Delegate: We are falling behind even further. A vote or two won't help us turn this around ...
Z: I know.
Z: The move to D9 was indeed useless.
Delegate: The arcanists that were on our side have defected.
Delegate: I misjudged the situation in the debate ...
Delegate: I was going to seize the opportunity ... and the initiative ...
She doesn't respond to him, only pacing back and forth in the room.
Z: To seize the initiative ...
Z: ... may bring us the chance.
Thirty-eight lines go across the board in horizontal and vertical directions, crossing one another in 361 intersections as orderly as the stars.
Z: That is to say, don't pull back, don't jump ... even when they're attacking ...
Z: But to focus on the bigger picture, to win strong positions ...
She seems to have a sudden flash of insights, and reaches out one of her hands without being aware of doing so.
Z: The Black ... tsuke.
Z: Then ... the White hane. And the Black counter hane here. The White stand, the Black ...
Z: Osae.
Z: ...!
Z: Through these moves ... I see.
Z: The move to D11 can save us more than ten moku of stones.
Z: We can still win within ten moves.
Z: Mark.
Delegate: Yes? Are there any other things we can do?
Z: We need an influencer. A leader who can win us more than ten votes.
Z: Get me the files of the uncommitted leaders, including those who weren't neutral about this issue in the beginning.
Delegate: ... Okay.
He seems perplexed, but still quickly retrieves the files and starts browsing them on the chair.
The room is in complete silence except for the slight noise of flipping pages.
Delegate: Barzel.
Z: No. Too young to be convincing.
Delegate: Nonie, head of the Natural Resource Committee.
Z: There are only three of them in the group.
Delegate: "Center" Bernard, leader of the Mankind Caucus ... Ugh, forget it.
Z: Bernard?
Z: Yes, he can be our man. He is eloquent and leads a group of 11. All of the 11 are his loyal followers.
Z: Why is he uncommitted? I thought he would be the first to vote.
Delegate: Perhaps they believe it's a sure bet ...
Z: Find out what he's been up to.
Delegate: But Madam Z, are you sure you want to cooperate with him? This doesn't make any sense. We don't even serve the same group.
Z: Mark, we are all serving for the Foundation's future.
Z: I just want to know what he needs now.
Delegate: ...
Delegate: The office in Chicago, U.S.
Delegate: He is trying to cover that region with his influence.
Delegate: Bernard believes the employees there are guilty of serious dereliction of duty: they discriminate against humans of different classes and are suspected of committing electoral fraud in collusion with the local capitals.
Delegate: The Supreme Court's investigators have already intervened.
Delegate: But they cannot go out due to the "Storm" right now ... so the case is pending investigation.
Z: Chicago office ... I've read the reports on there ...
Z: I see.
Z: Great. Exactly what we can help with.
Delegate: Through what?
Z: Through Sonetto.
Z: I have a meeting with her on Friday ...
Z: This may lead us to a win-win situation.
