The members of the Weihudun Interest Party burst into warm applause, yet at almost the exact same moment, the New People's Party side began tapping their cups against the tables—the traditional form of jeering in the District 12 council, where the glass bases struck the tabletops in rapid succession to create a deafening roar.
Tang An called for order several times, but this time no one listened to him, and the jeering only gradually subsided when Antoine stood up and gestured to the crowd.
"Devoid of logic." The old man turned to Hesta. "Madam, I must say that such inflammatory rhetoric makes me extremely uncomfortable. This is not a personal speaker's podium, nor a place for anyone to shout slogans and grandstand. What we are discussing here is a piece of land and the future of the residents upon it, and it can never be achieved simply by shouting a couple of slogans."
Then, he looked toward Kendall. "I believe Ms. Kendall shares the same sentiment."
Kendall remained noncommittal.
"Whether to exact revenge on the former District 12 Freedom Party to vent our anger, and whether to launch a kinetic strike against them, are two entirely different matters—just as drawing boundaries and fighting violence with violence are two entirely different matters," the old man said. "Even if we are to proceed with kinetic strikes, they must be discussed properly and thoroughly within the council chamber, and before completing this entire procedure, we must never—"
"Then AHgAs will simply have to carry out the strike operation independently," Hesta said.
For a moment, the council chamber fell silent once more. A look of confusion appeared on the faces of both Antoine and Tang An—they both remembered that AHgAs did not possess its own missile launch systems, and even heavy weapons like tanks