Licht said, "Liebe, calm down. Take a breath."
Liebe said, "Calm down? How the hell do you expect me to calm down when I have to deal with this kind of BS on my table?"
Licht said, "Liebe, it's best if you don't think about this. I will handle this for now. This meeting is adjourned. Everyone dismissed."
Isurugi said, "But sir—"
Licht said, "Dismissed. Isurugi, right now isn't the time. Liebe, you should take a break. It's best if you get some rest."
Liebe said, "Fine."
As Liebe was in his room reading a book, Licht came down and said, "OK, now let's resume our meeting. But be warned, Liebe can't know about it."
Isurugi said, "Sir, why was the Fleet Admiral so mad?"
Licht said, "Tenebris Vale is Liebe's deceased father. And Uncle Tenebris was a man of virtuous character, and he loved Liebe and Aunt Lilith above all else. And if this Silvia is really who she claims to be—the daughter of Uncle Tenebris—it means at a certain point in time, he was unfaithful. It means the man of faultless character was at fault. But it's unlikely. The most probable answer is that either she is lying, or even if she is his daughter, her message didn't specify 'daughter by blood.' And since he himself grew up in a church, it wouldn't be too far off to assume she was adopted."
Isurugi said, "What would happen if she is the daughter by blood? And if she is adopted?"
Licht said, "If she really is related to him by blood, Liebe would lose it. And her existence would be far too dangerous. She at any point in time can provoke Aunt Lilith, making her go berserk. And that is the worst possible outcome. But if she was taken in by him and is in fact not his child by blood, Liebe would be happy and he would accept her, as it would only signify what Liebe already knew."
Fate said, "And what about all these bounties?"
Licht said, "It is most probable that she didn't herself assign these bounties. Rather, after what happened in Liebe's trial, he pissed off way too many nobles, and now they want to take him, so they set underworld bounties. But it just means we will constantly be under attack. So watch yourselves. Now, I believe this sums up the contents of our meeting. Any questions?"
Mavia said, "Yeah. Why do we have to kill her just because she is related to him? Why? Because he was unfaithful? It's BS. The very fact we have to worry is BS. Lilith Faust deserves better than him."
Licht said, "What was that? Mavia, say that again. I dare you."
Mavia said, "It's only the truth. If he really was such a man of virtuous character, we wouldn't have to worry now, would we? It just further proves my point."
Licht said, "Take that back. Uncle Tenebris deserved better than that execution of a person—Aunt Lilith."
Mavia said, "What was that? Licht, how dare you call a saint an executioner? What the hell is wrong with you? You are supposed to know her better than me. So why—"
Licht said, "I'm goddamn saying this only because I know her better than that."
Mavia said, "And what exactly is it that you know that makes you say that?"
Licht said, "She was the person who killed Tenebris. She goddamn did it with her own hands."
Mavia said, "And how the hell do you know?"
Licht said, "Because my father was there. He told me. He saw how an innocent man like Tenebris died."
Mavia said, "Yeah, so what? He was a commoner and a thief, right? He was weak. And for God's sake, how do you know your father didn't just lie to you?"
Licht said, "Don't you dare bring my father's name into this, you goddamn traitor. At least my father is a man, unlike you, daughter of Elaar. At least my dad isn't like your mom. You have some nerve speaking of Tenebris's name after being the one who killed Domr."
Mavia said, "You know what happened—"
Licht said, "Yeah, hell I do. You were a weakling who killed Domr. No—he let a dumbass like you kill him."
As Mia whispered, "Umm, sir, maybe we shouldn't do this—"
Licht said, "No, I'm standing my ground on this one."
Isurugi said, "Big Sis, this isn't necessary."
Mavia said, "No, this fool refuses to accept the truth. Did you forget Lilith gave up everything just to become our professor just to apologize to Liebe?"
Licht said, "Yeah, and she has gotten in Liebe's way at every step of the way. Now because of her BS, Liebe is suffering. It is because of her stupidity as a professor, all of Liebe's hard work is turning to dust. Now people who couldn't use the word 'nepotism' around us, now they say it aloud around us. All hard work, all credibility turned to ash."
Mavia said, "Yeah, so? She is trying. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes."
Licht said, "Then goddamn do that far from here where it doesn't destroy everything Liebe gave his life to build."
Mavia said, "Stop blaming it all on one person who is trying so desperately."
Licht said, "Desperately? She tried to kill Liebe time and time again in the capital just because her little pretty boy was hurt, while Liebe bled an ocean to make sure it stayed at 'hurt,' not dead. She is a fool. And yet you claim she is a saint?"
Mavia said, "Maybe to you she is an executioner, but to me she is not. She is everything a saint should be. She saved me when I lost my heart, when I didn't know why I must live. She saved me when I was too far gone. That's why I will choose her any day over a commoner thief."
Licht said, "You have some nerve. So what if she saved you? Just one person over the oceans she killed—what will you tell them? 'Yeah, she saved you, so it's all just forgive and forget,' huh? Is that it?"
As both Licht and Mavia were letting out their monstrous magic power, it seemed the air grew cold, as if the ground was shaking. Isurugi and everyone were shaking. It appeared they may fight.
"Dark Magic: Imperial Dark Slash!" A slash went in between them, dividing them. As they looked, it was Liebe.
Liebe said, "Don't you two have anything better to do? Mavia, you done being my mom's pretty little pet supremest? And Licht, why are you letting the words of idiots get to you?"
Licht said, "Liebe, I'm sorry."
Mavia said, "I should have been better."
Liebe said, "I swear, I should kick both of you in the nuts. Licht, you are lucky because Mavia doesn't have any nuts. But do that again, and I will make Mavia get some nuts, then kick both of you in the nuts."
Mavia said, "That seems a bit extreme."
Licht said, "Yeah, attacking balls just to kick someone there?"
Liebe said, "Good to see you two agreeing on something for once. Now I'm going back to my room to read. Do that BS again, and I sense your mana—Licht, you getting the first kick in the nuts. Then Mavia gets your nuts so that I can kick her there."
Licht said, "OK. But what happens after?"
Liebe said, "What do you mean?"
Licht said, "I mean, like, do I get my nuts back after that or—"
Liebe said, "Sure, I guess. It's just the surgery will come from both your salaries. Of course, I will be the one who pays for the first one." And Liebe left.
Licht said, "So, want to continue and get my balls?"
Mavia said, "No way in hell. I don't want your tiny, microscopic nuts."
As Mia saw this, she thought, Wow. The Fleet Admiral really is amazing. He stopped them with brute force and then stopped the argument by stating something so bad it wasn't even a choice. And they stopped just because of his words. It's no wonder why he is the leader. The choices he gave weren't choices—just basically an option no one never knew they didn't want.
As Lichee thinks, Wow, Liebe is cool. How did he become so cool? Got to learn the hero dynamic from him.
As Lichee and Mia looked at each other:
Lichee said, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Mia said, "Yes, exactly." They were in fact not thinking the same thing