The Agricultural and Industrial Committees of the Sendai Area had likely exerted pressure on Inou, their leader, to protect their current interests.
This made Seitenshi feel extremely agitated, even a vague sense of anger.
What point in time were they at, yet they were still greedy for the small, immediate gains?
The greatest benefit of this was not economic recovery, but preventing Japan from being fragmented. Only then would humanity, or at least Japan, have a chance to survive and even counterattack the Gastrea sweep.
Only then could civilization continue to exist and be passed on.
She couldn't understand; the situation was clearly this critical, yet some individuals were heartlessly discarding this rare opportunity merely for a few small profits they could gain.
It would be strange if Seitenshi wasn't angry.
Only about ten years ago, Japan was still a unified nation. But now, in the year 2031, it was difficult to consider the Japanese people a unified entity anymore.
No matter what happened, Seitenshi wanted to complete the unification of the five areas while she was still alive, to resurrect the nation of Japan. But the biggest obstacle preventing the success of her goal, laughably, was absolutely not the Gastrea.
Perhaps Inou's refusal would come true: the Cassiopeia Project would fail to reach an agreement and would be shelved.
Although the other four had offered various excuses that making a decision on everything in this meeting was perhaps too soon, saying they would relay the proposal back to their areas to discuss with other people in power.
But if even they showed that they couldn't reach a clear conclusion despite holding the power to decide, who else could possibly support this project?
A few more issues were brought up for discussion, and in every issue, Inou inadvertently or intentionally targeted Seitenshi. Although she could respond relatively smoothly, she was secretly suffering inside.
Initially, she thought her main "opponent" would be Saitake Sogen. She never expected that Saitake, apart from his initial statement, said nothing more. Instead, the one targeting her was someone with whom she previously had no conflict.
"Your Excellency Seitenshi, regarding the Seven Stars Legacy of the Tokyo Area."
Seitenshi was astonished.
"Why do you know about that?"
Inou offered a faint smile.
"We all have our own intelligence networks. Although I find this quite laughable, because based on the information I have, by using a mysterious object called the Seven Stars Legacy as a catalyst, the Tokyo Area is capable of summoning a Rank Five Gastrea. Is this true?"
"I don't know."
Seitenshi answered calmly. But Inou's eyes flashed with suspicion.
"Why so, Holy Ruler? If what I just stated is so ridiculous, simply deny it with a smile."
"I truly do not know, because the Seven Stars Legacy is currently in the Silver King's treasury. And the mastermind behind the scenes has also been taken away by the Silver King. You all must know what this means."
This time, it was Seitenshi who smiled.
She still had a card to play.
Indeed, Inou fell silent, not daring to continue questioning this matter.
Even if Seitenshi was lying, who would dare to go confirm it? It must be known that although the whereabouts of the Seven Stars Legacy were unclear, the Silver King had truly killed the Zodiac Gastrea summoned by the Seven Stars Legacy. In that case, it was reasonable for him to take both the Seven Stars Legacy and the culprit.
"Your Excellency Seitenshi, I hope we can be honest with each other."
"I hope so too."
Seitenshi agreed, but what she was thinking in her heart only she knew.
The atmosphere of the meeting gradually turned into an interrogation, which made Seitenshi feel very uncomfortable. Fortunately, the Silver King had unintentionally taken on this part of the responsibility, making Seitenshi feel slightly ashamed to use him as a shield.
Concluding this topic, Seitenshi had lost the ability to think clearly, not even bothering to sense the atmosphere in the meeting room.
Without pushing this issue further, the meeting concluded without reaching any agreement on the first day.
Under Rentaro's escort, Seitenshi safely returned to her temporary residence.
Saitake Sogen, suspected of hiring an assassin to take her life. Masamori Kaihoku, who was weaker than Saitake but shared similar radical views and negative comments. Tsukihiko Juujouji, whose capacity as a regional leader remained undisclosed. These three alone were difficult to handle, but the person Seitenshi truly considered the center of this conference was Muramaro Inou.
That's right, Seitenshi was almost assassinated on the very first day in Osaka. If it hadn't been for Rentaro's recent rapid progress in strength, with the combat power of those security details, Seitenshi might not have known when she was taken care of.
Because the assassin sent was not an ordinary person, but Initiator Tina Sprout, ranked 98th on the IP ranking.
"Rentaro, I apologize for dragging you into these situations."
"It's alright, Your Excellency, it is my duty."
And it also counts as having broadened my horizons.
Rentaro thought to himself.
Although he had a relative concept early on, Rentaro still found it difficult to imagine how this "bloodless battlefield" operated. Today, he could finally say he had gained some understanding.
A policy decision, an agreement or refusal, is enough to sway the lives of tens of thousands of people. It can harm people, and it can save people. In just a few brief minutes, the number of people Seitenshi could save was far greater than the number Rentaro had saved from beginning until now.
Ms. Sumire once told him that if he truly wanted to change the world, then he shouldn't have left the Tendou family.
Back then, Rentaro was still stubbornly refusing to listen. Now, he felt that deeply more than ever.
The power that politics mobilizes is the power of an entire society, even civilization. Facing it, the power of an individual is too small.
Of course, with the exception of an "individual" like the Silver King.
After settling Seitenshi in the secure room, Rentaro went down to the basement. Behind the bars, a girl with blonde hair, wearing a black dress, sat quietly on the floor.
Seeing Rentaro approach, the girl looked up, a look of struggle/hesitation appeared in her eyes, but it quickly vanished.
"Tina, all you have to do is tell me who ordered you to assassinate Her Excellency Seitenshi, and I will let you go."
Rentaro realized that this girl was not evil.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to capture her so easily. It must be known that the IP ranking of 98 is thirty-something ranks higher than Kagetane. Although the ranking does not perfectly reflect combat power, the difficulty level of dealing with both of them is comparable.
Tina is not only a long-range assassin, but the girl herself is also a mechanically augmented soldier like Kagetane and Rentaro; her difficulty level goes without saying.