Chapter 231: This Seems Like a Big Deal

The morning passed peacefully in Liam and Lydia’s apartment.

The twins had been awake for a while and were demanding their parents’ attention.

Lionel lay on a blanket, waving his arms as he tried to reach a toy his mother was holding in front of him. Beside him, Liana watched with curiosity, although she seemed far more interested in putting the corner of the blanket into her mouth.

Lydia moved the fabric out of her reach and offered her a small stuffed toy instead.

"I think your daughter is trying to eat everything she finds," she remarked, looking at Liam.

"It’s a fairly reasonable strategy. If something is within reach, it must be edible until proven otherwise."

"I hope you didn’t apply that logic when you were little."

"I don’t remember doing that."

"That doesn’t mean you didn’t."

Liam smiled as he picked up Lionel and settled him in his arms. The boy responded with a babble, waving his hands against his father’s chest.

For a few moments, Liam managed to forget the worries that had been following him since the previous night.

James’s message was still on his mind.

’I want you to be there along with the other Ace of Spades sub-captains. It’s important.’

James wasn’t the kind of person who summoned so many hunters without a good reason.

And although Liam was used to dealing with dangerous situations, his instructor’s insistence made him think something out of the ordinary was happening.

He didn’t know whether it involved a new threat, an operation that would require the cooperation of several squads, or a problem related to high-rank dungeons.

The only thing he knew for certain was that he couldn’t ignore it.

Liam glanced at Lydia, who was now trying to convince Liana that the stuffed toy was much more interesting than the blanket.

Since the twins were born, he had tried to keep his wife away from dangerous missions. He wanted her to enjoy this stage of their lives with their children without constantly worrying about her safety.

However, he also knew that Lydia was still a hunter. She hadn’t given up her identity or her ambitions just because she had become a mother.

’I hope it isn’t a particularly dangerous mission.’

The thought of needing her by his side crossed his mind, but Liam quickly pushed it away. He had no reason to think about anything like that yet.

Before getting up, he decided to check in with Pix.

Thanks to his [Call] ability, he could communicate with her through his thoughts, while the little assistant replied through the system chat.

’Pix, have you noticed anything strange lately?’

The response appeared almost immediately.

[Pix: Strange in what way? Any energy anomalies, changes in nearby dungeons, or anything related to your abilities?]

’I don’t know exactly. I just have a feeling something is about to happen. Have you detected any unusual activity in the area?’

[Pix: I’ve checked everything I can detect nearby, and I haven’t found anything out of the ordinary.]

[Pix: The dungeons in the area are following their usual patterns, and there are no signs of an imminent threat either.]

Liam remained thoughtful for a few seconds.

’Then I’m probably just worrying too much.’

[Pix: That would be completely understandable! You’ve been working hard lately, training your squad and taking care of the twins.]

[Pix: Even a hunter of your caliber needs to rest from time to time.]

’Are you telling me I should take a vacation?’

[Pix: Of course! Although, knowing you, you’d probably end up looking for a dungeon to explore during your vacation.]

’I can’t deny that’s a possibility.’

[Pix: At least you’re aware of your own flaws!]

Liam chuckled softly.

The conversation had managed to put him at ease. If Pix hadn’t detected anything nearby, there was no point imagining catastrophic scenarios without enough information.

Besides, James would explain the details during the meeting.

For now, the best thing he could do was enjoy the morning.

"What are you laughing about?" Lydia asked.

"Nothing important. I was talking to Pix."

"And what did she tell you?"

"That I need to rest."

Lydia raised her eyebrows.

"For once, I agree with her."

"You do?"

"Of course. Although, if you want to rest, you can take care of changing Lionel’s diaper."

Liam looked down at his son.

The little boy gazed back at him with an expression of absolute innocence.

"That doesn’t exactly sound like a break."

Lydia laughed as Liam sighed and prepared to take on his new responsibility.

◇◆◇

A few hours later, Liam arrived at the Ace of Spades Guild headquarters.

He expected to find the other sub-captains gathered in their usual meeting room, but the number of people he saw upon entering told him this wouldn’t be an ordinary meeting.

Besides the representatives of the six squads, James, and Captain Armstrong, there were several unfamiliar faces.

Liam immediately recognized one of the most prominent figures.

Margaret, the commander of Ouroboros, stood near a window. Her white hair contrasted with the violet suit she wore. Her calm expression revealed little, but her eyes discreetly examined everyone in the room.

Standing beside her was a burly, bald man with visible scars across his scalp. The dark glasses he wore concealed his eyes, while his rigid posture gave him an intimidating presence.

The third member of their group was a young woman with pink hair who seemed more interested in her phone than in the people around her.

The other two groups also drew attention.

The first was led by Daniel Foster, the leader of the Aegis Guild. He was a middle-aged man with silver hair and gray eyes, dressed in a formal dark blue uniform. His disciplined posture and serious expression gave the impression that he was analyzing every detail of the room.

Beside him stood a man with dark blue hair and glasses, holding a tablet. Every now and then, he exchanged a few quiet words with his leader, apparently reviewing information.

The final group had a distinctly different presence.

Ryan Carter, the leader of the Night Owls, was a muscular man with dark red hair and a scar running across one cheek. His black clothing, decorated with red details, reinforced his aggressive appearance.

Beside him stood an athletic woman with short black hair and golden eyes. Although she shared her leader’s determination, her gaze seemed more focused on details and the reactions of those around her.

’Ouroboros, the Aegis, and the Night Owls... All three major guilds are here.’