"No. Something's wrong here," Leo said, his voice low and his eyes sharp. "If a high-level demon was involved, the portal should have been a Black Gate, not a Red one. Why was the threat level wrong from the start?"
Skye let out a tired sigh, as if she had been asking herself the same question.
"You're right. It should have been black. The only explanation is that someone—or something—interfered with the sensors. Another powerful demon must have hidden the gate's true level."
Leo's hands tightened into fists. A deep, instinctual feeling told him there was more to the story.
"Even if that's true… if Belial himself was there, no one should have survived. Not a single person. So how did Abel Ashfall live? How did the others escape? It's too… convenient. It feels like a setup."
He let out a frustrated breath. "But without proof, if we say this out loud, people will just call us paranoid fools."
Skye nodded, her grief now mixed with a grim understanding. "I know. I feel the same suspicion. But the story from the survivors is the only one the Federation will listen to. Two are from our own clan, and the third is Abel Ashfall himself. Their accounts all match."
Her hands trembled as she clasped them together. "They said Leonis was the demon's main target. Belial sensed his incredible potential and focused on killing him first. And Father… they say he used all his power in one final, giant explosion to hurt the Archdemon. He sacrificed himself to create an opening, so the others could run and warn the Federation."
A heavy silence filled the room. Rina cried softly, her tears wetting Leo's shoulder. But Leo forced himself to stay calm, his mind racing with anger and doubt. Abel Ashfall was alive. His father and brother were dead. The situation was too perfectly tragic to be a simple accident.
But he knew that now was not the time to give in to sorrow.
"Big Sister…" Leo's voice was rough, but his gaze was steady and full of purpose. "We can't just sit here and grieve. If demons are truly making a move, then we have to be ready. We need to prepare for what comes next."
Skye looked up at him. For the first time that night, a spark of strength returned to her tired eyes. She gave a slow, firm nod.
"I know," she said. She gestured to the seats nearby. "Sit down, Leo. Tell me what you're thinking. Let's make a plan. Together."
Seeing the serious turn in the conversation, Rina stood up gracefully.
"I'll go make you both some tea," she said softly.
"Make mine a black coffee, please, Rina," Skye added, sticking to her preferred drink.
"Of course, sister," Rina replied before quietly leaving the room.
As soon as she was gone, Skye's expression became stern. She looked directly at her younger brother, her gaze filled with both love and a clear warning.
"You've chosen well with her. You must always treasure Rina—because if you ever hurt her, I will make you regret it."
"I know," Leo answered without hesitation. He understood completely. He knew how special Rina was, not just to him, but to his sister as well.
Then, shifting back to the heavy matter at hand, Leo's face grew serious again.
"Like I was saying—we need a plan to respond to this tragedy."
Skye nodded, watching him closely. Some might think it was cold to be talking about strategy so soon after their loss. But she knew the truth. The Roschild clan didn't have the luxury of falling apart. To survive, they had to think ahead.
"You clearly have an idea already," she said.
"Tell me."
With their father and Leonis gone, the responsibility of leadership had fallen onto Skye's shoulders. Though she was only seventeen, she would officially become the clan head in a few months, after her graduation. While Leonis had been the public genius, Skye was incredibly talented in her own right. Her SS-Rank fire Gift and her upcoming advancement to the Master stage proved her strength and dedication.
Leo looked at his sister, aware of the immense pressure she was under. His days of being the carefree little brother were over. The moment this tragedy struck, he knew he had to step up and help carry the burden.
"I'm calling this plan… 'Act Before They Do,'" he stated.
For a second, Skye almost smiled at the straightforward name. Even in dark times, a bit of Leo's personality shone through. But she could also hear the steel in his voice.
"You know what's going to happen now," Leo continued. "We've lost our two strongest fighters. Our enemies won't just watch. They'll see us as weak, and they'll attack. The Ashfall clan, especially—they would never let an opportunity like this pass."
Skye's face grew grim as she nodded. This exact fear had been haunting her since she heard the news. The Ashfalls had been their rivals for generations. They had suffered under Roschild dominance for years, especially during their father's rule. Now, with the clan weakened, they would surely strike with everything they had.
It wasn't that the Roschilds were completely helpless. They still had other Grandmasters, but they were old and their power had long since stopped growing. Relying on them to defend the clan's top position was impossible. If a full-scale war with the Ashfalls broke out now, the Roschilds would be destroyed.
Her heart had been filled with fear and uncertainty, but hearing Leo speak with such confidence gave her a glimmer of hope. Despite his playful exterior, her younger brother was perceptive. He knew when to be serious, and he knew when it was time to act.
And that time was now.