Unknown flowers bloomed in the dark depth of the garden, skyscraping sycamore trees grew even taller with the motivation of their annual rings. However, none of these would stop the time from weakening people past their prime. For Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand, this dark corner of the garden suits his current emotion.
A rocking chair made of vine, a glass of Bodegan gold wine, a serving of thin pancakes, an antique book of some years, maybe all these were recreation for a worriless aged person, but for old Kachev, who knows? This old man was different from all the other old men. Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette His Imperial Highness found out about that when he received the old man's invitation.
The invitation goes:
The Wolf Hellfire, returned from the depths of hell, burns in its thoughts and fantasies.
Come, don't hesitate, look in front of you, tear apart the hazy paths.
Come, don't doubt yourself, leave the humiliation and fear to the hyenas.
Come, even if the hyenas dominate the plains, a slab of bloody meat, they'll never refuse.
Come, o ferocious wolf, lure them to hell with the flesh you use.
Come, o proud wolf, meat will entice the hyenas, if you wrapped it around a scheme.
Come, o lone wolf, large numbers have they, but their eyes have the same gleam.
Come, o wise wolf, you care for the one, but why? If you catch one, it's just as pleasing.
Come, o cunning wolf, the hyenas have plotted with the panther, you must inform our king.
Come, come quick, wolf! Your heart needs not be so merciful.
Come, my dear wolf, send the hyenas to the netherworld like they once did to you.
Oscar had read the invitation countless times in disbelief. He couldn't believe this esteemed old man would summarize his intricate plotting and countless sacrifice with just a poem.
Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand was the teacher of Alfa III His Majesty, as well as the Secretary of State when he first ascended the throne. Moreover, he was the longest-serving principal of the Dulin University, a lot of the people of importance have been students of this old man, all in all, he was a highly esteemed man. However, that had been a long time ago, when people talked about him currently, they would probably only remember the events of the Munich Invasion.
To put it in a sentence, the State of Secretary was suspected to have controlled the military illegally to invade other countries. Right after it happened, the historians, military strategists, and political critiques of Westland had discussed the events publically, which was the official record of their debates.
The name Munich Invasion was the official statement after a discussion between the Westland nations, its true nature was hidden within the army of Titan Empire. It was an enormously successful stealth attack, politically and militarily, by the Titan Empire toward the increasingly strong Deiss Kingdom. This attack had placed Titan Empire in a strategic advantage over the rising kingdom, as well as acquiring two rich states from the kingdom.
The Deiss Kingdom had just finished their war with the Northern Ollier nations. Under this huge exhaustion of resources, the Deiss Emperor didn't actually gain any benefits from it, and with the flood once every few centuries, the provinces furthest from the capital, nearing Titan Empire, the provinces of Gilcook and Saraj was under the revolt of the noblemen and the farm slaves consecutively. Like all the historical insurgencies, the rebels quickly gained a succession of victories that forced the elite army at the north back to their own country.
The ruler of the Titan Empire wouldn't miss out on this chance, under the orders of Secretary of State Kachev Drakas Ferdinand, the military power of the whole northwestern part of the empire was mobilized to participate in this Munich Blaze operation. Spies of other nations of the Westland have found out that Titan was going to take a huge action, but their warning toward the Deiss Emperor was ignored. Deiss Emperor opined that the Titans was not strong enough to threaten his throne, but the rebels were stationed less than sixty miles from the capital.
Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand had spent his whole life studying the political situation of Westland. To him, Operation Munich Blaze was a huge gamble. If they'd won, the northwestern border of Titan Empire would be safe for the next century; if they'd lost… well, the duke never considered that as an option, losing is not part of his vocabulary.
The Holy Titan Empire Church's year 772, the night of the 20th of 11th month, three months after the Deiss uprising, the Titan Empire launched the biggest military operation in Westland history. The confidentiality of the operation was so extensive that for the current generation, the specific details were so unclear, they could only find out bits and pieces from the people who were actually involved in the operation.
The empire's former Minister of Military Affairs, General Dundell claimed there were more than twenty-six field armies advancing simultaneously.
The current Military Affairs Chancellor, 'Silver Fox' Marshal Alan stated casually that he mobilized about four hundred thousand men.
Anyhow, the Titan army spent only a week to occupy both Gilcook and Saraj. What's even harder to believe was Titan's advance wasn't even resisted. Admittedly, the victorious conquest was all due to Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand's political wisdom. At the time, every single soldier had held two documents in their hands, one being a declaration of abolition of slavery, the other being the proof of freedom as a Titan citizen, signed by the Emperor of the most powerful nation in Westland. They handed the documents to every Deiss farm slaves they met. The effects of these two documents were surprising. The Titans who embrace freedom brought them the dawnlight of prosperity. As soon as they signed their names on the documents, they'd have become a member of the strongest Empire, as well as the exemption of taxes and corvée for two whole generations after theirs.
The farm slaves were not only given freedom, but also an abundance of tools and assistance. In their eyes, Alfa III His Majesty of Titan Empire was a Emperor closest to God. on the other hand, they don't even know what the word 'Deiss' means other than it being their homeland, praised loudly by their former masters. In Deiss where cultural ties and political background was confusing, the slaves were not allowed education, not even basic words.
Church's year 772, 30th day of the 11th month, in Munich, the capital of the Gilcook province where the revolution of the farm slave began, two leaders of the rebels surrendered to the Titan General who entered the city. In the same day, Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand of Titan Empire held a diplomatic meeting in Deullier Palace, announcing his responsibility toward the Gilcook and Saraj provinces in place of the Deiss Kingdom. The Duke's declaration of liberty only moved himself, it seemed, because the old man remembered the furious fists of the diplomats on that day. Even though the ageing Duke had seen through the other countries' behaviors, he didn't expect the huge response he'd be getting. Faran Kingdom, Italia, Ollier Federation, Riel Kingdom, Czerroc, almost all of the Westland nations strongly protested Titan's conquest, Faran and Italia even went as far as to combine forces to threaten Titan with force.
Even though the actual occupation of the provinces had been done, the strong opposition plunged Titan into a huge disadvantage. To the other countries, Titan's actions were the same as the farm slaves, the divine Titan had resorted to scheming, like bandits do. To these countries, of course the threatening Deiss cannot be left to grow too powerful, but caution had to be taken when dealing with Titan which was far more established. This invasion was definitely a signal, who knows which country would become Titan's next target? They agreed that to stop Titan once and for all, it's better to be on the offense than defense.
On the south west, Faran, Italia, Belrius, West Pusey, and Hoilland had formed a coalition; on the north west, Deiss army was busy driving away shovel-wielding slaves-turned-rebels; north west, Czerroc Kingdom had joined Polanska Kingdom in a large scale military training. According to the Minister of Military Affairs, in that period of time, it was the Persian who were the most peaceful, who knew?
It was the first time the royalty of Titan Empire was opposed so strongly. Even though Alfa III's action was justified by the practical benefits of the outcome, the actions he took was endangering his reputation, he needed an excuse that was legitimate and legal.
Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand inescapably became his scapegoat, the excuse the Emperor and the military advisors came up with was perfect, and the State of Secretary who carried out the operation could only accept the decision. Old Kachev confessed to his 'crime' in the court with the representatives of eleven other countries. He had to step down from his office, keeping only a remote territory and his noble rank, closing the curtain of this Munich Saga. Even though the retreat of the Titan army was already set forth in the court, army mobility was still a difficult task to execute. Of the four hundred thousand soldiers who were consolidated within three months, only a fraction retreated within a year. For those who did not, according to 'Silver Fox' Marshal Alan, "Those pipsqueaks were unable to resist the enticement of foreign women, bless the sweet passions of love, for when a man of war seeks familial bliss, all things become justified."
The Titan Emperor gave lands to these rebel leaders, some who upon witnessing the lavishness of the noble life, chose to pledge their loyalty to their new King. Some others already saw through the scheme of the ruling class, so they continued their rebellion against the Deiss with their men. In the two following years, they were exterminated one by one, as Duke Ferdinand predicted.
Church's year 774 2nd month, as Deiss Imperial Army destroyed the last of the rebel's stronghold and went to the Gilcook-Saraj Border, they realized even though they were still facing the same lowly farm slaves, but these farm slaves had become staunch fighters who were armed to the teeth.
The Deiss Emperor already knew he wouldn't be able to recapture the lands in his lifetime, so he could only curse Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand who caused this whole saga. By then, the old duke had already left the noisy Dulin and stayed with his daughter and son-in-law in Bodega near Slovenja.
However, dear friends, the Finance Minister believed his hermitic lifestyle was part of a larger conspiracy, the storm wouldn't have hit them so silently otherwise. Marquis Almodovar Godzilla waddled unwillingly out of his office. Outside, the officers from the Ministry of Finance and the Financial Secretary of the State Council were passionately slinging around cursewords at each other.
'Sea Creature' sat in the lounge outside his office, intrigued. Seeing their boss, the officers from the ministry became even more unscrupulous, drowning the other side with insults unheard of.
The secretary of 'Sea Creature', Baron Radine explained to his boss about the general situation. Even though verbal altercations like this happen every tendays to a fortnight, it was weird this time around. The men from the Financial Secretary of the State Council didn't plan to back down, wanting an explanation, but was it really worth it to fight over a small investment like this?
"What kind of investment?" Duke Almodovar Godzilla also figured something was wrong, every other time when this would happen, his old friend Barbara, the Director of the Financial Secretary division would have warned him.
"Oh, sir Duke, it involves the brother of Secretary of State Duke Robinson Brickfield. As you know, he was the one managing the Brickfields' wealth, one of his investments was found out to have violated the laws of Titan Empire, the Financial Secretary of the State Council insist they have followed the procedure to approaching the issue, but we were also just following the Financial Law to have frozen this investment, we haven't found out what went wrong."
Marquis Godzilla looked like he sensed danger permeating the air.
"Who is Robert Carter Brickfield dealing with?"
"We don't know, I heard it's an influential Deiss man."
Marquis Godzilla went silent in deep thoughts. Ten whole minutes went by, and he still couldn't figure it out, but his instinct told him this would be a great conspiracy. The Marquis thought it was definitely not time for Ministry of Finance to make their standpoint known. He needed a higher authority, before that specific lord's interpretation of the situation, it was unwise to make any moves.
The Finance Minister's carriage stopped at 31 Penelope Street. Marquis Almodovar Godzilla saw the famous carriage, the highest standard of Andrews' carriages, obviously someone important was going out.
The Finance Minister signalled his driver to communicate with the driver of the other carriage to verify the identity of the owner, but before he could say anything, a servant of the house invited him in, saying their young Prince had been waiting for him the whole morning.
Marquis Almodovar Godzilla entered Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette His Imperial Highness' carriage and met the young Prince and his bodyguard.
The Marquis had questions enough to fill his bulging belly, but he still waited patiently for the crafty teenager to elaborate on his intention. The young Prince did, but of other things.
"Sir Marquis, I heard your gold had landed in a small harbor in Italia, and my father had also sent forth the emergency military expenditure to His Majesty, that would mean you can once again sit back and relax."
"Hehe, Your Imperial Highness are definitely efficient, I wonder if there's anything to clarify regarding our working together?"
"I'm not sure what you are referring to, Marquis Godzilla. Up until now, we've only had one joint business."
Marquis wiped away his sweat on his brow, "I'm referring to the events happening in Dulin, don't Your Imperial Highness think it'd be helpful to discuss it?"
Oscar knew Marquis Godzilla played a key role in his plan, however, now that a cunning old fox had joined the plan, the communication with the Finance Minister had lost its importance.
"Sir Marquis, aren't you curious about where we're heading to?"
Almodovar Godzilla sighed. Casting his gaze outside the window, he already knew the Prince's intention. It seems he was acting too hastily. 'Sea Monster' felt confused, he wasn't sure why he kept losing focus in recent days, even though he could tell something huge is going to happen before the Prince was officially canonized, he wasn't able to get excited about it, not even the gold's arrival would rouse his excitement.
The Prince's carriage stopped in front of the Hotel Galiferron. The Finance Minister has had some impression of the place. Rich people of Westland liked staying in this particular hotel. The Finance Minister had thought about owning a hotel before, but he gave up on the thought once he thought it through. Hotel Galiferron has had over two hundred years of history, it's not something that can be easily taken over with gold.
Marquis Godzilla was sure the young Prince was attending a secret meeting, as he didn't enter the restaurant, but took a normal-looking carriage under the attendance of the lobby manager.
The young Prince didn't feel like explaining anything to 'Sea Monster', who seemed to know everything would be revealed in time, so the inside of the carriage was quiet except for Emperor of Assassin Snowstorm's occasional book-flipping. 'Sea Monster' was really curious about this bodyguard, he had seen a lot of people, but he couldn't find any semblance of familiarity on the bodyguard. It was hard to imagine the bodyguard of such an important person to be so bland, to the point of almost shineless. 'Sea Monster' was a little scared, people like this were either hopeless, or hopelessly dangerous. Understanding how the Prince is, the bodyguard seemed to be the latter instead of the former.
They have finally arrived at the destination. 'Sea Monster' extrapolated from the distance they've travelled and deduced it to be a small manor in the southern suburbs of Dulin.
The manor was named Halar, its age seemed to have been lost in history. Marquis Almodovar Godzilla followed the Prince into the manor, which he swore to have never stepped foot in, but the layouts of the patio and the garden were very familiar to him.
Duke Kachev Drakas Ferdinand sat in a corner of the garden. His physician had already warned him not to stay in shades for a long time, but he had yet to conquer the bad habit. In the depth of the garden, he could feel his lifeforce extending toward all sides with the branches.
By the old Duke's seat, there was a corner table with four servings of thin pancakes and a bottle of fine Bodegan gold wine. Undoubtedly, the old Duke planned to greet his visitors in this dark corner.
He had a head of pale white, a pair of reading glasses, a slightly misshapen, aged forehead, and a pair of stiff lips, ravaged by loneliness. When Marquis Godzilla saw the old man sitting in his rattan chair, he finally found the source of his unease.
"My beloved teacher, please forgive your ignorant student, I didn't know you have arrived in Dulin. I would have received you with the grandest reception, I swear!"
The old Duke waved Marquis Godzilla off mindlessly, he didn't care much for his student's flattery, he only wanted to meet the legendary teenager standing in front of him. Until now, he could only describe the teenager as 'miraculous'. In all the fifteen years, this teenage Prince was the only person he did not expect.
Oscar tried to appear as calm as possible, but he knew he was already at a disadvantage, he even think the old man in front of him would be the winner in the end, and that his own efforts were all stepping stones for the old man's victory.
After the initial courtesy speeches, the Prince and the Finance Minister sat on the prepared seats. The old Duke seemed to be a big fan of Oscar's father, as he talked about how Marshal Dortmund Andrew Nedgabel came to Dulin to study, holding Oscar's hands.
Marquis Almodovar Godzilla had still not recovered from the shock of seeing the old man, but he finally understand that was how things would have gone. The Prince's plan from the start was to set up the Secretary of State, and even the whole House of Brickfield. The one set to take over the State Council was the old Duke who was ousted a long time ago. However, 'Sea Monster' had not expected things to escalate so quickly, he didn't even had time to think. It's better not to tell tales or show off in front of the old Duke, lest he run the risk of getting into trouble.
In the time Marquis Godzilla was in his own thoughts, O'Neil Andrew Morisette had already shifted topic to the focus, Secretary of State Duke Robinson Brickfield. All in all, the old man was still pretty approving of this State of Secretary. However, some things cannot be changed, Oscar talked about his assumptions to which the old Duke made analysis of. If things really go as the kid said, House of Brickfield would not be able to endure the incoming danger.
No one understands politics more than old Kachev, the young Prince may be acting out of self-preservation, but his target was still the Secretary of State of the largest empire in Westland. Taking down and replacing a Secretary of State would affect a whole nation in a large scale. Even though the old Duke guessed some of O'Neil Andrew Morisette's actions right, he could barely believe the kid's clear-headedness when he was executing the acts. He may be a perfect politician.
"Just these? You only found out these?" A roar tore through a secret room in Hamilton Palace.
"Forgive my uselessness, Your Majesty! We could only dig out these so far. I have reasons, if you'd like to hear it."
Alfa III had had enough of the inefficacy of the Secret Service. Even though the one reporting to him was the Minister of Justice, Marquis Roment Huga Andeses, it couldn't stop his blood from boiling.
"Roment, before you tell me anything, I'd like you to keep this in mind. If you can't guarantee your report's authenticity, don't tell me."
"Your Majesty, everything I am about to say has happened. I have already sacrificed three of my finest men, their reports are definitely reliable. As you should know, the other side was heavily regulating the information in circulation, and also because the people involved were too powerful, investigation in the Empire had been at a stop." Minister of Justice Marquis Roment Huga Andeses chose his words cautiously. He knew, as soon as he messes up, the Emperor would punish him heavily.
"Then say it! What else do you have aside from the ones you just told me?" Alfa III had calmed down, realizing he had committed a gaffe. However, that was understandable, no rulers could stay completely calm when their trusted helpers was being suspected of treachery.
"Your Majesty, you would have understood how it began. If it wasn't for the Ministry of Finance having a different standpoint from the Financial Secretary of the State Council, we would not have discovered the secret within."
"My deputies and I realized it wasn't a simple investment dispute, if Brickfield's investment wasn't problematic, Ministry of Finance wouldn't have retorted. Because it was an emergency, we started investigation before notifying Your Majesty. The initial report was surprising, to say the least, according to the information from House of Brickfield, they will be cooperating with the Deiss on the development of the mines in Bagerr province. However, according to my agents, those mines don't exist, meaning the Brickfield's were dealing with the Deiss on something ethereal. In addition to that, according to the records of the Financial Secretary of the State Council, while the Brickfield's were making huge profits, they were also spending a lot of money in the investment. Your Majesty, I'm sure you have noticed the severity of the problem. Where did the funds go? Did they really went into the nonexistent mines?"
As a ruler, Alfa III was not someone who was easily deceived. He knew something was up with the betrayal of the Secretary of State. However, he was still unsure about the whole event, he didn't believe Robinson Brickfield would be disloyal to him, but he was also unwilling to commit to one idea so easily. According to the initial report, the investment was solely set up for two purposes. For the Deiss, they could use a fictional investment for bribery, and for the House of Brickfield, they could transfer their wealth in broad daylight.
"What else is there? Dammit! Marquis Roment Huga Andeses, you son of a bastard, what are you plotting with these reports that don't explain anything? Proving to me the Secretary of State has committed treason? Where's the goddamn evidence? The ones you procured are not enough; What about motives? Can you explain to me why Robinson would do this? And the most important thing, witnesses! I will not suspect my Secretary of State just because of these allegations you've made, gods! You bloody fool! What else have you got to show me? Show me!" Alfa III was hysterical after being fed with the sudden information.
The Minister of Justice was also at a loss at the King's wrath. He didn't believe his old friend would betray the Empire, but all the evidence was pointing in that direction. As the Minister of Justice, Marquis Roment Huga Andeses does not say things simply. His words represented the Titan's Ministry of Justice, and sometimes it even carries legal validity. As of now, even though he was reluctant to admit, the things he told his Majesty was already enough for the Emperor to suspend the Secretary of State for further inspection.
The silence between the Emperor and the Minister was broken by the Emperor himself, the truth had to be found out.
"When did your investigation start?"
"Your Majesty, we started last week."
"How long has the situation with the Brickfield's been going on?"
"Your Majesty, our investigation had not been thorough enough to retrieve that information. I have not informed the Finance Minister, but I'm confident that if we could pass the information to Marquis Almodovar Godzilla… As you know, he's the expert in financial matters, he would be able to give us an answer for this unusual capital flow."
The Emperor knew that once they confirmed the nature of the circumstance, the effect it'll have would be so severe, he wouldn't even know how to handle the House of Brickfield. Of course, punishment must be based on the situation where the Brickfield's were guilty.
"Roment, remember this, the things you told me today are confidential, no matter if the House of Brickfield was charged, our conversation must not be told to another soul."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I swear on my life and the lineage of the House of Andeses, none of what was discussed today will be found out by a third person."
The Emperor nodded with satisfaction before his eyes darkened. He knew, ever since the young Prince had returned to Dulin, Robinson Brickfield had been engaging in his own plotting. His Secretary of State may have been really disappointed in him, or the Secretary of State must be tired of living!
"Roment, my Head of Chamberlain will bring you a Decree of Investigation, take it and contact Almodovar Godzilla secretly. I request the Ministries of Justice and Finance to jointly form a task group to scrutinize the Secretary of State, Duke Robinson Brickfield and his House, as well as the truth of their capital flow in Deiss."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"One more thing."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Don't tell me what methods you use, don't tell me how many people you sacrificed, understand? My Minister of Justice, the procedure is your concern, and my concern, Roment, is only at the result. I only care about the result as soon as possible, do you understand me?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. You can rest assured that I understand completely."