A week after the mysterious explosion has gone off in the boundary of epic star ocean.
Thereby, both the ocean and surrounding areas were filled with poisonous smog, and the climate was also changed, and it was still escalating towards the other areas.
This change also started to affect the people living closer to the star ocean, especially anyone below the rare rank.
A meeting was being called between the three hegemonies' upper echelon to discuss this matter, and everyone wanted to know just what caused this explosion and the reason behind it.
In the end, the statement published by the three hegemonies was that it was the work of the terrorist organization, the Killer Skull Society, which has been quite proactive lately, and they will do everything to uproot them for their heinous crimes against the people.
However, on the same day, the Killer Skull Society condemned this statement and called this a sham of the three hegemonies to mislead the common public and put the blame on them for hiding their own dirty business.
The people could feel the tension suddenly starting to rise in the Alive Plains, especially when the plain trials were going to descend on them soon.
Within a spacious room, Lucy, in a black dress and veil, was sitting on the edge of a triangular table while on the other edge was Nelsen.
Lastly, on the last edge, there was a massive giant sitting in a massive chair with iron-colored skin, and a terrifying aura was emitting from him. He was Gunnar, the Epic Plains' Zodiac Warrior Alliance Chairman!
Gunnar wore a grim expression on his giant square shape face, which had battle scars that gave him an even fiercer look, and his long bronze hair was draped over his armed shoulder.
His dark gray eyes were filled with exasperation and fury as he looked at the other two, who seemed to be in some sort of staring contest.
"Now, I want to know why I helped you cover that incident up!" His heavy voice rang at this moment, and there was powerful oppression behind it.
Nelsen wore his usual jolly smile as he looked at Gunnar and said coolly, "Dear Chairman, it's not like I want to hide it from you. It's just that I don't even know myself."
"Hmph!" Gunnar snorted, creating a small sock wave in the air before he coldly said, "Do you take me for a fool? Do you both think I don't know about all the people you two have been putting in the boundary of epic star ocean lately? And now the explosion seemed to be also originated from there as well.
"Although I don't care about a little skirmish between us or even a small occasional battle. But this time, you two have gone too far by using a radioactive explosive, and this has affected almost all of our operations near the star ocean!"
Lucy finally spoke in her melodious yet impassive voice, "I can assure you, Chairman, that explosive wasn't used by us at all. Instead of doubting me, you should question President Nelsen here, who is proficient and in control of all the radioactive weaponry."
Nelsen didn't even flinch after Lucy's acquisition and smilingly replied, "Don't twist the words, Miss Manager. It's Nuclear Power, not Radioactive Weaponry. And I can prove that I'm not the only one who has been researching nuclear power alone.
"Miss Manger here has a fully operative nuclear research center, and she also seemed to be the one developing this so-called radiative weaponry there. If you want, I can show you, Chairman. It's been quite a while since we had a stroll in the Forsaken Swamp."
Lucy's expressionless eyes suddenly shimmered with shock before killing intent flashed past them as she looked at Nelsen's smiling face, who appeared to be more like a devil now.
Gunnar couldn't help but say in exasperation, "I'm not asking about the development of the weapon, but I'm asking why it was being used and in such a massive quantity on top of that!
"If the news reached the authorities' ears, we all know we'll be under massive heat from our affiliated powers. I'm not interrogating you both but inquiring as an old friend and associate.
"But if you don't make it clear right now, I'll treat it as discretion and a threat to my own power. And I don't need to tell you, for both of you know how I handle threats." He squinted his eyes before a mountain-like aura suddenly emitted from him and bloodlust filled with air as he icily uttered, "Now tell me, are you both threat to me?"
Despite Nelsen and Lucy's arrogance and their wits, they didn't dare to underestimate the giant sitting with them as he was not a pushover, not by a long shot.
Gunnar was in his position as the Alliance Chairman not because of his wits but his brute strength, and his title as the Strongest Living Epic wasn't for show either.
The Alliance only respected strength. Gunnar was respected and revered by his peers in the alliance, and even the Guild and the Bank didn't dare to get on his bad side.
"Hahaha, you haven't changed, old Gunner. But as I said before, I don't know what happened there at all. The only thing I managed to know from my people present there at that time is Miss Manger's people seemed to be blocking someone's way and pushing that person too far, and he ended up taking drastic measures.
"If you don't believe me, you can interrogate Ephraim yourself. He should be here by the next evening. I guess Miss Manger's people would also be back, and she's the one who can tell us about the entire picture." Nelsen sighed helplessly as he turned the gun barrel toward Lucy again.
Gunner looked deeply at Nelsen and then at Lucy with a stern expression. Since Nelsen has given him the authority to interrogate someone like Ephraim, one of Nelsen's students, then he was most likely telling the truth this time around.
Lucy really wanted to strangle Nelsen to death at this moment as this wily old bastard could always talk his way out of such situations and even appear like a victim.
She finally spoke in an icy tone, "I'm bound by Zodiac Oath Contract and can't reveal much. But I didn't use any radioactive weapon. You can also check with Wilder for more details. I only know as much as President here!"