Rain tapped softly against the tall windows of Ravenscroft Headquarters while another long political meeting dragged into its third exhausting hour.
Sebastian barely looked at the newest stack of candidate profiles placed before him.
Governors. Senators. Business leaders.
Former ministers. Every powerful person in Valenridge suddenly seemed interested in becoming his running mate.
And somehow, that only made Sebastian trust them less.Across the conference table, Chairman Elias adjusted his glasses while reviewing another recommendation file carefully.
"This one has strong military support," he said calmly. Sebastian didn't answer immediately. Another advisor leaned forward quickly. And this candidate controls two major southern provinces."
A third council strategist added almost desperately,
"If we combine your public support with an old political family, the election becomes nearly impossible to lose."
