Creak!
Nine o'clock at night, inside the secret chamber of Binote Manor.
Laiya stepped in wearing civilian clothes and locked the door behind her. Thirteen familiar figures sat upright around the round table, and she paused.
John had contacted her that morning, asking to use the family's secret chamber for a meeting. She had been puzzled, but she had assumed he wanted to discuss Faoken's future development.
So she had agreed without giving it much thought.
But among those present were not only the core officers of the former 1st Magic Battalion, now the Imperial Air Force's 303rd Independent Division. Ian and Barnabos, both of whom had joined Imperial Military Intelligence Section Five, were there too.
Even she could tell this meeting might be far more serious and complicated than she had imagined.
After a moment's hesitation, she saluted John. "John, I've sent the manor staff elsewhere and activated the chamber's highest-level shielding barrier. I've confirmed that word of this private meeting won't get out."
"Thanks for the effort, Laiya. Take a seat."
"All right."
Tap, tap!
Once Laiya was seated, John slowly lowered his hands. Since arriving in the chamber, he had sat at the head of the table with his fingers interlaced before him, saying nothing.
In the flickering candlelight, he raised his dark eyes and swept his gaze across the thirteen people before him.
From left to right sat Major Laiya, an Imperial countess of the Binote Family and commander of the Magic Special Operations Regiment of the Imperial Air Force's 303rd Independent Magic Division; General Sellviya of the Imperial Half-Dragon Special Forces; and Lieutenant General Galil of the Silver Moon Legion.
Then came Lieutenant Colonel Igonila, commander of the 303rd Division's 1st Magic Assault Regiment; Lieutenant Colonel Miles of the 2nd Magic Sniper Regiment; Lieutenant Colonel