Watching the Old Man sit down on the sofa before her, Inie quietly withdrew the hand she had been rubbing fiercely in the camera's blind spot.
Then she glanced at Shan Nina behind the camera. After seeing Shan Nina give the start signal, she took a deep breath, put on a smile, and looked into the camera.
"Welcome to today's Morning Light Interview. I'm your host, Inie. This is the very first episode of Morning Light Interview, and it is my great honor to welcome Ilan City's mayor, Mr. Lynn, as our first guest."
Below, Shan Nina raised her hand and played an applause sound effect.
At that moment, Inie turned back to look at He Ao seated opposite her. Her hands rested somewhat awkwardly on her lap as she smiled. "Hello, Mr. Lynn."
"Hello."
He Ao looked at Inie and smiled. "I'm very happy to be here for this program."
"Let's begin today's interview with our first question."
Inie's gaze flickered briefly toward empty space. Looking at He Ao, she asked softly, "We all know that Ilan City is now locked in a bitter conflict with the Ives Space System and Kepesi Mining, and that we have successfully repelled their attack. Did you foresee this before your campaign?"
"Strictly speaking," He Ao said with a smile, "I didn't foresee something like this. I did think through what might happen after I was assassinated."
Then he glanced at the camera before turning back to Inie with a smile. "All I can say is that the strength of the people of Ilan far exceeded my imagination. That is also why I firmly believed we would ultimately win—I believed it before, and I believe it even more now."
"Last night, we all saw you appear on the podium covered in blood."
Inie