Chapter 174 The Grand Debate 6
Katerina had been watching Eldara like a hawk all this while, ready to move in case the occasion arose.
Unlike typical Elves who focused solely on their path as a Mage, Katerina was someone who trained as a Fighter in her free time. Right now, as she was just one step away from being a Warrior Mage, many had told her that she would have already crossed that chasm if she hadn't wasted her time by training as a Fighter.
To these people, Katerina answered that if she hadn't done so, she wouldn't have lived to this day.
Indeed, there had been many situations where the power of her body had allowed her to gain a decisive advantage over the enemy.
In fact, many in the army were also like her. Yet, the public perception was still that training one's body was a waste of time.
Knowing that the former Queen was only a 7th Grade Elf(comparable to Human) Mage with no training as a fighter, she was confident that she would be able to stop her from doing anything whenever she wished so.
So far, all she saw in the former queen's face was the same sadness and fury that was visible in the crowds.
Yet, just moments ago, her instincts had blared at her that something was amiss.
Scanning her entire body, Katerina noticed that her index finger had just begun to move.
Unlike idle movements, this one seemed to have a purpose and she could tell that it had a certain strength behind it due to the taut nerves that were visible.
This was the moment!
Taking a single step forward, Katerina swung her foot to hit Eldara's hand just above her palm.
The sudden shock made Eldara lose control of her hand, causing the locket to fall before being caught by Katerina who had just lunged forward.
Meanwhile, Eldara had a look of utter shock on her face as she watched the locket land in Katerina's waiting hands.
Wha-what was going on? Why the hell did this stubborn cow assault her?
First came the indignation that her dignity had been sullied without a thought. Someone had dared to physically attack the person who had ruled Eldinor for decades!
Then came the realization that there was one more thing which tied her to the matter of the slaves: the failsafe.
With desperation evident on her face, Eldara tried to bend and retrieve the locket.
Of course, Katerina wouldn't give her the chance. Quickly moving away, she held the locket at arm's length as if she had a ticking bomb in her hands.
The aged elf who was on the stage had noticed this entire occurrence with puzzled eyes.
Knowing that he was actually the most powerful existence on this stage, Katerina walked towards him while still keeping an eye on Eldara who was currently fuming.
Yet, using the experience that came from spending years in command, she calmed down in a split second.
Seeing this, Katerina smiled slightly before reaching the aged elf and whispering something in his ears.
It was as if her words sent electric shocks through his body, as the Elf widened his eyes and stared at Katerina as if asking 'Is it true?'.
Seeing the once famed commander nod with certainty, the aged elf spoke into a trinket before gesturing towards the stage.
All this time, the crowds watched on, bewildered at everything that had just happened in front of them. Katerina, who was quite famous for her tenacity and honesty, had attacked the former Queen of Eldinor.
After doing so, she had run back and walked towards the announcer on stage.
As their eyes were fixed on Eldara, Eldra's smile of achievement was not noticed by them.
Her words awoke them.
"Mother, I knew you would choose this option the moment I stepped on this stage. People of Eldinor, here is your proof that like I said, my mother is the one who is actually responsible for so many children like Lizzie suffering for months before being sold away as 'assets'. Mr. Announcer, can those who weren't able to see also get a glimpse?"
Seeing Eldra addressing him, the aged elf slightly shook his head before nodding at a soldier standing off the stage.
An enormous panel came into being above the stage, clearly visible to the entire crowd who were still mostly puzzled.
This was the panel typically used at the debate stage, as those that stood on the podium at the front were already clearly visible to all. Today, it had been unfolded in circumstances unlike any since the establishment of the Kingdom of the Elves.
As the image came into focus, the elves and humans in the crowd realized that it was a replay of what had just happened on the stage. The angle was from the side.
This was actually the viewpoint of the announcer. As someone who was still on active duty for the Kingdom, he was fitted at all times with a trinket which recorded and transmitted the visuals in front of him. This was both to monitor threats and to keep a record of the actions of those in charge of the Kingdom, at least when they were acting in their official role.
Katerina had been given the politely phrased order to approach the announcer and request this playback by the voice from the trinket. Just like before, she had obliged.
Such terrifying meticulousness in planning amazed her, and made her wonder just who was this capable. They had known from the positions of the people on the stage that her actions would definitely be recorded, ready to be displayed to the public to show them the truth.
On the panel, the scene had already been zoomed and sped forward to show the instant Katerina's foot had hit Eldara's hand, stopping the finger that had been about to press something.
The locket that fell from her palm was clearly visible, along with the button that was inside it.
Meanwhile, Eldara had had enough time to gather her senses.
Over all these years, she had been careful to never be involved personally with matters such as these. Yet, unable to trust anyone else, she had had no choice but to keep the failsafe for her most important and risky asset on her body.
She knew very well that her daughter was incapable of such scheming. Wondering just who it was that managed to catch her red-handed with the trinket, Eldara cursed at them while scrambling for ways to diffuse the situation.
All she needed was doubt.
With her quick-witted mind, she easily came up with an explanation.
Stepping forward with indignation on her face, the former Queen of Eldinor cried out, "What makes you think that is proof of anything? The button sends distress signals to those who heed my word in the army. I simply wished to move them discreetly to free the children! Daughter, enough of these antics. I know what you want to do: you wish to frame me for this horrific act. We both know that if you wish to verify that that trinket is the one which triggers the bomb in the prison, you need to call in experts who can dismantle the trinket. What if those experts, or anyone else, replaces the trinket in my locket with the actual trigger? Here, everyone saw that it fell from my hands and hasn't been tampered with. Later, who can say for sure that it hasn't been switched?"
As the former Queen rattled away these questions with an air of rightful anger, doubts indeed started to appear in the minds of those watching. As someone with decades of experience in campaigning, Eldara was well versed in the art of controlling the public.
Seeing Eldra still looking at her expressionlessly, she continued:
"I have spent my entire life in the service of Eldinor. Everyone here knows that our nation has only grown to new heights under my leadership. I admit that you are smart for choosing such a method in an attempt to sully my reputation, but you should know that I and the people who I serve are not so gullible. Daughter, let the government take over. You have done enough. Surrender, and follow the word of the law."
Indeed, without calling in people and moving the locket, there was no way to prove that it really was the trigger.
Using this point, Eldara made her counter-attack, which seemed to be working from the befuddlement of the crowd who did not know what to believe.
Just as she was feeling triumphant inside, Eldara watched as her daughter calmly walked to Katerina before taking the locket in her hands.
Raising it in the air for everyone to see, she pressed the button making the ground shake due to the explosion that had just been triggered in the warehouse.