Saint Saturn's Call

Inside the office.

The air felt oppressively heavy.

Spandine's words—

"Th-then speak to the Five Elders yourself..."

The moment they left his mouth,

he realized what he had said.

His face went deathly pale, and his pupils contracted sharply.

The next second—

his legs gave out.

Thud!

He collapsed onto the floor, cold sweat instantly soaking through the back of his shirt.

What he had just said echoed wildly through his mind.

What did I just say?

I told a Marine Vice Admiral to negotiate the division of power with the Five Elders?!

I've lost my mind.

I must have lost my mind!

My career.

My promotion.

My seat in Mary Geoise.

All gone!

Oh, right.

My life might be gone too.

Spandine's face turned ashen, his lips bloodless.

He had already begun writing himself a script for a "dignified retirement."

Perhaps he would be transferred to some remote agency and given a meaningless post, never to go near the center of power again.

If his luck was worse—

he might not even make it to a remote agency. He might simply vanish.

Behind the desk, even Rock froze for a rare moment.

He had only meant to tease the man.

Push him a little and see how he talked his way out of it.

But instead—

the man had thrown down his biggest trump card?

He wanted Rock to speak with the Five Elders directly?

Interesting.

Rock slowly rose and walked around the desk, looking down at Spandine where he sat on the floor.

A smile tugged at his lips.

"Since you brought it up,"

he said in a voice far too gentle,

"I'll leave it to you—"

"to arrange the conversation."

To Spandine, that smile was no different from a demon's.

You're sending me to my death!

He