Monroe slammed the receiver down in fury and stormed toward the basement, his face twisted in rage.
Although this was technically a meeting of the Ten Elders, that didn't mean they ever met in person. In reality, their "meetings" were always held online. Spread across six continents and ten different regions, the Ten Elders rarely—if ever—assembled physically. None of them controlled enough concentrated power to ensure safe passage for the others, and more importantly, none of them had the time or trust required to risk such a gathering.
Above all, bringing all ten together in one location would be inviting disaster.
While they claimed dominion over the underground world, they weren't without enemies. If an assassin with the right motive struck during a full council meeting, the blow would be catastrophic.
There was no neutral ground safe enough for all ten to meet. No Elder trusted another enough to host them, and no third-party territory was deemed secure enough to guarantee their safety. And the idea of meeting in a V5 nation was simply unthinkable.
Some among the V5 elite had long cast covetous eyes on the Ten Elders. So far, the Elders had avoided developing within V5 territories, precisely because those governments couldn't reach them there. But if the Ten Elders willingly walked into V5-controlled zones? There was no telling what kind of trap might spring open.
That's why every council was conducted remotely. Not once had all ten stood in the same room.
After navigating past layers of reinforced security, Monroe reached a chamber twenty meters underground, its walls entirely reinforced with a special alloy.
Beep.
He activated the large screen embedded in the wall. One by one, nine other figures flickered into view—each face belonging to one of the remaining Elders.
With Monroe, the council was complete.
"Now that Monroe's here, let's begin," said a deep voice—surprisingly emerging from a wiry old man in his late sixties.
Another elder, a weathered man with ritualistic marks etched into his face, immediately pointed fingers.
"Monroe," he snapped, "you're the reason we lost Sick Dog and Leech. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"You know damn well the Yin Beasts are a joint asset of all ten Elders. You used them for your personal feud, and now they're gone. You'll need to pay for that."
Monroe's eyes flared with fury. "Campbell, Murphy was my fourth son. He was born into this legacy. If one of our heirs is murdered and we don't retaliate, then what's left of our reputation? Do you expect the underworld to still fear us? They'll see us as senile, weak, and ripe for conquest."
"This isn't just a matter for the Monroe family—it's a matter of dignity. The prestige of the Ten Elders is on the line!"
With clenched fists, Monroe declared, "That's why Vega and the entire Pengellet family must be erased. Publicly. Brutally. So the world remembers that defying us leads only to death."
"I propose we deploy the remaining Yin Beasts. Tear Vega limb from limb. Reduce the Pengellet name to ash."
The others remained silent. Tension thickened in the digital air.
Campbell smirked coldly. He didn't need to speak—his expression said it all. You want to send out more Yin Beasts? Keep dreaming.
Then another voice, hoarse yet deliberate, cut through the silence.
Spencer.
"Monroe, I don't agree."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. "Our intelligence shows this wasn't some unprovoked attack. Murphy provoked Vega first. He tried to annex Nacro City and challenged the Pengellet family directly."
"If we allow every Elder's son to act like a warlord under the banner of the Ten Elders, expecting us to clean up after them when things go wrong—then what are we? Babysitters?"
Spencer's tone darkened. "We each command one Yin Beast. That balance matters. Now two of them are gone. That leaves one Elder without a guardian. You broke that balance—and you should pay."
"And if you send the rest of the Yin Beasts after Vega, who's to say they won't die too? The man took out two of them single-handedly. He could just as easily kill three or four."
"Do you understand how long it takes to recruit someone with Nen skills on that level? Especially someone obedient enough to follow orders?"
At that, several of the Elders nodded in agreement.
The Yin Beasts were more than just enforcers—they were elite Nen users, fiercely loyal, and ruthlessly efficient. Recruiting them was a monumental task. Most skilled Nen users had dangerous egos or refused to serve under others altogether.
Finding just a few like Sick Dog and Leech had taken years.
And now, Monroe wanted to risk the rest?
The idea was absurd.
The mood shifted. Whispers of approval followed Spencer's speech. Even those who had said nothing thus far began quietly aligning with Campbell and Spencer.
After all, if Monroe was forced to compensate for the loss—financially or otherwise—everyone else stood to gain.
And in the underground world, opportunity trumped loyalty every time.