As Terry stood there, his gaze locked on the holographic image of Louis, a deep-seated frustration churned within him. It seemed that every encounter with Louis was tainted by negativity, as if the man’s sole purpose was to bring bad news and rile him up. The memory of their previous interactions played like a broken record in his mind.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Louis had a knack for showing up at the worst possible moments, always with some new problem or piece of information that disrupted the fragile balance they were trying to maintain. It was as if Louis’s very presence was a harbinger of trouble, a constant reminder of the challenges they faced.

"Why would they do that? They seemed a lot more reasonable than I assumed," Rebecca said.

"It doesn’t surprise me... it seems that things on their camps are going well thanks to the armor that Terry lent them, so they probably felt like they needed to do more," Vanessa said while scowling and looking to the side. "They felt like they needed to do something... anything. They also want to avenge their friends..."

Putting their feelings aside, Terry was more worried about the possible assassin... It was weirdly convenient that the assassin came from one of the places that Terry wanted to investigate.

"The assassin tracked down one of the groups while they were hiding in the mountains close to the border to Canada. They were attacked, but they fought and survived," Louis said. "Thanks to that, they chased the assassin until they reached the extreme southern side of the continent. Actually, just Kai was fast enough to follow the assassin and then he returned to alert the others. All of the tbe guild masters are heading in that direction. I talked with them last night, and they still told me that they will just interrogate the people there and only ask for the assassin."

As Terry absorbed the gravity of the situation unfolding before him, he couldn’t help but acknowledge the logic behind the guild masters’ actions. The news of the deaths of their fellow guild masters had struck a deep chord of grief and anger within them, pushing them to seek out the assassin responsible. It was only natural that they would want to avenge their friends and ensure that justice was served.

However, amidst the turmoil and emotions, Terry realized that the guild masters were not blind to the larger reality. They understood that the situation was much more complex than a simple vendetta. Engaging in a full-scale war at this point in time would be a reckless move, one that could potentially tip the already fragile balance of power.

Terry could sense the underlying wisdom in their decision. While vengeance might provide temporary satisfaction, it wouldn’t address the root of the problem. The guild masters were aware that the enemies they faced were formidable, and they recognized that waging an ill-prepared battle could lead to disastrous consequences for all of humanity.

"I guess I will just lock them up if they make something stupid," Terry said. "Keeping them out of trouble here will be faster anyway."

"You can’t be serious..." Rebecca said and then facepalmed.

Terry’s comment about locking the guild masters up in a single place might have been intended as a joke, but it carried a weight that even he might not have fully realized. The suggestion seemed to straddle the line between a dark sense of humor and a hint of genuine concern. As his words hung in the air, both Rebecca and Vanessa exchanged uncertain glances, unsure whether Terry was being serious or simply trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

In the context of their current situation, the idea of secluding the guild masters in one location wasn’t entirely far-fetched. It could be seen as a way to ensure their safety and minimize the risk of further casualties. However, the concept also raised practical and ethical questions. Could such a plan truly protect them from an enemy that seemed to have the means to reach them anywhere? Would it infringe on their freedom and autonomy as guild masters?

"Anything else, Mr. Good News?" Terry asked.

"No, Francis told me that there is another group like this in North Europe, so I will investigate it while you handle this situation," Louis replied.

"We will be sure not to expect much from it," Terry said.

Louis sighed and then the call ended. Those three quickly worried to prepare for the mission, but they didn’t make any signs of calling the airplane pilot. Rebecca and Vanessa didn’t think that they were ready to cross the entire continent using the Dark Pegasus Boots, but it was their only option keeping stealth in mind.

"How much time do you think that we have?" Rebecca asked after she showed up at the entrance of the tunnel.

"Not a lot," Terry replied. "Those guys are supposed to be resourceful, so they will try to show their hands and try to negotiate in a position of power," Terry replied. "One day at the very best."

"What about our trip, can we make it work with our boots?" Vanessa asked. "You took them now and then to enhance them, right? How are we also going to leave the city without alerting others?"

"You also think that we have other enemies aside from the assassins?" Rebecca asked while showing a concerned expression.

"It is better to act with that in mind, just in case," Vanessa replied.

"At least you are learning to be cautious," Terry declared. "In any case, I already predicted that something would happen since something always happens."

The group jumped on the tunnel, and as they moved forward, they were greeted by an unexpected sight. Strewn across the tunnel’s length were skeletal figures, standing as silent sentinels. These were the very skeletons that Terry had summoned earlier and now they would be used to bolster the city’s defenses. Their empty eye sockets seemed to follow the group’s movements as they passed,