"Seems like there's no further doubts then" Ari said as he opened his eyes, "sigh…As we have already gone through the 2nd Top Lord's situation, perhaps it's better to disclose this now than later on; when Rebecca, the strongest General was brought to the clinic, it was found that there were some traces of foreign energy on her body and the investigation on it was completed a week ago, we now know whom it belongs to-"
"?!" At that moment, everyone with the exception of Ari and the masked man became alarmed of the nervous presence that was among them, who was no longer trembling.
rattle!
"..." The masked man simply sat in his seat unfazed with his arms folded and eyes closed.
"Ms Lucy…calm down please…" While Warren and Freya tried to calm her down despite being visibly shaken.
"O-oi, the air conditioner will break…" Orin said (interesting priorities…), while Kaito was too afraid to even utter anything.
Now with the exception of her, the windows in the room and colleagues present (5th to 9th) trembled as she gazed upon Ari.
"who…? who was it?" Lucy asked calmly, her eyelids wide open, releasing her energy subconsciously that resulted in slight tremors; until just a second ago, she appeared as though staying here was a punishment to go through with, but now, the expression which she wore, and the sudden change in composure and relaxedness was a frightening sight to behold.
It's not that the other lords believed that she didn't fit in her position, however there was definitely at least a shred of doubt and potential for change in opinion about it since she entered this room, but during this very instant, the realisation dawned that it doesn't matter whatever her emotional state might be at the moment, she holds her position for a reason and there's no need for her to prove it.
"It belongs to the previous 4th lord who resigned from her position two months ago, Yumi" Ari conveyed, something that came as yet another shock to everyone, even to the quiet enraged girl, Lucy, that she got caught off guard.
"Huh…?" Lucy muttered, clearly flabbergasted, "Yumi's energy…? No…no no no…there's got to be some mistake, that shy nervous girl couldn't possibly-"
"The traces of energy show a match of 98.7% with hers"
…
Lucy wanted to speak, and say how outrageous this claim was, but the information that she had received and got knowledge of in the past one hour alone was more than enough proof that even if it sounds unrealistic or unimaginable, anything was possible at this point; all she could do was grit her teeth in frustration and feel powerless, because everything now is already a fact and it had been too late to do anything to change this present she loathed being a part of.
"After her resignation two months ago on May 9th, she was last seen on June 8th, then seemingly suddenly disappeared, a missing complaint was filed by her parents on June 11th, however her whereabouts are still unknown, and now energy traces of hers were found on Rebecca's injuries" Ari added.
"Doesn't this…tch, make her a wanted criminal then?" Orin said, his face resting on the palm of his forearm that's kept up straight on the table.
"As with how things stand, yes, she'll be declared as a wanted criminal"
"That's why…he's her replacement?" Lucy said in a low tone, staring at the masked man with discontent.
"Yes" Ari clarified, his hand in the direction of the concerned person, "His name is Neon, he is the temporary 4th lord as things stand"
"Greetings" The man in question said in a low tone and bowed his head a little, his voice is a little deep and sturdy.
"Now then, let's come to the heart of the current issue we are facing" Ari said as he glanced at the 2nd Top Lord's chair, "A replacement for the empty position isn't something that is worth too worrying about normally, however, this is the seat of the 2nd which fills is an important role and makes it just as necessary to find someone who can hold it"
Needless to say, this is a massive issue for the provision as it has lost one of its bigger leading power, that's why Ari is correct from an objective standpoint, but,
'Someone other than Mom taking this seat…I don't like i-… No…it's important…I can't let my emotions get in the way…' From a subjective standpoint, Lucy couldn't let someone just come and take this position away; for as long as she had been with her mother, Amane had always been in this seat which created this inseparable image that her mother and this seat are for one another, 'But it doesn't feel right for a stranger to take the seat… Oh! If that's the case, I can take it! I've become plenty strong now, I-'
'You taking her seat? Do you even know what you are saying?'
That voice once again echoed in her head.
'That's…'
'What 'that'?The fact THAT YOU are strong so it doesn't matter? HAHAHAHA! So you won't let anyone else take her seat, though a murderer taking it is fine huh?'
'No! no…I-I didn't…I…'
"Ms Lucy, are you fine?" Freya murmured, placing her hand on Lucy's shoulder.
"?! Erm…yes…I am fine…just a slight headache sigh…" Lucy replied, looking down, covering her eyes with one hand.
"I have a proposal" Warren said which shifted everyone's sights towards him as Ari gave him the go to tell his idea, "Normally, the selection for a Top Lord is done by the recommendation of the Kingand their peers which are the current standing Top Lords but as it stands, you must be busy with the collaboration work with Dion, as such why not assign it to the Central 20 to make amends?"
The instant this proposal was announced, both Lucy and Ari immediately understood what it meant.
'This is a trap' The two thought simultaneously as they glanced at one another.
As it stood currently, the lords system had three categories - Top Lords, Lords and Generals and the selection method for each of these was different.
- Top Lords would be selected by the King and his peers (Other Top Lords),
- Lords would be selected by Central 20, or by the King,
- Generals would be selected through a tournament, or by the King.
At the moment, this system already had three Central 20 members, and with the way of how things operated within the lords, whenever there's any disagreements or arguments as such, almost always a vote was held to solve disputes or reach a conclusion. Having another Central 20 member, or someone connected to them would equate to one more vote for having things their way, not to mention it being a Top Lord's position would hand them even more influence than what they already had here prior.
"What do you think?" Warren inquired.
(Ari)
This is really troublesome… Directly refusing this offer would be like showing antagonism towards Central 20, but taking it would be even worse… My current situation (being busy with the Dion collaboration effort) dictates that it's better to accept this offer, though I am sure that even the people of Thysia wouldn't like it if yet another lord was selected by Central 20, that'snot to mentioning it being the 2nd seat at that, nobody would want her seat to be given away on a whim, after all she was stronger than the King himself…far stronger than me… Amane…just what happened that you took that sort of decision which you made… I can only think of one way in this position, even though I don't think it's the correct one either…
"Perhaps there's no need for that with the 2nd seat" I said, looking at my desperate hope, "Lucy, I think you are more than plenty-"
"Sorry Ari…I think I know what you are about to say…I thought about it for a second too, but…I have to decline" She replied…(what?! Why!? I thought you'd be the most protective of this seat than anyone here!?) Calm down me…she must have her reasons for saying so… Gotta say though, at least don't respond before I even complete my sentence…it makes me look like an idiot…
"However, I too have a proposal" She continued (she also has one…?), "Rather than leaving it to any one party, why not both me and the Central 20 look for a candidate each? Whoever we do choose will have to beat me first in combat and prove that they are worthy of the 2nd spot"
"But aren't you also busy with the Dion collaboration effort?"
"That's Ari who's busy with it, my mission is already complete, and I don't have anything else to do in my immediate plans" Lucy replied to Warren (absolutely crushing this pawn of Central 20! A-ahem…not bad…this isn't a direct refusal and allows a fair play of powers…)
"I am on board with Warren's idea instead" Orin said…whose head is resting on the table, "You just came back from an important mission and must be exhausted, it's for the better to leave this task with us"
There it is, a start of disagreement which will then lead to the next sentence,
"Why don't we take a vote?" Orin continued and raised his hand, his head still resting on the table (sigh knew it), "Those who agree with Warren's proposal, raise their hand; while those who agree with Lucy's don't"
…
This is a sight I didn't expect to see…nobody else is raising their hands…not even Warren whose proposal is being voted on…
"Eh? yawn…It's 6 on…1?"
"Of course you dummy" Warren replied…(what is happening…), "3rd's recommendation is more insightful and fits this system better than that of my mine, a Top Lord's position is one that requires not only leading qualities, but the one who sits in it must also be just as powerful to maintain the status in public eye. I think your proposal is for the best, which everyone else also seems to agree on"
"yawn…! Makes sense"
…Was I overthinking…? No, it had always been different in the past, so them giving up so quickly is the reason why it feels strange; this is for the better though (however they still have the ability to look for someone as well, that's something to be careful about…)