After a while, the heaviness in the room softened. The scent of wine drifted between them as they sat together at a low table, the warm glow of the lantern making their glasses shimmer. Leiza swirled the dark red liquid thoughtfully before taking a slow sip, her eyes distant.
"I think…" she began quietly, "it's time to release our tech into the world."
Azzy raised a brow, setting his own glass down. "Isn't it better to wait until after the nation is established?"
Leiza shook her head, her gaze sharp now. "No. Based on historical statistics, once you form a new nation—or even a state—out of political reasons rather than war, the real estate prices soar almost overnight. If I try to stake out a piece of that precious land later, it'll drag unwanted media attention, and the narrative will spiral in a direction we can't control."
