A Case of Libel

[Foxglove]

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She nodded. "I am sure you will find this more than just enlightening. Things might have calmed down," she continued, withdrawing a sheet of paper from a folder. Looking at it, she saw that it contained a small rundown of the current diplomatic relations with the Zoners of Omicron Delta; she passed it over to Marston, "but not due to any one of you. It was I who stepped in and tried to clean this absolute mess that the Guildmaster, you and Jess have left behind."

Turning to her PDA, she typed a few commands. Shortly afterwards, the holo-projector in the middle of the glass table flickered to life, showing a frozen image, seemingly a guncam image of Omicron Delta. The Freeport was visible in the background, surrounded by the Battlegroup Greece that had been amassed to assail the Freeport. "I would very much like you to take a look at some pieces of evidence with me that the Zoners and their allies have collected — do indulge me on that, " she added, as she thought that Marston would likely object to this. "This is merely the prelude to a much more sophisticated argument that I am going to make once the background has been established." Any word that Marston would have spoken was cut off when Lyell pressed another button to start the recording.

The Holo Recording

Over the entire duration of the recording, Lyell made sure that Marston would watch it attentively, while she herself took occastional notes on a sheet of paper whenever the recorded voice of Marston spoke. Once that was finished, she pushed said paper over to Marston. "You're lucky, really. Your face and name are plastered all over APM, yet you are not quite a public figure, as the Co-CEO, which is your luck; people only want to see the Exalted Guildmaster." Standing up, she leaned against the table, arms crossed, looking over to Marston. "Do you think the Administrator would be content with simply demanding Fillian if he knew you had been present, a Guildkeeper?" She raised a finger before Marston could gainsay. "Nu-uh, don't come with the line that the Guildmaster was there as well. We both know he is unreachable — you, however, are not!"

Waiting a moment for her words to sink in, she continued: "They're angry, hurt, and confused. They want heads to roll, and I am all too happy to help them in that regard. After all, why should I care what some degenerates do in their free time that could get them killed." Breathing in and out exaggeratedly, she sighed. "Would be a bloody shame if they were to find out about your involvement, wouldn't it?" She leaned her head slightly to Marston, giving him a meaningful glance.

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