"No!" Darius, the Fourth Elder, took a step forward. "I don't think we need to involve the Empire's people here."
"Come on, Darius!" said the female elder. "After all, the Central Empire has recognized Occyens' rule over the Western Kingdom. In the absence of any punishment to us for the past ten years? Come on, you know better than this!"
"I know!" replied Darius.
"That means," the Third Elder continued, "they'll help us if we ask them!"
"No, I think Darius is right!" said the First Elder. "Involving the Central Empire will only be detrimental to us in the future. What's more, no one in the world doesn't know how cunning the al-Banix are!"
"That's what I'm afraid of!" said Darius, then looked at Avarius. "Your Highness, we'd better do it our way!"
Avarius took a deep breath as he looked at everyone in the room.
"Do we all agree to this?" he asked then.
All heads nodded.
