In her view, this move would not only weaken Aglaea's absolute control over the "Savior" but also place the powerful piece, Phainon, within the "public" sphere where the Council of Elders could exert influence.
It might even make him available for her own use in future power struggles.
Weakening the opponent while strengthening her own side—a classic killing two birds with one stone.
A brief silence fell over the council chamber, all eyes fixed on Aglaea.
She remained silent, like a frozen mountain peak, her calm eyes so deep that no trace of emotion could be glimpsed. This silence brought with it an intangible pressure.
Seeing this, Caenis thought Aglaea was left speechless. Her heart swelled with triumph, and she pressed her advantage, using even sharper words to force Aglaea to yield on the spot:
"Aglaea! What are you hesitating for? Do you intend to openly defy the collective will of the Council of Elders and disregard the safety of the Holy City? You..."
Just then—
Aglaea's finger, hanging by her side, twitched almost imperceptibly, as if receiving some invisible signal.
A faint smile suddenly appeared on her face, which had been a mask of impassivity until now.
This subtle change was like a stone dropped into a still lake.
It instantly caught Caenis's next words in her throat, and a surge of intense unease gripped her heart!
She knew Aglaea too well; this woman would never normally show such an... almost relaxed smile! Something had happened that she wasn't aware of!
Before Caenis could react, Aglaea's clear, resonant voice rang out:
"Fine."
A single word, yet it hushed the entire council chamber.
"As the Council wishes—Phainon of Aedes Elysia is hereby formally integrated into the Okhema City Defense Force, becoming a member tasked with defending the Holy City!"
Caenis's unease was confirmed—the agreement came far too quickly! This was utterly unlike Aglaea's style! She must have a countermove!
Sure enough!
"However," Aglaea's tone shifted sharply, her voice rising like an unsheathed sword, revealing its keen edge,
"Since he is now a member of the military, and has achieved monumental merits, he naturally deserves rewards! On the occasion of this great victory in the defense of the Holy City—"
As if to confirm her words, "BOOM—!!!"
A deep, yet distinct, roar of energy erupted from far beyond the city walls, followed by a tidal wave of cheers, crashing through the heavy walls and sweeping through the entire council chamber!
"Long live Okhema!!"
"Long live Lord Phainon!!"
"We've won!!"
They were the heartfelt, ecstatic shouts of countless soldiers and civilians who had survived the catastrophe! The sound was so immense that dust shook loose from the chamber's dome!
Aglaea took a step forward, standing at the center of that roaring tidal wave of sound, her figure seeming to grow immensely tall in that instant.
Facing Caenis's instantly pale face and the stunned, flustered gazes of the other Elders, she spoke, word by word, with absolute clarity:
"Phainon, in his capacity as a new member of the City Defense Force, stepped forward in our moment of peril, led our soldiers in a bloody battle, turned the tide, crushed a powerful enemy, and guarded the Holy City from the brink of collapse! This is an unparalleled achievement!"
"According to the Holy City's statutes, and based on the belonging of Phainon that the members of this Council just emphasized, such a heroic and highly meritorious individual deserves to be rewarded and honored—and this should be borne jointly by the Holy City—that is to say, by the esteemed members of the Council of Elders present here!"
"I propose: henceforth, in the name of the Holy City's Council of Elders, the Three Armies shall be rewarded, and a grand victory celebration for the entire city shall be held!"
"Let the renowned name and achievements of the 'Savior' Phainon echo through every street of Okhema, and be engraved upon the heart of every saved citizen! All required funds and resources shall be allocated from the Council's treasury!"
Her words fell like a heavy hammer, striking hard against the hearts of the Council members.
Caenis felt her vision darken! She finally understood Aglaea's scheme! She had agreed to hand over Phainon's "ownership" at the very moment Phainon had just secured a heaven-shaking merit!
This achievement instantly elevated Phainon to a pedestal, while the enormous cost of "rewarding the meritorious" and the glorious prestige had to be borne by the Council of Elders, who had just "claimed" Phainon!
This was far from weakening Aglaea! This was Aglaea using the Council's own hand, the Council's money and prestige, to push Phainon even higher.
Not only had she firmly secured the fruits of victory for her own faction, but she had also taken the opportunity to carve out a hefty chunk of the Council's resources!
Aglaea gave no one a chance to catch their breath. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over each Elder like a physical force, finally settling on the ashen-faced Caenis, her voice carrying an icy interrogative tone:
"Or perhaps..."
"The esteemed Elders have no wish to duly reward this hero who has just rendered an unparalleled service to the Holy City and saved countless lives? Would you like the entire city's soldiers and citizens to know that the Council of Elders is so stingy and harsh towards those that have meritorious deeds?"
Aglaea's questioning, intertwined with the deafening, enduring cheers from outside the window, formed an irresistible torrent that completely submerged the Council of Elders and Caenis in immense political passivity.
Caenis opened her mouth, only to find her throat too parched to produce any sound. Nothing but boundless regret and icy fear spread through her heart.
The trap she had so carefully designed had ultimately become a noose around her own neck.
And Aglaea, with just one sentence and perfect timing, had executed the most brilliant counterattack. Not only had she emerged unscathed, she had instead made the Council pay a heavy price and firmly grasped the glory of victory in her own hands.
...
Meanwhile, all that remained was Phainon, who, after witnessing Phaethon's methods...
...looked utterly bewildered as he helped the soldiers deal with the stray Titankin that Phaethon had missed or couldn't handle with the Rods From God in the corners.
Then, he looked utterly bewildered as he was lifted high by the cheering soldiers.
Then, he looked more utterly bewildered as he accepted the cheers from within the Holy City.
Finally, he looked utterly bewildered as she became the Savior in the spotlight, the great hero of the Holy City...
Down below.
"Phaethon, it's not that I didn't want you to join the army and receive commendation, but those people in the Council, they are truly..." Aglaea said, noticing Phaethon's gaze fixed on Phainon, thinking he might also desire such welcome.
"Lady Aglaea, please don't misunderstand. Join the army? Receive awards? Stand in the spotlight and bask in the cheers?" He shook his head repeatedly, as if hearing something utterly absurd,
"For me, that's not glory; it's a shackle. Standing here, watching Phainon get tossed around and dizzy, feels just right."
"I've always respected your decisions, Phaethon." As the tension eased, Aglaea even felt a sense of relaxation after the fatigue.
So, unusually, Aglaea took the initiative to ask: "One more thing, Phaethon, I'm curious. Why have you never worn the clothes I wove for you? Is the blue, black, and white color scheme not pleasing?"
Phaethon's mouth twitched. "No, Lady Aglaea. I like it very much, it's just... that garment is precious, a bit too heavy to bear."
(Phaethon: How did Aglaea came up with a replica of the Kevin Kaslana outfit?)