Leroy was seething with frustration. Today''s negotiations had been his opportunity to take the initiative by demanding ountability and making uneptable conditions, then dering the talks a failure. After that, he would return to Westhaven and dere war. Yet now, not only had he been unable to follow through with his n, the negotiations had also shifted into a disadvantageous position. To make matters worse, his niece, the grand princess, was looking down on him.


    The humiliation gnawed at him.


    Jeremiah, who had been sitting quietly to the side, felt a sense of resolve settle over him as he watched the proceedings. If they could negotiate peacefully, that would be ideal. The massacre in Fawnrun City was Starhaven''s fault, and they were willing to offer apologies,pensation, and make amends-but only if given a chance for peaceful negotiations.


    Westhaven had distributed the case files regarding the Fawnrun City incident, which contained numerous firsthand ounts from soldiers who had been captured alongside thete Westhaven crown prince, Arthur. Some had survived, and they had given detailed testimonies to recreate the true events.


    Not everyone in the viges had met a tragic end. Some had managed to escape. Even those survivors had seen part of the brutality that had unfolded.


    The case files referred to the crown prince as "Artie," but Rafael and Davis understood it was a pseudonym.


    For Rafael and his group, the files were difficult to read. The details of the ughter were heartbreaking. Even though Aurora and Zeke had been repeatedly interrogated and forced to reveal every detail, there were still things they had kept hidden-such as the methods used to force the vigers to betray the crown prince, the torture, and the cruelty.


    The files also excluded how they had tortured Arthur.


    Lisandra recognized Jeremiah, and ordered Penny to give him a copy of the files for his review.


    At Rafael''s signal, the officials from the Diplomatic Affairs Department began distributing the files concerning the Sinir family massacre. The Sinir family''s destruction was intricately tied to Victory Pass, and it was inevitable that this issue would be brought to the table during the negotiations.


    The room fell into a heavy silence, only broken by the rustling of pages turning.


    Lisandra had been managing state affairs for many years, and she wasn''t one easily moved bypassion. As she read through the Sinir family''s massacre, however, she felt her eyes well up with tears.


    What struck her as the most tragic was the fact that every single male member of the Sinir family had died for the kingdom, leaving behind only the elderly, women, children, and the family''s servants. And even those people''s deaths had been brutal-bodies hacked beyond recognition, with the children having met the same grim fate.


    Leroy skimmed through the file quickly. When he reached the part that detailed the 108 cuts, he looked up, his voice cold as he said in Westic, "You all seem to understand why there were 108 cuts. General Artie''s wounds also added up to 108. While none of them were fatal, each wound represents aThis is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    degradation."


    The trantor ryed the message, though Rafael and the officials from the Diplomatic Affairs Department understood the meaning without needing the trantion.


    Rafael met Leroy''s words with an


    equally cold response, "What you said is chilling, Mr. Stellwyn. We have never covered for Aurora. Are you trying to cover for the spies who wiped out the Sinir family? If you want to makeparisons, then those 108 cuts should have been returned to those whomitted the crime, not inflicted upon


    innocent women and children. The way you speak makes one wonder if you truly wish to seek justice for the innocent victims."


    Leroy felt the sting of the remark and bristled, "The Sinir family wasn''t just anymon family! Even if they were all widows and orphans, they were a noble house."


    "And so?" Rafael shot back. "Are the lives of those from a noble family life worth more than anyone else''s? You hold an official title, Mr. Stellwyn. Does that mean your life is worth more thanmoners'' lives? Are you saying that they are beneath you?" Leroy''s frustration red. "That''s not what I meant! Why are you so anxious, Hell Monarch?"


    Rafael didn''t respond and continued to focus on the files. Lisandra and the other envoys were engrossed in their reading as well; they showed no interest in engaging with Leroy.


    Once everyone had finished reading, both sides expressed their regret over what had happened. Their attitudes were sincere.


    The massacre of the viges at Fawnrun City and the destruction of the Sinir family were both tragedies. Since the two kingdoms were sitting down to negotiate, it was essential to respect the facts as they stood. Neither side would dispute the known truth.