[ Gate Association ]
Few hours earlier…
The spacious office of the Gate Association Chairman was bathed in the soft glow of sunlight filtering through tall windows. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with reports, documents, and records of past Gate expeditions. At the center of the room sat a large wooden desk, immaculately organized.
Behind it, Ruby Anne Salera lounged in her chair, absently twirling a pen between her fingers. The woman in her mid-20s was petite, her black hair framing her face, with bangs that just barely touched her sharp eyes. There was a constant air of amusement about her, as if she found the world to be an endless game of intrigue.
The sound of heels clicking against the polished floor interrupted the silence.
Her secretary, a middle-aged man in a neatly pres
