation is unstable," Gordon continued. "Star Shield was destroyed. The Trident Sea betrayed their alliance. The Central Plains are in chaos."

He leaned forward slightly.

"If you disappear now, the alliance will lose its anchor. The morale you built through blood and sacrifice will collapse."

Ethan clenched his jaw slightly.

Gordon was right.

He had been so focused on his future plan that he had overlooked the present reality.

There were still unresolved matters.

Star Shield’s remnants.

Trident Sea’s punishment.

Guild promotions and alliance restructuring.

"You’re right," Ethan said quietly.

Gordon chuckled lightly.

"I’m sure Ashley is praying right now that I manage to convince you."

Ethan laughed under his breath.

"I can imagine."

"I won’t stop you from leaving," Gordon said seriously. "But as your friend, I’d hate to see you walk away when everything still depends on you."

"I’ll think about it," Ethan replied.

"You’d better," Gordon said, raising his glass. "While you’re considering leaving, we’ve received stacks of proposals from guilds wanting to join the Eastern Alliance."

Ethan groaned softly.

"I can’t approve those," Gordon added. "That authority belongs to you."

Ethan leaned back and stared at the ceiling.

Paperwork.

Proposals.

Documents.

"I just escaped from that," he muttered.

Gordon laughed.

"Don’t dump it on me. For stamping documents, Rick is the perfect guy."

"Rick," Ethan said with a smirk. "Stamping papers is easy. Even a baby could do it."

They continued talking for hours.

Ethan recounted the entire battlefield experience in detail. The fall of Star Shield. The betrayal of the Trident Sea. The Eastern Lion War that shattered Redemption Sword and Scavenger.

Gordon listened with fascination.

"I never imagined two alliances from different plains would unite like that," Gordon said.

"They hated Scavenger," Ethan replied. "Especially the Western Plains."

Gordon nodded.

"Speaking of Scavenger," he said, lowering his voice slightly. "I received a message from a friend in Redemption Sword."

Ethan’s gaze sharpened.

"What did it say?"

Gordon forwarded the message.

Ethan opened it.

His expression darkened.

"They’re hiding in the Northern Plains?"

"Yes," Gordon confirmed. "Redemption Sword and several central guilds are organizing hunting parties."

"They’ve warned Northern guilds not to accept new members for now."

Ethan exhaled slowly.

"Xeno is dead," he said. "But the rest of Scavenger is still dangerous."

"What should we do?" Gordon asked.

Ethan thought carefully.

If he left now, the alliance would be leaderless during a fragile period.

I can’t abandon them yet.

"Prepare twenty capable LionArk members," Ethan said decisively. "Send them north."

"To capture Scavenger."

He paused.

"I want them alive. But if that’s not possible... eliminate them."

Gordon smiled and nodded.

"I’ll inform Sherly and Hanss immediately."

Ethan lifted his glass and took a slow drink.

For now, he would remain.

Not forever.

But long enough to stabilize everything.

Long enough to ensure that when he finally stepped into the Raid Tower...

He would not leave behind a broken world.