Noticed

Location: The Headquarters of the Crimson Guards inside the Crimson-Walls Duchy.

In the heart of Crimson Walls City, within a castle adorned with a vibrant hue of crimson, an important meeting was on the brink of commencement.

This fortress, recognized as The Citadel or Crimson Walls' Citadel, served as the renowned headquarters for the Crimson Guards in the Inferno Duchy.

The impending meeting was scheduled to unfold within the Citadel's Great Hall.

The hall's walls matched the castle's crimson theme, and on each side stood 10 fully armored Elite Knights, also donned in crimson.

Around a rectangular table in the center of the hall sat three men and one woman, two on each side of the table.

The fifth seat, at the head of the table, was reserved for the Captain, and it was currently empty.

The four of them sat waiting with different expressions.

On the left side of the table sat Fiadh, a dark-haired man who seemed to be in his 30s.

His eyes are jet black, matching his attire, and his expression showed nothing, just a poker face.

Fiadh is an individual surrounded by an air of mystery.

His origins remain a complete enigma, and he lacks any known family members.

Those who work closely with him, however, harbor a peculiar sentiment.

Some consider him a bit insane, as his methods and decisions often defy conventional expectations. To them, Fiadh is an enigma wrapped in layers of unpredictability.

Yet, despite these unanswered questions, his impeccable performance in his role compels those in higher positions to overlook these trivial details.

The higher-ups perceive him as an eccentric yet highly efficient individual. Fiadh's reputation for getting the job done, no matter the cost, has created a divergence in perception. While some see him as an eccentric genius, others view him as a shadowy figure whose motives remain unclear.

Beside Fiadh sat Breena, a young woman with vibrant blue hair and lively ocean-blue eyes.

She stood out as the only one among the four in armor, proudly donning a crimson hue.

Coming from a wealthy background, Breena, the youngest in the room, held the record for the youngest person to achieve such a high position.

Interestingly, Breena consistently wore her armor regardless of the time and place.

Her bubbly personality and genuine love for the city were evident.

While she took her job seriously, it was clear that her dedication didn't match the intensity of the man seated opposite her—the one who had recommended her for her current position.

Kasai, a young man with fiery red hair and a notably serious demeanor.

Among the four, he stands out as the most dedicated to his job.

For Kasai, the city's policies are of utmost importance and must always be upheld.

Known for being both zealous and genuinely kind, he treats his subordinates with great respect. His earnest behavior and strong convictions trace back to a tragic yet heroic incident—his father, Jayden, met a courageous end during a mission. The incident that shaped Kasai's life was a shadowy affair involving a secret organization with powerful backers.

In the depths of the city's underworld, Jayden discovered a nefarious organization involved in smuggling, wielding an influence that reached even the highest echelons of power.

Despite warnings from his superiors, who feared the consequences of probing too deeply, Jayden refused to turn a blind eye. His commitment to upholding the city's policies outweighed the risks.

As he delved deeper, the organization, feeling bothered, orchestrated a trap.

Kasai's father, aware of the danger but unwilling to compromise, confronted the criminals alone.

In a gritty showdown in the Slums at midnight, he fought valiantly, but was ultimately defeated.

His refusal to overlook the corruption within the city's shadows led to his tragic yet heroic demise.

Kasai's unwavering dedication stems from the belief that his father sacrificed himself to expose the dark underworld of the city.

The city's policies, to him, are a vow to continue the fight against corruption and uphold the legacy of a father who chose principle over personal safety.

To Kasai, the policies are the embodiment of the principles his father died for, and no matter what, he'd never compromise with them.

Finally, Beside Kasai, sat Cyrus, a Military Commandant who has faced numerous life-and-death battles throughout his career.

Cyrus is a middle-aged man with fiery red hair, a military badge on his chest, and an unmistakably bored expression.

Despite his disinterest, he holds the title of the strongest and most experienced individual in the room, currently at least.

Driven by ambition, Cyrus aspires to join the Royal Guard Assembly in the Capital, the highest and most powerful defense force in the Kingdom, led by the Minister of Defense.

To realize this goal, he actively cultivates political connections, viewing almost everyone beyond his immediate circle of family and friends as a potential asset.

While practical in his approach, Cyrus is not inherently malicious.

It might seem on the surface that his actions are selfish and self-centered, but beneath this exterior, Cyrus isn't a bad person. His focus on personal gains doesn't stem from a lack of empathy or disregard for others; rather, it's a pragmatic approach to achieving his ambitions. 

Regardless of his personality, Cyrus feels out of place in the current setting.

The enclosed environment of the room suffocates him, and he's eager to conclude the meeting as quickly as possible to return to his encampment or do anything he views as more useful than this.

After a couple of minutes of waiting, a red-haired man wearing crimson armor entered the room.

The man had a red emblem on his chest, hanging exactly on his heart.

On the emblem, there was a drawing of a burning flame, quite a simple design, but it indicated his rank, The Leader of The Crimson Guards, Phoenix.

As soon as Phoenix entered the room, all the 20 Elite Knights standing in the Hall saluted simultaneously, and two of the seated four got up as a mark of respect.

As for the other two, they simply didn't care enough to bother.

"Took you long enough, Phoenix" Cyrus remarked in a bored tone

Phoenix didn't reply and just walked to his seat and announced

"The meeting begins now"

Breena, Kasai, and Phoenix sat down, and the meeting officially began.