Kael's POV
The council room felt colder than usual that morning. I sat in my usual seat and watched the members settle into place. The agenda listed routine authorizations and two pending zone reports.
I kept my face calm while the early items passed. My mind stayed half on the papers and half on the recovery suite where Akira still rested. The week of fear had left a mark that ordinary meetings could not erase.
A junior council member cleared his throat when the pairing list reached Akira's name. He kept his tone careful and even. The question was procedural and nothing more.
"Lieutenant Vixar, the mission authorization for Hunter Renshi shows A-rank clearance while his file remains D-rank support. The numbers do not match the standard charts. Can you clarify the basis for the standing approval?"
Every head turned toward me. I let the silence stretch for three full seconds. The room stayed quiet while I chose the shortest path through the problem.
