There was a brief silence.
Antonio's eyes fell on Igor, as if expecting him to say something. But Igor, who rarely disappointed others, just sat there watching them calmly, as if he hadn't seen anything, without saying a word.
From this action, Antonio easily understood the other party's position - I don't mind helping, but I'm not in the mood to offer it, and you have to convince Him yourself.
In that brief moment, the Minister pondered a great deal. Was the key a matter of attitude or of self-interest? And what price could he possibly pay for it?
His tangled thoughts quickly converged into a single thread, and Antonio realized clearly that for Sabrina, he could give everything he had. He wondered if Igor had seen through his thoughts; the conversation that followed might prove difficult...
"As I just said, I'm here to ask for your help." Finally, he could only lower his posture and say earnestly, "I wonder if you have heard the recent rumors?"
Azathoth was sitting on the sofa in a relaxed manner. Antonio didn't dare to look up at him, but he could stare at the opposite side without restraint: "No."
He was definitely not trying to be difficult for anyone.
If you say you don’t know, then you really don’t know.
The capital is so big and there are so many gossips. We should at least forgive those otakus who are addicted to the virtual world and too lazy to pay attention to social news, right?
Especially since Azathoth had just returned from a deserted island and was not as well-informed as Igor, it was normal for him to know nothing about real hot topics.
Antonio, however, didn't seem to think much of it. The moment Azathoth opened his mouth to answer, a subtle hint of anger and patience flashed through his eyes, though he kept these emotions under control. However, the image of Azathoth in his mind instantly became evil... Igor observed his old colleague's expression from the side, and felt that Antonio's image of the evil god had been shaped with unparalleled detail.
Careless, moody, full of bad taste, perhaps even able to draw spiritual nourishment from the suffering of others?
Even if Azathoth is not the evil god himself in Antonio's mind, but just one of his high-ranking followers, as the saying goes, being an accomplice to a tiger is not a good thing anyway.
Thinking of this, Igor inexplicably wanted to laugh.
He had a good relationship with Sabrina Guevera in the past. Whether it was personal interactions or political positions, they had a good understanding of each other. But times had changed...
He recalled that ridiculous wanted poster and couldn't help but lament the immense sacrifices it must have taken to secure that position. Even to this day, Igor didn't dislike Sabrina. He could hardly find anyone better than her as Chief Consul of the Federation. Just a few years ago, they had toasted to the Federation, which, despite the ongoing war, was experiencing stability and growth.
But unfortunately, the balance of power at the top level has always been precarious, and sometimes it is just a matter of one wrong move and one has to survive in a desperate situation.
The military was also one of the victims of the struggle, and to be specific, it was Igor Sullivan.
Igor had no desire to delve into every intricate and complex interaction within this chaotic landscape. He simply wanted to reclaim what was his: Wendy and the security of a comfortable life. Beyond that, a shadow cast by the shadow of political struggles threatened to keep him at a distance. Power and fame were two things no one of his generation possessed more than he did. It was time to leave some opportunity for the younger generation.
Igor has his own arrogance in this regard.
He was convinced that as long as he stood on the battlefield, those elite talents would hardly have the opportunity to shine.
And what about Antonio? Igor took this opportunity to live in seclusion. Although he was still pursuing his future goals and life ideals, at least he had escaped from the vortex of success. However, this man would probably have to live with risks and crises for the rest of his life.
In the past, some people might have doubted his intentions.
What did Antonio seek, being by the side of a powerful, not-young, high-ranking female omega? Countless people had speculated about his motives, offering bribes and flattery, trying to wrestle the all-powerful "Queen" from her, to carve a piece of her from this powerful omega. All of them had failed, believing their offers weren't high enough.
What does this Alpha, who has all the strength, looks and intelligence, want?
The truth that no one dared to believe in recent days is about to come to light from Antonio's actions.
"I'm sorry, I didn't explain myself clearly." The tall Alpha sat on the seemingly small metal stool, head bowed and said respectfully, "We paid a huge price to capture the Zerg's hidden spies planted in the Federation many years ago. But even though the Zerg ruler has been missing for a long time, his fellow Zerg have still followed his instructions and retaliated against the Federation."
"On the route from the Benoshi Sea to Fort Maan, the Lord Archon was ambushed and assassinated by remnants of the enemy forces, leaving him severely wounded. The weapons and abilities they used were unprecedented. With the Federation's technological level, such injuries should normally heal quickly, but we haven't seen any signs of recovery. Instead, they've become increasingly severe over time, as if something is draining her life force through those wounds..."
Having said that, he took a short, rapid breath to calm his emotions.
When he spoke again, Antonio's tone remained unchanged. "Perhaps seeing an opportunity for victory, some people are willing to take advantage of the situation and disregard national security to carry out such despicable actions. My inattention allowed Sabrina's condition to be leaked, and we've had to expend considerable effort maintaining public order in the city these past few days. Fortunately, the mobilization of these armed forces was very effective, and I was able to have the opportunity to meet you tonight."
"Well, please forgive me for taking the time to explain all this. Could you please go see the Archon and find out what exactly caused her injury?"
——He did describe the consul’s crisis very clearly, but there were some discrepancies in the details.
For example, the person who leaked the information was actually an adjutant whom he trusted very much in the past. The betrayal of his subordinates once made him extremely anxious. He had to deal with countless messes and review some of the failed operations in the past to see if the other party was responsible.
For example, Antonio hadn't planned to see Igor Sullivan. Being busy with work was part of the reason he hadn't come until this moment, but the main reason was because Sabrina's attending physician had given him an ultimatum: "You can consider giving up, Antonio," the doctor said with a mixture of pity and fatigue.
He didn't want to give up. Honestly, the outcome of this meeting was unpredictable. He knew next to nothing about Azathoth, and Igor, as their positions diverged, grew increasingly unfamiliar. But regardless of the outcome, he would ultimately be accused of secretly dealing with a "traitor" and secretly seeking help from cultists, violating the Federation's official beliefs. If someone were to use this method to bring him down, there would be little chance of a reversal.
He would become another target of public condemnation after Igor, carved into the pillar of shame. But unlike Antonio, Igor was a behind-the-scenes politician. Igor's past achievements and countless honors were there for all to see. Even if the Federation called him a criminal, countless people would still stand by him without compensation. The more lenient ones would ask, "Is there some misunderstanding here?" The more radical ones would directly accuse the Federation's top brass of abandoning the donkey after it has served its purpose. If it were Antonio, people would probably say, "Politician? Corruption? That's pretty normal?"
But Antonio came over anyway, and now he was sitting here, face to face with Igor.
Fate is truly amazing. It always interprets your future at unexpected times.
The gray-haired young man seemed to be having a good time recently.
After asking his question, Antonio sat back and waited for an answer, finally taking the opportunity to observe Igor. First, his expression and movements were impeccable. It was unclear whether this calm demeanor was genuine or just an act... Then again, wasn't there something fishy about his relationship with the evil god's agent?
Do you care about what your same-sex friends think about your clothes?
Of course, I might be overthinking it, but at this time, we still need to consider all the details before deciding on the next strategy...
Antonio had a vague feeling that Igor was laughing, but he had no idea what was so funny. Surely their relationship wasn't so bad that they would gloat over the other's misfortune? And Marshal Sullivan certainly wasn't that kind of person, was he?
He couldn't help but grit his teeth anxiously. There were too many unknowns now, and he could hardly control his wandering thoughts.
Igor turned and asked, "What do you think?"
Azathoth is different from Antonio.
Azathoth was certain Igor was laughing, the kind of innocent, awkward laugh he had to suppress because it seemed impolite. In that sense, both Igor and Antonio were masters of expression management. Azathoth wouldn't have bothered to control himself.
He actually smiled lazily, and when he sensed that Antonio was facing a formidable enemy, the smile immediately spread to his eyes. "Sure," he said lightly, "but what can we gain from this?"
At least you have to remove Igor's wanted warrant, clear his name, admit his mistake, and invite him back respectfully, right?
It was already very tolerant and simple, and he had no intention of asking the entire federation to change their beliefs!
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