"It seems we are all facing the same crisis. There's a reason I've called this meeting. Grand Duke Michael."
At her call, Michael stepped forward.
All the leaders watching through the mirror turned their attention to the object in his hand—a shriveled, blackened locust corpse.
A heavy silence settled over the meeting.
With a grave tone, Michael began to speak.
"This is no ordinary locust. This creature was not born of nature—it was manufactured."
A wave of shock passed through the faces of the assembled leaders.
Already briefed beforehand, Henry III of Elonia responded first.
"Manufactured? What exactly do you mean by that?"
Without a word, Michael raised the locust and held it close to the mirror, exposing the underside of one wing.
Thanks to the efforts of several priests, the symbol of Radiance etched beneath the wing had been made to glow faintly with divine light—clearly visible to all.
Eyes turned toward the symbol.
