Thunderstorms. They were a rare occurrence in Westriver; yet, discontent with the inky black darkness blanketing the skies, the heavens had sent a downpour to send the city indoors. However, it was only now where the Central District, in all its glory, became a true monolith representing the city.
With lights illuminating the floating island, it stood tall against the winds and fury clashing down onto the city. Any rain pouring onto the island now ran off its sides, creating towering waterfalls cascading down into the rushing river below.
Deep within the city though, in an underground room accessible only through tunnels or video projections, was a meeting. Beneath the roads, sewers, and infrastructure of the Northside of Westriver, many of the most powerful players had come together to make some decisions and plans of momentous importance... and momentous corruption.
Sitting around a circular ring table was close to twenty different people. The room, underground and without electricity, was lit solely by projections of people unwilling to make the physical journey over—whether it was fear of being caught or fear of getting exercise.
With the last few people slipping into the room, a banging gavel rang out through the room, bringing it to a dead silence before a hooded figure with a deep, raspy voice punctured the silence. “I’m sure everyone knows why we’re here today.”
“Indeed.” “Of course.” “It's only natural.”
The hooded figure, a little annoyed with the chorus of agreement cutting off his monologue, shook his head, ignoring it before continuing. “Today, instead of leaving as we expected, the elders from Starlight Lake and the Pavillion of Radiant Shadows conducted an investigation of the Westriver plateau, finding and destroying all seven of our demon feeding areas.”
“How could they!” “I thought they were unbreakable!” “Inconceivable!”
Flinching as a chorus of voices interrupted him once more, the hood figure took a deep breath, calming his boiling anger before continuing once more. “Therefore, I’m certain they will continue to stick around and continue their investigation. I urge each and every one of you to take more caution with your activities and communication because they will be trying to hunt and root every single one of us out. It is imperative we stay focused.”
“You know, I wouldn’t mind being hunted by Xueli, she’s got that bombastic body after all.”
“Ew, how are you calling her by her first name only? Do you know her? I’d prefer to get hunted by Xiao Feng, he’s youthful and has that handsome face. What a snag he’d be.”
“I’d prefer Yuan Muyun, she’s got that mature vibe towards her.”
“First of all! Yuan Muyun is already one leg into the grave, she’s not mature, she’s expired!” The hooded figure growled, interjecting the unending, casual banter being thrown across the room. “Second. Of. All. SHUT UP!”
“Well, it’s not like they’re going to beat us anyway, we’re like... the bosses of the city!” “Yeah! We have the home court advantage, who cares if they’re a couple realms above us! I’ve always been one who could punch above my weight.” “Yeaahhh, hehehe, I’m getting ready to clap some Starlight cheeks, Xueli better be careful when I'm in the area.”
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Launching into a relentless tirade of expletives, the hooded figure went around cussing out every single bantering member in the room. With insulting their personality, integrity, and background not being enough, the hooded figure continued, looping back around and firing wave after wave of personal insults towards their ancestors and general state of being.
“You... you... and you,” the figure pointed, lasering in on the three main culprits of the mess. “YOU THREE ARE DELUSIONAL, VAPID, PIG-BRAINED, MAGGOT-EYED, DUMB WASTES OF AIR WHO ARE ONLY USEFUL FOR KEEPING THE CITY’S SEWAGE SYSTEM IN A JOB! ALL YOU DO IS SPEW MANURE, FROM BOTH SIDES! I BET YOU THREE ALONE ARE HEMORRHAGING THE CITY OF ITS FOOD SUPPLY IN THIS DIRE TIME WITH HOW MUCH YOU NEED TO CONSUME TO PRODUCE THIS. MUCH. STUPIDITY.”
Taking a deep breath to relax himself, the figure sank back into his chair, content after getting all his thoughts out. With an eerie silence blanketing the room once more—just how he liked it—the man continued. “I have faith that many of you are actually sane, and not part of the... vocal... minority; therefore, I’m sure you all understand the gravity of the situation.”
With the room silent—just how he liked it—the hooded figure flicked his arm, turning on a projection of the city, letting it rotate in the center of the room for everyone to see. “Observe the map. I’ve highlighted every safe room we have with a red dot. All areas shaded blue are areas under the influence or direct control of a member in this room. Those areas will be safer for our activities. We will pause our expansion for a minute and lie low while the investigation continues. Let’s consolidate so we can hit all the harder once they leave. Our plan will be a long one, so let’s buckle in with patience. No one has waited longer than we have.”
Getting a couple of disparate, hesitant claps after his punchline statement, the hooded figure paused before waving for them to continue. With a wave of applause raining down on him—just how he liked it—the hooded figure shouted over the applause, rallying the crowd.
“We won’t let up! We will take back the city! We will sharpen our claws and lie in wait, ready to pounce the moment the elders leave. We will teach them the price for sticking their noses in the city. They don’t understand our pain, the sacrifices that must be made when you don’t have talent!” The hooded figure thundered as the rest of the room continued its roaring applause. “We will check their egos! We will hit them right where it hurts! We will capture their disciples and perform the famed, talent-stealing ritual given to us by our benefactors! We work for a better tomorrow! One where we can usurp the powerful!”
Sending off the speech with a powerful punch into the air, the hooded figure sank back into his chair as everyone else left the meeting, whether by closing their projections or by filing out of the room. Giving some encouraging waves towards several of the other hooded figures leaving the room, the hooded figure waited, pretending to pack up some documents and materials.
It wasn’t until the room was empty when he sat back down, pulling his hood down to reveal a pudgy face with balding gray hair. Stroking his wispy beard, the man used his other hand to trace the matching scars running down both sides of his face, sinking into his thoughts as a hidden door opened behind him.
“The plan is coming along well...” the man murmured, waving for the other two hooded figures to kneel down in front of him. “They have no idea the true scope of the plan. Contact the demons and let them know the plan is going well. Then keep an eye on the elders. Stay very far though because their senses are much better than both of yours.”
““Yes sir.””
Waving them both off, the man sank back into his thoughts, plotting and planning for the future as he traced out the scars on his face with an idle hand.
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, a certain man was stroking his own—actually full—black beard while pondering to himself. “I know of a few disciples that have been traversing through my territory recently... This could be a chance to take some more for myself... Who needs that greasy old geezer...”
Drumming his fingers against his desk, the man grinned, a greedy light flickering behind his eyes. “I don’t care if those elders are in the city, they won’t be able to react in time, and before you know it, I'll have enough talent to turn the world upside down. I can then disappear and just reinvent myself...”
Clapping his hands due to sheer awe at his own genius, the man pushed himself up breaking out into giggles as he cracked the door open. “Secretaries! Attend to me please! Bring out the pills from storage given to us by the benefactor!”