Shards of War: Eclipsian Secrets

Chapter 57

Matsu paced back and forth, his phone pressed to his ear, his voice sharp with frustration. "You had no problem handing over the guns, but the baby formula is where you draw the line?" he snapped, trying to keep his temper in check.

On the other end of the line, the chancellors were arguing, their voices a mix of concern and resistance. Sidric, the Chancellor of Agriculture, was the most vocal. "Matsu, it's not about the formula itself. It's about the logistics. We're talking about diverting resources meant for Lukadia's civilians to—"

"To save children who were literally born into hell!" Matsu interrupted, his voice rising. "This isn't just a resource allocation issue. These kids need this formula to survive! They didn't ask to be dragged into this war."

Calie, sitting nearby, was trying her best to stifle her laughter, her eyes dancing with amusement as she watched Matsu argue. She could tell how passionate he was about this, and while she admired it, the situation was undeniably funny—Matsudo Kagayaki, the tough and resolute warrior, was locked in a battle over baby formula.

Marie, on the other hand, was moving between the makeshift medical stations, checking on everyone while occasionally glancing back at Matsu with a quiet, knowing smile. Every now and then, she'd catch a snippet of the conversation and suppress a small chuckle.

Matsu continued to argue, his frustration mounting. "This is about more than just supplies, Sidric. It's about doing the right thing! We've been through hell trying to save these kids. The least we can do is make sure they're cared for!"

Sidric's voice softened slightly, but he was still hesitant. "I understand your point, Matsu, but we have to consider the long-term implications—"

"The long-term implications are that these kids grow up healthy and have a fighting chance at life!" Matsu shot back. "You think Nyxus cares about long-term implications? No, he's using children as weapons! We're better than that. We have to be better than that."

Calie's laughter bubbled over, and she quickly tried to hide it, covering her mouth with her hand. Matsu shot her a look, half-annoyed, half-amused, before returning to his argument.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, there was a sigh from Sidric on the other end of the line. "Alright, Matsu. You've made your point. We'll divert the necessary supplies. The formula will be delivered along with the other resources."

Matsu let out a relieved breath, his shoulders relaxing. "Thank you, Sidric. I appreciate it. You won't regret this."

The other chancellors, who had mostly stayed quiet during the heated exchange, voiced their agreement, and with that, the call was over. Matsu hung up and turned to Calie, who was still trying to hold back her laughter.

"Come here," he said, his voice a mix of exasperation and fondness.

Calie didn't hesitate. She stood up, walked over, and wrapped her arms around him, still giggling. Matsu buried his face in her shoulder, groaning as he finally let out the pent-up tension.

"You're impossible," he mumbled into her shoulder, his voice muffled.

Calie just laughed, her fingers running soothingly through his hair. "You did great, Matsu. Convincing a stubborn chancellor like Sidric? That's no small feat."

Marie approached, having finished checking on the others. She gave Matsu an amused look. "You've argued with war criminals and faced down Nyxus, but Sidric about baby formula might be your toughest fight yet."

Matsu lifted his head, rolling his eyes at Marie's comment. "It shouldn't have been this hard," he grumbled, though the corners of his mouth lifted in a small smile. "But it's worth it. Those kids need this."