The air inside the Governor's Residence on Casarina Island seemed to have frozen.
Governor Almeida watched the clock hanging on the opposite wall. Each movement of its second hand produced a dull tick, echoing his own unsettled heartbeat.
Before him, Major Esteves stood with his head lowered, but his rigid shoulders betrayed his resentment and fear.
"How many died?"
Governor Almeida's voice was as dry as sandpaper.
"At least... at least twenty on our side, Your Excellency."
Major Esteves's voice was low and hoarse.
"As for the mercenaries... since they control the entire Dock District now, we don't know..."
Governor Almeida closed his eyes, as though that could shut out this absurd and terrifying reality.
He needed these Bagnian Mercenaries to counter the increasingly rampant snake-men on the island, yet before they had even reached their camp, they had seized the docks of the League's colony!
All because of a few sailors' stupid taunts and the heavy-handed decision to punish both sides equally by the idiot before him, who might even be a spy?
Governor Almeida's thoughts drifted uncontrollably toward that dangerous suspicion again... Was Pedro Esteves, the major who had climbed the ranks through family connections, a pawn planted by the Retalia Empire to deliberately sabotage the reception of these vital reinforcements?
The thought sent a chill through Governor Almeida himself, but his face retained the weary composure that had followed his initial shock.
"Who was right and who was wrong no longer matters, Major."
Governor Almeida finally opened his eyes and looked at Esteves as calmly as he could.
"What matters is that Casarina Island still needs them to fight for us. And since you and I botched the first task, we must get the second one right."
Major Esteves raised his head, apparently about to defend himself,