When he first got news of the event that happened in the wasteland, knowing Director-Prime Epsilon well, Ren Nora knew that he was not going to keep quiet about what happened and he was right.

The leader of the Omnicore Federation called for a virtual meeting between the 8 rulers of the world.

Ren Nora sighed, then he joined the virtual meeting.

Click!

The moment Ren Nora joined the virtual meeting, he saw his virtual consciousness appear in a chamber with a circular table and 8 high-back chairs surrounding the table.

7 of the tables were already occupied, he came last.

The moment he appeared, the others stared at him. Unfazed, Ren Nora walked towards the 8th high-back chair and sat down, then he observed the 7 people that were seated around him.

Starting from his left sat the representatives of the Omnicore Federation- General Murphy, General Sylvari Charr, and Director-Prime Epsilon himself.

Sitting directly opposite him on the other side of the table were the 2 Overlords of the Geneforge Clans, Lord Zolkan and Lord Tulkan.

While starting from his right sat the representatives of the Synth Order where the only woman in the meeting also sat- Mr. Hilzitrolma and Ms. Shiu Pi.

For a long time, no one spoke as they just stared at each other, then the Director-Prime cleared his throat and went straight to the point. "A nuclear device was used in the West..."

He looked at Ren Nora in an accusing manner. "Despite the distance, our radiation detectors were able to pick up the dense ADE corruption signatures".

"What do you have to say about this?"

Ren Nora casually leaned back on his chair and looked straight into the Director-Prime’s eyes. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Epsilon didn’t respond for a few seconds as he just looked at the ’Glitch’, then he calmly said. "The West is your jurisdiction, it is your territory. And it is supposed to be your duty to prevent situations like this in your territory".

His gray eyes gleamed. "What happened that led to a nuclear escalation in your territory? And why didn’t you act fast to prevent it?"

Ren Nora smiled slightly. "Well, I was sleeping when it happened". He shrugged. "If I knew, I would have stopped it". 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Epsilon’s eyes twitched slightly. "You were sleeping?"

"Yes". Ren Nora responded calmly.

"About what happened," he paused and swept his gaze across the virtual chamber. "You don’t have to pretend that you don’t have spies and eyes in my territory, I know that you all already know what happened so I won’t beat around the bush and waste your time".

"You’re avoiding responsibility". Sylvari Charr interrupted and said coldly.

Ren Nora looked at him and smiled in an amused manner. "Are there no terrorists in Central? Ah, the last time I remembered, your Federation Army led an invasion on Leviathan Quay just as terrorists were ravaging the city".

"I wonder if the Federation Army is working with the terrorists," his smile became bigger. "I also wonder how they were able to get access to the knowledge to develop nuclear weapons and become a nuclear threat".

"Last I heard, the man who led the terrorist operation in the South was a Quantum Shaper," he grinned. "Should I continue?"

He looked at Epsilon. "Who knows? Perhaps somebody was thinking that with it, they would have the ability to damage my territory and reduce my power?"

Epsilon stared calmly into the Geneform’s emerald eyes, then his voice changed, taking on a chilling tone. "Mind your tongue".

"Or what?" Ren Nora immediately snapped back in a provocative manner.

Murphy leaned back on his chair with a pleased expression on his face like he was about to watch a great show, he was silently cheering for both sides in his head.

Sylvari grimaced feeling the tension rise.

Lord Zolkan and Tulkan remained still like statues like they’ve been since the beginning of the meeting, it was like what was happening didn’t concern them.

While Ms. Shiu Pi adjusted her glasses with a serious look on her face.

Mr. Hilzitrolma remained nonchalant, and in the end he was the one who broke the tense silence. "We don’t have time for this," he said casually without looking at anyone in particular.

"What matters is containing the effects of the radiation and ADE corruption".

He looked at Ren Nora. "I believe you already took the first measures towards this, right?"

Ren Nora nodded. "Of course".

"Good," Mr. Hilzitrolma nodded. "That’s what matters".

He looked at Epsilon. "Also, we already agreed long ago that no matter what, no conflict should lead to nuclear weapons being used".

"For what happened today, we have to crack down on the Extremist Movement and make a lesson out of them to the rest of those crack organizations operating between the lines of the world".

He leaned back on his chair and continued. "I suggest that just for this, we should create a joint force between all of our forces- an elite squad that’ll share all information that we have regarding the Extremist Movement".

"For a month or two, or even three months, let’s go on a culling mission to make a lesson out of the Extremist Movement".

"Let’s remind the world of the consequences of using a nuclear weapon".

"Also, we need to find all their nuclear facilities and destroy them. We need to disarm them of any nuclear capability".

"This is the best way to send a message to the rest of the world".

His eyes gleamed as he looked at Epsilon. "Do you agree to this?"

"I agree". Ren Nora responded first.

Silence reigned for a few seconds, then...

"I agree". Lord Zolkan and Tulkan also pitched in, saying their first words since the meeting started.

Murphy looked at Epsilon, then he smiled. "If you want, I’m willing to be the leader of this terrorist crackdown squad".

He grinned, then he stretched and yawned. "It’s been a long time since I had any meaningful action, man I’m bored!" He sighed. "I hope they can put up some resistance".

Epsilon turned his head and quietly looked at Murphy, making the C Rank Quantum Shaper shrug as if he was asking ’What I’d do?’

Epsilon looked away, then he focused on Mr. Hilzitrolma again. "I agree, but this operation will officially be recognized as initiated by the Omnicore Federation".

Ren Nora immediately looked at him and smiled. "Why?"

"Because it is our duty to protect the world, and the world must know exactly who is protecting them".

"Oh, really?" Ren Nora grinned. "I never knew".

Silence reigned for a few seconds, then he said.

"I refuse".

"..."

...

[Special Appreciation to Adamantis and Zalerus for the Golden Tickets, thanks for the support.]