The Veilwalker

[...]

The hunters around Ross looked at him, wondering what he wanted those logs for. While they didn't know when the Arkheons of the Valemonts arrived in this galaxy, arrival data could become helpful in case they needed some form of evidence.

Then again, like Lady Serenya mentioned, they had passed that point. The galaxy was no man's land, and anyone who found it could claim it or fight for it if they could.

[Give me a minute.] The woman replied, once again leaving the hunters around shocked. Not once had they dealt with Serenya and witnessed her take a step back.

Ferlok looked at his son, who noticed his gaze and revealed a slight smile. "I just want to check something," he replied to his father's silent question.

A little over a minute later, the Starbane forces received the logs in their public mail.

[I don't know what you intend to do with those, but you will find them in your mail.] Lady Serenya said, sounding very pissed off.

The redhead ignored the woman's words and accessed the files to view. As everyone stayed silent, waiting for Ross to read the logs, the redhead muttered something that left them briefly confused.

"Xex, have the logs been tampered with?" The redhead asked without even looking up.

[Negative…]

Out of nowhere, everyone heard a male voice, as if the person were right with them in the meeting chamber. It got some of the members so shocked that they jumped out of their seats.

"Relax, everyone." Ross noticed their jumpiness and shook his head. "I'm just consulting the primary observer and recorder of events in our universe."

"What…?" This was a first for many of them, as they had never heard of any observer or recorder of the universe.

"The universe is like a canvas that records all events happening." Ross decided to give a brief explanation. "Alex just made the process digital so we can access past events and such."

"Y-you're saying everything that happens can be seen? Everything?" Eein looked past his father, staring at his brother in shock, his expression pale.

"Yeah?" Ross was slightly confused at their reaction. "This isn't something new. It's been there since the dawn of the universe. Why are you so shocked?"

Naturally, Ross understood their concerns but found it pointless. The universe itself granted that level of authority once a person reached a certain level of power.

Alexander was just the first being to have that authority. Furthermore, as a Veilwalker, he was different in the sense that he became the universe itself.

[The logs show that the Arkheons arrived in the galaxy half a month ahead of your Starbane forces.] Xex continued, snapping everyone out of their shocked state.

When they heard the report Xex gave, some of the members sucked in a breath, realising they didn't have a lot of claim.

[However, the area claimed by your Starbane forces was not yet claimed by the Arkheons of the Valemont Family.]

"Thanks, Xex." Ross nodded, shifting his gaze back to the device on the table. "Lady Serenya, you heard the silent observer. Your forces had not yet claimed this region, so why don't you just let it go?"

[...]

No reply came, and with good reason. The leaders of the Starbane forces could understand how the woman might be feeling at the moment.

"We don't have to resort to violence, you know?" Ross added calmly. "The galaxy is huge, and there are many more out there you can lay your claims on."

[I apologise, Lord Ross.] Serenya finally found her voice again and replied. [But this galaxy is suitable for our purposes.]

"You don't say…" Ross sighed, glancing at his father and older brother.

As if understanding the look he was giving them, Ferlok and Eein looked at each other and then back at Ross before nodding. They weren't giving up; they refused to be bullied.

There was something that everyone around the table, besides Ross, was aware of. This galaxy, with its vast resources, was one of the closest to the Empire, where the market was.

While there were other galaxies in the region, none were as massive as this one. After all, this place wasn't just one galaxy, but a cluster of galaxies that were displaced and brought together as a result of Cosmic Mana Waves.

The entire galaxy was millions of light-years in diameter — more than ten Milky Way galaxies combined. It was that massive.

"Very well…" Ross turned back to the device on the table and continued. "You do what you gotta do and we'll do what we have to. Do take this warning to heart…" he paused intentionally.

[What warning…?] Serenya couldn't help but ask, making Ross grin.

The redhead leaned into his chair with one hand under his chin, appearing relaxed and unbothered. "Don't let me see any of your people anywhere near the regions we've claimed. You don't want to see what I'm capable of…"

[You talk big for someone hiding in Lord Alexander's shadows.] Serenya didn't get the memo, seeing Ross's warning as someone who didn't know how vast the universe was.

[Lord Alexander is one of a kind, not you… Ross. Do well to remember that.] The woman mocked coldly, even dropping the 'Lord' title.

"As I mentioned before, you don't have to worry about Alexander interfering." The redhead chose to ignore the woman's words and added. "You might, however, seek him out when you realise how stupid you sound right now."

With that, Ross ended the call, returning the meeting space to silence. Everyone, including his family, looked at him with trembling eyes.

"Brother…" Eein swallowed hard. "The forces of the Valemonts vastly surpass our own. Are —"

"You don't have to worry," Ross stated with a confident grin. "I'll handle them myself… I just have to do a few things first. In the meantime, you'll continue with your plans as you already are…"

The redhead got up from his seat and left the meeting space. The members could only look on, still unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

They knew Ross was strong, just not how much. So, for him to say that with such confidence meant there was something they were missing.

"I-Is that really your son?" Ray couldn't help but ask. "I'm truly interested in seeing what he's capable of…"