Commencing Command

"Well, I just promised that we would attack the Shionel Confederation if the nation allies with those that aim to destroy us," Rui replied calmly. "I suppose that deterrence of yours is not doing you that much good, huh?"

The prime minister stared at him for a second before smiling. "…I don't think so."

Rui eyed him back intensely. 

"I think you're bluffing." The prime minister grinned. "I don't think you were authorized to make threats in this meeting."

"I'm sure that the guildmaster will love to hear that when we deploy our prophetic resources to inflict as much damage with as few people as possible." Rui shrugged. "Calling real threats a bluff is a good way to get yourself killed."

The two sides continued sparring with each other verbally, trying to undermine the other side's position and credibility while opting to garner as much optical and rhetorical dominance as they could.