After the funeral crowd started thinning, Aria approached James, Finn, and Kael near the church parking area.

Her face was still red from crying, but her voice was steady when she spoke. "I need to tell you something."

Finn looked at her while waiting.

"I’m done climbing the Tower."i

The words hung in the air for a moment before Finn responded. "You’re retiring?"

"Yes."

Aria looked at all three of them while continuing. "I made enough money from the Tower to live comfortably for a while, but that’s not the real reason. The real reason is I can’t watch a friend die, attend the funeral, and then step into the next floor like that’s normal."

She did not sound weak when she said it because she sounded honest instead. She had survived the Tower, fought beside them through nine floors, and knew exactly what she was walking away from when she made this decision.

Finn did not argue with her because earlier he had pushed momentum and Floor 10, and Elliot died. Here, he had no right to push anyone into anything anymore.

"I understand," Finn said while his voice stayed quiet.

James did not judge her either because he understood it too well while a part of him probably envied her for being able to stop when he could not.

"I’m sorry," Aria said while looking at them.

Finn shook his head. "Don’t apologize. You don’t need to."

Kael nodded in agreement while his expression stayed neutral but accepting.

Aria left shortly after that while the remaining members stood in the parking area and understood that Team Zero had just broken apart quietly.

Elliot was dead. Aria was retired. The active team was reduced to James, Finn, and Kael, and even they were not in the right headspace to continue climbing right now.

-----

After Aria left, Finn looked at James and Kael while his voice carried exhaustion. "We should stop climbing for now."

James looked at him while waiting for more.

"I’ll contact you both when it’s time to regroup, but not soon. Everyone needs time. No Floor 11 attempt. No training meeting. No strategy session. Not yet."

Finn paused before continuing. "Floor 10 was my call. I thought momentum mattered. I thought pushing forward while we were ahead would keep us sharp and put us above other teams. Now Elliot is dead, and I have to live with that."

James wanted to say Finn did not kill Elliot, but he knew Finn would not fully accept that even if he said it out loud because guilt did not vanish just because someone offered one comforting line.

Kael spoke quietly. "I agree we need time. I’m not ready either."

Finn nodded before the three of them separated in the parking area while each going their own way.

James went home alone while carrying grief and the knowledge that Team Zero might never feel the same again.

-----

Two weeks later in England, a royal-controlled guild meeting room sat inside a palace-linked strategy chamber that smelled of old wood and expensive cigars.

The room was designed to intimidate with dark wooden furniture that looked centuries old, portraits of past royalty hanging on the walls in heavy frames, and thick carpets that absorbed sound so every word echoed slightly before dying.

The people inside were older guild officials who had managed Challenger operations for years, royal advisers who served the throne directly, and one high-ranking royal agent responsible for coordinating England’s Challenger recruitment and international relations.

The King sat at the head of the table while eating heavily during the meeting as if the discussion about national strategy was no more important than casual dinner conversation.

His plate was half-finished with grease covering his fingers while he tore into roasted chicken and potatoes without using utensils properly. He ate like someone who did not care what others thought of him because he was untouchable.

A royal agent stood near the table while giving a report with professional efficiency despite the King’s casual eating. "Ireland’s public image has improved significantly after Team Zero cleared Floor 10. The global community now views Ireland as a rising Challenger nation while England’s position has stagnated despite our larger investments."

The King stopped eating long enough to stare at the agent with cold eyes that made the agent pause mid-sentence.

The silence stretched for several seconds before the King went back to eating while allowing the agent to continue.

"Even after Floor 10’s difficulty dropped from Hell to Medium following Team Zero’s clear, our guilds have not produced a comparable achievement that gives us the same global attention or prestige."

The King wiped his hands on a cloth before speaking while his voice carried no warmth. "Trying means nothing when Ireland is gaining prestige and the rest of the world is watching us fall behind. England invests heavily into its guilds and Challengers. If they cannot produce results with all that investment, then we will acquire people who can."

The agent hesitated before responding because he knew what that statement implied. "Team Zero may be protected by Marcus Hale because Finn Hale is his son and Hale Estate has been involved with their operations since they started climbing."

The King cut him off while his tone stayed flat. "I don’t care whether Marcus Hale is protecting them or how much influence he has in Ireland. We don’t need the whole team to improve England’s position."

He picked up another piece of chicken while his eyes stayed cold and calculating. "Approach Team Zero. Offer them whatever is necessary to bring in at least one member. Money, titles, guild backing, royal endorsement. Whatever works."

Another official spoke from across the table while adjusting his glasses. "Which member should we prioritize if they refuse to come as a group?"

The King smiled without warmth while grease dripped from his fingers. "The Necromancer is enough."

He took another bite before continuing. "A Legendary-class Necromancer who cleared Hell-difficulty Floor 10 at Level 17 is worth more than the entire team combined. Bring him to England, and Ireland loses their rising star while we gain the recognition we need."

The royal agent nodded while understanding the implication. "I’ll begin making contact through intermediaries."

The King waved his hand dismissively while still eating. "Do it quietly. I don’t want Marcus Hale interfering before we secure him."

The meeting continued while the King ate and the officials discussed strategy, but the decision had already been made.

England wanted James Ganner, and they would offer him everything he could want to make it happen.