Chapter 54 - 55: City Level 1 Alert!

Chapter 54: Chapter 55: City Level 1 Alert!

Chapter 55: City Level 1 Alert!

Evening.

The lights across Westmere began flickering on one after another.

Inside the dungeon area of the Westmere Professional Center, Nathaniel Beaumont was still clearing dungeons.

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Rowan Trading Consortium...

The atmosphere inside the top-floor conference room was oppressive.

The long table was filled with senior members of the Rowan Trading Consortium.

In the past, whenever Caleb Rowan attended these meetings, he could only sit near the back.

But today, he occupied the main seat.

That was his father’s seat.

Several people noticed this and exchanged subtle glances.

Some frowned.

Some sneered.

Others lowered their heads and drank their tea, pretending not to notice.

Caleb took in everyone’s reactions. Anger slowly began to build inside him.

When his father had still been around, hadn’t all these people treated him with respect?

Caleb took a deep breath.

"I’ve gathered everyone here today to announce an important decision."

The conference room fell silent.

Caleb spoke in a firm voice.

"I have decided, on behalf of the Rowan Trading Consortium, to seek the protection of Nathaniel Beaumont, President of the Beaumont Trading Consortium."

"In exchange, the Rowan Trading Consortium will transfer half of its commercial channels into the Beaumont Trading Consortium’s network."

"From now on, both organizations will establish deep cooperation, with the Beaumont Trading Consortium providing external protection for the Rowan Trading Consortium."

The moment he finished speaking, the conference room went quiet.

Then, almost everyone erupted.

"Half the channels?"

"Caleb Rowan, have you lost your mind?"

"Do you understand what that means?"

"Those channels are the foundation our family has built over many years!"

"You’re handing them to an outsider with a single decision?"

An elderly man with gray hair slammed his hand against the table.

"I absolutely refuse!"

His name was Martin Rowan.

He was a senior member of the Rowan family’s collateral branch and one of the people who controlled the consortium’s commercial channels.

Caleb looked at him.

"Uncle Martin, you should understand the Rowan family’s current situation better than anyone."

Martin snorted.

"Of course I do."

"That’s precisely why I can’t let you act recklessly."

Another senior executive spoke in a deep voice.

"That’s right."

"Nathaniel Beaumont certainly has great potential."

"An SSS-Rank first advancement is no small achievement. No one denies that."

"But do you really think someone like him will stay in Westmere forever just to protect the Rowan Trading Consortium?"

Someone immediately supported him.

"The Beaumont Trading Consortium has only just stabilized its own position. Why would it take responsibility for protecting us?"

"Caleb, you’re too young. A trading consortium can’t be managed through impulse."

Their words sounded reasonable.

Every sentence seemed to be spoken for the sake of the Rowan Trading Consortium.

But as Caleb looked at their faces, he felt nothing but disgust.

Did these people really care about the future of the Rowan Trading Consortium?

No.

They only cared about the interests they controlled.

If half the commercial channels were transferred to the Beaumont Trading Consortium, their own influence and profits would suffer.

Caleb’s chest rose and fell.

He was almost ready to lose his temper.

But just then...

BOOM!!!

A thunderous explosion suddenly rang out in the distance.

Everyone’s expressions changed.

Before anyone could react...

WOOOOOO!!!

A piercing city alarm rang through the night sky of Westmere.

Red warning lights began flashing across the city.

Everyone inside the conference room froze.

"What’s happening?"

"That’s the city alarm!"

"Has there been a monster invasion?"

"Impossible! Wasn’t the outer defense line operating normally?"

"Where did that explosion come from?"

Caleb rushed toward the window and looked into the distance.

On the eastern side of the city, flames were rising into the sky.

Chaotic energy fluctuations erupted again and again beneath the night sky.

That wasn’t an ordinary fire.

Those were the fluctuations of a battle!

Everyone in the conference room looked grim.

Although Westmere wasn’t one of the Aurelian Alliance’s major cities, it had a complete city-defense system.

If the city alarm sounded, the situation had gone far beyond an ordinary public security incident.

As a registered large-scale trading consortium in Westmere, the Rowan Trading Consortium had certain emergency obligations.

Its professionals above Level 200 were required to respond to temporary city-defense mobilizations.

Refusing such an order could bring serious consequences.

Three Level 200 professionals stood up at once.

The head of the security department spoke in a deep voice.

"This meeting is suspended."

"We’re going to investigate the source of the alarm."

The three left without delay.

The remaining executives exchanged glances.

The meeting, which had been filled with arguments just moments ago, could no longer continue.

Soon, the Rowan Trading Consortium’s emergency procedures were activated.

Ordinary staff began evacuating.

The senior executives were escorted by guards toward the underground shelter.

...

One minute earlier.

At the Vice City Lord’s residence.

Edmund Sterling and Adrian Cross stood inside the main hall.

Their expressions were grim.

Opposite them sat Vice City Lord Victor Langford.

He was slumped in his chair, his eyes bloodshot.

Edmund stared directly at him.

"As the Vice City Lord of Westmere, why did you betray this city?"

Adrian’s voice was cold.

"The Lion Syndicate managed to establish the Dark Night Canopy over Westmere."

"The news of the Three Pillars’ departure was leaked."

"Several dungeon blockade points were tampered with."

"All of these incidents are connected to you."

"Do you have anything left to say?"

Victor trembled.

The next moment, he covered his face and burst into tears.

"They kidnapped my wife and son!"

"I only wanted to save them!"

Adrian’s expression turned furious.

"You bastard!"

Victor’s lips trembled, but he couldn’t speak.

Edmund took a deep breath.

"Surrender."

"Let the law decide what happens next."

"If your wife and son are still alive, the City Lord’s Mansion will do everything in its power to rescue them."

Victor suddenly froze.

Then he began to laugh.

At first, it was a low chuckle.

But it grew louder and louder.

"Edmund Sterling..."

"You’re still the same."

"Always standing there with that superior attitude!"

"If it hadn’t been for you back then, I should have become the City Lord!"

"I’ve done so much for Westmere over the years. Why have I always had to stand behind you?"

Edmund’s expression changed.

"Victor Langford!"

Victor abruptly stood.

The hatred in his eyes erupted.

"I know I can’t survive this!"

"Then let’s all die together!"

BOOM!

A scarlet formation suddenly lit up beneath his feet.

Edmund’s pupils contracted.

"Not good!"

Adrian attacked at once.

But he was a step too late.

Victor’s entire body exploded.

His flesh and blood were instantly swallowed by the formation beneath him.

A scarlet pillar of light shot into the sky.

The next second...

Space tore open.

Monsters covered in black energy began crawling out of the rift.

Edmund’s expression turned terrible.

"He used the formation to corrupt a dungeon!"

Adrian cursed.

"That bastard!"

"It’s the Level 205 dungeon, the Black Abyss Brood!"

"He corrupted the monsters inside and released them!"

Adrian’s face was livid.

"He wants to drag all of Westmere down with him!"

Edmund didn’t hesitate.

He immediately activated the city-defense communication system.

"Sound the City Level 1 Alert!"

...

By the time the three Level 200 professionals from the Rowan Trading Consortium arrived, the eastern side of Westmere had already become a battlefield.

Across the city, almost every powerful professional above Level 200 who wasn’t trapped inside a dungeon had received the emergency alert and rushed to respond.

Flames soared into the sky.

Thunderbolts exploded across the battlefield.

Professional skills tore through the darkness as the defenders fought to stop the monsters pouring out of the rift.