Eleven old men sat in a room, nine wearing grim expressions. Ten of them faced a lone figure draped in a black cloak.
Hale and the other directors didn't think that a day would come when they would sit with Sanada Eiichiro again in the same room.
Though most remained apprehensive and doubtful of what they had learned from the head director, the irreconcilable hostility had faded.
They were, at the very least, willing to hear him out this time, not immediately thinking that he was about to spout more lies from his filthy old mouth.
Hale knew that time was of the essence, so he dallied no longer and began the meeting.
"Everyone, I believe you already have an idea of why we're here," he began, then turned to Sanada. "Sanada, I apologize for my failures as a world leader, and I thank you for your relentless efforts and sacrifices to save the world."
Sanada naturally liked what he heard.
He felt vindicated—and free.
