The private meeting room of East Horizon's western headquarters was filled with low voices and the soft rustle of documents. Alexander Vane stood near the large table. Olivia sat to his right. Vanya leaned against the wall with a cigar between her fingers. Tianya remained seated, quiet and composed.
Alexander looked around the table. "The public reaction to Tianya's appearance is stronger than we expected. Support for East Horizon has jumped in every major city. We need to use this window before the other side recovers."
Olivia nodded. "The election registration opens in three days. If you declare now, the momentum will carry. People are still talking about the goddess who appeared in the sky. They want a clear figure to follow."
One of the senior officers spoke up. "The West Alliance council is already moving. They're calling Tianya a dangerous unknown. Some of them are spreading rumors that she's just a high-level illusionist."
Alexander's eyes narrowed. "Let them talk. Rumors don't erase what the entire city felt. God flux isn't something you can fake."
Vanya exhaled smoke. "What about the eastern refugees? Half the western districts still treat them like dirt. If you run, that issue will explode."
"I'm counting on it," Alexander replied. "I'll make their treatment part of the campaign. East Horizon is the only reason those people are still alive. If the West wants stability, they need to stop treating half the population as cursed."
Olivia turned to Tianya. "Will you appear again during the campaign?"
Tianya's voice was calm. "When it is necessary. My presence alone is enough to shift the balance. But I will not stand on every stage. A goddess who appears too often becomes ordinary."
Alexander looked at her. "One more public appearance before the registration closes. That's all I'm asking. After that, we let the people talk among themselves."
Tianya gave a small nod. "Very well."
A younger staff member entered with a tablet. "Guild Master, the latest polling numbers just came in. After the sky incident, your approval rating in the capital crossed forty percent. That's higher than any other candidate right now."
Alexander took the tablet and scanned the numbers. "Still not enough. We need the middle cities and the industrial zones. Vanya, I want you to visit the refugee settlements personally. Talk to the people. Make sure they understand that this election is their chance to stop being treated as second-class."
Vanya pushed off the wall. "I'll go. But don't expect me to smile for the cameras."
"I don't need you to smile," Alexander said. "I need them to listen."
Olivia leaned forward. "We also need funding channels that the Alliance can't block. Luna Ren has already offered quiet support through her networks. She wants a private meeting tomorrow night."
Alexander rubbed his temple. "Schedule it. And start preparing the official announcement speech. Keep it direct. No empty promises. Tell the people exactly what East Horizon has done and what the Alliance has failed to do."
One of the officers hesitated. "Guild Master… some of the older council members are still powerful. If you push too hard, they might try something extreme."
Alexander's expression hardened. "Then let them try. I've already brought a goddess into the open. I'm not going to start being careful now."
The room fell quiet for a moment. Outside the windows, the western capital continued its evening routine, but the air already felt different. Campaign banners were being printed. Media channels kept replaying the giant figure of light that had stood in the sky. And across the city, people were beginning to choose sides.
Alexander looked at everyone present. "From this point on, every action we take is for the election. No wasted moves. We either take control of what's left of this world… or we watch the same foxes sell it piece by piece."
No one disagreed.