The next move did not begin with an attack.
That was what unsettled Zero the most.
For the first time since the mysterious force had appeared, several days passed without a major incident.
No destroyed convoy.
No ambushed diplomats.
No sudden explosions near the border.
The reports reaching the War Council were quiet.
Too quiet.
Zero knew Earth Zero well enough by now to understand that silence did not mean he had stopped.
It meant something was changing.
******************************************
The capital slowly began relaxing.
Soldiers remained stationed throughout the city, but the tension was no longer as heavy as before.
Merchants reopened routes that had been temporarily suspended.
Travelers began moving more freely.
The War Council reduced the number of emergency meetings.
People spoke about the attacks less often.
But they continued speaking about Hiro.
That part hadn't changed.
If anything, it had become stronger.
