Chapter 2066: Counterattack. "Sit down." Sharnoth ordered in an authoritative tone. Everyone turned towards the Queen and their expressions changed. Their Queen looked... much calmer than before. It looked like they were once again watching the Queen they had decided to follow. "Lady Sharnoth." Varys greeted. The rest of the Council Members followed and bowed their heads as well. Everyone settled down like they were told to; Siara was no exception. By now, Sharnoth had arrived at the table and settled down as well. She looked over at the Council Members—three of them were missing. After Maeve left, two more had left just like her, and the rest didn’t stay out of loyalty either. Sharnoth killed the third Council Member who attempted to leave; the rest stayed out of fear. Most of them were waiting for the chance to get away. If Sharnoth ordered them to use the Portal now, she was sure that every single one of them would take this chance to escape. After all, they weren’t born to join her cause. They weren’t of her race, they weren’t her people—they joined her because she was strong, and it was convenient for them to be under her banner. Yes, there was a trace of loyalty in them, there was a time where they might have given their life for their Queen. But ultimately, all these beings belonged to the Faction of Darkness. They were inherently evil, their thoughts changed, their loyalties changed. In face of certain defeat, they weren’t foolish enough to wait and give their lives. Of course, Sharnoth was no exception either. She only recruited these people because they were capable. Loyalty was the least of her worries. After all, loyalty only came when she showed strength—when she stood tall as a reliable pillar. And she was confident that she would be that pillar till she reached her goal. Well, at least that was what she believed till that monster appeared. Anyways, because all the Council Members wanted to leave, the Council’s efficiency dropped considerably. After all, Council Members had subordinates, who in turn had more subordinates. The panic had started spreading. Being able to leave Khaemorr had become a way out of prison, and no one who got the opportunity to leave returned. Because of this, Sharnoth had to restrict movements, and information could only be travelled through Call Artifacts. "Lady Sharnoth." Varys spoke as he noticed Sharnoth’s gaze. He was prepared with the day’s report. Yes, even though everything had become chaotic, he still kept everything in order from his end. Sharnoth, however, raised her head. She had no interest in knowing what worlds had declared neutrality and which ones had betrayed them and turned to Aurendor. She would get all those reports later. For now, it was time for counterattack. "Maeve." She called out. Maeve nodded, signaling that she was listening. "Speak your mind." Sharnoth ordered. The order confused other Council Members. They all thought Sharnoth would explain why Maeve was actually here; some even believed that she brought her here to punish her and induce fear into the rest, But... 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞 To think she would allow her to ’speak her mind.’ Maeve wasn’t shocked either. The Nocthari knew she was one of the few people Sharnoth could trust. After all, her Master had ordered her to aid her as much as she could. Right now, Sharnoth’s orders and well-being were above her own self. "Aurendor dared to poach the worlds under our Faction. It is an offense that has turned our Faction into a joke. Other Factions have also started poaching worlds under our rule without fear, and if this continues, it will only be a matter of time before our Faction is destroyed. This needs to stop now." Maeve declared. "And how do we do that, genius?" Siara questioned in an annoyed tone. She always hated how Maeve simply pointed at the problem without giving any solution, but this time— "We will attack Aurendor’s five strongest subordinate worlds." Maeve answered. "What...?" Siara’s expression changed. "Do you even realize what you are saying...?" She questioned with a shocked look on her face. This went against Supreme Worlds’ rules. They would be destroyed if they didn’t have a proper reason to explain their actio— Wait... Siara’s expression changed as she realized something. She stared at Maeve with a shocked look on her face, and Maeve nodded. "I know." The Nocthari began. "We will declare that Aurendor hired the Leander Family to destroy the worlds under our Faction so it could spread panic, and then sent their men to recruit other worlds under us in order to weaken us. This will give us enough reason to act." "It is not a strong enough reason." Varys shook his head. "Hiring mercenaries for war doesn’t go against the rules." "Then that’s even better, isn’t it?" Maeve smiled. "After all, we are going to hire mercenaries to do what we want as well." "You want to hire mercenaries capable of destroying Middle Level Worlds?" Varys narrowed his eyes. Let’s not even talk about us being able to pay them—do mercenaries strong enough to do it without our direct support even exist?" "Varys, were you not listening to what I just said? Aurendor hired mercenaries strong enough to do what we want them to do. How could they hire those who do not exist?" "...?" Varys frowned at those words. Siara, on the other hand, realized it. "You... are you talking about the Leander Family?" She questioned. "That is correct. We will hire the Leander Family to destroy Aurendor’s five strongest subordinate Worlds." Maeve nodded, and the rest of the Council Members just stared at the woman with deadpan looks on their faces. "...have you lost your mind?" One of the Council Members questioned. Hire the Leander Family? Wasn’t the entire problem they had been facing all this while because they couldn’t get their hands on the Leander Family? If they could just ’hire’ them, why would they even go through so many troubles to begin with? The Council Members turned towards Sharnoth. They wanted her to bash Maeve’s skull and destroy her existence, but suddenly, "Does anyone wish to speak against this plan?" The Queen questioned, and the Council Members... They just... "Huh...?"