[attr="class","spiral"] Each member has their turn to speak out and Fernando holds his tongue. Aside from his unconscious slip, the man remains reserved if only because adding his own input provides little value. Each member present has their own viewpoint on the subject and Fernando's has already been known; Silph opposes all initiatives that do not provide an immediate return on investment. As the head of logistics in the previous administration, his weight is carried by the prestige of his business acumen. New players are introduced to the table and perception shifts, but his ideology stands solid against the test of time.

However, when their guest chime in with his own outrage, Fernando nods along. Not because he agrees with the Head Ranger's sentiments but to answer his question, yes, the rangers aren't good enough. Amidst his tirade, his gesture will be overlooked because the timing proves too perfect and leans in more toward backing up Lar's claim but Fernando doesn't clarify further. Instead, he holds his judgement to the Ranger's own temper toward someone too emotional to rely on and references that for later.

He had been picked by Dahlia. Interesting.

Aside from his emotional attachment, which is understandable although unsightly, Fernando finds himself agreeing to the bulk of the Ranger's following counterpoint. Like a game of darts from the Slateport Night Festival, Lar's aim is true and they poke into Olivia's initiative one by one until he ultimately wins the precious prize of destroying her argument. And then he allows his pride to carry him too far forward and falls flat on his face. The mention of allocating only women to positions of power is lost to him, as it is with Orion, and Fernando's groans inwardly, fumbling in his pocket for a paper box.

Orion makes his own point on the aftermath of the Slateport event and Olivia addresses it with her own sentiments, on why she had to interject, on why it wasn't her fault. Fernando laughs, a mild chuckle, but one befuddled with amusement. "A stubborn bitch can do no wrong, eh?" This time, Fernando's aware of his words and keeps his voice in a whisper, barely audible to himself. Those in his immediate vicinity may be able to pick up on it but the rustling of him pulling out his carton of cigarettes provides another distraction.

As amusing as these proceeding are, he'll need another type of kick if he's going to last.

But then he gets the greatest kick of all: an attack on the Elite Four. If he wasn't busy fumbling for a lighter in his other pocket, Fernando would've chucked it at her with a rage comparable to Mount Salt. There are few things he cares about when it comes to League projects and the illustrious Elite Four is one of them. They would prove an ample stepping stone for his own Project, Avalon, and he'll be damned before some green idiot with reach farther than her own arms starts to pick at something he had sculpted.

But patience is a saint and Fernando holds his tongue by addressing his oral fixation with a freshly lit smoke.

The mention of Team Rocket and Blackwell dissuade Fernando from following up; it's a good deflection, he'll commend her on that. However, her point is null and void. He had seen to that. The vision of Silas' lifeless body and checking his pulse still reels somewhere in his memories and Fernando's spent plenty of time trying to reach out to him. His grasp on his powers have proved less than presentable, but Silas lurked somewhere in the great beyond. He had seen his spectre once before but lacked the finesse to pull him out for a confrontation.

Dahlia concedes on being provoked in the same manner as the rest of them and Fernando appreciates it although he resents her lack of direction. As roundabout as her answer is, there is a minor approval in her reply and Fernando knows that Olivia will latch on. Fine, he'll bite, on paper the points are correct but the execution?

His eyes narrow in and his gaze turns to the Commissioner, pleading, scrying for something beyond benevolent intentions and a naive acceptance. It lasts for a moment before he reels back in his chair, laid against the headrest before letting out a long exhale. Pink pixie dust lines his nostrils and the smell is far from fragrant but lacks the distinctive punch of second hand smoke. Glitter sparkles for a moment before Kim turns off the lights.

"Who will fund it?" Fernando adds in. "Our funds are not as expendable as most would like to believe. I cannot, in good faith, accept this proposal without applying budget cuts to the Rangers. Someone's already driven away Balder. Are we going to give Anderson a stroke too?"

[attr="class","spiral"] At least three of them stand in opposition of budget cuts. Fernando and Lars had been expected; Orion was by no means a surprise but Fernando know too little about the newly appointed Councilman to pass concrete judgement. "Which is why dividing up what resources we have for another division is unsustainable. We cannot afford the Rangers and this Initiative. That being said, I have no intention of reducing what little the Rangers have."

Fernando takes another drag from his cigarette when Olivia turns to address Lars. Naturally, he's not surprised by what he hears. Again she oversteps and again Fernando takes it on account of showing restraint. Rather than funnel his emotion outwardly like the Head Ranger, he embellishes them into concentrating his talking points into precise rebuttals.

"The council, Abiatti. As obvious as it may seem, it looks like your brain is a few sizes too large for that head of yours. The council is composed of the four of us and you are but a fraction of the group." He snaps his finger and another plume of fairy dust exhumes from his nostrils. "The Elite Four out date you. They were picked by Dahlia, Kim, and myself. Know your place before we lose another valuable ally due to your negligence in acting on our behalf."

He looks to Lars, passive, apathetic to his temper.

"Do not goad Mr. Anderson into an aneurysm well before he's due. He is a guest and his opinion, faulted or not, are appreciated."

Her misinterpretation of her words only cause another frustration to bubble. Fernando reminds himself that despite her academic accomplishments, it means little in the face of the real world. If someone as specialized as Lucas Lane can discover the secrets of Mega Evolution but almost meet his demise due to his ill founded disbelief in traffic laws, then what can he expect from someone of the same stature?

"A League authorized and sanctioned group will not be privately funded by someone who does not hold a direct seat in our organization." There is no negotiation, no figment of wavering in his voice. Fernando's demand is absolute and it holds in the firmness of his claim. "If they are privately funded, whether it be stipulations or donations, then they are an outside group. Unless there is an explicit contract where each organization forfeits these fund in a concrete amount to use posthumously, we cannot sustain a group on an unreliable measure of income. Even with an established amount that has been contractually given up for allocation, a measure of this scale will have its days numbered."

There are few with the business acumen of an organization of such size. Being raised from birth to take the seat of Silph Co. proves both invaluable and provides plenty of exposure to the many walks of business. The legality of governmental affairs come with time and having been on the opposite end as a business and contractor has allowed him to slip into the council seat with ease. It is his experience and year long tenure in Hoenn, along with his experience as their Logistics head, that makes this field his expertise.

He makes no comment on the issue with Galar because he knows too little to poke through her evidence. While keeping on top of the news cycle is a part of his daily schedule, there is plenty that goes amiss. Unlike the others influx of Galarians that have invaded a post-rocket Hoenn, Fernando is privy to little that only the top Galarian elite hold secret. However, should they provide information so knowingly, perhaps there is a chance for him too to uncover their ill-hidden unknowns.

There is another gaping hole in her entire premise but Fernando leaves that for the others to address. It's only an issue if someone else notices. Otherwise, they're just as hopeless with an oblivious council as they are with Olivia at the helm.

[attr="class","spiral"] "Indeed. A fraction of a whole. That's how numbers work, Abiatti." Fernando stands by his statement and his expression shows his apparent confusion on Olivia's question. It isn't until she digs deeper into her argument that Fernando's face turns from one of skepticism into absolute horror.

In a rare instance of stupefaction he looks to Kim for support, raising his hand to pantomime counting each finger.

One. He looks to Kim.

Two. He turns to Orion.

Three. He dares return his attention to Olivia and his face turns a deep seated red when his last finger points back at himself.

"You are one of four council members. Your word is one out of four voices. That's twenty five percent — a fraction?!"

No, he's not wrong. Inconceivable. Just the sheer audacity of her claim catches him off guard and his cigarette falls from between his agape mouth, landing on the desk and singeing it with fresh ashes. Once his reasoning stabilizing, Fernando feels a new flush of annoyance and unadulterated rage fill in the void. How can someone be this stupid?

No.

How can someone this stupid be apart of Hoenn's ruling class?

The frustration of having to deal with what he considers to be nothing short of incompetence spills over the edge of his restraint and it sours his mood into spoiling. A lack of sleep means he's too weak to restrain himself.

"That's just math you fucking clown."

He keeps his voice down but tilts his head quick enough to hear his neck crack.

"All of our voices matter which is why it's so frustrating that we don't get a say in half of the shit you stir until it's already too late."

The conversation turns back to Kim which means Fernando doesn't get another chance to bark. The momentary gap allows him to collect himself both mentally and physically. Wiping away the ash clears the table but the burn mark is already hard pressed. Just in time for Olivia to finally make some kind of sense. Her next rebuttal is layered on a much stronger foundation and it keeps what's left of Fernando's sanity.

"If you own the right to the Crown and have uncontested say over their financials then that can be arranged. Until you own Lupin Co. in the same regards, they are considered an external liability. Thomas Benoit is a complicated matter considering his history but he's only a prospect at this moment."

Lo and behold, her big reveal is the most unreliable money handler in Hoenn. DAPHNE STONE is a blight on the Devon name and Fernando has no fear. However, when Olivia accuses him of the very opposite of what he's done he cocks his head in a similar fashion to his previous tongue lashing.

"While I have nothing against Daphne as a person, she is as good at business as you are at math, Abiatti. Even Alexander, who had put his focus into living up to the title of Champion, which he had requested from us, proved more capable in that regard."

Fernando crosses his arms and leans back, closing his eyes.

"Legally and financially, the League has cut direct ties with Devon Corp. I can send you an invoice and legal statements that I personally delivered to Stone as well as several audits the League conducted prior to returning all Devon assets back to them."

He pauses, remembering the scenario, before giving Olivia the benefit of the doubt.

"But I can understand you confusion. Stone had been very adamant about maintaining ties with the League despite common business practice which may have caused some miscommunication on your end. I assume that's where you've garnered the basis for your inaccurate information."

Olivia comes in close and Fernando does little to stop her from feeling up his chair. He presumes the proximity allows her to feel closer to them, like friends, despite the continuous debate between them.

"Any donations under the premise of funding this initiative, or any other initiative, needs to be contractually structured in the League's favor. Which means it need to be approved by the League's head of logistics management, which is myself, along with another member with sufficient credentials."

The topic changes again and Fernando sneers. He makes no comment about Balder's supposed temper and instead makes his own judgement. Naturally, his own opinion proves unfavorable considering the avatar's impression in Slateport but their confrontation afterwards is a stark reminder to who Balder truly fears.

Olivia Abiatti.

"Balder may not be very bright but knowing this and his terrible temper—"

Fernando never gets to complete his interjection. Kim's phone rings and the room goes still. While others may have expected him to silence it and continue their heated discussion Fernando knows better. Only Kim would be insolent enough to answer the call and chatter about nothing important. By now, Fernando's used to it and finds himself unfazed. It grants the room a window to breath and he rubs the throbbing vein in his temple.

@bean4's timing couldn't be better.

Once Kim hangs up Fernando can feel his mouth water in preparation to start speaking again. Much to his chagrin, Kim adopts a stance of acceptance toward moving forward with the initiative and Fernando can feel his shoulders slouch.

"In order for us to come into an agreement I think there's a more pressing issue that needs to be addressed."