Lacus and Shanamia, who had been quietly listening to the conversation nearby, both breathed a sigh of relief after learning that Xiao Ran was indeed all right. They exchanged a glance. Lacus gave Shanamia a teasing smile, while Shanamia hurriedly lowered her head, picked up her bowl, and quickly left.
Seeing that Xiao Ran and Master Asia were about to begin their lesson immediately, Lacus hurried over and raised her fan between them.
Lacus looked at the two with a soft laugh. "Master, Lord Xiao Ran, there are still some more important matters to discuss. Could you spare me just a little time first?"
Master Asia stroked his little mustache with a genial smile and nodded. "There is no rush. No rush at all."
Xiao Ran also smiled and nodded, looking toward Lacus. "I called you here because I wanted to ask what exactly happened over the past two days."
"A great many things." Lacus sat sideways at the head of the bed, almost leaning against Xiao Ran. Master Asia's expression immediately turned improper, but Lacus's expression did not change at all. Xiao Ran, on the other hand, felt a little embarrassed. Then Lacus's first sentence utterly startled him.
"The Union has completely collapsed. It has announced its dissolution and merger into the Frie ZAFT Alliance."
Xiao Ran immediately turned to Lacus in astonishment. "How could it happen so quickly? What happened?"
"Amalgam." Lacus tilted her head toward Xiao Ran. "Because of Amalgam. Amalgam's forces within the Union suddenly turned against it. Under the leadership of a man named Kowloon, they captured and killed all of the Union's upper leadership, directly took control of the Union, announced its dissolution, and began a full merger into the Frie ZAFT Alliance."
"Then another man named Renard simultaneously wiped out Blue Cosmos's leadership.