"What?!" Sobi exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief. Cheongro remained nonchalant.

"It's not impossible," he said. "The High Councilor wants to find the Guardian Crimson, or whatever remains of the Star, and present it to the Guardian. If he plays his cards right, we could all be happy."

"What are you talking about?" Sobi asked, her confusion evident.

"Let's be real, shall we?" Cheongro said, "The High Councilor knows what he's doing. Following his lead might be way easier."

Sobi's voice rose in anger. "You want the High Emissary to serve the High Councilor?"

Cheongro laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. Sobi's frown deepened, her eyes narrowed.

"He may claim to be merely an advisor," Cheongro continued, "but he's the one giving the orders. Of course, that situation is unacceptable. But we can use him to influence the High Emissary."

Sobi remained unconvinced. "You were just worried about the fate of the Ministry. And what is it now? Shouldn't you be trying to persuade the High Emissary Divine, not the High Councilor?"

"This is about the survival of the Ministry," Cheongro insisted. "The Ministry of the Emissary cannot exist without the Emissaries."

"The Ministry exists as long as the High Emissary Divine exists," Sobi countered.

She glared at Cheongro. Their argument was interrupted by a hesitant knock on the door. Siu's youthful face peeked through the gap. Cheongro, annoyed, snapped at the young Emissary.

"Don't you know how to announce yourself? What is it?"

"There's a meeting, Sir," Siu replied, her shoulders slumping.

"That lunatic gives us no respite," Cheongro muttered.

"It's not the High Councilor," Siu corrected, "but the Guardian who has summoned us."

Cheongro's demeanor instantly shifted. "Just the High Emissary, the Third, and me?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Have you informed him?"

"Not yet..."

"I'll do it. You're dismissed." Cheongro gestured towards the door, but Siu remained rooted to the spot.

"Second Emissary Divine," she began hesitantly, "the High Councilor... he found faults in the report. He rejected it."

"Faults?" Cheongro's brow furrowed.

"It's about the number of Emissaries deployed for the search..." Siu's voice trailed off.

"That viper," Cheongro muttered, his annoyance evident.

Sobi, sensing trouble, glared at him. "What have you done now?"

"Let's go," Cheongro said dismissively. "You'll find out soon enough. No need to hear it twice."

He clapped Sobi on the shoulder and strode out, heading towards Norahn. Sobi, still reeling from their earlier conversation and now burdened with this new concern, felt a wave of exhaustion. She sighed, then hurried after Cheongro.

──────────

Norahnn sat in the shrine. He didn't call out to Sahngjon, nor did he recite any prayers. Words, he knew, were always inadequate, failing to capture the depths of his anxieties. He sought guidance in the silence, but Sahngjon offered no answers. He could feel the warmth of the light emanating from his eyes, a faint reminder of the Star's descent. But the intense luminescence he had experienced that night had faded. He knew the Emissaries were growing restless, their faith wavering. But he had no solutions, no grand pronouncements to offer. He was no Ryang, his leadership lacking the same decisiveness, the same unwavering certainty. And those around him offered little support. Sobi was too rigid, too bound by her principles, while Cheongro was too slippery, his loyalty ever-shifting.

Footsteps echoed in the distance, approaching the shrine. Nora listened intently, his senses heightened. The door opened, and Cheongro entered, followed by Sobi. Their presence together usually boded ill. Norahn's heart pounded with a growing unease.

"Your Sanctity," Cheongro began, "the Guardian has summoned us."

"I'll be there shortly," Norahn replied.

But Cheongro hesitated. "It seems the High Councilor has taken issue with our reports..."

"Cheongro," Norahn interrupted.

"Yes, Your Sanctity."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Do not antagonize the High Councilor."

"But..."

Norahn turned, his gaze sharp, a rare display of anger that made even Sobi flinch. She watched the exchange. Norahn often entrusted Cheongro with tasks he couldn't handle himself, and vice versa. This must be something sensitive, something that required careful maneuvering.

Norahn's gaze remained fixed on Cheongro, a silent pressure that forced him to yield.

"As you wish," Cheongro finally conceded, bowing his head.

Norahn rose from his seat. "Then let us go," he said, leading the way out of the shrine. Cheongro and Sobi followed.

──────────

The air in the meeting chamber was thick with tension. Ryang and Norahn sat opposite each other, their gazes carefully averted. Kyeongseon Ung and his son, Joon, took their places, followed shortly by Seong. The assembled leaders rose in unison, bowing their heads in respect. Seong acknowledged their greetings with a curt nod.

"Now that we're all here," he said, "let us begin."

He couldn't help but notice the tension between Ryang and Norahn, the underlying animosity that simmered beneath the surface. Ryang, ever loyal, wouldn't defy his orders and undermine Norahn's authority, but the conflict weighed heavily on Seong's heart. Ryang bowed his head briefly, then turned to Norahn.

"High Emissary Divine," he began, "the search has been ongoing for five days. Is there any progress to report?"

His opening was a thinly veiled accusation, a challenge to Norahn's leadership. Norahn, though expecting criticism, was momentarily taken aback. He composed himself.

"The search continues," he replied. "However..."

"The Ministry's requests have all been granted," Ryang interrupted. "How much longer must we wait?"

Norahn's gaze fell, the blue light in his eyes flickering. Ryang turned to Cheongro.

"Perhaps the Second Emissary can enlighten us," he said. "When can we expect the Guardian Crimson to be found?"

Cheongro, despite the thinly veiled reprimand, seemed unbothered. "We've been working tirelessly, day and night, for five days," he replied. "We've scoured nearly a third of Birahng. In another seven to ten days..."

Ryang cut him off. "How does the Ministry interpret the Guardian Crimson’s nature?"

"The prophecies speak of a human form..." Cheongro hesitated.

"And is your current approach aligned with that interpretation?" Ryang challenged.

"There are, of course, other methods, but..."

"What would be the most effective approach?" Ryang pressed.

Cheongro's jaw tightened.

"Enough with the excuses," Ryang said. "The Ministry has commandeered one of our merchant vessel, yet your reports offer nothing but empty promises. We need results."

"We are not idle!" Cheongro argued. "Does it seem like we're slacking off?!"

Ryang's voice, low and steady, held a sharp edge. "If you were truly idle," he said, "at least your men wouldn't be collapsing from exhaustion. How long do you intend to continue this inefficiency? If one ship isn't enough, request two. If two aren't enough, request three. If you lack manpower, ask for more soldiers. If you need Sahngjon's guidance, then lead your Emissaries in a mass fast. Find a solution, instead of wasting time and resources."

Sobi, remembering Cheongro's earlier remarks, felt a surge of anxiety. She instinctively lifed her hands, but Norahn, sensing her intentions, gently placed his hand over her wrist.. He sighed, then intervened.

"The fault lies with me, High Councilor. Do not blame him," he said.

Ryang's attention shifted to Norahn, his gaze sharp. "I'm aware of the dwindling numbers in your search parties. Why was this omitted from the reports?"

Norahn met his gaze, the blue light in his eyes glowing with an eerie intensity. "I didn't wish to dampen the spirits of the Emissaries with such trivial matters."

"Trivial?" Ryang said. "These reports are for the Guardian."

"It is you, the High Councilor, not the Guardian, who finds fault with every detail," Norahn countered.

"It is not my criticism that demoralizes them," Ryang said, "but your leadership. You can't even keep your own followers from collapsing. How can you lead this search effectively?"

Norahn's eyes, despite their newfound luminescence, couldn't hide his unease under Ryang's scrutiny. Cheongro, observing the exchange, shifted nervously, his lips curled into a sardonic smile. Sobi, her hands clenched tightly around her robes, felt a surge of anger at their blatant disrespect.

"High Councilor," she interjected, her voice ringing through the tense silence.

All eyes turned to Sobi, surprised by her rare speech during these gatherings.

"The High Emissary is doing all he can," she said. "If the Ministry simply sits and waits for a divine revelation, you'll only criticize us further."

Despite her courageous defense, Ryang remained unimpressed. "Such excuses," he said coldly. "No wonder your progress is so slow."

"Then enlighten us with your wisdom, High Councilor," Cheongro interjected. "Perhaps you have a brilliant solution, conceived from the comfort of your chambers?"

"Stop!" Sobi exclaimed, her voice rising in anger.

Cheongro ignored her and continued. "Surely, you have a plan. Why else would you criticize ours?"

"The Ministry has a history of concealing its failures," Ryang said. "Why should I share my strategies with you?"

"Such concern for the exhausted Emissaries," Cheongro mocked. "Your compassion is truly touching."

"Stand down," Norahn commanded.

"Why should I?" Cheongro argued. "It's the Emissaries who are risking their lives, not the High Councilor. And yet we're subjected to these baseless accusations." He turned back to Ryang, his voice laced with a bitter sarcasm.

"We'll be sure to provide detailed reports from now on, High Councilor," he said. "Perhaps then, with your insightful guidance and our dwindling numbers, you'll finally be satisfied."

Before Ryang could respond, Norahn commanded. "Silence!"

Seong, who had been observing the escalating tension, finally intervened. "Have you all forgotten my presence?"

The tension in the room dissipated, replaced by a heavy silence. Ryang and Nora lowered their gazes. Cheongro, his defiance quelled, bit his lip and averted his eyes. Seong closed his eyes, his hand pressing against his throbbing forehead.

"High Councilor," he began, "work with the Ministry to find a solution. And High Emissary, ensure all challenges are reported, so we can provide the necessary support. There's no need for such discord."

Seong opened his eyes, his gaze settling on Ryang, a subtle warning in his eyes. Ryang cleared his throat and addressed the room.

"A fleet departed from Sunyahng three days ago," he announced. "Led by the king's third daughter, Princess Kyeong'ui. They should have arrived by now. We could encounter their black sails at any moment. We need to recall the search parties and prepare for their arrival. How does the Ministry intend to proceed?"

Cheongro's head shot up. "From Sunyahng?" he asked.

A wave of panic swept through the room.