The two men's expressions shifted uneasily. They could not tell whether Louis Bonaparte was being sarcastic, but they did not dare linger. With their hearts pounding, they lowered their heads and backed out of the office.
"Someone couldn't wait to come and watch us make fools of ourselves." Lured adjusted his monocle and gave a soft, cold laugh.
Louis spread his hands, unconcerned. "There are always plenty of incompetent losers who refuse to accept a stronger man's victory."
Lured offered no reply and looked out the window again.
The clash outside the Royal Palace had grown fiercer. Shoving had turned into punches, though both sides had evidently been ordered to use their fists, not their weapons. For now, it was only chaos. But the palace entrance had become a vast powder keg; one spark would set it off.
"Lured, what do you think would happen down there if someone suddenly shot a man dead?" Louis Bonaparte asked with a wicked hint of amusement.
Before he had even finished speaking, a gunshot rang out over the Square.
Everyone froze. Then someone spotted a Revolutionary Army corporal at the front of the crowd, where he had been trading blows with the Holy Crusaders. He crumpled, disbelief on his face, as a red stain spread across his chest. The bullet had struck his heart. He was clearly beyond saving. Psychic Energy rippled through the air: the shot had come from an Enchanted Weapon.
Louis Bonaparte stared. He had not expected his ill-timed words to come true. Then a knowing look flashed through his eyes. "Someone really did fire," he murmured. "Now this should be interesting."
Lured was even more shocked. Below, the Square stood still for an instant before unrest erupted through the Revolutionary Army ranks. With one of their own dead, the