Post by Sieglinde P. Krantz on Sept 14, 2022 20:32:56 GMT -5
"It is a good thing that they do not fit such a descriptor then, isn't it? Frankly calling them such is giving them entirely too much credit, had they wanted to send a message, they would have taken one of us and already made demands." Helena sighed at his words. "I don't know if I necessarily agree with such a statement. The very fact that one of our own wasn't simply put to death, but was, in fact, kept as a prisoner sends a message all the same. It doesn't matter if they make demands now, later, or never; such an act should not be tolerated, under any circumstances."
As Alex continued to speak, she closed her eyes once more, trying to do what she could to process his words through her emotions. Crossing her arms once more, she opened them once he'd finished speaking. "Alex, I think it's safe to say that going into this we are all in acknowledgement of the risks. Crucial information would indeed be getting out, and there would need to be a level of damage control in order to prevent such a thing from happening. However, that should not change the fact that this puts the lot of us in an uncomfortable position regardless."
I don't believe that Uzaki to be so naïve as to not realize the advantage currently held over us. Do you not anticipate that those currently holding Miss Kristal captive don't anticipate us simply aiming to... stand down, for lack of a better term? That they wouldn't use such an opportunity to their own advantage? I agree with you that a decisive strike is necessary, but given we are in a position to deliver retribution upon them regardless, the spread of information is not nearly as much of a worry, in my eyes. I don't feel they're going to be standing down either, should we take a fight to Uzaki Enterprises. While I'll be doing research of my own in the coming days, this is going to result in a loss of information for both sides regardless of what happens. Best we can do at that point is wipe the place clean; dead men tell no tales, after all."
As soon as she finished speaking, it seemed it was Ruhe's turn to chime in. "I am an experienced hunter. And what I've learned is that when you do not take a shot at the opportune moment, you may never get it again. The element of surprise. I would advise against letting our intentions be known until we strike." Helena simply nodded her head at the girl's words. In truth, that was one thing she hadn't disagreed with. Alex, Lucien, and Meredith had been correct in that regard. There wasn't a need to drop information before such an event occurred, but losing that tactical advantage was going to be a necessary loss they had to be willing to take regardless.
"That is why. Please. In the name of his Majesty the Emperor. In the event someone must go to discuss the release of our Captain. Send me as our diplomat."
It was at this moment, Helena's face would turn sour. The girl's gamble hadn't paid off, at least in the Stern Ritter's eyes. Still, though, she'd let her finish speaking; thus was the respectful thing to do. And as she did, Helena's expression simply did not budge. Even as she aimed to pull on the heartstrings of those at the meeting, her mind was objectively made up over Ruhe's thoughts at this point. As such, when her "For my emperor!" Had been spoken, Helena didn't dare move her eyes from the girl. Shortly thereafter, she spoke up.
"Oh, my dearest Ruhiger," she spoke, her words almost melancholic, "you were doing so, so well. I see now that you've merely been playing both sides, no? Speaking of acting on their transgression, only to look for a 'diplomatic' approach... Disgraceful. I'd asked for opinions on the matter; not for a pandering to both sides. If you had a dissenting opinion of my ideas, then you would've been much better off simply speaking your mind -- like Alex or Meredith here. I might not agree with their stances, but by no means do I think lesser of them because of it. Quite the opposite; they've proven they can think for themselves when asked to." She wasn't going to speak more on the matter; she felt that such was enough.
Listening carefully to Lucien's words, and nodding along with him, she found herself agreeing with almost everything he'd said. In truth, she couldn't speak on the lack of love for violence; that much had been drilled into her by Amalia over the years. Regardless of that fact though, everything else had been spoken near-perfectly; like another attempt to appeal, but one that she knew wasn't just an attempt to appeal; he'd spoken for himself, and with his own thoughts and concerns in mind. She smiled.
"And one again, perfectly put, Lucien~" she chimed happily, a silly little smile on her face, "couldn't have said it better even if I'd hoped to. If that's something you're willing to volunteer for, by no means am I going to stop you; I've heard a fair bit about your work in the past, and I don't feel that anyone else would be more well-suited for such a matter, sans potentially Alex. If you or the both of you are willing to go on an operation like that, by all means, you've got my faith for what it's worth." Once again putting up the same smiling demeanor, she did what she could to fully mask her thoughts.
Though, it had seemed a rather... unanticipated arrival had made himself present within the room. The very second that the odd fellow behind Lucien made himself present, Helena had made her move. Drawing her cross, and manifesting her weapon as a simple firearm, the girl allowed a shot to ring from the weapon aimed toward the individual's head, causing a flash as was expected from the muzzle of the weapon. Though, instead of firing from the gun, the girl's arrow had fired itself from behind Vannan.
With an Eigenwillig Ginto Tube being created behind the man, Helena utilized said tube as a catalyst. Instead of firing from the gun, the woman launched two arrows from the now-destroyed tube at shortbow speed, easily working to catch those in the room off-guard as such tube had no discernable reiatsu signature, except by Meredith. Given her own stealth capabilities, she'd be the only one able to reasonably pick up on her capabilities, should she decide to act on the matter. Regardless, the arrow from one tube was going to fly through the man's Achilles tendons, piercing directly through both and manifesting a highly-durable chain from the arrow to the path it took, while the other was aimed for his wrist with the gun. Both his legs and wrist were going to remain locked in that position, unless he'd decided to sever both of them.
"Think of that a warning shot," she spoke shortly after Meredith, "next one will fire from the gun. As Meredith said; state your intentions or face His Majesty's wrath."