The reporters' flashbulbs almost blotted out the sunlight over the square.
A dense sea of people nearly filled the entire square.
Christos raised his head and looked down through the bright sunlight at the densely packed crowd.
It had been a long time since he had seen so many people standing in the square before Radiance Palace.
"Everything has been arranged," Seth said as he walked to Christos's side, looking up at him. "The rest is up to you."
Christos took a deep breath and gave Seth a slight nod.
Then he shifted his gaze toward the dense crowd ahead, toward the magnificent, glittering city.
This city was the same as before, yet it was no longer the same.
For a moment, he seemed to see his past self in the crowd—the marginalized city councilor.
The self who had struggled so desperately.
There were no what-ifs in this world. If you wanted an answer, you had to try for yourself.
He lifted his foot and took a step forward, walking toward the crowd.
—Ten Days Earlier—
Aines, Graystone Palace: "Dawn City, Yilan City, Kaya City, and eleven other cities controlled by the rebels have issued declarations of secession from the Federation and formed the so-called New Federation government."
"The New Federation's temporary capital has been established in Dawn City, where a temporary Senate, temporary House of Representatives, and temporary Supreme Court have been reinstated."
"The New Federation government has undergone partial restructuring. The office of president remains, serving as the New Federation's head of state and commander-in-chief of the New Federation military. The powers of the federal vice president have been expanded. The vice president also serves as head of government and deputy commander-in-chief of the military, with the authority to convene cabinet meetings when necessary."
"The New Federation government