Saint Topman Warcury stood in the doorway. Before him, at the far end of the long table,
Gern sat firmly in his seat. He did not rise, merely lifted his eyes.
Beside him, Sengoku, the Inspector General, offered only a slight nod. He even raised his teacup and leisurely blew on the steam.
Saint Topman Warcury silently drew a deep breath and walked to the seat opposite them, clearly reserved for him.
It was an ordinary guest seat, not the "seat of honor" at the head of the table that would once have been his. He sat down.
He straightened his back and pressed both hands against the tabletop.
"Gern. Sengoku." Saint Warcury spoke, deliberately slowing his voice as he tried to project an air of magnanimity, of letting bygones be bygones.
"Regarding CP0's earlier actions at G-10, and certain...
excessive actions by the Holy Knights, those were truly misunderstandings, tragedies caused by poor communication.
The World Government, upholding its supreme purpose of preserving stability and peace on the seas,
is willing, with the greatest generosity, to welcome the Navy back into the legitimate order."
"So long as the Navy resumes its duty of escorting the heavenly tribute and guarantees the basic personal safety and rightful dignity of the Celestial Dragons in the world below,
the Five Elders can, on behalf of the World Government, forgive all past unpleasantness and pursue the matter no further."
He paused briefly here, his gaze sweeping over the two men opposite him.
"In short, the Navy and the World Government can still work together to preserve this stable order of eight hundred years."
"What do you say?"
Silence filled the conference room when he finished.
Sengoku remained expressionless, merely raising his teacup and gently blowing across the surface.
And Gern... smiled.
"Heh. Pursue the