A Crisis Is an Opportunity (2)

The people gathered in the room were dumbfounded.

Michel, dragged in unconscious without warning, the members of the Lake’s Afterimage, and Instructor Jacques’s unauthorized return…. Every last thing that had happened was liable to turn into a diplomatic incident.

‘A royal—and one of the Second Prince’s own people, given he currently holds real power—is in custody.’

‘And if they’re members of the Lake’s Afterimage…. Each one of them is an elite operative on the level of a small domain…!’

However, Dean Edmond and Baron Valmont, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, soon regained their composure. They exchanged glances and nodded.

“!”

‘What’s done is done….’

‘We have no choice but to use the royal and the top-tier operatives as bargaining chips…!’

The two men were of one mind.

Amid that subtle silence...