Inside Frostspear's temporary council hall, the fire burned fiercely, casting flickering light across the thick stone walls.
The thirteen seats were arranged according to protocol, but the atmosphere resembled the blizzard outside: still on the surface, with dangerous currents beneath.
Sixth Prince Asta sat upright to the left of the guest of honor's seat, his quiet gaze passing over each speaker in the hall.
Placed at the center of the proceedings, he seemed somewhat uneasy. Compared with the old foxes seated around him, he was far too young and could only tread carefully as he witnessed this silent clash of blades.
The first to speak was Heruda, seated near the front of the right-hand row. As the representative of the Imperial Capital Logistics Bureau, he carried the aristocratic arrogance of a man who considered his authority perfectly natural.
He looked around and said mildly, "Gentlemen, I imagine everyone here understands the Northern Frontier's current circumstances better than I do.
Storage is insufficient, transport is strained, and frozen roads along the routes are repeatedly cut off. If reconstruction efforts in each locality continue handling their own allocations, wasted resources will surely be inevitable."
As he spoke, Heruda inclined slightly toward Duke Edmund. "Our Logistics Bureau could assist the various regions in establishing a unified storage and distribution system, but as matters stand... without a coordinating body, I fear efficiency cannot be guaranteed.
For that reason, I propose establishing the Northern Frontier Joint Logistics Coordination Department, with our bureau temporarily taking the lead in its operations. Naturally, this is solely to meet the Empire's overall logistical needs. There is no other intention."
His wording was impeccably measured. He never directly mentioned "stripping allocation authority," yet quietly shifted the core of Duke Edmund's power out of his hands.
Edmund did not answer immediately.