Lucky 278
An old Senator slammed his fists on the round table, he was obviously mad.
"That woman!! Is she stupid? Did aging make her foolish? Esmeralda, you understand that what you did will bring chaos to the country!! The country that you build!"
The old man gritted his teeth.
He is Tito Sotsot, the current head of the Senate. Every four years, the Senate would have a rotation and the current leader was him.
Right now, Tito was in the meeting together with the other Senators.
It was an official meeting, right inside the Senate Hall, discussing how to minimize the damage that Esmeralda created. Most of the Senators attended this session. Even Juliano Francine, the Patriarch of the Francine Clan, known as someone who was always neutral, was present.
The Senate understands the danger. The whole country of Dellia was in an uproar because of the news. They realized that one of the important treasures of their country was missing. Of course, the citizens would blame them, because... That's what usually citizens do, they would always blame the government.
The older Senators, those who lived over a hundred years, were frustrated. As if they were betrayed by someone they trust.
Juliano Francine was not that old, but he could see their frustration.
'I heard that some of them were Esmeralda's students... Nobody talks about it, but I guess they are kind of friends.'
He thought.
Dellia was established 130 years ago. The Clans and Tribes from different regions decided to create a treaty and made a country, Esmeralda Margaret was the one who proposed it. She was adored and idolized by the older generations.
130 years was quite short from different angles, and most people would forget how they achieved the freedom that they fight for.
Juliano was 48 years old now and he didn't know much about that time.
It was hard 130 years ago because wars were everywhere. People were killing each other, pillaging, slaving, and raping. Furthermore, the threat of Aberrants was rampant. Esmeralda lead the changes that brought them to this situation.
Dellia, is a peaceful country, where everyone could live without the fear of being killed by Aberrants and mortals.
The old people probably wanted to maintain the peace. As they witnessed the true horror of war.
'But lately, our neighboring countries are eyeing us. The technologies and the prosperities that we establish, they are eager to take it. Talented people are joining them actually, they gave them better options.'
Juliano Francine was looking over the situation. As someone who was siding with nobody, he was studying both parties.
Being surrounded by Junian, Ancas, and Ytiti, their country was in a bit of a tight situation. Especially when the three countries were powerful just like them.
"How about we use Bronal as a scapegoat?"
"Are you insane?"
"But it's his fault!"
"Don't you forget that Bronal did a lot for this country!"
"I know, but we lost something great too!"
Juliano sighed.
'They are debating again. They just keep repeating this.'
The President's side wanted to use Bronal as a scapegoat, while Esmeralda's side was stopping it from happening.
Their discussion went on for hours.
The older Senators, those who helped establish the country, were siding with President Biden.
While the younger generation was on Esmeralda's side.
Juliano just kept his mouth shut, listening to them.
To be honest, both sides have a point, but it was hard to discern the best answer. Everyone was afraid of the consequences, and no one wanted to take responsibility.
"Senator!!"
Suddenly, someone hastily knocked on the door.
"Who's there? Don't you know that it's a crime to disturb the official Senate meeting?"
Tito Sotsot, the Head of the Senate, roared.
The official flinched but he still opened his mouth and spoke.
"S- Senator Sotsot, t- there is a news right now!!"
"Hm? What is it?"
"H- here."
The official showed the news to them, he had a tablet set up in the front.
The Senators listened to every word and their expressions slowly turned grim.
-- I'm CEO Mark Cudgel of Cudgel Tech, I hereby speak the truth and nothing but the truth.
Mark's smiling face was plastered on the screen. He was being interviewed by the TV host.
-- CEO Mark, we heard that your company is the one who created the Obice.
-- Indeed.
Mark nodded.
-- Can you explain--
-- Honey, if you are talking about how the Fragment was stolen, I have a few ideas in my mind.
He interrupted the host and kept talking.
-- You see, Cudgel Tech is confident in our system even if it was created over 90 years ago. It's a system that never fails. However, just like plane crashes, the fault mostly lies in human error.
-- You mean--
-- That's right, there's a traitor who helped the enemies to infiltrate the Obice.
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned cold and quiet. The Senators understood it very well, they started looking at each other.
-- Then, can you explain what the government will do next?
-- I know it sounds bullshit.
Mark grinned and looked straight at the camera.
-- I think the government, or to be exact, the old guys will try to pin someone and blame him.
-- And who do you think is that?
-- Bronal Robinson.
The Senators were dumbfounded. They were just talking about it earlier.
"That bastard..."
Someone muttered.
They were checkmate. Mark Cudgel beat them to it!
Now they could not use Bronal as their scapegoat since Mark already blocked them.
The interview went on but the atmosphere in the Senate Hall was quite depressing.
Now, the country would be in a worse situation.
"You bastards!! Why are you doing this!!? Do you know that this will happen?"
One of the Senators from the President's side screamed at the Senators from Esmeralda's side.
"No, we didn't know this. And I think Mark Cudgel just showed up to fix the image of his company."
"Then..."
"Stop."
Senate Tito Sotsot sighed.
".... Meeting adjourn."
It seemed that they have to rest for now.
Everyone looked tired when they left the Senate Hall.
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