Allen glared at Alina Vladimír with frosty eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

His attitude turned cold and sharp like a lashing icy wind.

“You must be well aware of how many people Mobius is currently holding hostage.”

The scene hadn’t appeared yet in the footage that Olivia showed them, but everyone had already seen the live broadcast.

“Most of them are ordinary people without Stigmas.”

Among the captives were children who looked barely ten years old. How could anyone say they would take no part whatsoever after seeing such a horrifying video?

“Or did you somehow not see the footage?” he asked.

“No. Of course, I saw it.”

“Then how could you possibly—!”

“It’s because I saw it that I say this.” Alina’s expression remained calm. “Mobius took hostages and told us to come to Rome if we wanted to save them. No matter how you look at it, that’s clearly a trap, isn’t it?”

“That’s...”

“I cannot send my precious soldiers into a battlefield that is obviously a trap.” She resolutely shook her head. Her eyes made it clear that she wouldn’t compromise. “As important as the hostages are, my soldiers are just as precious to me. I cannot force them into meaningless deaths.”

“Meaningless deaths...? Are you saying saving those people is meaningless?!”

“I’m saying we cannot demand sacrifice in the name of morality and duty.”

To not force sacrifice in the name of morality and duty... Alina had a point.

A being who had instantly wiped out an entire city was brazenly challenging the world. To accept such a challenge head-on was indeed recklessly foolish.

“Would you say the same if this had happened in Russia or China?” Allen looked straight at Alina.

Without so much as a twitch in her expression, Alina flatly shook her head. “If it happened within the Alliance, then of course it would be our duty to deploy forces.”

“So, because it happened in Italy, the Alliance won’t get involved?”

“On the contrary, why should we get involved? This is an issue that should be resolved within the European Union.”

Allen glared at her with contempt. “Haaa.”

Even with demonic beasts and the Black Star Celestials, clear enemies of humankind standing before them, humans still confined themselves within the walls of nations and dismissed the crisis as someone else’s problem. Just as it had always been, the common good always lost to personal interests.

Just then, someone in the chamber retorted, “Pathetic.”

The young boy spoke directly into the Awakeners' minds. From beyond the conference room’s pillars around the round table, a boy stepped forward. Draped in treasures of immeasurable worth as though they were mere clothes, he strode out with icy eyes fixed on Alina. It was Deneb, the Celestial of Cygnus.

“Why do you think we gave humans Stigmas?” Deneb’s gaze swept across the Awakeners seated at the round table. “We bestowed Stigmas so that you could save humanity and protect the world in our place as we are bound by the Law’s restrictions.”

And yet—

“You sit here bickering about which nation’s responsibility it is to help, saying you won’t interfere? Really?”

Driven by fury, his Stigma’s mana spread through the conference room. An icy wind tore apart what had moments ago been a warm, spring-like atmosphere. The rosy walls froze solid, white frost spread across the floor, and the air grew so frigid that one’s breath would freeze.

Overwhelmed by Deneb’s crushing aura, Olivia clutched at her throat in pain. “Kugh...”

Deneb didn’t spare her even a glance and stepped forward, eyes locked on Alina.

“Is this really the time to be picking sides!” Deneb shouted.

Waves of frost burst forth and threatened to engulf the room.

Just then, a silver aura swept across and blocked the frost.

“That is enough.” Vega calmed the raging storm.

Deneb’s face twisted with fury as he glared at Vega. “Why are you stopping me?!”

“Isn't our role to watch quietly and let our children find their own way?”

“Now is hardly the time—!”

“Or do you mean to disregard the children’s will and force them into submission?” Vega’s gaze bore deep into Deneb’s eyes.

He flinched at the weight of it.

“Celestials are meant to be like parents. We guide, embrace, and point our children toward the right path. We are not tyrants who drag them by the hair and force them to obey.”

“I-I know that, but...”

“Then, let’s trust them a little more and simply watch for now.”

Deneb bit down hard on his lip.

The Celestial of Leo, Regulus, and the Celestial of Taurus, Aldebaran, also agreed with Vega.

“I agree with Lady Vega.”

“Hahaha! No need to worry. Our children will find the wise answer themselves!”

The Celestial of Aries, Aries, and the Celestial of Virgo, Spica, chimed in as well.

“I don’t think this is a place for Celestials to interfere.”

“Mhm! And when I lent my temple, I promised not to take part in the meeting directly anyway!”

With a sigh of resignation, Deneb stepped back. “Tsk. Fine...”

Olivia, who had been clutching her throat, drew ragged breaths as she looked around at the Celestials.

“Then, may we resume the meeting...?”

They nodded and signaled toward Alina and Allen.

Alina faintly sighed. “It isn’t that we’re not worried about those taken by Mobius. However, that doesn’t mean I can send my soldiers into a battlefield that is clearly a trap.”

“I feel the same way.” The man seated beside her, a dignified blond with a heavy presence, raised his hand.

It was Edward Walton, aka Dubhe, an Awakener of Sagittarius and one of the top five wealthiest men in the world.

“Sending relief supplies is possible, but dispatching mercenaries would be difficult. Even if mercenaries do anything for money, who would willingly walk into certain death?”

Allen bit his lip anxiously. “Even you, Mr. Edward...”

A green-haired woman, listening with her arms crossed, raised her hand. “I agree with Allen.”

Rebecca Bell, Phecda, was an Awakener of Gemini. Aside from Kwon Oh-Jin, she had reached nine stars the fastest.

“When we chose candidates for the Seven Stars, what was the most important quality? Wasn’t it the heart to reach out to the powerless?”

Becoming a Seven Star required more than just strength. Only those who could shoulder the responsibility that matched that power were qualified. Their grueling test deceived even the most formidable candidates to find those who could bear such responsibility.

“Even if the rest of the world turns its back on them, we, who carry the name of the Seven Stars, must not.”

Her usual playful smile had disappeared. Rebecca looked at Alina and Edward with a grave, determined look.

Baek Mu-Kang, Megrez, raised his hand high with an innocent grin. “Me too! I’ll help Allen!”

Bianca Bennett, aka Alioth, shrugged and shook her head. “Hmm. I’m against it. As the soldier-lady said, it’s obviously a trap. What happens after everyone just rushes in and dies? Then what?”

Allen shot her a glare. “Miss Bianca, aren’t you from the UK as well?”

“Hmph. I thought nationality didn’t matter.” Bianca shrugged and twirled a strand of her curly blond hair around her finger.

Watching the debate go nowhere, Kwon Oh-Jin furrowed his brow.

Three against three.

If he sided with Allen, that would make it four against three. However, this wasn’t some class president election. Having a majority vote didn’t mean he could drag Alina’s troops into war against their will.

Both sides have a point.

Allen emphasized the morality and the duty of the Seven Stars. On the other hand, Alina stressed reason by weighing the risks and benefits. Neither side could simply be called wrong.

That’s why they can’t come to a conclusion.

Kwon Oh-Jin narrowed his eyes as he watched the Seven Stars raise their voices against one another. Just then, a thought flickered through his mind.

Was this what he was aiming for all along?

Awakeners, including the Seven Stars, would divide and oppose each other. Humanity would fight over self-interest, morality, and selfishness just like they always had. They would clash with opposing perspectives, leading to hatred and resentment.

Kwon Oh-Jin dryly laughed. “Ha...”

No one even discussed Mobius, the true mastermind behind this disaster. They were too busy pushing each other away and hiding behind the walls of their logic.

If this is the outcome you wanted...

Then, Kwon Oh-Jin would just have to shatter that wall of logic with his own hands.

“Two days after the attack on Italy, Awakeners belonging to the EU, under the command of Mizar, set out to reclaim Rome.”

The Seven Stars, who had been raising their voices at one another, all turned their eyes to Kwon Oh-Jin.

“What are you—”

“But the overwhelming difference in power led to failure, and Mobius vanished without a trace.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Exactly thirty-six days after that failed operation, the same thing happens in Moscow.”

Ignoring their incredulous glares, Kwon Oh-Jin pressed on. “The EU Awakeners pointed fingers, saying they saw it coming. China then dissolved its alliance with Russia and began deploying Awakener military units across every city.”

“Are you writing a novel or something?” Alina Vladimir sneered as she glared at Kwon Oh-Jin.

“On the sixty-seventh day, Japan is attacked. On the hundredth day, Korea falls. At that point, the Seven Stars gather once again and propose forming a world alliance to put aside past grudges, but it collapses.”

Everyone remained silent.

“On day one hundred fifty-two, the United States falls. On day two hundred eighteen, the United Kingdom falls. The damage spirals out of control, and Mobius uses the corpses of the fallen Awakeners to build a new army.”

Then—

“Exactly one year after the attack on Rome, there will no longer be anything left on this Earth that can be called a nation.”

With those words, Kwon Oh-Jin firmly shut his mouth as if he had said all he needed to.

An awkward silence filled the conference room.

Alina Vladimir broke the silence. “Thank you for that...”

Her blue eyes, fixed on him, grew cold as ice.

“Before anything else, I must ask this first.” She glared at him with a quiet fury. “Why are you speaking as if you already know everything that will happen in the future?”

“Because I do know.”

“What?”

Kwon Oh-Jin took a deep breath and looked at each Awakener around the round table.

He exhaled the air that filled his lungs. “Haaa. I am a Regressor.”

At last, he revealed the truth he had kept hidden all this time.