"Supreme Leader… when you said 'everyone present', does that include us as well?"
Under the shocked gazes of the High Priest and the others, the girl known as "Zesshi Zetsumei", Antilene, slowly stood up.
Her long hair was half black and half white, and her eyes carried the same dual colors.
Her expression remained calm and indifferent.
Beside her, the Golden Princess Renner blinked lightly.
She glanced at Jircniv, whose fists were clenched as he hesitated.
She wasn't surprised that he had yet to make a decision.
In the end… it's only the wisdom of a mortal.
The reason Renner stood up was simple—
Survival.
If a beautiful young woman like her lost her value, what would happen next?
Renner could only imagine the worst.
She didn't want to die like this.
She still wished to remain by her knight's side for a long time.
So she needed everyone present to recognize her existence.
To understand her capability and value.
And Uchiha Soren's question during the meeting was the perfect opportunity.
One purpose was to show loyalty.
The other—
To seize power.
Once she gained legitimacy, Renner had a hundred ways to reclaim power through carefully balanced methods.
She wasn't worried about subordinates secretly disobeying her.
Unless they dared to violate the rules established by Uchiha Soren himself.
The only obstacle before her now was strength.
Her personal strength wasn't even at the level of a chūnin.
Perhaps… I'll need to cooperate with someone.
After briefly meeting the gaze of Nara Rokumei, Renner returned to her calm and elegant posture, quietly waiting.
This left Rokumei inwardly conflicted.
With the strength of the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance, combined with their allied clans, they had enough power to support the administration of an entire province.
With military districts outside providing support and the Security Bureau maintaining internal order, Rokumei was confident he could govern a province well.
But—
Is it worth competing for the Deputy Governor position of Heaven Province… just for Renner alone?
Would it truly benefit both Ino–Shika–Chō and Konoha?
He didn't know.
But that didn't stop him from making a decision.
No matter what happened outside, their roots remained in Konoha.
Even if something went wrong, they could always recover.
Moreover—
The Heaven Province was the first territory developed by Konoha.
Its local military strength had hardly been damaged.
With proper leadership, Ino–Shika–Chō wouldn't need to deploy large numbers of shinobi.
Most importantly—
Accepting responsibility for Heaven Province in front of everyone would certainly attract Uchiha Soren's attention.
"Of course you are included."
Soren looked directly at Antilene.
Her Blazing Sun–level strength earned her a noticeably gentler tone.
"Are you planning to become the Governor of Mystic Province?"
"Of course."
Antilene's decisive answer instantly cleared the mental fog clouding the High Priest and the other clergy.
Their minds had been working furiously.
Now they all turned toward the Supreme Leader with hope they barely dared imagine.
If the Governor of Mystic Province remained someone from the Theocracy—
Then in practice, the Theocracy would still control the province.
Which meant—
In a sense, the nation itself had not truly perished.
"Your strength is impressive," Soren said.
"It is sufficient for the position of a provincial governor."
"But governing a province requires more than strength."
"Do you intend to rely on the people around you?"
Before Antilene could answer, Soren added something that filled the Theocracy delegation with overwhelming joy.
"If they manage the province well, it is perfectly acceptable for them to continue doing so."
"From this moment onward…"
"You are the Governor of Mystic Province."
The decision was simple and direct.
No hesitation.
Now officially the governor of Mystic Province, Antilene slowly sat back down.
Only when Soren began speaking with Renner did she finally regain her senses.
Power meant nothing to her.
Her reason for becoming governor was extremely simple.
She wanted revenge.
Revenge against the Elf King who had violated her mother through force.
Although her mother inherited the bloodline of the Six Great Gods, even those gods eventually died.
Let alone a mortal woman.
After her mother's death, Antilene had suffered abuse from her relatives.
All the resentment from those years had been directed toward the Elf King.
If he had never committed that act—
Then the girl named Antilene would never have been born.
She would never have experienced such suffering.
Kill him.
In the eyes of the excited and hopeful High Priests, Antilene was already imagining the future.
She would lead the ferocious Shinobi Army.
She would step on the Elf King's face.
She would force him to watch helplessly as the Elf Kingdom, which he believed destined to conquer the world—
Burned in flames.
And drowned in blood.
After hearing that Antilene had been appointed governor, Jircniv's body trembled.
It wasn't fear.
Nor joy.
It was regret.
Regret at his own hesitation.
If he had stood up immediately, perhaps he could have earned Soren's favor.
Now if he stood—
He would only appear greedy and opportunistic.
Don't rush.
Stay calm.
After reminding himself, Jircniv continued waiting with anticipation.
To the east of Earth Province lay the Central Continent.
Many powerful nations and countless non-human races existed there.
He was absolutely certain—
Future battlefronts would begin at the Earth Capital.
What others saw as a dangerous burden—
Jircniv saw as the beginning of the Empire's revival.
"Renner," Soren said calmly,
"your strength is far too weak."
"Forget becoming deputy governor of a province."
"You wouldn't even qualify as deputy governor of a city."
Renner covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Supreme Leader, I have no such grand ambitions."
"I am simply very familiar with Heaven Province."
"So I would like to recommend myself as a secretary to the Governor of Heaven Province."
Her reasoning sounded completely reasonable.
Soren couldn't read the thoughts inside the mind of the brilliant Golden Princess.
But one thing was certain.
As long as the life of the knight she loved remained in his hands—
Renner had only one possible choice.
Obedience.
Now that Renner had stepped forward, she could feel sharp gazes piercing her from behind.
Nara Rokumei adjusted his slightly disheveled clothing and hair.
He no longer hesitated.
Standing up, he spoke clearly.
"Supreme Leader."
"I would like to take the position of Deputy Governor of Heaven Province."
"And I invite Lady Renner to serve as the head of the Heaven Capital advisory council."
Before Soren could respond, another voice spoke.
"Supreme Leader, the strength of the Nara clan leader is only at the Morning Star level."
"That is not sufficient to represent an entire province."
"Allow me to serve as Deputy Governor of Heaven Province instead."
It was Yuki Haku.
He spoke bluntly.
"Furthermore, I am confident that before long my strength will reach the Blazing Sun level."
"At that point, I will be able to become the true Governor of a province."
The Uchiha shinobi nearby immediately fell silent.
Haku had spoken with strength as his argument.
And no one present could refute that.
The Uchiha clan indeed possessed many talented shinobi.
There were at least twenty Morning Star–level members.
But those who had already reached the Bright Moon level were only a handful.
Most of them already held high-ranking positions.
And not all of them were interested in becoming provincial governors.
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