In his hotel room, Rorschach opened the *Marlin News*. Aside from reports on the reduced grain harvest, a significant portion of the paper was dedicated to news about the Empire Council:
A few days ago, there were public announcements about the follow-up investigation into the attacks on the Imperial Palace and the Parliament Building. Now, the focus had shifted to the Empire's financial audit for the previous year and the budget for the current one.
This year's budget was originally scheduled for release in late November of last year, but because the council members from the various States couldn't reach an agreement, the esteemed gentlemen were still coming to blows in the Parliament Building... that is, intensely exchanging opinions. In fact, the new year had already begun.
