The meeting's resolution

The atmosphere in the Northern Alliance Army's meeting room was unusually tense and heavy.

His face contorted with fury, Alex slammed his fist into the thick wooden desk before him with all his strength, producing a dull boom.

Then he rose to his feet, his eyes wide as he glared at Count Colt across from him, and roared at a deafening volume, "I strongly object, Father! You and the other decision-makers have been far too hasty and reckless in making this decision!"

Alex steadied his emotions somewhat, but his tone still burned with anger and defiance.

He continued, "Grand Duke Mora's decisive move to strip those independent nobles of their military authority must have been the result of long deliberation and careful planning.

"From what I know of the Duchy Army's strength and strategic capabilities, there is no way they failed to anticipate the immense difficulties of carrying out this task.

"That means they must have prepared adequate countermeasures. They may even have laid trap after trap, waiting for us to walk straight into them!"

At this point, Alex recalled something that had happened not long ago: the duchy had unexpectedly deployed the Silver Maple Secret Guard and destroyed, in one stroke, the intelligence network he had painstakingly built over many years!

The mere thought made his heart bleed.

Count Colt fixed Alex with a piercing stare. Every word he spoke landed with the weight of a hammer blow. "You are standing in this meeting room, and every person seated here is your elder and senior.

"So I expect you to show some respect. Do not presume that your status gives you leave to behave however you please!

"Understand this: whenever you wish to voice a dissenting opinion, you must first show due respect for this assembly and obtain my