- Oliver -

  "Sns?" An interjected, his brow furrowing in fusion. He exged gnces with the others, clearly not familiar with the subject.

  John g An, the newer at the table. Oliver could sense John's hesitation, the unspoken uainty about involving someone unacquainted with such a critical matter.

  Anticipating the , Oliver spoke up. "Given the gravity of everything, I thought it best t An into the loop. With the information I've gathered, there's a potential risk that could mean life or death."

  John sidered this for a moment before nodding. "Alright. tinue."

  "Before I expin what I've discovered, I o y some groundwork," Oliver began. "During my mission in Olympus, I came across several pieces of information. Much of it es from reliable sources—or, at the very least, sources that genuinely believe in what they're veying. However, I 't disclose how I obtaihis information or who shared it with me."

  "Why not?" John asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

  "In order to obtain it, I had to enter into an agreement," Oliver expined. "This agreemericts me from revealiaiails."

  Oliver hesitated, unsure of how much to divulge about the nature of this agreement. He wasn't certain if there were boons that enforced absolute fidentiality, but he hoped they would uand his predit.

  John leaned ba his chair, his expression ptive. "I see. Go on."

  Oliver noticed An's puzzled expression, as well as the keen curiosity etched on Isabel's and Katherine's faces.

  "The Sns," Oliver tinued, "are beings—a entities, exceedingly rare, but it appears they still walk among us. Above all, they are extraordinarily powerful. Powerful to the extent that they are the ones who empower the Z Crystals."

  John began to rub his temples, his demeanor hinting at skepticism. "Wait a minute. Are you suggesting that these beings are the source of the Z Crystals' Energy?"

  "Hold on," An said, shaking his head. "I thought we had research detailing where the Energy in the Crystals es from."

  "Actually, we don't," Katherine admitted thoughtfully. "The Z Crystals are more like massive Energy ste devices. But we don't know how they're formed, where they e from, or what was doo store such a colossal amount of Energy."

  "Then part of that might be answered by what Oliver is saying," Isabel chimed in. "There are beings who created the Z Crystals. But why?"

  "Perhaps that's the most plicated part to expin," Oliver replied, his gaze drifting as he chose his words carefully. "It seems they gave us the Z Crystals so we'd tinue fighting. Not to defend ourselves, but to perpetuate the war." He hesitated before adding, "This might sound crazy, but somehow, these beings feed off our flicts."

  "Our flicts?" John asked, his eyebrows knitting together in fusion.

  "Yes, the war between humans, Orks, and other fas," Oliver crified.

  "Hold on, hold on," An interjected, raising his hand. "This is a lot to take in all at ohey feed on war? And what the hell is ‘Other fas’?"

  "Sorry, but I have no clue why or how they feed.” Oliver stopped for a moment before tinuing. “However, just because the Orks are at war with us doesn't mean there aren't other races ied in fighting too. We're not the only ones involved in all of this."

  "I have a question," Katherine said, leaning forward. "Does each race have a Sn, or are they simply pitting us against one another?"

  "I'm ly sure how it works," Oliver admitted. "But it appears that each Sn is responsible for a race. Possibly one for the human rad another for the Orks."

  John pced his hands on his temples, massaging them as he tried to absorb the flood of information. “If this is all true, you’ve discovered a lot of things. At the same time, I feel we still know almost nothing.”

  The room fell silent for a moment, and the hum of the holographic dispys was the only sound.

  "So," Isabel began, as if reg from a plex textbook, "we have beings that hide from us, who give us powers so they feed off our war. But again, why would this be dangerous? I mean, what would the Empire want to hide?"

  "I'm not sure if it's just about that," Oliver said, shaking his head slightly. "But... in theory, we could end the war. Like, actually finish it, under certain ditions imposed by the Sns."

  "It makes sense," John remarked, leaning back thoughtfully in his chair. The soft glow of the holographiterface cast shifting patterns across his face. "Especially if this went public—everyone would want to withdraw from the war. I want us to get out of it, but perhaps it's not as simple as we imagine."

  "How does it make sense?" Isabel challenged, her eyes fshing with determination. "Wouldn't that be a way to prevent the war from g more lives?"

  "Maybe," An interjected. His expression was still a mix of fusion and ption, but he seemed to be catg up with the rapid twists of the discussion. "But Oliver hasn't expihe terms for ending the war. What if there’s some kind of punishment involved?"

  "There's that," John aowledged, "but we also o sider—how long would this 'exit' st? With the Orks still so close, wouldn't they decide to restart the war on their own?"

  A heavy siletled over the room.

  Oliver gazed out the window, the sprawliropolis a tapestry of lights beh the star-streaked dome. "But there's something that doesn't fit with what you expined before, John," he said, turning back to face the group.

  "What do you mean?" John asked, a hint of fusion crossing his features.

  "I recall you mentioning that your brother was on a missioion Mastermind—in search of the Sn," Oliver expined. "I imagi was our Sn, not the Orks'."

  John's eyes narrowed in thought. "Perhaps. Both possibilities are possible. But I 't fathom how they would even begin to search for something like that."

  "If they were seeking the Human Sn, it doesn't add up," Oliver tinued. "There are already individuals who have direct access to him."

  "Who?" John queried, leaning forward with keen i.

  "I'm irely certain," Oliver admitted. "But I have the impression that it's the Emperor himself. That's why the operation wouldn't make sense—he wouldn't o san a covert mission to find the Sn if he already knows where or who it is. He could simply ha directly."

  John fell silent, digesting this new perspective. "Maybe," he said slowly. "But it's still too early to be certain. There could be yers we're not seeing."

  The group exged ghe weight of unspoken implications heavy in the air. Each of them grappled with the possible sequences of these revetions—the plexities of ielr politics, the shadow games of those in power, and the enigmatic motives of the Sns themselves.

  "Thank you, Oliver," John finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was siinged with gratitude and introspe. "I'm still processing all of this, but you've shed light on Arthur's mission and possibly what happeo him."

  John stood from his chair with a determined grace, the insignia of Great House Ylinting on his uniform. He walked around the table toward Oliver, extending his hand. Oliver rose to meet him, g John's hand firmly.

  "I'll leave you all to it," John said, his tone measured as he stood up. "I o return to some tasks and possibly think more about all of this." His face was a mask, revealing nothing of the thoughts swirling within.

  Oliver watched him depart, a crease of f on his brow. He turo Katherine, who sat calmly beside him, her gaze following her brother's exit. "Is he alright?" Oliver asked quietly.

  "He's fine," Katherine reassured him with a gentle smile. "He just has a lot on his mind right now."

  She paused, then gnced around at the others. "How about we take a walk around the building? An hasn't seen the pce yet."

  "That sounds great," Isabel chimed in, her eyes brightening.

  An nodded appreciatively. "I'd love to get a tour."

  With that, the group rose and began expl York Tower. They moved through sleek corridors lined with dispys showg the test teological advas. Katherihe ointing out areas of i: the advanced research bs, the aers, and the sprawling training facilities.

  As they asded in a transparent lift, a panoramic view of the city unfolded beh them. Towers pierced the sky, linked by works of sky bridges and adorned with fshing beas.

  "This pce is incredible," An remarked, his eyes refleg the neon glow of the metropolis outside.

  "It's home," Katherine said with a hint of pride.

  Finally, they arrived at the family's private floor, a sanctuary amid the steel and gss edifice. The space resembled a luxurious living area adorned with art pieces and fortable furnishings. Soft lighting bathed the room in a warm glow, and a rge viewport offered an unobstructed view of the starlit expanse beyond.

  The four friends settled into plush armchairs, a peaceful silenveloping them as they unwihe weight of their ret discussions lingered, but they allowed themselves a respite for now.

  After some time, Oliver could no longer tain his curiosity. He leaned forward, fixing his gaze on An. "Alright," he began, a pyful challenge in his voice. "You mentioned a few things in your messages, but how the hell did you end up in the Mech Division?"

  GCLopes