"Here is the complete draft of regulations concerning the International Technology Export Control Joint Commission."
As the female broadcaster's voice faded, the lights in the conference room came on. A group of politicians and high-ranking officials busied themselves with sipping water to soothe their throats or exchanging whispers. Everyone except the Emperor and Minerva was engaged in some sort of activity.
Even seasoned political veterans and career bureaucrats needed some time to accurately evaluate and analyze the information that had just been released, to understand its essential goals and the devils buried in its various details. Formulating questions and asking them skillfully required even more time.
The Emperor didn't need that extra time. All the good cards were in his hands, and even time was on his side.
As for Minerva, her composure and silence were far less comprehensible.
