Of course, there was no helping it.
The Grand Commander Tatos, beloved by the public and the middle class, had taken medical leave and resigned. Marshal Esco, now acting head of state, had only been vice president before the Ice Valley City incident, with no real authority to speak of. Put plainly, he had been little more than a mascot representing the voices of the Alliance military and defense industry. He had never even been properly elected to Parliament. When it came to trading barbs in Congress, he was no match for most career politicians.
And now the opposition alliance had gained a particularly formidable female politician.
"Another two months have passed, and the chaos in Ice Valley City remains a complete mess. In just the past month, there have been 189 strikes and riots in this country. Twelve of them even took place in the Central Star Zone. Tell me, esteemed members of Congress: when citizens entrusted you with their rights, was it so you could stand by and do nothing? Ask yourselves honestly: what is it that we most need to do right now?"
The chamber erupted in cheers.
Creil knew, of course, that this was Mrs. Aimeeta Pamerthing, an Alliance senator and the most dangerous opposition leader facing the current government.
Yet just five years ago, this woman, who was not yet fifty, had been nothing more than a society widow.
Her husband had been named S尔夫·帕梅庭, and in life he had been a board member of the former Adventurers' Association as well as an S-rank adventurer. He had died in the line of duty while carrying out a rescue mission during a system-wide disaster. Before his death, however, he had already saved the lives of over a hundred million people.
In short, he was a hero.