Ethan closed the case with a soft click. "A volunteer."
The room went still.
"A bold one," he added. "Someone currently infected, someone whose condition you can verify independently."
The French president scoffed. "You want one of us to gamble their life on your word?"
"Well, that would be too much to ask," Ethan shook his head, "so instead, why not gamble someone else's?"
Several leaders stiffened.
Before anyone could object, Ethan turned slightly, eyes settling on the aides and translators seated behind the leaders.
"Statistically speaking," he said evenly, "at least one of your immediate staff has already begun early-stage symptoms. Mild disorientation, fatigue, headaches?"
A bead of sweat rolled down the Swiss representative's temple.
The Chinese president turned quickly toward his translator, a man in his late fifties who had been with him for years.
The translator hesitated, remained frozen for a short while before shaking his head, informing that he wasn't sick.
