Likewise, several others who followed the current "Kyle" didn't bother to hide their discomfort.

Freddie was the first to snap.

"There's nothing else to say, right? If the only thing left on the agenda is this bullshit about slandering Kyle, then I'm out."

"…You'll regret that."

"What a joke."

With Freddie at the lead, many others stood up from their seats. Shockingly, more than half the people in the room rose and stared down at Jhin like he was trash under their feet.

Even Storm grimaced at their obstinate behavior.

But there was nothing he could do to stop them.

If only Bellatris were here… These cowards would've been silent as mice…

But who was he to blame?

Storm knew his own weakness. His level wasn't even comparable to theirs.

The only reason anyone listened to him at all was thanks to his special position as a former member of the National Assembly—and his sharp intellect, which earned him the role of Ark's chief strategist.

Well, whatever… things will sort themselves out.

Storm quietly watched Freddie exiting the conference room.

She should be here any second now.

Just then, the doors opened—and everyone who had been heading out suddenly stopped in their tracks.

They couldn't see who it was right away, but a clear, ringing voice echoed through the room.

"Is the meeting over?"

"…Millie?"

Storm quickly grabbed the microphone.

"Come in. The meeting's just getting started."

Those who had been trying to leave awkwardly took a few steps back.

As a path cleared, Millie walked inside—completely unfazed by the stares that pierced her from all directions.

The room instantly buzzed.

"That's really her—Millie."

"She's alive…"

"Holy shit, how does someone still look like that in an apocalypse setting?"

"What's she doing here?"

Storm could feel the room's attention focus entirely on her. A celebrity was a celebrity, even in a ruined world. Her clothes were a bit ragged and messy, but just the fact that she was wearing them made them look like luxury fashion.

Even the people who had just been trying to leave slowly sat back down in their seats.

Storm gestured for Millie to stand beside him.

"As you all know, this is Miss Millie."

She accepted the crowd's attention as if it were second nature.

Storm waited a beat, enjoying the room's reaction, then continued.

"And in Exodia 1, she was known as The Sharpshooter of Magic Bullets."

Silence fell.

The kind of silence that drops after someone dumps ice water over a crowd's heads.

People turned toward Storm with incredulous faces.

He smiled mischievously, clearly enjoying himself.

"The reason we placed Kyle identity on today's agenda is because of Mr. Clark's testimony."

"…Testimony?"

"Yes. Mr. Clark claims that the current Kyle residing in Ark is a fraud."

Millie accepted the mic that Storm handed her, and delivered a bombshell statement without hesitation.

"He's right. That one's a fake."

The room instantly roared with agitation again. No one seemed able to believe what they'd just heard.

Freddie stumbled over his words, clearly shaken.

"Y-you're joking. What do you know?"

"More than you do."

"…What?"

"Look at him. What part of that man looks like Kyle? Are your eyes just for decoration?"

Her cold tone made Freddie flush with rage. He couldn't contain himself and began leaking magic power as he stepped forward.

"You think you can say whatever you want just because you're a celebrity? Think again."

Millie met his eyes and smirked. Freddie, eyes narrowed, stomped up to her without hesitation.

"You arrogant b... Guess I'll teach you where you belong."

He pressed down hard on her shoulder. His frame was more than twice her size, and just by appearance, she seemed completely overpowered.

But—

"What are you doing?"

"H-huh?"

"Move. Don't stand in my way."

In that instant, terrifying mana burst from Millie's body.

Startled, Freddie instinctively jumped back with a yelp.

Tch.

Millie clicked her tongue and didn't even spare him another glance. Instead, she calmly scanned the room full of shocked faces.

"I'll prove it."

"…What?"

"That the real Kyle isn't some third-rate knockoff—but him."

That moment—whether it was the fact that he had been overwhelmed by her presence, or simply his bruised pride—Freddie turned red with fury and immediately activated a skill.

[Player 'Freddie' has activated skill: 'Beast Transformation (Wolf)']

His body trembled and fur began to sprout across his limbs. He turned into a full-fledged werewolf and let out a guttural snarl as he spoke.

Now in beast form, he could resist Millie's pressure.

"Grrr… You arrogant b—you're dying today!"

But before he could lunge—

Click.

The barrel of a pistol locked onto his forehead.

"Your tone's been pissing me off for a while now. Think you can handle the consequences?"

Her voice was calm, almost polite. But Freddie reacted faster than before—his body flinched and stepped backward in retreat.

It was ironic.

The beast form he'd invoked to overpower her had heightened his animal instincts—and it was those very instincts that told him to run.

Realizing too late what he'd just done, Freddie tried to lunge again—but nearby Players jumped in to hold him back.

Only then did Freddie really see it.

"…T-that… that's the Magic Bullet Revolver?"

A weapon as famous as the Meteor Blade of Calamity. The one-of-a-kind Unique gear owned solely by Clark of Thousand Beyond Thousand.

The entire room erupted again.

And then—

"Aaaagh, shut up. Shut up! I said shut UP!"

An irritated voice suddenly echoed through the conference room, shaking it to its core.

And then—

At the barrel of Millie's gun, a single flower bloomed.

Then, dozens of blossoms appeared all over Freddie's werewolf form.

In the blink of an eye—they were gone.

But the atmosphere was completely snuffed out. The heat in the room vanished all at once.

Storm muttered quietly.

"…That skill…"

His gaze turned to the back of the room.

A girl strolled in, stretching her arms and yawning as if she'd just woken from a nap.

"…Bellatris. When did you get back?"

The true head of Ark. Thousand Beyond Thousand's Bellatris.

She ignored Storm's greeting like it didn't even register and slowly climbed up onto the central stage.

Her disinterested eyes glanced at the crowd.

And then, they fell on Millie.