Chapter 122 Call

An hour later, within the Sun region's palace, a bunch of carrages are arriving.

At the front door, Yasashi greeted a group arriving, saying. "Thank you for answering our call."

"We have an obligation to answer to her Highness. Now, where do we go?"

"There will be a free room for you at the second right. The meeting will begin shorty."

"I see... We are off then."

As she bowed the group goodbye, she felt a presence to her side.

Turning her head, looking with a bit of surprise, she knelt as she asked. "Prince Tsuku."

With a gaze, full of irritation and tiredness, Prince Tsuku asked. "What happened here, Yasashi? Why is everyone being called?"

With a heavy sigh, Yasashi replied. "An incident happened in factory. It burned to the ground along with the unfortunate souls inside. Leaving nothing but ash."

"..."

"...Prince Tsuku?"

"I'm going to freshen up a bit. Tell her I'm going to participate." Prince Tsuku said before leaving.

"Yes, Prince Tsuku."

Then, after a little bit of waiting, a bell rang. Causing everyone to leave their rooms and follow the servants that awaited them on the otherside.

Eventually, they were all led to a singular room, or more precisely, a room the size of a two story house.

However, despite the massive scale of the room, a singular long desk is set in the middle of the elaborately designed room, without any chairs whatsoever, only pillows.

A representaive from each group sat down on the table while the rest waited outside.

As they all sat down, the person at the head of the table, Queen Ame, spoke. "I would like to thank you all for coming."

"There's no need to thank us, Your Highness. We will always heed your call."

"Now then, I know it might be inappropriate to start with the subject immediately, but I do hope you forgive my bluntness."

After nodding at each other, they replied. "There's no need, Your Highness. We are currently at a time of crisis, so we must use our time wisely."

"Nn, let us start then."

After clearing her throat, Queen Ame proceeded. "I presume everyone knows why I called you here."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"If that is so... I would like to here your opinions on how we should proceed. Do not hold back, we are currently sitting as one."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Then, with a bit of pondering, everyone then began expressing their thoughts.

"I think we should focus on rebuilding and finding out what went wrong."

"I agree, but we should also bolster our defences. Because even though we were far away, we saw that black cloud rising from the horizon very clearly."

"If I were them, even though I might not know exactly what happened, I would take this opportunity to gain an upper hand."

"We are willing to spend our resources on rebuilding the factory and guarding our weak points."

"Aye, I agree. We would also do the same. For the safety of our home and our families."

As the people continued to express themselves, the person next to Queen Ame, on the opposite side of an empty seat, Prince Tsuku cleared his throat, silencing the room.

"Do you also have a plan you want to share, Prince Tsuku?"

With a clear, overbearing tone, Prince Tsuku said. "We are not fools, are we?"

"..."

"I think everyone in this room knows... that this isn't just a normal accident."

"The factory is the lifeblood of our region. Like how the mines are for the Jade region, the factory and it's products are what kept us safe from the outside."

"We will survive with the weapons that are still in our hands, and it would only take a few years to rebuild the factory."

"But like I said, the factory was our lifeblood. It is the river that kept our society from dying out."

"So, you would think that we would protect it like our lives depended on it, yes?"

"Prince Tsuku, are you suggesting what I-"

"No, I don't."

"..."

"I know for a fact that no one in this room is a backstabber. Besides, there is no gain to be had from doing so."

"That's is why, I have come to the conclusion... That there is an evil in the shadows, and it knows where to hit."

"Prince Tsuku, pardon my rudeness but, do you have any proof?"

"I don't. But, I am willing to follow through on my suspicions."

Then, the silent Queen Ame then spoke. "I may have the proof you are looking for, brother."

After saying this, everyone focused their attention towards her in silence.

"In the aftermath, I had people figure out why and how the fire engulfed the building in just a just a minute..."

"They concluded that it was a sudden explosion from one of the equipments that caused the initial blast."

"But, after searching for a bit more, we found a tunnel. Right where the explosion is..."

"After sending people to explore it, they eventually found themselves at a dead end, caused by a collapse, too dangerous to dig through, in the tunnel."

"But, just before the dead end, there was some writing."

"It was written using slashes, drenched in blood."

"It read simply. 'Prepare'."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Your Highness."

"Yes, Master Makoto."

Rising up a bit, the young Makoto said. "Your Highness, it is my family's duty to oversee the factory. Please, let us have your permission to chase after the culprit in order to redeem ourselves."

"Yes, you may. I have already decided to leave that up to you as your punishment. Do any of you have any complaints?"

"..."

"Very well, then. Master Makoto, you are to do everything in your power to catch the culprit and prevent any more incidents from happening."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"I shouldn't have to say this but, the same goes for all of you."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Very well. We should take this opportunity to, like they said, Prepare."

"I don't know why our opponents decided to make us aware of them, but, remain ever vigilant, got it?!"

"Yes, Your Highness!!!"

"Now go! Prepare, for I feel that War is inevitable, whoever they are!"

And with that, the meeting of the leaders in the Sun region concluded.

After a bit, Makoto approached a man from the same meeting he attended to, saying. "Master Sai, may I ask a favor?"

Turning his head, looking extremely terrifying, yet a sense of tiredness is in his eyes, the man named Sai looked at Makoto in the eyes.

"May I ask to consult the records of the Oboete family, to see if there are any mentions of a secret tunnel in the factory?"

With a low, uncaring tone, Sai responded. "Do what you wish." Before leaving Makoto alone.

Meanwhile, in another hall in the palace, Queen Ame said. "Tsuku, we need to talk."

Prince Tsuku, who is walking away from Queen Ame, with her following not far behind, replied. "There's nothing to talk about, Ame. I'm going back to sleep."

"Tsu-! *deep breath* Tsuku... listen to me just this once."

"I am listening until I reach my room."

"Tsuku..."

"..."

"..."

As they continued to walk in silence, Queen Ame gripped her fist tightly as she said. "Tsuku, I know what father and I did... made you extremely angry..."

"..."

"Trust me... I know."

"..."

"And that's why I have been trying to talk to you, Tsuku. To make up for my mistakes."

"..."

"Tsuku, will you just stop and listen to me for a second? Sit with me."

"I think it's a little to late for that, Ame... For I have already reached my room."

Queen Ame just stood there, watching Tsuku open the door to his room as she said. "Tsuku..."

Then, just before entering his room, Tsuku grabbed an apple from the fruit basket near his door.

And after taking a bite into the juicy apple, Tsuku raised it in the air, allowing Ame to see it clearly.

But after doing that, he didn't say anything more and just went into his room with the apple still in his hand.

Seeing this, a small smiled appeared on Queen Ame's face as she let out a little giggle.

Then, without saying another word, she left.