In the cabinet, all the members of the ministry were present. It was a quite large cabinet room for only nineteen members. Yes, only nineteen members held the most power in this universe. Although only four people made actual decisions. Others were just loyalists saying 'yes' to their 'yes' and 'no' to their 'no'. They were facing each other on a long rectangular table.
Zorvan Ahura was still in his presidential seat in the middle. That seat was the biggest in that room. Today, they would discuss about their only common foe, Bharatas.
"So as you've heard Raevour Svikin, an officer of Huijin, suggested me with a plan to tackle with Bharatas. I have gone with his plan because I thought It may be helpful," Zorvan started their meeting. He who was in his forties, was the second youngest among four main heads after Pikoki Nirkit.
"Mister President, with all due respect, your father was a very cunning person. He used to take suggestions from government officers as the last option, especially an officer under another house," Collis Mosifal, the Travel & Transport Minister said. He was the oldest member of the cabinet, about seventy-five. The partial blonde and partial white hair could define his age. Despite being very old, he still had a great sense of fashion. Carefully combed hair and moustache, and beautifully detailed designs on his coat. And their house symbol, Full-winged butterfly was over his coat pocket.
"Mister Mosifal, I have been informed that your health is troubling you these days. It is grateful for us that you've joined this meeting. Yes, my father was a very smart man. It is unfortunate that we lost a gem like him last year. You were a very close diplomatic friend of his. I hope Ahuras and Mosifals will continue their relationship like his time," Zorvan smiled.
Zorvan continued, "I am going with Raevour's plan because I believe it will work and abolish our common enemy. Moreover, I think Mister Huijin also want to go with this plan as Raevour is his officer."
All eight Ahura loyalists nodded signing 'yes' to Ahura's 'yes'. The only regret, Zorvan had, was that he didn't have one more loyalist. If he had, he could have won any argument by crossing the majority mark of agreement which was fifty percent and no power would trouble him.
Huijin Huian Gu who was unprepared shook himself and sat perfectly. He was between Zorvan and Collis's age. He had small eyes with epicanthic folds. If someone analysed the heights of all cabinet members, Huian Gu would be the shortest. He was the Home Minister holding the most power after the President.
He coughed and said, "Well, well, even I don't know Raevour clearly. Although his performance is decent as I've been notified. But if he can be useful for the President, it will be pride for us."
Three Huijin loyalists nodded. Then Huian said, "I am waiting for Mizz Nirkit's opinion."
They looked at her unsurely.
Pikoki Nirkit who was the Finance Minister was carefree smoking in the cabinet room without any restriction. She acquired the weirdest fashion. She was black. She wore purple eyeshadow and scarlet lipstick. Her black curly hair was managed with small golden clutchers. Her green eyes had long lashes. She was in a white and gold simple dress… no over-detailed design.
She stopped smoking and exhaled the smoke to those three men's faces. This made Collis cough uncontrollably.
She said, "I don't fucking care—"
With her words, old Collis stopped coughing and forced himself to say, "Mind your language. This is totally unparliamentary behaviour. We cannot tolerate this."
Pikoki laughed loudly. "Oh, now old Mosifal wants to teach me behaviour. I thought during the cabinet discussion no one has the right to interrupt another's speech. But our oldest member isn't old enough to know that. Even my peer Suzan Jizang despite being the youngest in the cabinet, knows this."
Jizang, the Corporate Minister had blue eyes and a sharp jaw and was the most handsome in the cabinet. He chuckled. Suzan was the only Nirkit loyalist great house in the cabinet. The other three elite houses always wondered how Nirkit held the position of the second-richest house in the universe with one loyalist cabinet minister. Vikoka sometimes mocked Zorvan saying She is younger than you but cleverer than you.
"Honestly, I am not like you people… something in front, different in the back. I don't care about Bharatas. It is just a family from fucking Earth. Mosifals and especially Ahuras, the presidential house should be ashamed that a house from nowhere is better than them economically," Pikoki said.
Some Ahura loyalists and all three Mosifal loyalists looked at her ragefully.
She looked at them with amusement and said, "No great army will work if you don't have money to recruit them."
Zorvan knew whom she was targeting. It was the Defence Minister, Ariana Eden. Despite being just a great house, Edens possessed the largest army of all houses. Combining Edens' army and other loyal houses', Ahuras could create the deadliest army. Moreover, Zorvan had Universal Militias, the government's army with him.
Zorvan could trust Ariana blindly. After all, she was his life partner. House Eden was a prominent devotee of Ahuras. In the past, Ariana did many things that made Zorvan trust her and ultimately marry her.
It was the hot iron situation, another word from Pikoki could hammer it and be able to change its calmness into a rage of argument and brawl. People needed to be cautious cause no one knew what could end up as a war between houses.
Wise Huijin saved the day. He interrupted and said, "So Nirkits have no disagreement with Ahuras' plan. Well, then I think the discussion ends up in the President's favour. So, the downfall of Bharatas is the plan. Congratulations Mister President, you have won the argument as there was no disagreement."
The last sentence by Huian was an absolute mock of Zorvan. But for peace, Zorvan remained silent and so did his loyal great houses.
Ultimately, all knew this meeting was just for paperwork so that in the future Zorvan could show that the downfall of Bharatas was a decision made by all the cabinet members.
Holographic screens were opened in front of them. They signed on those screens with the stylus.
Zorvan exhaled. The decision was certainly made.