While Kaito was busy practicing his martial arts, far away on the eastern side of the Federation, in a city known as Cindralis, a very different scene was unfolding.
In the commercial district of Cindralis stood a towering glass building with the name Storm Life displayed boldly at its entrance. This building was the headquarters of the Storm Life Guild in the real world. On the topmost floor, inside a large conference room, the senior members and major shareholders of Storm Life were gathered.
The room was spacious and modern, with a long oval conference table at the center. Seated around it were the elders of the guild men who had worked for decades to raise Storm Life to its current position. At the head of the table sat an old man. Though his hair had turned completely white, the vigor in his eyes and the sharpness of his eyebrows made it clear that his strength and presence had not faded. This was the president of Storm Life.
At this time, one of the elders seated at the side of the table turned toward the president. With a faint smile, he said, "It's good to see you again, old friend. It's been so long. Tell us, what are your plans for this new game, Glory?"
The president let out a soft sigh before replying. "What plans can I make now? As you can see, I'm already old. I've given my entire life to this guild. Now, I only want to retire peacefully and spend my remaining years with my sons and grandsons."
His words carried both relief and calmness. He paused for a moment before continuing, "As for Storm Life, we've already discussed this matter. We will choose the next president from among those who have submitted their names for the position."
Hearing this, the other elders at the table nodded in agreement. They too had grown old, and many of them had already been considering retirement. The president's words only confirmed what they had been thinking all along. They had all worked together for decades, and now, at the twilight of their lives, it was natural to step down together.
The president's eyes softened as he looked at his fellow elders. A trace of reminiscence flickered across his face, as if he were recalling the long journey they had taken together building Storm Life from nothing into one of the most powerful guilds of the Federation.
For a while, the atmosphere in the room grew lighter. The elders began chatting about the old days, recalling battles fought, alliances made, and the struggles they had endured side by side. Laughter echoed in the conference room, though it carried the weight of nostalgia.
But eventually, the president raised his hand. "Enough chit-chat. After we retire, we can gather again and talk as much as we want. But for now, we must focus on the matter at hand choosing who will be the next president."
The tone in his voice made everyone serious again. Though they were ready to step back, none of them wanted to leave their life's hard work in the hands of someone unworthy. Storm Life had taken decades of effort to build, and it would be unforgivable to let it crumble under poor leadership.
The discussion turned to the candidates. Files and records were brought up on the large holo-tab in the middle of the table. The president and elders carefully reviewed the names and contributions of those who had put themselves forward for the position. Slowly, they eliminated those who lacked sufficient experience or influence.
One by one, the weaker candidates were dismissed, until finally, only three profiles remained. Their images and personal information rotated on the holographic display above the table for all to see.
The president looked at the three profiles and then spoke firmly, "I believe only these three individuals have the capability to lead Storm Life after me. Let us now decide among ourselves who the position of president should go to."
The elders leaned forward and examined the profiles more carefully.
The first was Zephyr. His real-life photo appeared on the display, accompanied by a detailed record of his achievements. He was known for his sharp strategies and strong influence among the younger generation of guild members.
The second profile was Marcus, another long-standing member who had shown strong leadership in guild operations and external negotiations. His ability to handle complex situations and maintain good relations with other guilds had earned him respect.
The third profile was Derick Stroud, a man known for his practical approach and calm temperament. He had been instrumental in stabilizing guild finances and resources during difficult times.
All three of them held the rank of Vice Leader in Storm Life. This was no surprise. Reaching the rank of Vice Leader was no easy feat, it required years of hard work, countless contributions, and the ability to build networks both inside and outside the guild. Anyone who failed to achieve such things would never reach that level.
Now, the difficult part was choosing between them. The elders exchanged glances. Each of the three candidates had proven themselves in different ways. Each had the potential to guide Storm Life, but the future of the guild could only rest on one of their shoulders.
The conference room slowly filled with murmurs as the elders began whispering among themselves. Forming small groups of twos and threes, they discussed which of the three shortlisted candidates was better suited for the position of president. Some leaned closer to share quiet opinions, others argued softly, each weighing the strengths and weaknesses of Zephyr, Marcus, and Derick.
After giving them about five minutes to discuss freely, the president of the Storm Life Guild raised his hand and signaled for silence. "Everyone, Let's continue the meeting now," he said firmly. One by one, the elders stopped their small talks and settled back into their places around the large conference table. The atmosphere grew serious once again as the meeting resumed.
At this time, one of the elders spoke up. "I think we can narrow the choice between Zephyr and Derick. As for Marcus, I don't believe he is a suitable candidate for the position of president. You all know this as well. Since we started playing Glory, Marcus has shown little interest in taking on more responsibilities, and his performance has been mediocre compared to the other two."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "If we look at the past, the contributions and strength of all three may balance each other. But now if we take Glory into account, the situation is different. Zephyr and Derick have both made remarkable contributions, while Marcus's results have not been impressive. For that reason, I think we can exclude Marcus from the final selection."
Several elders nodded in agreement. Though it was hard to admit, the truth could not be ignored. Marcus had contributed much in earlier games, but this was not a time to rely on emotions or past glories. The guild needed someone who could lead them into the future, not someone who had grown complacent. Derick and Zephyr, on the other hand, had proven their abilities and had to be evaluated fairly.
Another elder then added his voice. "Derick has shown remarkable achievements in Glory. He managed to take control of an entire town under his jurisdiction. That in itself is a great accomplishment for us. It shows leadership and influence."
But almost immediately, another elder retorted. "If we're talking about achievements in Glory, then we cannot overlook Zephyr. He has cleared both the Elite and Hard levels of the Misty Palace dungeon, while most others remain stuck at normal difficulty. His achievements have made the guild's name resound throughout his region, far beyond the reach of a single town."
The elder supporting Derick frowned but answered quickly, "Yes, but Zephyr's achievements weren't his alone. Everyone knows he managed to clear those dungeons because of the help of that player, Raen. Without him, Zephyr would not have succeeded."