The Magic Film shot by the reporters at Montreal Mountain was playing in the Council Chamber.
Nearly every official of note in Free City was there, along with Annan. Even Annan.
As they watched the army march out, the officials flushed with excitement. After all, ninety-nine percent of Free City's people came from the Northern Frontier.
Every one of them wanted to go back and take revenge.
They had settled their score with the Rikaner Kingdom, but neither the Ratfolk nor the Demons had been enemies they could afford to provoke. Now, at last, war had begun.
Evelyn asked, "Should we turn this into a news story?"
"Of course, but footage of the Empire alone isn't enough." Annan looked at the only two Ratfolk in the Council Chamber and took out a Magic Stone. "Maria, Gale, I have a job for you."
"Go back to your clans. Tell the Ratfolk Elders who favor cooperation to hide immediately, far from the Northern Frontier. Better yet, come to Gem Bay. I'm willing to take in some young, good-looking... outstanding Ratfolk elites who are friendly to humans. And have the Stuen Ratfolk find a way to film what the McKennan Ratfolk and the Demons are doing."
"Leave it to us." Maria answered, then left the Council Chamber with Gale.
The remaining officials continued discussing the situation in the North. The Hawkish Faction wanted to strike first, while the Moderate Faction thought the hawks were being too moderate and wanted to seize the chance to reclaim the Old Land. Olmedo shut down both proposals.
Clearly, Free City's future lay in Gem Bay. The Ratfolk and Demons had ravaged the Frozen Tundra of the Northern Frontier from both sides. It would not be fit for human habitation for another hundred years. Anyone who wanted it