The tension was so stifling that Pete had to pause for a second before coming back to his senses.

"General Hunter. Baron Gringer." Pete greeted, clearing his throat softly after Grayson greeted them.

Xavier and Baron Gringer just nodded slightly to acknowledge his greetings.

"I was informed there was an incident at my contracted facility," Grayson said in a cold tone. "I came to assess the damage."

"Assess the damage..." Xavier repeated, tasting the words. A faint, razor-thin smile ghosted across his mouth.

Then, Pete saw Xavier’s Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant Rocky Hawn, approach them from a tent nearby. He stopped two paces behind Xavier’s right shoulder and whispered something.

Xavier nodded slightly at Lt. Hawn without taking away his gaze from Grayson, then said, "Let’s move over there."

Pete followed behind Grayson as Lt. Hawn took the lead.

Not long after they arrived at the tent, a figure appeared sitting comfortably on the side.

"Baroness Gringer." Grayson greeted.

It was Catalina Romana Gringer, Lilianna’s mother and Baron Geron Gringer’s wife.

Catalina turned to see who greeted her, and her expression instantly soured the moment she saw Grayson.

The temperature around them dropped.

Pete’s internal alarms went off. He had met Catalina a few times because Lilianna had been friends with them for a long time.

She was the typical noble woman, not that tall of a woman, but carried herself with an aura of nobility. Her rich golden hair and eyes like aged honey were just like Lilianna’s.

Catalina’s eyes locked onto Grayson like a feral dog ready to bite at any moment. Her lips pressed together so tightly that they went white.

She didn’t speak or acknowledge Grayson’s greetings.

It was right for her to act like that since her daughter was missing.

However, Pete didn’t know why she was acting like that against them. For all they know, they already informed the House of Gringer about the situation and received their cooperation.

Just as Pete was about to look at Grayson in askance, he saw Grayson looking at Geron.

Clearly written on his eyes: You didn’t tell her.

Geron clearly received the message but turned away from Grayson. He moved beside his wife, hiding his complicated, guilt-ridden, frustrated expression with bone-deep weariness that was obvious to Pete and Grayson.

When they first came, Geron clearly acted like he was furious. But where only he and Grayson could see, Geron showed a few hints of his real feelings.

Pete looked down and saw Grayson’s clenched knuckles.

He was also annoyed at this situation.

What Pete and Grayson didn’t know was that Baron Geron Gringer answered to a command that was higher than his title, his marriage, and even his friendship with Grayson’s late father.

Geron and the Marshal’s cooperation ran deep. He had been in it for longer than most of the people in this room had been alive.

He had watched his own best friend, Eliseo Maxwell, die under circumstances he could have exposed but didn’t.

They had to.

The same thing was happening again. He was tongue-tied as his wife glared at the son of the friend he once abandoned and vowed to protect all because Geron could not defend him without unraveling everything.

Grayson understood that Geron firmly refused to cooperate and explain. His expression didn’t change. He simply took note of it and turned back to Xavier.

Everyone was now seated, so Xavier stood up.

"Let me be direct, Mr. Maxwell."

Xavier said as he clasped his hands behind his back.

"Based on preliminary evidence, this facility exploded in a targeted attack. Nineteen personnel are dead as currently recorded. One detainee—Former Colonel Lilianna Gringer—was confirmed to be missing from the basement sublevel."

Xavier’s gold eyes glittered as he waited for Grayson’s expression to change.

"A detainee whose presence in this facility was deemed unauthorized by any Imperial Military directive I have on file. Which raises the question—"

He paused, let it hang.

"—of who authorized her detention and under what legal basis."

Silence.

Everyone already knew about it since they were briefed beforehand. If anything, only Catalina, who had widened her eyes after hearing that, didn’t know anything.

"It is well within my authority," Xavier continued, each word measured and crisp, "to place you under arrest right here and now, pending a formal investigation."

Pete was about to stand up, but Grayson caught the movement and made a small, downward gesture with his left hand.

Stand by.

Pete didn’t stand up, but he stayed alert.

Xavier watched the exchange with an unreadable expression, then continued as though he hadn’t just threatened the CEO of Maxwell Corporation with arrest in front of his own people.

"However, it wouldn’t be appropriate to proceed without hearing the full account from the individual in question. Due process, and all that." His tone might be serious, but his eyes were laughing.

Grayson regarded him flatly. "What do you want, General Hunter?"

Xavier’s brows rose with theatrical innocence.

"Want? I want answers, Mr. Maxwell. Same as everyone here. What exactly happened in this facility? Why was a former military officer held in an unsanctioned detention cell? And where is she now?"

Pete had spent enough years around Grayson to know when the man was being deliberately baited. He was also sure that Xavier knew the General did nothing without at least three concurrent motives.

Therefore, all of these things were Xavier’s show for this limited audience. There were probably recording devices capturing this exchange for the inevitable tribunal review.

"If you’ve reviewed Dr. Shortle’s preliminary findings," Pete interjected, standing up, "then you already have a reasonable operational picture. We can discuss specifics, or we can continue these pretenses. Your call, General."

Xavier’s eyes narrowed sharply. But Pete caught something else. A glint. The specific brightness of a man who was enjoying himself too much.

"Dean Rowan. Always a pleasure." Xavier’s voice was silk over steel.

The standoff held for three seconds.

"Enough." Catalina roared.

"Enough of your military nonsense." She said as she stood up, and continued, "My daughter is in danger, and all you can think about is using her cause for your little and meaningless fights? Are you sure you all are not insane?"