The Citadel's chamber had not relaxed. The mana wards along the walls flickered faintly, their glow unstable from the clash of power earlier. Soldiers shifted in unease, sweat gleaming on their brows despite the chill that lingered in the air.
The Division heads on the crystal screens looked no less tense. Kim Taekwon sat stiff as stone, his hawk-like eyes still locked on Hawoon, as though daring him to speak out of turn again. Youngjoo's expression remained unreadable, but his fingers tapped once, twice, against the edge of his table—an old habit of his when weighing decisions. General Ryu sat back, arms crossed, his heavy silence a louder statement than words.
At the table, Hyeseung broke the stillness, his voice low but deliberate.
"The issue now is not what the Commander said. It is what we do. The Royal Court has declared terrorism. That decree cannot be revoked. If we resist, we divide ourselves against the throne. If we comply, we deceive the people."
The words landed heavy.
Kim Taekwon seized them at once. "At last, a voice of reason. There is no debate. The decree stands. We carry it out."
General Ryu's rumbling voice cut through. "At what cost? We swear to defend this kingdom, not feed it lies. If we spread falsehood now, we forfeit the trust of every soul under our banners."
His words rolled like thunder, shaking the chamber.
Hyeseung nodded slowly, acknowledging the weight of the protest. "I don't deny the cost. But we must ask ourselves: what is more dangerous in this moment? To lie—or to let panic grow unchecked? Truth will not calm the mobs. Truth will not silence the riots. If we do nothing, the kingdom bleeds itself hollow before we ever find the real enemy."
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. The argument had shifted; now it was about survival of the state itself.
Taekwon's voice rose sharp. "Exactly. Hyeseung speaks sense. We hold the line with the story given. The Elite Officers will deal with the scapegoat. Let them take the fall, true or not. The people demand blood—better theirs than ours."
General Ryu's chair creaked as he leaned forward, glare burning. "You mean innocent blood. A sacrifice of pawns to soothe fear. Is that the kind of kingdom we are sworn to guard? Lies and sacrifices?"
"Spare me your idealism," Taekwon snapped. "You think the Royals care for your oaths? They care for order. For stability. If lies bring stability, then lies will rule."
"Then you are no better than a dog at their table."
The chamber bristled again, tension mounting like a stormcloud. Sparks danced faintly in the Array overhead.
Through it all, Hawoon had been silent. Now he spoke, his voice cutting softly but carrying more weight than any shout.
"You're both wrong."
All eyes turned. Hawoon leaned forward, his hands folded on the table, his gaze sweeping across screens and soldiers alike.
"Taekwon is right—the scapegoat will be used. Ryu is right—the scapegoat will be innocent. That is the game the Royals play, and they've already dealt the cards. Our choice is not whether to join the game. It's whether we let them control the board."
Taekwon sneered. "And you would claim control, Commander?"
Hawoon smirked faintly. "What can I say? I prefer not to be a pawn."
The sarcasm stung, but the truth beneath it was undeniable.
Youngjoo, ever cautious, spoke next. "Then you agree, Commander? We use the scapegoat—for now. We cannot halt the Royals once their decision is made. Better to ride the current than drown beneath it."
Hawoon's eyes flicked to Youngjoo. For once, he did not mock. His reply came steady, serious. "We use it. For now. But when the real culprits surface, we strike. And when we strike, there will be no scapegoats left to hide them."
His words sent a shiver down the room. Even Hyeseung stiffened. The tone was too calm, too certain—like the promise of a storm on the horizon.
General Ryu shook his head slowly, disappointment etched into every line of his scarred face. "So this is what we've come to. Deceivers in uniform. My oath feels hollow on my tongue."
"Don't choke on it, General," Hawoon said dryly, though there was no mirth in the jab. "We all know the taste of ash by now."
Hyeseung raised his voice again before the tension could spiral further. "Listen. If the scapegoat is inevitable, then we control the narrative. The Elite Officers will execute the Court's order, yes—but our divisions will ensure the people believe it. We seed the story in the markets, in the taverns, in the streets. We remind them their protectors stand strong. That fear is unnecessary. We buy time. With time, we hunt the truth."
A murmur rippled through the soldiers. Some nodded, some shifted uneasily, but none could deny the logic.
Taekwon gave a sharp nod. "Good. Then it is settled. The scapegoat will fall. The people will calm. The Court will be satisfied. End of matter."
General Ryu rumbled again, his glare still fixed on Hawoon. "End of matter? No. The truth will not be buried forever. And when it rises, blood will answer."
No one contradicted him. The chamber was silent once more, save for the faint hum of the mana wards.
Hawoon leaned back in his chair, lips curved in a faint smile that never reached his eyes. His voice was almost casual, almost careless—but beneath it, every man in the chamber could hear the iron.
"Let the scapegoat fall. Let the people cheer. When my son wakes, I will show this kingdom what justice looks like."
And though none dared speak it aloud, every soul in the room knew—Hawoon was hiding something. Something dangerous.
General Ryu rumbled, his patience frayed. "You'd let innocents be slaughtered in words to protect your throne of lies."
Taekwon snapped back, "Better words than riots! Better a lie than chaos!"
"Chaos," Ryu growled, "is already here."
The hall quivered again. Hyeseung pressed forward, "We can all agree the people must be calmed. That is our first priority. The scapegoat… whether guilty or not, serves that purpose. But we will not abandon truth. We will not abandon justice." His eyes flicked toward Hawoon, urging silently for support.
For a moment, Hawoon stayed silent before his voice came low and measured. "The scapegoat will fall. Then people will finally be soothed. The royal court will not have anything to say further."
Youngjoo leaned forward, Then it is decided. The Royal Army controls the streets. The Elite Officers will brought a scapegoat. This is the only solution to maintain the order."
Taekwon gave a curt nod, though his eyes lingered too long on Hawoon, suspicion coiled in his gaze. "So it shall be. But let me warn you, Commander. Step out of line, and not even your rank will shield you."
Hawoon smiled faintly. "I'll keep that in mind."
The faint sarcasm in his tone was like salt rubbed into an open wound. Hyeseung nearly cursed aloud. Why can't you just leave it at that?
General Ryu shook his head, disappointment etched deep. "I never thought I'd see the day when Commanders and Divisions would trade truth for convenience." His voice was quiet thunder. "The people trust us to protect them. We will protect them with lies now. May the gods forgive us when the truth comes crawling back."
No one answered.
"The meeting is concluded." With these words, all the officers and general withdrawing, their faces disappeared.