The only designated legitimate Seven-Star Titan entered the room, walking with head held high under the watchful eyes of the undercover agents. He walked around the table to this end and sat down next to Zarug.
A moment of silence.
Then Zarug couldn't help it and stole a glance or two at him.
As if sensing the curious gaze harboring a hint of pity, Titan turned his head to look at him and frowned.
"What?"
"No... nothing."
Zarug was silent for a moment, but felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward.
So he tried to make conversation, "How's it been lately?"
Titan glanced at him oddly.
"Just the same." Titan replied in a muffled voice.
"Business not going well, huh?"
"Yeah." Titan grunted.
So there was nothing more to say.
Fortunately, the awkward silence did not continue.
Soon, the electronic screen behind the table lit up. Everyone looked up, their attention focused on the big screen.
As always, a blurred silhouette appeared on the screen. The background looked like it was underwater, with bubbles occasionally rising. And within that body of water was a massive shadow, not human-like, but more like some deep-sea creature, with long tentacles and a huge body, easily reminiscent of some indescribable deep-sea monster.
But among those present, only Dades knew, this was actually not underwater, but inside a life support pod. Those were actually not tentacles, but various life-sustaining cables.
On the other end of the screen was a gravely ill old man, yet he exuded a mysterious and hazy authority.
The old man glanced at everyone, speaking in a vague and low voice, "Is everyone here."
Tania scanned over this conference room.
"There should be seven for the Seven-Star." Tania said, "I only count five."
"Then that's all of them."
The old man said lightly.
"Darkness and Camilla failed. They are dead."
The room suddenly felt heavy.
After a moment, Zarug took a deep breath, seemingly making a decision.
He went all in.
He smacked the table loudly and stood up.
The elderly figure on the other end of the screen looked at him coldly.
"Do you have a question?"
"Hell yeah, I do."
At first, Zarug was somewhat hesitant to confront this mysterious leader, but when he thought about how most of the people in this room were his own, his courage suddenly grew.
"Each of us is risking our lives for you, doing all these deadly jobs. Now we've lost two comrades, yet up to now, we haven't even seen what our boss really looks like."
Zarug shook his head.
"I don't know how you all do things over there, but in our Thief Gang, trust between brothers is more important than anything." Zarug said, "They trust me, and I am willing to risk my life for my brothers.
If we can't even achieve this basic level of trust, how can we achieve great things?"
The figure on the screen merely looked at him coldly.
"So, have your Thief Gang achieved great things?"
Zarug was momentarily at a loss for words.
"I think what he's saying makes sense."
At this moment, Tania also timely spoke up in support.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked up at the old man on the screen.
"Although we all have our reasons to fight, it hasn't reached the point where we would unconditionally lay down our lives for you."
"We risk our lives to fight for you, to win the Phantom Demon Card for you. This is something we all agreed upon, with no issue. But at the very least, you should let us know who exactly we are risking our lives for, right?"
"Agreed."
Even His Majesty the Pharaoh, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke up.
He raised his head, a sharp gaze piercing through the golden mask towards the silhouette on the screen.
"If one dares not show their true face out of cowardice, they are not worthy of my intervention."
The old man remained silent for several seconds, his gaze slowly sweeping over those present.
Then he suddenly laughed.
That murky, water-like, deep voice turned chilling as it laughed.
"You all want to know my identity?"
"You think I've shared too little?"
"Hehehe... Is that so?"
The old man squinted, his gaze suddenly sharp as a hawk's.
"I believe some of you truly feel this way. But at the same time, some are trying to fish in troubled waters, using this chance to delve into my secrets... Who am I speaking about? That person should know in their heart."
Upon hearing this, everyone's heart skipped a beat.
Tania spoke in a deep voice, "Are you implying... that you suspect us?"
"Indeed."
The old man said coldly.
"Among us... I'm afraid there's a mole."
Upon that announcement, everyone was further shocked.
What?
Only one?
Everyone began to scrutinize each other cautiously.
Only Titan was internally surprised, looking around to deduce who the shameless mole was.
The others were wondering who had been so careless as to get exposed.
... Could it be me?
"Just a few days ago, a batch of live alchemy materials was stolen from the organization." The old man said coldly, "They were top-grade materials, brimming with nutrients.
But they're gone.
Only those with clearance at the Seven-Star Officer level could access them."
The old man spoke while scrutinizing the group.
"So, where do you think the leak came from?"
The conference room fell into another pin-drop silence.
But it only lasted a few seconds.
Then the Alchemist—Dades, was the first to speak.
He pointed his finger at Titan, saying in a deep voice, "Speaking of which, I noticed during the last meeting... that Titan was sneaking around in an alley talking to someone, saying things like 'observe a bit longer', 'I'll investigate more', who exactly were you talking to?"
Titan: "?"
Huh? Did that happen?
"Oh, I remember I also heard something once."
Zik, Zarug's subordinate, also spoke up.
"I went to the restroom, and when I came out, I heard a voice inside, saying 'agreed on three months, month after month', 'I'm about to be promoted to Seven-Star Leader'... thinking back, it seems like it was also Titan's voice."
Titan: "???"
Huh? Did that happen too?
At this moment, the tiger lying in the corner by Tania's side also let out a roar.
Tania said, "Oh? He says he's also known for a while that this guy's scent is off, a stench like a double-crosser."
Mina: "Speaking of which, I've been undercover as a school nurse at Duel Academy for years, and I think I've seen this guy occasionally, I saw him chatting and laughing with the headmaster, coming out of the headmaster's office together, and I wondered how they knew each other..."
"No... no!"
Titan was bewildered.
"That's not true!"
Even His Majesty the Pharaoh slowly opened his eyes and spoke for once.
"My subordinate who is skilled in feng shui also says this person is suspicious."
Titan was utterly shocked, "Even His Majesty the Pharaoh..."
Then he suddenly raised his head, meeting the unfriendly gaze of the Master of Seven-Star on the screen.
"Titan." The Master of Seven-Star asked coldly, "Do you have anything to explain?"
Titan: "......"