After the assistant left, Shi Tingyu walked to the window and gazed in the direction of the Fourth Ring. As Secretary-General of the Council, her position and status granted her access to information many others couldn't obtain. She even knew more about certain matters than the average council member. It was for this reason that Shi Tingyu was keenly aware that the Inner Ring remained in a precarious state. The current Inner Ring could almost be described as beset by troubles from within and without.
Internally, although the Council had managed to eliminate various disruptive factors and reunite, the Church's existence was a constant source of opposition. Though a centipede dies, it never truly falls. Despite its decline following the loss of the Holy Radiance, the Church was now more cautious than ever, making it difficult for the Council to find an opportunity to strike.
