As the diplomatic uproar continued to spread across the world, two noble families in Area 11 had already understood its value before ordinary viewers did.
In the Ashford Family's conference room, the family head had his secretary reorganize the materials from the past six months.
"In the past, Milly could help restore our ties with the Empire's technical aristocracy. Now, restricting her to Pendragon's marriage market seems far too conservative."
One family member frowned slightly. "You mean we should have her formally side with Great Han?"
"No. A noble family should not use such inflexible language before the situation becomes clear. Freeze her inheritance rights and revoke her authority to represent the Ashford Family. The reason is that, without the family's permission, she used our century-long reputation in KMF to guarantee a foreign country's international event, compromising the political caution expected of an imperial noble."
The member looked even more puzzled. "But then she would lose her value as a member of our family in Great Han."
"Quite the opposite."
The family head raised a hand, and the secretary immediately unfolded another document.
The KMF archives retained by the Ashford Family, several patent trusts that had not yet fully expired, an overseas education fund, and some shares originally intended as Milly's assets after marriage would be transferred through a student research protection fund and international educational cooperation projects into Penglai accounts over which she could personally exert influence.
"If the Empire regains an overwhelming advantage, she is merely a young heir who acted without authorization and has already been disciplined by her family. If Great Han truly restores its hegemony in the East, she will be the first member of the Ashford Family to enter the new technological Community."
"Doesn't that count as betting on both sides?"
The family head