God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 540: Broken Dawn’s Arrival

The leader of Longsword's countenance shifted upon Liang's arrival.

While a semblance of his former rough grin remained, it became strained. His shoulders tensed, and the martial artists flanking him immediately fell silent. They could project arrogance before outsiders, but this pride clearly had its boundaries when facing Liang.

It was common knowledge throughout Tianlan that Liang surpassed him in strength.

Everyone in Tianlan was aware of this fact.

After a brief, scrutinizing look, Liang finally broke the silence.

"This mission was sanctioned by Tianlan. Should you have any grievances, you may present them to the Martial Palace upon our return. Until then, I expect you to maintain composure."

The Longsword leader's expression darkened, yet he refrained from an immediate verbal retort. His hand briefly tightened near the hilt of his sword, though it was evident he had no intention of drawing his weapon in this setting.

Standing beside Liang with an impassive demeanor, Evelyn's gaze swept over the Longsword contingent before returning to the assembled guests.

Liang, wasting no further moments on them, turned his attention to the other factions and offered a subtle nod.

"Welcome to Tianlan," he announced. "The Martial Palace will serve as your host throughout this mission. Arrangements for your route, accommodations, and final preparations are complete. Until we commence our journey to the Buried God's Tomb, I urge all groups to ensure their members remain disciplined."

His voice, though not elevated, carried with remarkable clarity.

A hush fell over the station during his address. Even the Olympus delegation listened without interruption. The Holy Church maintained its stoic silence, and IceQueen observed Liang with a contemplative expression.

Liang's eyes slowly surveyed the various assembled forces.

For a fleeting instant, his gaze lingered on ChaosKnight and the masked individual positioned slightly behind them, but he quickly moved on. His eyes then shifted again, as though in search of someone specific.

A subtle furrow appeared between his brows.

He turned slightly towards Evelyn. "Are you certain Gabriel received the invitation?"

Evelyn confirmed without hesitation. "Indeed. I presented it directly to Lady Sophie."

Liang's gaze returned to the throng. "I do not see him here."

His statement elicited immediate reactions from several individuals.

ChaosCleric clenched his fist. "Damn, that lunatic is coming too? I was hoping we'd get all the glory."

IceQueen's eyes remained placid, though her hand subtly tightened at her side. Gabriel, positioned behind his mask, offered no discernible reaction.

Before any further responses could be voiced, the distinct rumble of heavy engines echoed from the road leading to the station.

Several formidable armored vehicles emerged from the distance, their dark, reinforced bodies moving in a precise formation toward the assembly area. The sound captivated the attention of nearly everyone present.

Upon seeing the trucks, Gabriel immediately recognized them.

The vehicles halted near the station's perimeter, their doors swinging open in succession.

Sophie emerged first, her face concealed by her customary veil, her demeanor as elegant as ever. Following her were Ragnarok99, Cassie, Bunny, SniperBowLegend, Samantha, and several other key members. Their arrival notably shifted the prevailing atmosphere.

The Holy Church contingent turned towards them almost instantaneously.

A palpable hostility emanated from their eyes. Whispers broke out among some of the priests, and one of the High Cardinals fixed a cold, prolonged gaze upon the newcomers.

ChaosKnight's reaction was similarly intense.

Several of their members stiffened upon spotting Broken Dawn. Even ChaosCleric's expression faltered slightly, as he foresaw considerable turmoil within the tomb, despite the presence of someone as formidable as White Phantom allied with them.

Meanwhile, Jack Arefield's eyes narrowed slightly, while Aria observed Sophie and her companions with quiet curiosity. Ares Dunhold turned his head fully towards Broken Dawn, his gaze resting on their group for a moment longer than necessary.

Ares had previously attempted to recruit Broken Dawn, an offer Gabriel had declined. An individual of such standing would not easily forget such a slight. While it might not provoke immediate action, the subtle intensity in his eyes conveyed a clear message.

Sophie, seemingly oblivious to the scrutiny, continued forward.

She advanced with composure, the token held in her hand, her Broken Dawn companions following in her wake. Though some cast glances at the assembled factions, acknowledging the palpable tension, none displayed any sign of fear.

Liang's expression eased somewhat at their appearance.

He stepped forward to personally welcome them.

"Lady Sophie, it is good you could make it," he greeted with a nod.

Sophie returned the greeting with equal calm. "Vice Leader Liang, thank you for the invitation."

Liang's gaze shifted behind her as he scanned the group. "Is Gabriel not accompanying you?"

Sophie paused before responding.

This question had been anticipated, yet addressing it before such a prominent audience was still challenging. She maintained a light grip on the token, her reply betraying no emotion.

"He mentioned he would join us here."

Liang regarded her for a moment before giving a nod. "I understand."

While his outward appearance remained largely unchanged, Gabriel perceived a subtle hint of disappointment. Evelyn's message concerning a sparring session was not merely a casual remark; Liang had genuinely desired Gabriel's personal presence.

From his vantage point alongside ChaosKnight, Gabriel surveyed Broken Dawn from a distance.

Sarah was absent, as was Arnold; their nonattendance was understandable.

A brief contemplation led him to grasp the underlying strategy. Seraphina had likely remained to guard New Dawn with Arnold. This was the more prudent decision. Someone had to maintain a presence at the base, and with Seraphina there, any unforeseen issues could be managed with greater ease.

Sophie's gaze swept across the station for a fleeting instant.

For reasons unknown, her eyes lingered for a moment near ChaosKnight's position. Gabriel remained motionless, his mask obscuring his features, his aura suppressed to the best of his ability.

At this juncture, Liang retreated slightly, turning his attention back to all the assembled groups.

"Now that everyone has arrived, we shall proceed into the city first. You will be allocated quarters and provided with time to make preparations. Following that, Martial Palace will debrief you on the designated route to the mission's location."

The leader of Longsword offered no comment this time.

His prior haughtiness had evidently been subdued by Liang's arrival, though a trace of reluctance still flickered in his eyes.

Liang raised a hand subtly, and the Martial Palace members accompanying him moved in unison, clearing the way toward Tianlan City.

"Follow me," Liang instructed. "The Buried God's Tomb is not a destination one should approach without adequate preparation."