Two weeks later.
With a bag slung over his shoulder, Aron departed from his house and began his journey out of the neighborhood, making his way towards the meeting location.
Upon witnessing Aron's departure, Donald promptly headed towards the garage, intending to retrieve the car and offer him a ride to his intended destination.
Observing Donald's actions, Aron raised his hand in a gesture of refusal and spoke, "No need for that. I will be going alone this time."
Donald, acknowledging Aron's decision, halted in his tracks and "Sure sir, Have a good day" bidding Aron farewell.
Aron reciprocated, "You too," before resuming his stride.
Having walked approximately a kilometer, Aron arrived at a restaurant and approached the staff, politely requesting to use the restroom. The restaurant staff kindly granted permission and provided him with directions to the facilities.
After stepping into the restroom, Aron swiftly activated the concealment rune, effectively rendering himself hidden from sight.
He then departed from the restroom, leaving the restaurant behind, and discreetly walked past the car that had been tailing him since he left his house.
Curious about the situation, he asj-ked Nova "Are they FBI?"
Nova responded, [Yes, sir, and they are not the only ones].
Without uttering another word, Aron continued his walk in a concealed state for another twenty minutes.
Once sure that there were no prying eyes he deactivated the concealment rune and hailed a taxi to transport him to his intended destination.
After a half-hour taxi ride, Aron reached his destination and alighted from the vehicle, settling the fare with the driver.
Once he ensured that there were no onlookers nearby, he activated the concealment rune once more, resuming his concealed journey on foot.
His walk led him to a hotel, which he had exclusively rented to accommodate John's and his fellow stay, prior to commencing their gradual movements towards Eden.
....
30 minutes ago.
John was engaging in a conversation with a group of his fellow members, their friendship forged by their shared interests and commonalities.
Another reason was that they were all now considered subordinates of Aron.
"So, just when I was about to pull the trigger, he ….." "DING" in the midst of sharing an intriguing anecdote his storytelling was abruptly halted by a sudden notification that resonated across the group, signifying that the incoming message was intended for all of them.
Without any delay, each member swiftly retrieved their mobile phones and opened them to see the contents of the received message.
The message that appeared on their screens simply stated: "[I will be arriving in half an hour. I will meet you all in the conference room]."
The message prompted everyone to swiftly retreat to their respective rooms, ensuring they were attired in appropriate and respectful clothing.
Without a moment's delay, they converged upon the conference room, calmly taking their seats and patiently waiting for his arrival.
....
In his concealed state, Aron stealthily walked past the hotel reception without drawing any attention and proceeded directly to the conference room, where everyone waited for his arrival.
At the entrance to the conference room, Aron dispelled the concealment rune, allowing his presence to be revealed. With a decisive gesture, he opened the door and entered the room, joining the waiting group.
As Aron stepped into the room, Instantly, everyone within the room rose from their seats, assuming an attentive posture and keeping their gaze fixed on the composed figure of Aron.
Undeterred by the attention, Aron continued his steady stride towards the stage, maintaining his calm demeanor.
Upon reaching the stage, he turned towards them and said, "Good morning."
"GOOD MORNING, SIR," they responded in perfect unison, their voices harmonizing seamlessly as if they had rehearsed the precise timing beforehand.
"Is everyone present?" he asked.
"YES, SIR," they replied in unison.
"Excellent. Take your seats," Aron said, a contented smile gracing his face as he observed the reverential expressions on their faces.
Receiving the command, they promptly took their seats, executing a synchronized movement that exemplified their unity and discipline.
"Today marks the occasion of our first gathering, where I am meeting all of you in one place," Aron began, addressing the attentive assembly. "This also signifies the official commencement of your service as members of my esteemed force."
Everyone in the room started clapping.
WHen they finished clapping, Aron continued "Without further ado, let us proceed with the selection of a leader who will act as the intermediary between you all and myself, relaying orders and ensuring their execution," Aron continued, pausing momentarily to gauge their reactions.
He then turned his gaze towards John and said "John", prompting John to stand promptly.
Aron's expression conveyed trust and confidence as he continued, "John, you have been chosen for this crucial position due to your esteemed status as the first among my forces and your unparalleled strength amongst your peers."
"YES, SIR," John responded with a resolute voice, brimming with conviction. His words carried a promise of unwavering loyalty, an assurance of never faltering, and a deep sense of gratitude towards Aron.
Aron's trust in John was the result of the report Nova had shared after analyzing John's brain data.
Nova's analysis revealed that John, at present, exhibited traits of unwavering devotion, positioning him as a dedicated fanatic who would dutifully carry out any orders entrusted to him by Aron.
"Good, you can sit," Aron instructed, and without hesitation, John promptly sat down.
As Aron cast his gaze upon the remaining members, he discerned an unmistakable expression of contentment on their faces.
It was evident that each one of them recognized John's exceptional strength, as they had engaged in friendly competition during the time they were waiting for Aron to visit.
Through his charisma and exemplary conduct, John had already garnered their acknowledgment as a de facto leader even before Aron officially designated him as such.
"Edward," Aron called, and without any delay, Edward promptly stood up and awaited further instructions.
"You will assume the responsibility of procuring weapons for your fellow members," Aron stated, assigning Edward the crucial task. "The composition of your team will be revealed to you once the meeting concludes."
"YES, SIR," Edward responded with prompt obedience, swiftly retaking his seat as instructed.
Aron proceeded to call out the names of individuals, each one promptly rising from their seat upon hearing their name. He then proceeded to assign them their respective positions as he continued addressing the group.
What instilled a sense of awe was the fact that Aron assigned positions to individuals with an uncanny accuracy, aligning each person with a role that best suited their abilities.
It became evident that Aron possessed a profound understanding of their capabilities, surpassing even their own awareness of each other's strengths and talents.
This process persisted for over 10 minutes as Aron meticulously filled all the available positions with individuals who had the necessary qualifications within the group.
"As for the remaining individuals, all of you being combat personnel, you will be organized into groups of twenty, each with a designated leader and assistant leader. This allocation will be determined by the end of this meeting," Aron declared, his gaze shifting towards those who had yet to receive their assigned tasks.
He proceeded, "In the following weeks, your mission will commence, starting with each of you traveling to Eden in batches. This will serve as the initial phase of your preparation, allowing you to ready yourselves for the forthcoming mission." Aron paused, creating a moment of anticipation as every individual in the room fixed their attention on his impending words..
"Today marks the inception of your journey, one that will instill fear in your enemies and inspire admiration among your allies. Henceforth, you shall be recognized by the name ARES," Aron declared, officially bestowing upon them a name that would signify their identity and purpose.
An eruption of excitement reverberated throughout the room as applause filled the air. The members were elated to learn that their forces had been named after the god of war, Ares.
Aron then delivered a brief speech, commemorating the establishment of the private military corporation (PMC) and acknowledging the collective efforts of the assembled members.
With his closing remarks, the meeting concluded, leaving an atmosphere charged with determination and purpose.
"As you depart from the room, ensure to collect a contract and carefully review its terms and conditions. If you find them acceptable, sign the document. However, if any modifications are desired, visit me after I conclude the meeting with your respective leaders," Aron instructed, gesturing towards the bag he had brought along.
One by one, the members rose from their seats and began exiting the conference room.
As they passed by the bag, they each retrieved a contract, although they regarded it as a mere formality.
The contracts held no legal binding in any recognized jurisdiction since the company was unregistered, leaving the enforcement solely in the hands of the company itself.
Yet, the thought of challenging these agreements never crossed their minds, for they were acutely aware of Aron's formidable capabilities and were hesitant to test the boundaries of his power.
Unbeknownst to them, as the members retrieved their contracts they radiated a subtle golden glow. Aron had crafted these contracts over the past week during the intervals when he had taken breaks from playing the game with Nova.
After the departure of the other members, a select group of about 10 individuals remained in the room as instructed by Aron.
Among them were John, Edward, and a few others who had been assigned official positions during the meeting.
Aron, dragging a chair closer to the group, planning to provide them with detailed briefings regarding their specific tasks.
"Alright, gentlemen, now that we have commenced our operations, it is crucial that you thoroughly briefed on your respective responsibilities," Aron began talking to them.
