The chubby man standing up immediately attracted everyone's attention. Several officials turned their heads toward him with confusion written across their faces. Some frowned while others whispered quietly to the person beside them.
"What does he think he can say that we have not already said?"
"He did not speak earlier. Why now?"
"Is he trying to stand out?"
Their whispers carried across the table, but the man ignored all of it. He adjusted his spectacles slowly and looked toward Gabriel with calm eyes.
"My Lord," he began in a steady voice. "The others have already explained why they believe they are useful. I will explain something different."
The room quieted again. Even the people who had been whispering stopped talking. Some looked at him with irritation in their eyes.
They hated people like this. People who felt that they were smarter than everyone else.
"I expected Henry to die eventually," the chubby man spoke.
Several people stiffened in their seats.
