Discussion of the two plans gradually grew heated in the conference hall. Faced with a question that could almost determine the survival of the world, no one could make a clear-headed, rational judgment in an instant—not even Gawain himself. Rosetta could not, nor could Bercetia. They could only lay every possibility they could think of on the table, then pool their wisdom to find a path that was relatively less dangerous.
What surprised Gawain somewhat was that as the discussion continued, the number of people supporting Plan Two gradually surpassed those supporting the first plan. Though the dangers of performing "surgery" on the Azure Well were obvious, the leaders of the nations clearly preferred building a Magic Tide Observation Device that could truly be used over exhausting the Alliance's manpower and resources only to watch the device fail in despair.
Of course, the leaders' discussion at the table was merely the surface of what was happening here. The ones truly confronting the problem were the advisory teams of scholars standing beside each leader. Behind every speaker was an entire technical team analyzing the materials concerning the Magic Tide Observation Device, weighing the risks of different plans and the difficulty of implementation at every stage. Every voice speaking at the table reflected the opinions of technical experts.
It seemed that determining a "construction plan" through this single meeting would indeed be no easy task, but Gawain maintained the attitude he had held from the beginning—he knew that this tense, high-pressure atmosphere was necessary here and now.
He turned his gaze once more toward the silent Ophelia Norton.
"Perhaps we should first hear the opinion of the Azure Well city-state," Bercetia suddenly broke the silence. The Silver Empress's voice quieted the entire hall. "Princess Ophelia is now the actual ruler of the