Chapter 172 – Military Meeting (2) Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan Leah went straight to the large conference room where the military council was meeting. The palace was so large, she hadn’t visited all the rooms near her bedchamber yet, let alone the rest. Someday she would have to explore. Accompanied by her ladies-in-waiting, she arrived before the conference room, startling the man standing restlessly outside the doors. “Leah!” To be more precise, he was startled by Mura behind her. Mura gave a small smile and pushed open the door with one hand. “We’ll be waiting outside,” she said. “Go in, Leah.” Though Haban tried to discreetly slip after Leah, Mura stopped him, and Haban looked at Leah for help. But Leah pretended not to notice. She didn’t want to interfere in the couple’s matters. Holding the large paper rolled up in her arms, Leah took a deep breath and walked into the conference room. The chiefs of every tribe were gathered inside, seated at a long ebony wood table. As soon as she entered, they rose from their seats. The only one who did not rise was Ishakan, seated at the head of the table. Slowly, he lowered the pipe from his mouth and smiled. “Leah.” Without hesitating, Leah walked straight to him, and as soon as she sat beside him, he kissed her on the cheek as if he had been waiting for her. When she saw the chiefs’ eyes widening, Leah gently pushed him away and sat up straight. Several of the chiefs were looking at her as if she was some exotic specimen, since it was the first time they had seen her. Morga nodded to her. Though she was a little overwhelmed by all the staring, Leah unrolled the paper she had brought. She thought it would be best to show it to them before she began speaking. Their eyes quickly shifted to the page, curiously first, and then all of their expressions turned serious. The paper had an intricate drawing on it, a map of the royal palace of Estia. Leah tapped it with her fingers. “I drew this myself,” she began, as her white fingers touched certain places on the map. “These highlighted places are secret passages. The knowledge of them is passed down orally only between members of the royal family. This place, this place, and this one, are passages unknown even to the Queen.” She described the best routes to enter the palace. She told them about the schedules of certain palace employees, and which places would be unoccupied at certain times, among many other things. “Of course, I don’t know much about the military, but I do have a suggestion...” Leah’s fingers moved over the paper to point at the outskirts of the palace. “Estian security is based on five procedures. The procedures are maintained for a week at a time before they change, so if someone observes for a day, they might be able to tell which of the five is in use.” She also explained how to distinguish the protocols that changed periodically, and even the guard locations that she knew about, with as much detail as possible. “I don’t know when you plan to carry out the conquest...but I would suggest doing it after the funeral.” Since the funeral entourage would be composed of knights, that would be the time when most of them were concentrated in the capital. It would be best to wait for them to depart after the funeral. “And if you plan to take the palace with a small group, then I can provide you with a place to hide, on the outskirts of the capital.” Given the striking appearance of Kurkans, it would be difficult for them to infiltrate the palace unnoticed. But if they were moving through slums with no security, it would be easier. Leah owned a few mansions near the poor quarters of the capital. She had bought them when she was posing as a slave trader, and had willed them to her ladies-in-waiting on the occasion of her death. But she was not dead. The mansions would surely be intact. “I suggest using these mansions as your base. And if necessary, you can enter as Kurkan slaves.” Leah finished, unhesitating. She drew a breath. “That is everything I can think of. If you need more information about Estia, you can ask and I will answer.” She knew Estia better than anyone else. She had devoted her whole life to her country. Before the open-mouthed Kurkans, she spoke firmly. “I remember everything.” Into the silence, she added carefully, “I will do my best to help. But in return, I would like to ask that no harm be done to the people of Estia...” She looked at Ishakan. “Will there be a new ruler, or will Estia become part of Kurkan...?” “There will be a new ruler, Leah.” Ishakan spoke, his eyes smiling. “The successor to the throne of Estia has also been decided.” As her heart pounded, Leah asked in a trembling voice. “Who is...?” “You.”