“—!”
The room fell into dead silence. No one dared to speak, each person lowering their gaze, while the defiant young woman held her ground, locking eyes with the Supreme Guardian.
To the Guardian, this look conveyed defiance, but in the halls of power, only one person could wield ultimate authority.
At least, as long as she held her position, the girl would need to learn to rein in her dissatisfaction—
“If there’s nothing further, head to the front lines immediately. Commander Bronya, don’t make me ask the Silvermane Guards to escort you out.”
It was a cold command, trampling on the young woman’s pride, the final ultimatum issued by the one who stood at the pinnacle of power.
In response, Bronya merely pressed her lips together, forcing out a restrained, “Understood.”
Then, without a backward glance, she walked out of the hall, even forgoing the customary gesture of farewell.
This deepened Cocolia’s frown, and a chill seemed to settle over the hall, weighing down on everyone present.
Seeing the fearful expressions on the faces of the younger council members, an elderly Builder quickly intervened, urging, “Please, Guardian, be merciful. Commander Bronya acted impulsively, unable to fully comprehend your intentions. I am sure that after some reflection, she will come to understand your painstaking efforts.”
“…”
Cocolia cast a glance his way without a word.
Only when she noticed cold sweat beginning to bead on his wrinkled face did she relent and ease the pressure.
“I understand what she’s feeling. She’s growing, and with that comes the desire to assert her own authority. In my younger days, I too was driven to prove myself, leading to… missteps caused by outside influences.”
“My original plan was to groom her for a few more years before gradually passing down authority to her—”
At this, her gaze swept across the varying expressions of the Architects below, speaking with subtle implication.
“But I never anticipated her defiance would come so soon. It seems that more focused guidance on Commander Bronya’s character will be necessary.”
The Architects, each representiAng a prominent family, dared not voice any objection to the Guardian’s words, which sounded like concern for her successor but carried a clear rebuke for them.
Despite the inner complaints, they outwardly expressed unanimous agreement.
“—The Guardian’s insight is unparalleled.”
Watching them scramble to show allegiance to her, Cocolia smirked inwardly.
She wasted no more time on these small-minded souls, continuing to sift through the documents on her desk, knowing well that Belobog was doomed in the long run.
Though each action taken here seemed ultimately futile, Cocolia still had to keep up appearances.
Matters that once seemed crucial for citizen welfare or city development were swiftly dismissed and filed away.
The Education Ministry’s concerns about declining enrollment and the looming talent crisis stirred not a flicker of emotion.
Rather than waste precious time learning, it was better to indulge the masses, letting them pass their days in what little “happiness” they could manage.
As she continued working through the tedious affairs of state, a permit application for a public performance caught her eye.
Cocolia frowned instinctively. Such routine approvals shouldn’t require her attention—was her staff doing nothing?
Scanning further, she noticed a note in the file:
Due to the performance being held at the Goethe Hotel, where recent intelligence suggested a minor security risk from potential Rift creatures straying from the Edgewalk Plaza route, we recommend that Minister Borzan of Civil Affairs handle this matter.
Minister Borzan of Civil Affairs noted: Submitted to the Guardian for final review.
Who was this Borzan? Cocolia was certain that the Minister of Civil Affairs had a different name.
After a moment’s thought and failing to place the name, she decided it was irrelevant, stamped her approval, and tossed the document aside.
A small matter, she thought, and she’d simply order a few Silvermane Guards to patrol the area.
As for who would lead the patrol…
Cocolia raised her gaze toward a petite woman arranging files on a nearby bookshelf.
“Intelligence Officer Pelageya,” she called out with seemingly kind authority.
“—Yes!”
The intelligence officer, startled by her name being called, nearly dropped her owl-framed glasses in shock.
She quickly descended from the shelf, adjusted her appearance, and stood at attention before Cocolia.
“How may I assist, Guardian?”
“There’s a new patrol assignment in the city. I expect you to lead the team and ensure the area’s safety. If any wandering Rift creatures appear, eliminate them on sight.”
Cocolia’s tone left no room for dispute.
Not everyone had the privilege of arguing with her as Bronya did.
Besides, she saw this as an opportunity to remind the intelligence officer who had been too friendly with Serval where her loyalty should lie.
Usually, she’d turn a blind eye, but it was time for Pelageya to remember whose interests she truly served.
“Understood!”
Pelageya, though only partially aware of Cocolia’s thoughts, nodded quickly, a small glimmer of relief flickering within.
Had she continued sorting through these files, she’d likely miss the performance entirely. But with official duty as her reason, now she had no choice but to be there.
Moreover, she was eager to see Venti again after analyzing the data from his mechanical bird the night before.
Previously, she’d been skeptical about Venti’s claims, but after studying the advanced technology, she couldn’t help but be impressed.
If they could replicate even two of the technologies, it could significantly reduce the casualties that plagued the Silvermane Guards.
One was a disposable shield generator, the other a protective suit.
The names might have sounded simple, but the functionality was remarkable.
The former could create a one-time shield capable of withstanding fatal attacks, while the latter was a suit designed to protect vital areas and convert some of the impact into energy, recharging the gear for prolonged combat.
Though the materials required were hard to come by, her calculations showed that if they implemented these, the projected casualty rate could drop by 9.72%. Combined, the rate could even be halved.
The breakthrough had kept her up all night, running calculations repeatedly to ensure it wasn’t just a dream. Only then had she managed to fall asleep, barely making it to work on time today.
Now, she could hardly wait to share the good news with her friend, Serval.
As for the Research Institute… well, unfortunately, she had little faith in that useless lot, nor did she fully trust the Supreme Guardian to put these advancements to good use.
In her mind, it was better to present the data in action than to waste time on theoretical arguments.
That was the judgment of Intelligence Officer Pela.
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