Unfortunate news
My dear readers,
I need to tell you that I am obsessed with romantic things and I'll try to write them here, but it need to wait a little.
Enjoy the chapter!
I hope you'll like it.
A ruckus started already near the council. It was hard to believe that it was six in the morning. Everyone was running, shouting, throwing paper. It was a complete mess. Nothing else could be said more. Just a mess...
- Oh my God... A "quiet" week is planned - said Lin, before getting out of the car.
- Such a one! Getting to the council itself will not be easy! - it was clear that Neal was happy to exchange with another messenger, but there was nothing to do, one had to make his way through the whole crowd.
As soon as the door opened, the reporters came even closer, so close that it felt like they could see a wince on Neal's face. And then it finally dawned on him that getting through all this crowd here, including Lin Beifong herself, was as difficult as carrying fresh meat through a pack of hungry lions.
- Oh, how I love my job... - mumbled Neil angrily.
To be honest, thinking that something is difficult and actually feeling it are completely different things that sometimes cannot even be compared. This is the rule that Lin accepted for herself in this situation. There were flashes of cameras everywhere, she was constantly being poked, constantly being asked some questions that she had no answers to. Surely she could not comment on the situation WITHOUT KNOWING THE SITUATION ITSELF!!!
- What do you think about this situation.
- Chief Beifong, can you give a forecast for Republic City?
- Do you think that the Kingdom of Earth is under threat of a new war?
- What? - Lin said barely audible, not realizing it herself. She turned pale, inevitable fear took over her expression, the panic in her eyes became more and more.
Only not war... They already knew what war is... It is not something that can be easily understood from a history textbook, from the story of one person... War is something that instills fear and panic in millions of people, it is something that destroys the lives of millions of people, no leaving a chance to return to what they had, or at least to the feelings they had... War is death... these are not peaceful deaths... these are screams of pain, agony, suffering... When you listen to a person who has experienced something like that, you feel sorry you are afraid of her because you do not know how to help her. But few people can realize that there are thousands and thousands of such people, and it is so scary that it is difficult to fully understand.
- No, no... what is he saying... it's just some kind of game... this reporter is exaggerating... just drawing attention to himself in this way.
But, after the journalist's above-mentioned question, the crowd seemed to cooperate, as if they had rehearsed it several times, at which point they all started asking about the war.
Lin looked back at them all and then quickly walked to the main entrance of the Council. President Raiko, advisers, some ministers and their assistants have already gathered in the Council.
- You're finally here Beifong, are you ready for the Earth Republic's assault on Republic City? - said Raiko.
-WHAT? It is not possible - she denied.
- We received data from intelligence about a possible offensive, we are told that President Thorin is preparing a plan to conquer the territories around them, that is, certain territories of the Republic Nations. - advisor to the Water Tribe.
- Well, apparently it was not possible to keep it a secret, so what we can definitely expect is panic... And panic throughout the country... - said Lin. - Besides, I don't see the Minister of Defense here. Of course, the police will do everything in our power to maintain order and the functional state of the city, but we are not the military, we cannot do it alone.
- I'm here, Chief - said a tall and very attractive man. His name was Armel, Minister of Defense. - We are ready for the offensive, I can assure you, they will not break through.
- Wait, please, we don't know for sure whether they will attack us, and let's not forget about the possibility of unreliable intelligence information. Maybe someone just wants to mislead us...- Lin did not have time to finish when she was interrupted.
- WE CAN'T TAKE A RISK DETERMINING WHETHER IT'S TRUE OR NOT! Not long ago, the Earth Kingdom became a republic! And we don't know this Thorin well enough! - Armel shouted at her.
- Keep calm! - Korra, who entered a few seconds ago, stopped him. - President Torin has been in office for 2 years and under his control much more has been done than under the previous government for more than a dozen years, we cannot spoil relations between countries without knowing the real situation and the authenticity of the facts. Team Avatar will go to the Republic of Earth and reconnoitre the whole situation.
- Fine. But in terms of preparations for a possible invasion, nothing changes. Everyone should be in the cities in case the intelligence information is reliable - Raiko ordered.
- Sir, let me go with the Avatar- Lin asked.
Everyone in the hall looked at her in surprise.
- Why? Chief, you are needed here! We are on the verge of war, and you want to escape from the city! You are out of your mind! The Avatar Team is not children, their experience has prepared them for such situations - Raiko shouted.
- Mr. President, please, while the Team is there, all attention will be on them, I can find out in more detail what the matter is. And if they still want to attack, I will be able to find out the number of troops and other necessary information...
- Lin Beifong, for this we have agents who can do it better than you and already have experience in gathering information and I will not believe that you did not know this. - Armel interrupted her. - Please tell us the truth, why do you want to go there? Does it have anything to do with your sister?
- Everyone knows that your sister controls the city that she created - Zaofu. It is unlikely that she will leave it in the event of a war and it is unlikely that in the event of a war she will take the side of a foreign country.
- She was born in Republican City.
- But he lives with his whole family in Zaofa almost all his life, and let me remind you, in the city in which they invested all their strength!
- The verdict is clear Chief. You can't go. If you want to stay in your position, you will stay in Republic Nations. - Raiko said. - All for work! We can't waste a single second!
Lin felt bad. She was very confused by everything that was happening. In general, she had one trait that is appreciated in all leaders - to remain reasonable in a critical situation. But this time everything was different.
She noticed that when everyone left, Raiko approached Armel:
- Find out all information about President Torin. All. Every detail.
- Of course, sir.
- Oh, and about all their ministers and mayors as well. Well, don't forget Suyin Beifong, we need to know what Chief is afraid of.
Lin felt herself begin to sweat from nerves, she headed for the exit. Seeing herself in the mirror, the woman noticed that her skin had become terribly pale.
- Hell! I can't look like that now! Everyone is going to think that something is wrong!
- Lin!
The woman looked around to see who was calling her. It was Korra.
- Lin, don't worry, we'll find out what's going on. Of course, I can't rule out an invasion, but I don't believe Mr. Thorin could have planted something like that. Oh, and of course I'll pass as Su, don't worry about that, I'm sure no one but you can keep this town safe. Especially in such a situation, so please trust us, we will manage everything.
- Thank you, Korra. - Lin tried to give her a smile, but the Avatar could see from her eyes that she was nervous.
- But everything is so complicated that you won't even believe it if I tell you - Lin thought. - They get and check all the information. I have to run away to the Republic of Earth, I have no other choice.