47. Supreme Strategy
It took nearly two hours for Marcelline to get her strength back.
The tears had dried.
The trembling had faded.
Now her eyes held something else—
Cold logic.
Sharp calculation.
The mind of a devil–angel hybrid CEO who ruled multinational corporations in silence.
No more emotions.
No more fear or guilt.
Only strategy.
She inhaled slowly, exhaled sharply… and made her decision.
Then she sent one message to the mansion group chat:
"Meet in the living room in 30 minutes.
My final decision."
---
In exactly half an hour, the massive living room was full.
Sister Florence, seated quietly, rosary trembling in her hands.
Victor, pacing restlessly, jaw tight.
Amara, holding Mia, eyes red but determined.
Vincent, arms crossed, gaze sharp like a battlefield king.
Alpha, Leo, Paradius — standing in a protective arc, beasts on alert.
Everyone waited.
Praying she would change her mind.
Thinking of every possible way to stop her.
The atmosphere was so heavy that even breathing felt loud.
---
Marcelline Enters — and the Room Falls Silent--
The moment she stepped inside, every head lifted.
She looked calm.
Too calm.
Victor muttered:
> "This is the 'I already made up my mind' face… damn it."
Amara elbowed him.
Marcelline walked to the center.
Folded her hands.
And bowed her head.
---
Her Apology Breaks Everyone's Guard
Marcelline (softly): "First…
I'm sorry."
Sister Florence's hands flew to her mouth.
Marcelline continued, voice trembling:
"I'm sorry for worrying you.
For hurting you.
For making you fear losing me."
Tears ran down Sister Florence's cheeks again.
Victor looked away, jaw clenching.
Amara wiped her eyes quickly.
Vincent sighed in relief, hand on his chest.
Alpha, Leo, Paradius lowered their heads respectfully.
For a second… hope bloomed.
Maybe she had changed her mind.
Maybe she would stay.
But then—
---
Her Real Decision Hits Like Lightning
Marcelline lifted her head, eyes glowing faintly gold-scarlet.
"I'm sorry.
But I am still going."
The entire room:
"WHAT?!"
Florence nearly fainted.
Victor looked ready to explode.
Vincent's aura flared.
Amara choked on air.
The beast brothers snarled in panic.
But—
Before anyone could protest—
Marcelline raised her hand sharply.
And everything fell silent.
"But I won't go blindly. I won't step into Hollowmist without…
a master plan, contingencies, and backup equal to war-level strategy."
Their eyes widened.
Hope flickered again.
The long, marble table lit up with holographic maps as Marcelline activated her AI projection system.
Everyone leaned forward.
The room shifted from emotional chaos
→
to war-room intensity.
1. Global Map Projection
Hollowmist City appeared — across the ocean, across borders, across the world.
Victor: "There is no instant portal, no safe teleportation that distance."
Marcelline: "I know.
So we calculate routes manually."
2. Risk Analysis
Vincent: "Worst-case scenario? Dark energy awakening an ancient entity."
Amara: "Or a corrupted rift."
Florence whispered: "God protect…"
Marcelline: "We prepare for all possibilities."
3. Resource Allocation
Marcelline listed:
Medical contingencies
Defensive enchantments
Summoning architecture
Communication barriers
Stealth portals
Safehouses in neighboring countries
Victor, impressed despite himself: "You're planning like a general of war."
Marcelline: "…because this might become one."
---
After Hours of Discussions — Final Plan Approved
Finally, after nearly three hours, the Supreme-Level Strategy was completed.
Everyone was exhausted but calmer.
The plan was airtight. Dangerous, but controlled.
Even Sister Florence's shoulders relaxed a little.
---
The Question: Who Goes With Her?
The hardest topic now.
Victor volunteered first—but Vincent rejected instantly.
Vincent: "You're the High Table's leader. They'll execute you if you disappear."
Victor: "Tch… true."
Amara: "I have Mia. Elders already banned me."
Vincent: "My entire kingdom will collapse if I leave."
Sister Florence: "And I… must stay with the children."
Finally, the decision came down to the beast brothers.
All three stepped forward.
Alpha, firm: "I will go."
Paradius, calm but fierce: "I protect."
Leo, hand over chest: "I stand by our sister."
But Marcelline raised her hand.
"No.
Only Leo will accompany me."
Leo's eyes widened with pride.
Alpha and Paradius didn't protest, because—
they knew.
Marcelline could summon them
instantly
across any distance.
Even across oceans.
Even across worlds.
---
Then Amara spoke up, eyes lighting.
"Wait.
There's someone else."
Everyone turned to her.
Amara: "Our strongest ally.
The only one who fought in the last war and survived."
Victor straightened. Vincent's expression shifted. Florence even gasped slightly.
Amara: "He's still on a mission— but it's almost finished.
Maybe few months left."
She looked at Marcelline with hope.
"As soon as he returns,
we'll send him to join you."
For the first time,
the entire room breathed a little easier.
Knowing that person might join the mission…
Meant maybe— maybe— they had a chance.
---