Smith looked down at Bulma in the front row and asked, "The Universal Capsule launch — what's the timeline?"
Bulma sat up slightly straighter, and the expression on her face carried the particular confidence of someone who had done the work and knew the numbers. "Seven days. Invitations are out to all relevant organizations and media, and the pre-launch activity online is already running." She paused. "I know seven days sounds tight. For any other company it would be. For Universal Capsule, it means the entire world will be paying attention."
Smith nodded. He believed her, because she had never been wrong about this kind of projection before. "After the launch, then."
Around the room, several people were quietly wondering what the new product was. The previous launches had introduced the scouter, the hover car, and the Baymax medical robot. Whatever came next had been held close enough that even the people in this room hadn't gotten a preview. They didn't ask — they were in a meeting — but the curiosity was visible.
Smith brought the room back to the central subject.
"All seven Dragon Balls have confirmed holders. We move to invitation distribution." He had a set of file packets on the table beside him, each one containing the relevant holder's information, current location, and a copy of the Dragon Ball radar's latest output. He began assigning them.
"Lorelei." He looked at Selene and Melina. "You two handle her delivery."
The reason was unstated but obvious to anyone who understood Lorelei's ability profile. An Asgardian Banshee whose charm worked through proximity and contact, with a specific axis that made male targets significantly more vulnerable. Two female envoys neutralized that risk cleanly.
Selene accepted the packet without comment.
"Steve Rogers." He looked at Alexei and Wesley. They nodded.
"Jessica Jones." He turned to Wenwu and Michael. "She's currently in New York."
Wenwu acknowledged this with a brief incline of his head.
"Tony Stark." He set the packet in front of John Wick and Fox. "You know how he operates. Keep it professional."
Fox picked up the packet. John Wick's expression didn't change.
"Kamar Taj once again have one, and I will be the one that handle it"
Mr. X asked it directly: "Who holds the last one?"
"One of ours," Smith said. He looked at Pietro. "What's your plan for it?"
Pietro had known this moment was coming since the meeting started. "I gave it to Wanda. She'll compete."
The room absorbed this. Smith nodded. "Then the full competitor list is set."
"The holders are almost entirely in New York," Smith said. He nodded at Wesley, who had pulled out a Dragon Ball radar. Wesley looked at the display and let out a short sound of surprise.
"Six of the seven are showing within radar range right now."
"It's not the Dragon Balls gathering," Smith said. "It's that New York has become the kind of city that draws these situations to it. The people who hold Dragon Balls tend to be here because power tends to concentrate here." He looked around the room. "One more thing before you move out."
He let a beat settle.
"This is the last Dragon Ball tournament in its current format. After this cycle, the competition structure changes completely."
The responses divided along a predictable line. The six elders — the Gunsmith, Mr. X, the Cross, the Butcher, the Pharmacist, the Repairman — allowed themselves small, quiet expressions of satisfaction. They had built the Fraternity around order and precision, and the Dragon Ball tournament, for all the extraordinary outcomes it had produced, created the kind of instability that made disciplined people uncomfortable. They'd been patient about it.
Alexei looked like someone had moved his birthday earlier. "Does that mean Dragon Balls won't be released again?"
"It means the format changes," Smith said. "Not that the balls are locked away. I asked everyone to submit reform proposals, and I've been reviewing them. After this tournament concludes, I'll announce the new system." He looked around the room one last time. "Make this one count. Assignments in hand — let's move."
The room began to clear. People filed out in pairs and small groups, reviewing their packets, talking quietly.
Bulma came up beside Smith as the last few people filtered through the door.
"Why Kamar-Taj personally?" she asked. "Last time you sent Wesley and Cross."
"I want to speak with the Ancient One while I'm there. Delivering Kaecilius's invitation is a secondary errand." He glanced at her. "The elders have been carrying operational weight for years. The younger generation can handle the running around. I didn't assign any of the six elders a delivery today — they've earned the downtime."
Bulma considered this. "You're doing the most complicated one yourself and calling it a side trip."\
"The Ancient One and I have things to discuss that are overdue." He didn't elaborate. "The tournament scheduling goes after the product launch, same as I told you."
She looked faintly mollified.
"One more thing." He met her eyes. "Wanda. Her wish needs to go through the standard verification process. Even for our own people. Can you handle the review?"
Bulma nodded. "I'll talk to her."
Smith said, "Thank you," and picked up the remaining packet.