Do you have a solution Randidly asked with a frown
Neveah nodded slowly Part of it is that I wonÆt just stay here and mind your Academy But most importantly you need to leave before it opens Or perhaps even more drastically than that The connection to you or more specifically your image cannot be too strong
Randidly slowly tilted his head to the side What are you suggesting
Theodora Greyman looked at the neat font of the report sitting on her desk Even the looming problem of the impeachment vote was pushed to the side as she scanned through the briefing with wide eyes
Her first response was that this was a joke No one would be this erratic But her desk was covered with similar reports The Order Ducis had made a very public announcement of the upcoming changes to KharonÆs government They were rather considerate of the fact that the Zones were watching the Wandering CityÆs movements very closely
But to make the government random And switch several of the people in charge every two months Theodora drummed her fingers against her desk The tempo of the percussion continued to increase but no answers emerged in her heart There was a very obvious loophole in the arrangement too Is this some sort of trap What the hell is Randidly Ghosthound thinking
There was a knock at the door interrupting TheodoraÆs thoughts She grunted and the door swung partially open An aide poked her head through the doorway and glanced meekly around Uh President Greyman Congress has refused to push the date of the impeachment vote back
The drumming ceased immediately Theodora could barely pry her teeth apart to force the words out For what reason
They they say that as you are not the one participating in the duos tournament the vote will proceed as previously scheduled Your presidency and that tournament are entirely independent events
Theodora suppressed the urge to snarl Really After everything I have done for this Zone They wish to push me out before I can win this for the Zone
ThatÆs fine Thank you Victoria Theodora Greyman responded The aide hurriedly nodded and closed the door with a sharp click perhaps worried about TheodoraÆs temper in response to the news But Theodora remained very still even after the aide had been gone for several minutes Her mind was buzzing carefully turning over possibilities in her mind
The obstinance from congress the duos tournament to name the Earth the strange changes in KharonÆs government They were like strange puzzle pieces in her mind No matter how Theodora arranged them she couldnÆt figure out the larger picture
Finally she stood Touching a painting that hung in the back of her office Theodora opened up a secret passage and descended into the bowels of the building The long corridors were dark but TheodoraÆs Perception allowed her to navigate them flawlessly Besides Theodora Greyman had taken this pathway down into the sub basements quite often in the past week and a half At this point she had every corner memorized
She reached out and brushed her fingers along the wall The cool stone was reassuring Heh if I had known how things would end up I was once the Chairperson of the World Council I was the most powerful woman in the world and now
now I wonder how much I really ever had
Eventually she reached a door that was guarded by two muscular men In the dark passageway it was almost impossible to distinguish their features even with high Perception But Theodora didnÆt pay them any attention They inclined their heads as she walked forward through the door Within the small chamber beyond the door Richter was sitting in his wheelchair with his eyes closed Strange energy filled the surrounding air and most intimidatingly the stone ground beneath him rippled like it was the surface of a pond in a rainstorm
Wary of the energy he was releasing Theodora stopped only a few steps past the threshold and didnÆt proceed deeper Instead her eyes searched RichterÆs face for hints of his waning longevity She was relieved that there were no signs of corruption to be seen there but she didnÆt doubt that the strange corrosion of RichterÆs skin was slowly spreading from his legs to the rest of his body Her eyes went to his torso wondering how much of his pale flesh had been twisted and warped
However Theodora didnÆt dare disturb him So she waited silently
Soon after Theodora arrived Richter opened his eyes Ah itÆs you Still worried about me DidnÆt I tell you that I have it under control
Richter all of the other experiments have resulted in failure Is it strange that I would be concerned about you President Theodora said slowly She did her best to imbue her voice with warmth and authority
Richter chuckled darkly True Plus without me it will be difficult for you to hold onto the seat of the President
TheodoraÆs fingers twisted as though they were squeezing the last breath out of someoneÆs throat but she kept those hands behind her back Richter should not have so casually spoken of such things Yet her emotions seemed to have been devoured by her circumstances Her face was extremely neutral as she replied As it turns out your efforts wonÆt matter at all Congress will not delay the impeachment hearing I suspect even if I were to refuse to attend
That got RichterÆs attention He raised his head slowly studying Theodora Greyman Perhaps To think it has come to this point You have not made many friends with your recent string of actions
You were about to say failures werenÆt you Theodora thought rather distantly Her fingers twisted and wiggled around each other like blind worms searching for food Ironic Considering the energy that currently is devouring your body is exactly one of my actions If I hadnÆt decided on ignoring the words of the Ghosthound at that time
TheodoraÆs expression tightened but then her powerful self control smoothed out those lines Well it is too late now All of my most loyal followers have already been sacrificed Congress has made up its mind in regard to my fate Due to their participation in these experiments the Order Valorem has fractured heh All I have left
Perhaps Theodora replied very calmly In fact she felt rather at peace with herself After struggling for so long and trying to control things from the shadows it was something of a relief to reach out with her own hands to try and defy destiny But I think Congress will find it quite difficult to be rid of me
Richter raised his eyebrows You have a plan
A gamble Theodora Greyman whispered in response
Chapter 1423
Elmer Arrietti shifted uncomfortably as he stood in front of the assembled people his fingers rising naturally to pick at all the dangling bits of commendation that adorned his uniform He was currently decked out in his finest as were the rest of his force as they rose on platforms to Randidly GhosthoundÆs private island Moss spirits frolicked around happily investigating the police officers then zooming off Elmer hoped that the moss spirits didnÆt get so distracted that they forgot to lift the platform
Today would be the day they followed their leader into a Dungeon in order to do some intensive training Everyone was very on edge at the prospect
Of course Elmer appreciated the effort to raise the strength of the police force But after staying up all of the prior night tossing and turning he could only come to one conclusion how this training would end It would likely be polite but the Order Ducis and Kharon would find a reason during this training session to remove Elmer from his position as Commissioner and put someone more powerful in his place
By all accounts it would be a very good decision
Is something wrong Commissioner A patrol officer named Fenlin asked
Elmer cleared his throat Of course not I m mentally preparing myself Heh you have never been personally trained by the Ghosthound have you Let me just say that if you thought the normal Order Ducis training was difficult hehehe well feel free to rely on me if you have any difficulties But always remember that we are all in this together