High above the sea of clouds, within the absolute privacy of the Grand Branch Leader's supreme audience hall, the atmosphere was entirely devoid of its usual bureaucratic noise. The heavy, ironwood-paneled doors were thoroughly sealed from the inside, locked down by dense isolating arrays that prevented even a single vibration of sound from escaping into the outer palace corridors.
Ash stood casually to the left of the massive ironwood desk, his elegant, flowing master robes perfectly tailored, his face carrying its signature, unbothered smile.
"Grand Branch Leader," Ash spoke smoothly, breaking the heavy silence with a tone that bordered on playful. "Are you truly planning to declare an absolute, total war against the Alchemical Pavilion next year? Presenting the rookie's achievements directly to the supreme imperial council... that is a definitive move to dismantle the old refiner's entire lineage."
