Not seeing Bale, Bruce understood immediately. Bale would preside over the meeting. Until then, it wasn't his place to speak.
He inclined his head slightly in a measured nod, not submission, not arrogance, but acknowledgment, and then his gaze found the only empty seat remaining. Without hesitation, he crossed the space and took it.
As he settled in, Bruce noted something else.
They were early.
People with this level of strength and authority did not respect time out of habit. They did so only when it benefited them, or when the matter at hand was important enough to demand it. That alone told him something.
The room fell into silence.
There was still time before the official start of the meeting, and so no one spoke. The seven SSS-rank figures remained still, breathing slow and controlled, heartbeats steady. Too steady. Bruce observed them quietly, not intruding, not retreating, simply present.
Then,
The elevator doors opened again.
Almost on cue.
Bale stepped out.
