52: NOT A GOOD THING

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the courtyard, I felt a profound sense of isolation. Zaza's words echoed in my mind, each one a reminder of the precarious path I had chosen. I had made my decision, believing it was for the greater good, but now I was left to question whether I had indeed made the right choice.

I spent the rest of the evening in a state of restless contemplation. I couldn't shake the feeling of unease, the fear that Zaza might be right about Masa. But I also knew that we couldn't afford to turn away potential allies, not when the stakes were so high.

I felt that General Masa’s experience could help us, especially with Maria, as I suspect that she may be the leader of the Bandits. Zaza and I were young, and I felt an experienced head wouldn’t hurt much. I needed to talk to Captain Hyde to see what he felt about it.

The next morning, I called a meeting with my closest advisors and the leaders of our forces. As we gathered in the war room,