I am a former Flame Chasers

The councillors were still reeling from the sudden reversal of life and death. The destructive power they had just witnessed was overwhelming. Many had seen the fusion warriors clash for the first time.

The pressure in the air was suffocating, and in the blink of an eye, the administrative district was thrown into chaos. The destruction happened so swiftly, it was as if everything had vanished without explanation.

It was... both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

The people present were seasoned figures, not naive novices. After quickly confirming that they were safe, they all turned to the girl standing solemnly. They stood up, dusted themselves off, and nodded respectfully.

"Dr. Mei, you are truly a hero of mankind."

"That's right, you've just made a great contribution by repelling the traitors and preserving the integrity of Fire Moth."

"I propose Dr. Mei immediately enter the candidate review for General Manager. I'll be the first to cast my vote."

"Not only that, I'll transfer ownership of the five companies under my name to you. These assets can only reach their full potential when entrusted to a true human hero."

...

The flattery was overwhelming, but it didn't sound insincere. Every word was calculated, the intensity perfectly controlled.

Thanks were secondary. The exchange of interests was far more subtle. They quickly recognized the conspiracy between Ryan and Mei. By deliberately leaving Ryan out of the conversation, they were attempting to sow discord and manipulate the situation.

Mei understood the game at once. Behind each compliment was a hidden agenda, a fuse for the power struggles brewing underneath. She suddenly realized why Ryan had taken such risks.

Under the current system, if you wanted to reform from the top down, everyone in this room was operating at the level of a Herrscher.

Disguises were useless now. She recognized familiar faces immediately.

The president of a multinational company, the chairman of the Iron and Steel Federation, the prime minister of a country, the spokesperson of an ancient family, and even the former chief of staff of the United Nations Army...

These were all powerful figures. In terms of political maneuvering, weren't they all on the same level as a Herrscher?

Mei remained silent. She knew that anything she said would be used against her in the future. So, she chose to stay still, like a puppet, until the loud sound of "dong dong" echoed through the room.

The conference hall fell into silence. The praise and manipulative exchanges vanished in an instant. Everyone looked up at the ceiling anxiously, but no one moved this time.

They weren't stupid. Being near Dr. Mei was the safest place to be right now. At least she was rational enough to understand one thing:

If I die, who will take over the armies, the multinational companies, and the factories? Can they rely on just a powerful monster?

The "dong dong" noise grew louder, like the approaching footsteps of a giant. Then, the cracked ceiling suddenly burst open.

Bang!

Dust flew everywhere as a black-haired man half-crouched in the center, his spear still stained with blood. The overwhelming killing intent seemed to choke the very air, strangling everyone's throat.

Ryan had arrived, and in the most terrifying way imaginable, he had come to the center of Fire Moth. His gray eyes swept across the room, and no one dared to speak. No one even dared to praise him, nor scold him.

He had killed his way here with pure strength, far beyond the constraints of the rules. He was a completely free individual.

Ryan could decide the life and death of everyone in the room and the future of humanity with a single thought.

Calm or angry—it all depended on his will.

"Ryan, stay calm."

Finally, someone spoke. Ryan turned to see Wayne, which didn't surprise him.

"Brother, I've always been calm. I came here to execute the parliament's questioning order." The second half of his sentence made the blood pressure of everyone in the room skyrocket. How could someone accept questioning like this? People were meant to sit on trial, repent, not kill Fire Moth! But calling him "brother" at least made many people feel some relief. At least Ryan didn't regard them as enemies.

"Yes, 'calm as winter' is the motto of our family. Do you remember?" Wayne added, relieved. He knew his brother wouldn't lose his composure.

"Well, and there's the second half: 'cold as ice and snow.'" Ryan's words seemed to choke Wayne for a moment. He turned around and walked toward the center of the destroyed hall. With each step, ice spread across the ground, filling the cracks, and reforming a high platform. A high-backed chair materialized, and Ryan sat in it, resting his head on his left hand and lightly waving his right.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please start questioning."

...

No one spoke. Everyone seemed to be staring at a madman who was shockingly rational. What could they question now? Who would dare to question him?

That arrogant demeanor only fueled their anger, as if they were nothing but ants in his eyes.

"Nothing to say? Then I'll question you." Ryan straightened his posture and asked simply, "There are only 35 councilors here. Why are 10 still missing?"

There were 46 councilors in total, and excluding the late Takeuchi, there should be 45.

Everyone glanced at Wayne, waiting for him to answer.

"With more than half the votes, the parliament's orders can take effect. Nine people were absent, but Number I, the Pope, left the meeting," Wayne explained reluctantly.

"I see. So, they ran away the moment they realized failure was inevitable. Sometimes cowardice and timidity can be useful." Ryan wasn't surprised. Even the Herrschers had figured out Run, so these old schemers weren't beyond his reach. He glanced at the group of powerful figures but felt a little bored.

"From your perspective, everything you've done makes sense. From humanity's point of view, your actions are both praised and criticized. Selflessness and sacrifice are not for everyone, especially at your level. The higher the position, the harder it is to act selflessly."

"You know what the 'Faith Sect' is, right? Many of you have received invitations, but you turned them down, not because of some mission, but because you wanted to play both sides."

"Standing with the winner is the only way to protect what you have, or even gain unlimited life. But this isn't your fault. The Herrschers are very skilled in giving before reaping."

"In other words, you're victims too. The Herrschers will eventually reap you, they just chose the simpler path."

Ryan's words weren't sharp, but they were painful enough. The warriors couldn't afford to ignore them.

Someone retorted, "Dr. Ryan, we don't have any answers about the Herrscher, and your hypothesis is not necessarily true."

"Hypothesis? No, this is the truth. An irrefutable truth."

"Where's your evidence?"

"When you find the evidence, it'll be too late. Even I won't be able to stop it." Ryan shifted in his chair, uninterested in discussing things further. "Let's end the questioning here. It's a waste of time. I can only cooperate with you temporarily, but cooperation no longer satisfies me."

No one spoke. They were all staring at the man in the high-backed chair, realizing that the final decision in this farce was approaching. They began calculating what price they would have to pay to appease him.

"The Fire Moth Council remains, but the decision-making power, control of Fire Moth, and your respective industries will be handed over to the new general manager. I will be the general manager, and Dr. Mei will be the chief of staff."

Ryan's tone was non-negotiable. He had completely destroyed "democracy," and the members were left in shock.

This wasn't an exchange of interests; it was a complete takeover.

Some members fell silent, knowing the gravity of the situation. Others were skeptical, thinking Ryan was naïve—did he really believe he could take everything by holding them hostage?

"Dr. Ryan, you're too domineering."

"Yes, I am, and this is the power of the winner." Ryan nodded firmly.

"Oh, do you really think you can control tens of thousands of factories just by detaining us?"

"I know you represent the interest groups, and I don't have enough allies to control everything worldwide."

"Then why propose such conditions?"

Ryan glanced coldly at the group of elites and spoke leisurely, "I know you're not convinced. You'll be patient for now, hoping to turn against us after you leave, or sabotage the cooperation. No one in the world knows tricks better than you."

"But since I dared to propose this, I can certainly execute it."

The explanation and the conclusion were entirely different. Everyone, including Mei, was puzzled. Was this person insane? But just then, light footsteps echoed from the back door. The congressmen, already terrified, turned to see the two girls.

Sakura, with her fox ears, stepped in front, holding a long knife. The murderous intent made people recoil. Aponia, dressed in a nun's uniform, followed closely behind, her compassionate eyes scanning the room.

The congressmen were confused. Was this a threat? A honey trap?

Before they could think further, they suddenly heard a gentle voice.

"Please sit down and remain quiet."

The voice was soft and gentle, not as forceful as Ryan's, but the councillors widened their eyes in horror. They realized they had no control over their bodies and found themselves sitting down, as if they were compelled to obey.

What was even more terrifying was that they didn't resist mentally.

They did exactly what the woman told them, and they were happy to comply.

Mei's eyes widened slightly. She understood why Ryan had dared to make such a bet, and she felt a tinge of fear as she glanced at the nun.

Aponia wasn't sad or happy. She twisted her slender waist, stepping onto the ice platform beside Ryan, like a servant. Ryan, sitting in the high-backed chair, rested his head on his hand, his eyes filled with the confidence of one who controlled everything, as if he were a king.

"Herrscher, they, and you, are just my pawns." He pointed to the obediently sitting councillors with his index finger.

"So when did you develop the illusion that you could turn against me?"