Tessa had not realized what kind of question she had asked, but the key was the position from which she had asked it.
A question from an Earthling to a Frie? If that was the case, it meant that Tessa had never truly considered the Frie part of the Earth Sphere. She still viewed the Frie as invaders who had come to Earth, a stance that actually placed her in opposition to Xiao Ran.
But the situation was somewhat different now. PLANT supported the Frie integrating into Earth, Orb supported the Frie integrating into Earth, and so did the pro-PLANT national factions. Many Neutral Countries led by Orb felt the same way. Under the efforts of these national forces, the idea that the Frie were members of the Earth Sphere had become mainstream.
Yet the Earth Alliance held the opposite attitude, as did some extremists. Naturally, all of them were enemies of the Frie. Now that Tessa had asked such a question, it was as though she had placed herself on the side hostile to the Frie.
Melissa Mao knew that Tessa had not meant it that way. She merely wanted to know the Frie's true attitude toward Earth. But Melissa Mao did not know whether Xiao Ran and the others saw it the same way.
Melissa Mao was not the only one. After hearing Tessa's question, Yurika Mitotsudaira also showed a startled expression. She looked at the silent Xiao Ran, then at the serious-faced Tessa. Her lips parted, but she did not know what to say. She merely resolved that if Xiao Ran turned hostile, she would definitely help explain things for this rather cute little girl.
On the other hand, the last person in the room, Ruri Hoshino, nodded at Tessa's words. Ruri Hoshino was also highly intelligent,