The sword club hall was already filled.
Not noisy—
but focused.
Members stood in small clusters, documents in hand, voices low.
No one idle.
At the front—
Jude stood behind the table, flipping through reports.
"…Next."
A member stepped forward.
"…Registration draft."
Jude scanned it quickly.
"…You left the verification section blank."
"…We thought to finalize it after—"
"…No," Jude cut in.
"…If it's not defined now, it slows everything later."
A pause.
"…Fix it before submission."
"…Understood."
The member stepped back.
Lunivara stood slightly to the side.
Watching.
[He prioritizes flow over completion.]
Leontius entered.
The shift was immediate.
Subtle.
But absolute.
"…Leader."
Postures straightened.
Voices lowered.
Leontius walked forward without pause.
Jude didn't look surprised.
"…We're ready."
"…Begin."
Jude turned to face the room.
"…Festival preparation meeting will start now."
Silence followed.
"…Sword Club will host a combat contest."
A few members exchanged glances.
"…Open participation?" one asked.
"…Yes," Jude replied.
"…But regulated."
"…Define regulated."
Jude didn't answer immediately.
He looked at Leontius.
Leontius spoke.
"…No external interference."
"…No lethal intent."
"…No enhancement artifacts."
A pause.
"…Violations?" another member asked.
"…Immediate removal," Leontius answered.
No one questioned it.
Jude continued.
"…Reward structure—"
He placed a document down.
"…First place: 50 gold."
A visible reaction this time.
"…Second: 20 gold."
"…Third: 5 gold."
"…That's higher than last year," someone muttered.
"…Yes," Jude said.
"…Participation is expected to increase."
"…Then crowd control becomes an issue," another added.
"…Correct," Jude replied.
"…Which is why layout matters."
A pause.
"…Bracket size?" someone asked.
"…Undecided," Jude said.
"…We need final registration numbers."
Lunivara spoke for the first time.
"…If registration exceeds projection, spacing will collapse."
The room stilled slightly.
Not because she spoke—
but because it was precise.
Jude looked at her.
"…Meaning?"
"…Match intervals will overlap."
"…Crowd density increases."
"…Control decreases."
A pause.
Jude nodded slightly.
"…So we cap entries?"
Lunivara shook her head.
"…That reduces participation."
"…Then what?" Jude asked.
A brief silence.
"…Staggered brackets," she said.
"…Divide participants into intervals."
"…Maintain flow without crowd accumulation."
Another pause.
Jude considered it.
"…That works."
He glanced at the others.
"…Logistics team—can we handle that?"
A member responded.
"…If we assign sections, yes."
"…Then do it," Jude said.
Leontius spoke.
"…Ensure transition timing is enforced."
"…Understood."
Another member raised a hand.
"…What about injuries?"
Jude answered this time.
"…Medical team will be stationed near the arena."
"…Response time?"
"…Immediate," Jude replied.
"…We're not letting matches continue if someone drops."
A pause.
"…Good," the member said.
Another voice:
"…What about external participants?"
Silence.
Jude glanced at Leontius.
Leontius answered.
"…Allowed."
A ripple moved through the room.
"…That increases risk," someone said.
"…Yes," Leontius replied.
No hesitation.
"…Then why allow it?" Jude asked, more direct this time.
A brief pause.
"…Because restriction draws attention," Leontius said.
"…Controlled openness reduces suspicion."
Silence.
Lunivara's gaze sharpened.
[Not just event planning.]
Jude exhaled lightly.
"…So we're balancing visibility and control."
"…Correct."
A member spoke again.
"…Security?"
Jude didn't answer immediately.
Leontius did.
"…Observation will increase."
"…Define observation," the member pressed.
A pause.
"…Movement tracking."
"…Position control."
"…Restricted zones."
Silence followed.
Jude added—
"…No one moves outside assigned areas during the event."
"…And if something happens?" another asked.
Leontius answered without delay.
"…It will be contained."
The room quieted completely.
Not fear.
Authority.
Jude shifted slightly, exhaling.
"…Alright. Assignments."
He began listing roles.
"…Logistics team—bracket flow and spacing."
"…Medical—response positioning."
"…Registration—verification and entry tracking."
A pause.
He looked toward Lunivara.
"…You'll assist with documentation and flow tracking."
"…Understood."
"…You'll work with me directly," Jude added.
A small pause.
"…That will reduce errors."
Leontius glanced at her briefly.
"…Efficiency will improve."
Lunivara nodded once.
"…I will adapt."
The meeting continued.
Questions.
Clarifications.
Adjustments.
Not chaotic—
but alive.
Each piece shifting into place.
But beneath all of it—
something else remained.
Unspoken.
Because this wasn't just preparation.
It was alignment.
And whether they realized it or not—
They were preparing for more than a festival.
End of Chapter 22