With the exception of the Thorne family, the heads of the four great families arrived at the conference hall in the police precinct by the base’s main gate, accompanied by their superpowered guards. Flora Bloom was also invited to participate.
Inside the conference room, each of the family heads was accompanied by two superpowered bodyguards. However, Flora Bloom believed that any superpower user permitted to attend this meeting would also have a certain right to speak.
This time, however, besides a Second Level Fire Ability User, the Todd family’s head, Liam Todd, had replaced Chelsea Todd’s usual spot with a young-looking Level 3 Wind Ability user. After entering with Liam Todd, the man spotted Flora Bloom and gave her a friendly, smiling nod.
Not understanding why, Flora Bloom raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond. It was Cynthia Grant who whispered a reminder from behind her.
"Do you remember that pregnant woman from the Todd family you saved in the maternity quarantine zone the other day?"
"Don’t remember. Which one?"
"The one who did a barrel roll. Her name is Melissa Joyce, the only biological sister of Liam Todd’s wife."
"Oh, her," Flora said, finally recalling. Still, she looked at Cynthia Grant, confused. "What does Melissa Joyce have to do with this guy?"
"He’s Melissa Joyce’s husband, a Level 3 Wind Ability user, and a formidable figure. The head of the Todd family relies on him heavily."
Flora Bloom gave a noncommittal nod, paying it no further mind. She sat down next to Titan Adler of the Adler family. This spot was originally reserved for the Thorne family.
Seeing Flora Bloom casually take a seat as if she owned the place, Hector Grant’s face hardened as he snapped, "Such insolence! We are all your elders! How dare you be so presumptuous!"
After sitting down, Flora Bloom glanced at Cynthia Grant and Neal Wallace, then stood up again. She pulled out two adjacent chairs and said, "Cynthia, Mr. Wallace, you two sit as well. They’re all our elders; I’m sure they won’t hold it against us!"
Hector Grant was left utterly mortified by Flora Bloom’s remark. Titan Adler, however, was in a great mood and burst out laughing.
"That’s right! We are all your elders! Young Wallace, Cynthia, Flora, the three of you sit wherever you like! Don’t be shy!"
This statement made Hector Grant even more embarrassed. His old face flushed red, and he glared at Cynthia Grant, looking to pick a fight.
"Cynthia Grant, as a member of the Grant family, you have no right to be here without my permission. Now hurry back to your grandfather."
Just as Cynthia Grant was about to speak, Flora Bloom stopped her. Flora turned to Simon, who had taken a seat next to her, and smiled. "Uncle Simon, Mr. Wallace will be on my team from now on. You don’t mind, do you?"
The corners of Simon’s mouth twitched. He shot a sidelong glance at Hector Grant before quickly looking away, unable to suppress his smile. "Why would I mind? Your Uncle Simon has already found you a place to live in the center of the base. Just have a good time here in Argent. If you have any friends you want to bring along, they can live with you, no problem. The house is big, with more than enough rooms for everyone!"
Flora Bloom then turned back to Hector Grant. "Sigh. Some people just love to make assumptions. What, does Cynthia have to change her last name to Bloom to be here with me? Mr. Wallace’s last name isn’t Bloom either, but it’s only your Grant family that’s making a fuss."
"You! You ignorant junior! This is no place for you to speak!"
"AHEM! Family Head Grant, are we going to have this meeting or not?! We’ve already been delayed more than ten minutes because of you!"
"I—!"
The two Plant Ability users behind Hector Grant tugged at his sleeve. "The old family head told you not to act on impulse!"
Hector Grant’s expression froze. After sweeping a sharp glare over Flora Bloom and her two companions, he snorted and refused to look in their direction again.
The meeting’s agenda was simple: to review the statistics from the recent Black Scorpion surprise attack, including the death toll, the treatment of the injured, and how to strengthen the base’s internal and external defenses.
"The injured?" Flora Bloom was taken aback. She had assumed that in this Black Scorpion attack, anyone caught in their pincers was guaranteed to die. She hadn’t expected there to be survivors who were only injured. If that was the case, the problem was far bigger than they knew.
"Family Head Adler, may I ask how many people were injured? And where have they been taken for the time being?"
Titan Adler didn’t know why Flora Bloom was asking this. "About seven people. They’ve been sent to the temporary hospital to be treated by Old Master Grant. By the way, why do you ask?"
"Quarantine those people immediately!" Flora Bloom exclaimed, jumping to her feet. Cynthia Grant also understood the gravity of the situation. The moment she remembered that her own grandfather, Robin Grant, was at the hospital, she shot up nervously and started for the exit.
As the trio got up to leave without explaining why, Hector Grant’s temper flared. He slammed his hand on the conference table and shouted, "Cynthia Grant! Flora Bloom! Do you have any respect for your elders? Coming and going as you please!"