On the 29th day of the 3rd month, the usually joyous atmosphere in Vielonna suddenly turned solemn as the Southern Division of Military Intelligence engaged in the capture of religious fanatics.
At noon, the consulate of the Kingdom of West Percy in Vielonna, Titan started the lunch break at the usual working time. The staff members of the consulate were enjoying lunch in the grassland of the courtyard, where they sat in two rows at the square table. The consulate had strengthened its garrison after being informed by Titan's Internal Security Department. In addition to the guards in the embassy, Imperial Guards Fifth Region had deployed another platoon and added a barricade in the most targeted areas of the consulate.
However, this had not prevented the attack of a mad horse and a carriage filled with gunpowder. As the embassy staffs laughed and chatted away, a piercing whistle came from the street outside the door. Immediately, a bleeding mad horse, with its tail cut off, sped from the end of the street while pulling an ordinary looking carriage behind it.
Sitting on the horse was a "Sacred Warrior" who was all wrapped in a white, silk fabric. He carefully pulled the reins, and the crook-necked mad horse quickly knocked open the barricade in front of the embassy. Almost immediately, the arrows of the guards killed the coachman, but the mad horse, which was also terribly wounded, was already too traumatized to be bothered. It was eager to drag the carriage into the embassy.
People scrambled to their feet, but soon a deafening roar sent them all into the sky.
A few human bodies that were thrown high up in the sky resembled kites that broke free from their lines. The boiling, hot air tore through the skin of the fragile limbs. When the carriage full of gunpowder changed from black to white to purple, the condensation and pressure of the air finally turned the carriage into a flame that lit up the sky! The flame formed a mushroom-shaped smoke cluster that scattered straight into the sky, blasting with it a shock wave and air current.
By this time, the music of Vielonna was replaced by the thunderous aftershocks and the constant trembling of the earth! Pedestrians supported each other, while women and children looked around in horror. Despite the fact that the bright light formed by the flame had lifted, the city center under attack was still surging with black smokes. The sound of guards' whistles and the galloping of cavalry's horses flooded the streets. The Brigade of Imperial Guards' cavalry could not be bothered about the safety of pedestrians at this time, rushing rapidly to the site of the incident.
When His Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette arrived at the scene of attack with a full regiment of cavalry knights, four or five fire trucks had been lined up in the street. The city firefighters kept pressing down the lever of the water tank connected to the carriages, while the team responsible for fire control directed the nozzle connected to the hoses at the disastrous area where the raging fires danced.
In the midst of people scattering around, all sorts of cries, as well as the guards' whistles, added to the chaos. Everyone was trying to rush into the courtyard, only Oscar sat alone in the horse carriage as if nothing had happened.
The West Percy Consulate fell into ruins in the fierce explosions. The original three-story building was left with only one inner wall. Members of rescue team continuously ran in and out of the thick smoke, bringing out dismembered corpses and taking care of the wounded who lost their limbs. it was only until this time that Oscar stood forward from the Imperial Knights. He stopped a rescue team member who was holding a dying lady in his arms. The lady's long dress was still as glamorous as usual. She draped one arm around the neck of the man, while the other… Oscar only saw pieces of burned flesh clinging to her white bone.
"How many survivors left?" The Prince of Titan stared at the rescuers' eyes, he did not want to land his gaze on the poor woman.
"Your Highness...this is the last one!"
Oscar nodded helplessly and said nothing more. In the midst of this disaster, everyone at the scene, including him, seemed to have lost their ability to speak.
The excavation of the ruins continued until late at night. Numerous torches brightened up the scene.
The rescue team searched through every brick and every broken wall. They laid down the complete corpses in a nearby church, while lumps of flesh and scattered limbs were wrapped up in blankets and spread out on the roadside to be numbered so that the deceased's colleagues and their families could identify them. However, occasionally there were some exciting pieces of news! When a member of the rescue team pulled out the six-year-old son of the Consul of West Percy from within the cracks of the ruined walls, the entire scene cheered in delight and all soldiers who participated in excavation gathered around.
Numerous hands dragged the fortunate boy away from the disastrous scene. Glowing flames illuminated every smiling face. People ran about spreading the news as if they had received a newborn. They danced around the fortunate boy like a carnival parade for the Holy Day of God.
Although the headquarters of the Imperial Guards Fifth Region deployed a large number of soldiers to block the site of the attack and the city, the enthusiastic and cheerful citizens of Vielonna still took to the streets, but their emotions had fallen into an extreme grievance. The victims were diplomats who had come from West Percy. Even though their casualties were not related to the people of Titan, the sense of honor and responsibility of the Vielonna citizens did not allow this kind of tragedy to take place in their city.
In spite of her husband's objection, the current mistress of the Andrew House - Lady Sasha, accompanied the bishops' association of Vielonna to look after of the victims in the square of the Serevan Palace. The crowds in front of the palace grew bigger, and by the early morning, there were already about twenty to thirty thousand people gathered there. No one could describe the scene of twenty to thirty thousand candle lights flickering under the starry night sky. Along with the local bishops, everyone began to sing the Requiem Mass, and before they knew it, they had sung through the night.
The exhausted Sasha did not take a rest even when the vigil crowd gradually dispersed. It was early in the morning, and the morning rays brought along a wave of cold fog to the mournful city of Vielonna. Andrew House mistress then invited the famous soprano singer and several distinguished ladies of Vielonna to the scene of the attack.
The rescue team, which had worked continuously for more than ten hours, cheered warmly at the arrival of the Andrew House's mistress. Sasha E kissed every face she came across. The mistress of Andrew House did not care about the bloodstains of the dead and the sweat of the living on these faces. She affirmed everyone's work and invited the bishop to repeat the Requiem Mass on the spot. In the end, the citizens who rose early organized another protest parade.
This procession has brought people out of grief, and what filled the air was negative emotions and hatred toward the Pagans. In the early hours of this morning, the publishers of every newspaper in Vielonna received an open letter signed off by "Pilgrimage Party Guerrilla".
The letter claimed that the Pilgrimage Party Guerrilla was responsible for the suicide carriage explosion. If the King of West Percy continued to persecute the sacred people of the True God, the Pilgrimage Party would push the terrorist attacks to a whole new level. In the meantime, if the ruler of Titan still decided to act in accordance with their will and develop in depth the conspiracy against Slovenia, dirty Vielonna would become the battlefield of Sacred Warriors.
When Oscar woke up from his sleep, he noticed the morning newspaper with full coverage of the handwritten threat left on the tiny bedside table. The Prince of Titan scrambled up from his bed in a hurry and his sudden movement made the lady yelled.
Trinity was at an age that made her like to sleep in, and the obsession with the man helped her grow to mature perfectly both her physically and mentally. As usual, the young woman wrapped her long leg around the man.
She kissed the man's shoulder intimately and invited him to sleep in a little longer. Oscar only smiled and then picked up the coffee by his side.
This meant that it was time to get up! Trinity pretended to moan, then reluctantly turned over and let go of the man. Soon, a still breathing sound entered his ears. Oscar put the suede blanket over that moving female body. He crept into the bathroom and used the cool spring water to wash off his battle achievements and bright red kiss stains from last night.
The Prince of Titan read the terrorists' letter again and again in the bathtub, and finally threw aside the newspaper when he got bored of it. He walked into the checkroom connected to the bathroom while leaving trails of water behind. The chief steward of the Serevan Palace and the attendants who had long been waiting immediately came up.
"Have you read the newspaper?" Oscar glanced at the university graduate standing by the door while he waited to be dressed. Viscount Lukas Diyabaker nodded slightly then personally handed over His Highness the outer jacket.
"My Lord, you will not guess how chaotic the outside is!" Diyabaker exclaimed with concern as he helped dress up the prince. "Besides... the attitude of the West Percian was bizarre. They did not publicly condemn the Pilgrimage Party, but instead, they sent their nationals living in Vielonna into the barracks of the Fifth Region, and…"
"What else?" Oscar noticed the hesitation of the young man.
Lukas was clearly irritated, "Etha's secret agents and operation personnel in Vielonna disappeared overnight, even the sailboat from afar raised its anchor and left the port in the early morning! The West Percy made it clear to lose their tracks, so the angered Pilgrimage Party would unleash their rage on Vielonna."
Oscar shrugged indifferently, "Let them be for a while, I still have some patience."
Lukas was sorting out the collar of the Prince but suddenly stopped. "Chief! The anger of the public class and even the entire society is indeed beneficial to our future actions. However, this morning, individual citizens who participated in the protest parade have already issued anti-war calls. They strongly demanded that the Southern Government call off military mobilization, and require the Central Government for a verdict."
Oscar's face finally turned cold and serious, "Is there anyone instigating it... or is it the residents' own doing?"
Lukas shook his head gently, "Sir Brayson from the Internal Security Department has just started an investigation. We have to wait for a while until we obtain any results."
Oscar turned his head away in annoyance, "These are the commoners! They begin to complain about nonsense when their tummy is filled and hands are warm. Why don't they think about who brought peace to the south!"
Viscount Diyabaker did not comment any further. He walked out of the cloakroom side by side with His Highness the Prince and listened to the Prince's complaints with respect like a true college student.
Contrary to everyone's expectations, the Prince of Titan, who treated the South as his private property, did not make any public statements about the explosion happened at noon of the 10th day. He stayed in the heavily-guarded southern branch of the Military Intelligence Bureau army for the following week, in order to repeatedly discuss the feasibility of the final plan of the Lighthouse Strategy with the liaison officers and staff members of the Southern Army Group and the Narcissus County. During this period, the mistress of Andrew visited him several times, and the two were said to have quarreled in the office branch. The people present at the meeting heard Lady Sasha shouted at Lady Elizabeth before parting, "He is a cold-blooded animal... I finally came to discover this!"
Which Lady Elizabeth replied to the mistress, "He is a political animal, a military animal... there are still differences between these and a cold-blooded animal!"
In fact, those engaged in politics or military were familiar with the term "cold-blooded" as that was also one of their characteristics. Sasha's quarrel with her husband happened due to a serious incident that caused the current situation to deteriorate.
On the 2nd day of the 4th month, a Sunday. A group of vicious, angry, armed bandits forced into the apartment guildhall rented by the Arabah Chamber of Commerce. They claimed to be volunteer soldiers of Vielonna citizens and required a search in the Guildhall, and later arrested a suspect associated with the explosion on the 26th of the 3rd month. The owner of the Guildhall refused this unreasonable request and both sides broke into a fight which resulted in mutual casualties.
In the evening, the guards sent by the headquarters of Imperial Army Fifth Region to guard the Arabah Chamber of Commerce were suddenly transferred. The so-called volunteer soldiers, who had long awaited nearby, immediately issued a call and thousands of armed men quickly broke through the entrance guards and killed all Pagans in the hall. They even hung the bodies on street lights and tall oak trees along the street.
This deliberate retaliation triggered a major cleansing against the Arabah merchants and Persian merchants the next day after the news spread. The angry crowd and scoundrels rushed into the mansions of the reign businessmen to rob, kill, commit arson and rape; all the sins that did not appear under the eyes of God of Light erupted. The men raised their axes, their red eyes; while the women frantically tore the hair and facial cloth of the foreign women. The entirety of Vielonna was caught in the chaos of the year 791 once again, only the noble areas where the nobility lived was shrouded with peace and tranquillity.
Sasha hoped that her husband would handle the matter himself and stop these frenzied religious killings, but Oscar did not think the same. Instead, he advised his wife to not go out to the streets often. Out of sight, out of mind. Enraged, Sasha had no choice but to walk away, whereas the citizens outside of the walls had intensified their game, chanting various slogans in the streets. People tried their best to destroy and attack the Pagans until the places populated by Arabah merchants and Persian merchants were turned into dumps to deposit dead bodies and garbage.
On the 10th day of the 4th month, O'Neil Andrew Morisette summoned all the main commanding officers Group, staffs, and communications personnel of the Southern Army Group in the massive study of the Serevan Palace. This meeting was very simple. His Highness the Prince only symbolically endorsed the Lighthouse Strategy that was eventually introduced, but he did not speak one word about the chaotic situation of Vielonna.
On the desk of the Prince of Titan were two fine oak caskets. Oscar first opened the left one and retrieved a seal of the Imperial Marshal. He filled the ink pad full of bright red ink and pressed it down hard on the blank space at the end of the plan. Then, he opened the nanmu casket on the right side, took out the seal that represented the highest leader of Andrew, and pressed it down on another blank space.
"And so... this is it!" Oscar smiled as he swept his eyes across the room of soldiers who looked deadly serious. They all were well aware of the consequences that the Lighthouse Strategy would bring about, considering the imperial prince had already solemnly declared in the motion of the plan that the first task after seizing Slovenia was not to consolidate the local military but to cope with the attacks of Westland Kingdom Alliance which came from all sides.
When the soldiers left the study with the final plan, Oscar requested several important members of the Military Intelligence Bureau to stay. They further discussed the current situation with these savvy spy leaders, and eventually still decided to wait! They were going to wait until the two real protagonists of the issue to sit down together at the negotiating table.
Fortunately, Oscar did not have to wait too long! "Etha" finally broke the silence, although not at the negotiating table, this old-time secret organization still took the world by storm with a single brilliant feat as usual.
On the 10th day of the 4th month, the Black Friday of God of Light, the Engels Kingdom's consulate in Titan suddenly broke out the incident of collective poisoning. As there were a high number of victims, the doctors who arrived at the scene quickly determined the source of poison.
The well in the Engels Consulate was completely contaminated with a high level of toxic substances. Although the southern government issued a death order to all hospitals in the parish for cure and medicine, not one of them was able to retrieve it. That was because as early as a week ago, the specific drugs for this toxic substance were completely bought out by an unidentified businessman.
Hence, Prince Engels who came from a distant land had to watch helplessly as the diplomatic staff of his Kingdom died miserably. Some that affected lesser by the poisoned water also lost their eyesight.
Just as Prince William was furious, he demanded a duel with Sir James. However, Fur Seal's secret operations had already gone to a secret contact point. Staying at that place was the most elite operational squad of the Ocean Measurement Department. They worked together with the Pilgrimage Party guerrillas to plan a new terrorist attack against West Percy Chamber of Commerce.
The Engelish retaliations were quick and ruthless! Even though Etha had issued evacuation orders for West Percian businessmen and expatriates living in Titan, there were still a large number of staffs left behind the chamber of commerce. Hence, in the morning, noon and evening of the next day, a carriage loaded with explosives, a suicide team who tangled their body full of explosives, and a madman who cut anyone he encountered, attacked Chamber of Commerce three times respectively. Many West Percian and Titans lost their lives in this disastrous nightmare.
However, almost immediately after the carriage explosion in the morning, Etha's elite assassin team broke into the villa where the Engelish Prince temporarily stayed and fought fiercely with the prince's guards. As the Engelish were adequately prepared in their defense against external aggression, this assassin group was completely destroyed. However, the assassin leader succeeded in igniting the explosive on his body, which caused the good-looking blonde Prince William to lose a small piece of his scalp.
His Royal Highness the Prince finally met with Sir James who had gone missing after the attack. Although William shouted all the swear words he knew at the thin face of the old spy, when Sir James mentioned he had discovered the whereabouts of the mistress of Etha, he still clenched his teeth and ordered an immediate counterattack. In William's understanding, keeping restraint and being awake was one thing, but hurting everyone that one encountered in times of hysterical was another matter.
Putting these things before the national interest, the target or number of killings became only another symbolical issue. The contest between Fur Seal and Etha had never stopped. The two special agencies meant to attack each other until one side was eventually defeated.
However, the experienced and astute James would also make mistakes. Catalina Don Holmes, Her Royal Highness the Princess deliberately revealed her whereabouts. She used the big sailboat as a bait to prepare a firework display for the visiting Engelish Royal Navy Rangers. The raging fires on the big sailboat reflected the dying souls, but the West Percian would not sympathize with the enemy. They set up small boats around the massive sailboat as to continue casting cold arrows at the members of Engelish Royal Navy that tried to jump into the sea.
Perhaps the indomitable spirit of the Engelish was a product that history competed to achieve. On the fifth day after the loss of more than thirty secret agents of the Royal Navy, the precise coordinate of the Princess of West Percy cum mistress of Etha was clearly engraved on the plan of action. This time, the Engels obtained a massive harvest! The backbones responsible for defending that Etha manor were all gone, only a highly-qualified paladin escaped the place with Her Highness the Princess that was severely wounded.
"When will this finally end?" O'Neil Andrew Morisette was resting on a giant sofa, beside him seated Southern Government Affairs Chancellor whose face was twisted into a grimace of concerns.
Philip Goolean scratched his head embarrassedly. This quarter's government revenue was going to fall through!
The once prosperous Vielonna has fallen into a pool of dismal as former merchants returned to their hometown or home countries. Even though the government came forward to persuade, and even announced new preferential policies, the merchants could not risk with their own lives and properties. Even those nobles that stayed in the city center all year round also retreated to their own territory, some also organized considerable proper armed militias.
"It's better if you decide!" the Southern Government Affairs Chancellor returned the issue to Imperial Prince irresponsibly.
Oscar took a sip of coffee and then stared at him coldly.
"Don't give me this look as if you're out of ideas. I know the Southern Government and you have already come up with a proposal."
"Hehe! Who told you that?" Philip grinned in embarrassment. He had always expected the smart Prince O'Neil would notice it.
"Don't worry about where I heard that from. Just tell me, when can the proposal go into practice?"
Philip laughed drily, "Your Highness, that plan... is not aimed at you."
Oscar snorted, "It can't be better if it's aimed at me. Let me see who's the one with such a great courage."
A servant girl brought an old man from the inner room into the living room. Philip and the Prince of Empire stood up successively. The old Count Goolean was a respected man, even O'Neil Andrew Morisette did not want to neglect the godfather of music, "Your Highness, it is a pleasure to meet you for the first time! Your visit made me very honored."
Oscar helped the old man to his seat, but he did not want to be involved too much with the old guy whose mind was filled with musical notes and ridiculous ideas.
"My Lord Count, let's not beat around the bush!" Oscar personally served the old man a cup of black tea, "What plans do you and your friends have in mind for the current situation?"
The old man glanced at his son, and Philip stood quietly by the side like he was not a part of this. After a long silence, Count Goolean finally put up a quivering finger, "Your Highness! A condition!"
Oscar shook his head impatiently. He also subconsciously stared at Philip.
"As far as I know, your influence on the southern noble circle is not powerful enough to limit this condition to one! For instance, there are many nobles in Borne Province with forests lands holding want to get involved in the timber business in Rylie Province, while local nobles in Rylie Province would like to take an extra interest in the Bodega investment plan, and in Bodega... based on that unprecedented development plan, the local nobles do not want to excessively interrupt the existing economic order. Finally, the idle lords in the provinces of Bordier Province and Westria Province had no choice but to tackle the United Government of Five Southern Provinces. They wish to increase two places in the administrative system with their respective provinces. To put it plainly, they want to compete for more interests."
Gru Goolean chuckled, "Your Highness, if you accept this condition, those you have just mentioned will no longer be your problems."
"Oh?" Oscar was genuinely curious.
Old Count Goolean raised three fingers this time, "You have to promise, that you will establish a third-tier council within the jurisdiction of the United Government of Five Southern Provinces!"
"I... don't quite understand what you mean!" Oscar expressed his thoughts honestly. Third-tier? This was the first time he heard of this.
"We have to start from the beginning!" announced the old man, before he pointed to the Prince of the Empire dressed in his magnificent military uniform.
"Your Highness, imperial members like you, high-ranking nobles like those with hereditary titles and territories, these people who made up the pillars and highest leadership of the country, starting from Her Majesty the Empress, you all are considered the first tier."
"Like me! My friends, and colleagues of United Government of Five Southern Provinces and House of Lords," the old man pointed at himself, "that acquire small say locally with either a rank of nobility or title of honor, able to give pointers in affairs of House of Lords and local administration, we are considered the second tier."
Oscar nodded in understanding, "Then the third-tier is the financial oligarchy and those commercial mandates, right?"
"Not exactly!" Goolean shook his head again and again, "The third-tier refers to all the citizen classes that are brought together by the aim of preserving private property. Some of them are free citizens, some are small producers, some are handicraft owners, some of whom are farm owners. Only a small part among them are financial giants, bankers, and industry oligarchs."
Oscar rested his chin in his palm. He looked around himself but there was no one that could give him any suggestion. What was the purpose of this third-tier council? What was its function? What was its operational method? What changes would it bring to the entire south after its establishment? He had no answers at all to these questions.
"I need time to think about it!"
The old count nodded, "You certainly have to spend some time to think carefully. The establishment of a third-tier council is an epoch-making move, even the among me and my friends who came up with this proposal only grasp its value of existence. We still have not arrived at an agreement as of the specific operation."
"Isn't it a bit too early to use this as a condition?" Oscar was confused. Since the southerners have not reached an agreement within themselves, why should they put things up on the table at this time?
"It's not too late now!" Gru Goolean stared at the sky outside the window, "What does the South need? The confidence in survival and development, and the spirit to maintain survival and development! The spirit surges high among the third-tier, and they own all conditions to achieve prosperity, but there is only one obstacle! They lack confidence, they do not trust the empire, nor a union with the second tier, not to mention the first tier who put their heart and soul to drain whatever they have -"
"You can just say directly that they do not trust me!" Oscar interrupted the old man in annoyance. He couldn't help but grumble. What about those treacherous businessmen? Were they worth his trust? These people only thought of their own interests when they looked at problems.
The old count spread his hands open, "You can say so! This is why I don't need your exact reply yet, but if you are really planning to establish a third-tier council, allow the rich man with an abundance of funds and the increasingly affluent citizen class the right to participate in politics, then most of the problems that are before your eyes will be easily solved."
Oscar shrugged indifferently, "My Lord, let's talk about the top priority! I don't want the Engelish and West Percian to continue fighting, at least not fight in Titan territory, but I absolutely cannot balance the benefits between two sides: sea and land-based."
"Why do Your Highness have to balance their interests?" Gru Goolean looked at the young Prince slightly strangely.
Oscar regarded the old man like he was an idiot, "Is it that difficult to understand? If West Percy and Faran defeated the Engels, they will turn their heads to deal with Titan and Andrew who have not stood firm on the sea. Whereas if Engels defeated West Percy and Faran, let's not pay attention to Faran first West Percy! If the kingdom loses its right to ride in the sea, then it is over for them! If so, what else can I negotiate with Engels? Once the Engelish have mastered the sea, I have to listen to them no matter what."
"Hahahaha!" The old count suddenly laughed uncontrollably, and Oscar's face immediately turned grave. The old count quickly changed his expression and let worries and concerns washed all over his face.
"Your Highness! Please don't misunderstand me. I was not laughing at you, but I just wanted to say, that the way you regard problem… is still rather premature!"
"Ola... is it?"
"Please listen to my explanation!" Gru Goolean gently knocked on the table. "Just take this matter right now, you can definitely invite Prince of Engels and Princess of West Percy to sit down on the same desk. You can accept all the conditions that they request of you, but… when they ask you for compensation or benefits, you can tell them that the those should be coordinated by themselves. Titan has no reason or a need to maintain a balanced relationship on the sea with Engels and West Percy."
Oscar was suddenly puzzled, "You mean... I just take everything they offer, but they have to rely on themselves if they're going to compete?"
"Something similar!" The old man smiled and nodded.
"Is this going to work?" Oscar shook his head again and again. "If this is the case... West Percy isn't an opponent for Engels. They will suffer a big loss when they fight."
"Yes! That's right. When the time comes, West Percy will suffer a big loss!" old man nodded again.
Oscar rolled his eyes, "Then can you tell me? Why should I earn the maritime benefits promised to me by West Percy? It is my indifference that makes them suffer!"
Gru Goolean waved his hand, "Your Highness, what you are interested in is the interest, not a relationship with a dominant power! When the Engels press forward at West Percy, you can terminate the cooperation with the Engels and entrust everything to the weakened West Percy!"
"Ola... Engels will despise me!"
"Haha, but this is the soul of the political life!" The old count spoke with confidence. "Forming alliances... breaking promises... betraying other's trust... getting into alliance again... and then going back on your words... If you still have the bargaining chips in your hand, you can keep this game going on for as long as you want, until one of them can no longer afford to play!"
Oscar did not reply. He just repeatedly pondered on the so-called "soul of the political life".
Gru Goolean patted the young man's shoulders, "Don't forget, Your Highness, the chips are in your hands! And... the rules of the game are not simply gambling, so only your partner can share your stack. If the Engels let West Percy suffer a huge loss, and even drive them out of your sight, then the Engels won't get your chips either, because the chips in your game belonged to the loser. In other words, if Engels want to win the chips, they will also have to pretend to be the losers. They have to reach a consensus with West Percy, and come back to beg for your forgiveness!"
"Well, it does sound like a good plan!" Oscar let out a breath of relief, but his expression suddenly turned cold again! "But... how do you know that the Engelish will follow and play along our way? Maybe they will get rid of me, the big rock that was obstructing their way, by force, and then find themselves an easier going ally!"
Gru Goolean nodded, "Indeed, casting away the obstructing rock will make their journey easier, but I believe you will not give Engelish the opportunity to do so."
Oscar laughed and began sipping on the bright red tea.
Dark brown color with a rich aroma. The understanding of tea in Westland, or all westerners perhaps, was very limited. When the Persian merchants showed them the eastern tea leaves, most of the nobles shook their head in disapproval. They couldn't understand why they had to spend half a day to wait for a cup of tea that could be finished in one sip.
Although this kind of cultural thing was considered a high-end consumption for most nobles, the Crelini House was familiar with all sorts of new finds. The giant drug lord lived in the southern mountainous areas, or to be precise, where they lived was the evergreen Amber Sudan Valley with a warm climate.
The visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Catalina Don Holmes's made the Crelini old house built at the foot of the hill shine with brilliance, but the Princess of West Percy was lifted through the door by several doctors. Even so, Sir Leon Arsea the host did not dare to neglect the distinguished guest, especially not the secret intelligence organization that got the princess's back.
The Crelini House used to shine in its time. However, this giant drug lord failed to bring its house to progress. The opium business in Westland plummeted gravely, and naturally, the opium market bellwether had to bear the brunt. At one point, the Crelini House controlled 70% of the market transactions, but now, especially after the Engelish officials intervened in the opium market, a large amount of trade has been lost from inland to overseas.
The Crelini House had always maintained a good relationship with the West Percy noble circle, as most of their overseas transactions have passed through West Percy's shipping companies and several other trusted dignitaries. Princess Catalina did not deny that West Percy tried its best to prevent opium from entering its kingdom, but she did not think that the Crelini House was paying two-handers with the God. The existence of legal business naturally brought up illegal businesses. Both kinds of businesses had one similarity, that involved either of trading of power or transaction of money.
The Crelini House entered Etha's sight not because of the bulk opium sale, but because of the private salt business that was beyond the opium trade. West Percy was rich in producing sea salt, as often performed highly profitable to sell them inland. The Crelini House inherited the lands and ships of the first sea salt smuggler of Titan, hence Etha had to maintain a good relationship with this House as she began its investigation.
In fact, wasn't this a trade? As long as the Crelini House's ships docked at West Percy ports were full of West Percian sea salt, then Etha would protect this family's status and business within their borders.
For Catalina, this transaction was not only safe, and the benefits were extraordinarily rewarding; even more affordable than the official sales with Titan.
Based on this mutual benefit, when Catalina's team suffered defeat when victory was within reach, the Crelini House felt responsible to step forward bravely. Sir Leon Arsea even released news to the outside world that the Princess of West Percy was in Amber Sudan, and he welcomed friends from all over the world to come for trouble!
It was estimated that the Engelish would not easily provoke the most powerful family of the Underworld, while the West Percian religious zealots would not risk irritating the industry giant for the interests of their annual opium trades. Although Catalina was grateful for Crelini's rescue, her mind and heart were as clear as a mirror. She knew that Sir Arsea was probably asked to lend his hand under O'Neil Andrew Morisette's request. Those involved in the Underworld knew that Prince of Titan was relative to Crelini House.
Catalina continued to ponder on one problem during her recovery - exactly what kind of a person was O'Neil Andrew Morisette? He did not care much about women and did not overly obsessed himself with alcohol and drugs. A great person of power like him normally had some vices or quirks, but the information collected from Etha displayed truthfully that this man did not gamble, use prostitutes, visit salon clubhouses, or like socializing. The Prince of Titan, Marshal of Imperial Guards, and Chief of Military Intelligence Bureau! This lord had not even thrown a ball during his short stay in Dulin! What did this man occupy himself with all day?
Sir Crelini forced a smile before replying West Percy Princess, "His Highness the Prince is busy plotting schemes and causing death!"
Catalina nodded in agreement. The identity and status of O'Neil Andrew Morisette determined his destiny. Even if his depressive behavior was partly natural and further strengthened in the later days, the path he had chosen was out of his own decision. It was a two-way route that could bring him to his peak or death. The closer he reached out to the peak, the closer he was to his death!
Catalina thought again, was it her young ignorance that made her fall in love with Prince Titan, or was there other reasons? Now, Catalina only thought of her old lover as an average-looking Narcissus man. She was the Princess of West Percy, and West Percy produced handsome-looking men. No matter in her past, current, or future, the men that kneeled in front of the hem of her dress were much better looking than O'Neil Andrew Morisette, but Her Highness the Princess did not want to admit that her heart was misled by the man's eminent identity and status.
In Catalina's fantasy, her marriage partner should be a foreign prince of influential power. O'Neil Andrew Morisette was the leader of Titan Andrew, also the Highness Prince of this old empire. He met all of the princess's requirements, in comparison to her navy marshal... Catalina had to remind herself that marriage with the kingdom's navy marshal was a kind of sacrifice for the royal family. In facing the domestic troubles and foreign invasions, the royal family had no alternatives but sacrificing their distinguished princess to win over the mighty, highly-respected, superior navy bureaucratic system.
Therefore, Catalina thought that it was the identity and status of O'Neil Andrew Morisette that gave her the loving affection, or at least an illusion of it! How long had it been since she last thought about him? How long had it been since she mentioned his name? Why did she not play along with the sudden passion that happened on the ship? Why did she retreat backward at a critical moment?
There seemed to be only one answer to these questions... Catalina nodded firmly, "O'Neil Andrew Morisette! I don't love you!"
Princess Catalina fell into a sudden wave of loneliness. She knew she was deceiving herself, so she quickly changed her thinking. "O'Neil Andrew Morisette, I don't love you anymore!"
She must make up her mind since she no longer loved him!
Catalina Don Holmes waited until her deputy arrived from home country and asked the person one question.
"Forget about the conditions we offered! What is the chance that Andrew will choose Engels?"
The person in charge of Etha's secret operations replied, "There is 70% that Engels will be favored!"
She must make up her mind since she no longer loved him! Catalina encouraged herself silently in her heart. In her soft voice, she asked, "If O'Neil Andrew Morisette no longer exists, does it mean that the chaos of Titan sending troops to Slovenia will disappear?"
The other person thought for a moment, " If O'Neil Andrew Morisette no longer exists, the possibility of Andrew continuing to send troops to Slovenia is only twenty or thirty percent!"
"So, what are you waiting for?"
Catalina turned around when she finished while whispering, "I don't love you anymore... I don't love you anymore..."