"The latest intelligence indicates that Gustan is hiding in Tania."
"So our allies ultimately failed?"
"They are still searching and it seems they haven't given up yet..."
"What, you mean... they need our help?"
"No, but... they need our cover. If we don't solve this potential threat, you and I will not feel at ease."
"..."
"The situation in the city has stabilized again, and opening some convenient doors is just a matter of effort..."
"The number of adventurers has begun to increase in the recent city. Last night, a large adventure group went out. It seems that they have participated in actions against the empire... We already have enough unstable factors."
"That's why we should win over allies. As for those adventurers... we should continue to put pressure on Freestone and let him properly discipline those unruly untouchables..."
"Adventurers will not change because of anyone's discipline. We have experienced it countless times! Don't relax just because we have the advantage now. That will ruin our own destiny with our own hands, or... we
Has his control reached the point where he can suppress disputes at will?"
"Don't forget... we still have a Pamir that we haven't solved yet."
"Pamir...it's time to start dealing with this final nail."
"The situation has not completely swung to our side. We still have many other threads that need to be cut. If we start the plan now... there will be more variables."
"...I will tell the fox and ask him to speed up the progress, so as to avoid long nights and dreams."
"Especially the members of the civilian faction. They are the most likely members to repent. They must be appeased."
"However...according to our understanding, the rise of those congressmen was almost all secretly promoted by the Speaker. As long as Pamir is away, they should not cause any trouble."
“Should we do it simultaneously?”
"...We should discuss this possibility."
"Okay, I'll let the other side continue to exert pressure in two days. At that time... we will discuss the reaction of these people together."
"And the adventurers in the city...if everything goes well, their existence will soon become our biggest stumbling block."
"Or the biggest magic bomb..."
"It should be handled as properly as possible."
"No matter how powerful the local adventure group is, they are not monolithic among themselves and within themselves, let alone the adventurers who help us. As long as we promise a lot of profits and a little guidance, we may be able to wait for a good show...
"
"It would be easier if that were the case, but among them... there are still a few troublesome ones."
"...Who are you referring to? Is it the leader of Jianghu, or the one who fought with us a few days ago?"
"According to recent intelligence, the leader of the adventure group named Jiang Hu has disappeared recently. He seems to be busy with other things. Now, the person on the front line for them is another adventure group named Sword of Justice. As for the other person...
…He and his companions are recently trying to return to the city to continue their previous pursuit.”
"Is that the same person who visited Taling Cathedral the night before yesterday?"
"Judging from the results... yes, because few people can survive Tuvit's electric magic."
"Put him on the list of important care targets and try not to let him get close to important places. If necessary... Taikan, it's up to you."
"As long as the plan can be implemented smoothly, this problem is nothing, for the sake of...the glory of the empire."
"For the glory of the empire."
****************************
"Why should we listen to the Empire's orders? We should stand up and give them a tough response!"
"Come on, Congressman Vincent, you still can't face the failure of Fars Fortress? Dusk hasn't dared to come back to face parliamentary scrutiny until now. Do you want to be the next one?"
"Then, we cannot accept such a condition. Half of the members of the parliament, plus so many senior officials, have to hand over the Speaker. How can we accept such a condition?"
"At least we can talk, and President Horsman has not said anything yet, and that old guy Fortes has not expressed his position once..."
"What do you think, Senator Harry? Do you want us to follow them?"
"No, but... we must consider how to deal with the consequences of them agreeing to this proposal."
"The proposal will not be passed! No way!"
"Don't jump to conclusions so confidently. At least part of it...maybe there's something wrong with it. Haven't you seen that some of the people on the list haven't shown up much recently?"
"How is that possible? Do you mean the Speaker also has a problem?"
"Don't mess around! You know what I mean..."
"Stop, Coles, and Harry, stop doubting your compatriots..."
"If the Speaker cannot come forward now, we will not be able to prove their innocence! Do you want to use the lives of the entire city of Tania to vouch for us?"
"What are you...!"
"stop fighting!"
On the second floor of Valletta Hospital, the door of a crowded ward was suddenly opened. A woman in a white nurse uniform put her hands on her waist and aggressively suppressed all the noise of the big shots crowded in the room.
Go on: "How many times do you want me to warn you? The patients here still need to rest! It's only eight o'clock in the evening, but we have already received three complaints from the surrounding patients. How long are you going to keep making noise here?"
"If you have anything to do, please go out and discuss it!"
"But, but..."
"Nothing!" Among the people who separated automatically, the angry nurse crossed the road between them and came to the side of the hospital bed. Then, with a pair of smiling eyes, he opened his arms and made a gesture.
Human attitude: "It's so late and you haven't gone back yet, do you want to keep vigil for me? Is there anything you can't do tomorrow? I can go, go, go, go..."
"But we still have problems..."
"If you are still worried about something, you are welcome to register in our emergency room. Although it is not our specialty, we currently also accept psychological treatment..."
"It seems...you like this girl very much."
Looking at the crowd that was gradually moving away due to the woman's efforts, Pamir slowly withdrew his gaze, and next to his clear ears, a fat man's voice sounded again: "Those congressmen didn't even listen to what they said.
…”
"This is not something I can handle right now."
Pamir replied calmly, and then pondered for a while: "...You go and tell them that although my injury is about to recover, I am not currently on duty, so before I am discharged from the hospital... don't do anything like this..."
It was discussed in front of me.”
"Even if I have an opinion, it won't have any effect now." He said with a smile: "They are wasting their time."
"Don't you care about Horsman's matter?" The fat man did not walk away immediately, but looked back at the other person's face: "What if that old guy really has a brain attack?"
"...I am willing to make sacrifices for the future of the principality, but that is all for later." Pamir said meaninglessly: "It is not our turn to mention this matter now, do you...understand?"
After looking at each other for a while, the fat man finally shook his head. Then, while loudly emphasizing something to the black-clothed guard guarding the door, he walked towards the distance of the ward. Pamir, who was alone again, felt a little leisurely.
He exhaled a breath, and then brought the proposals that had appeared in the parliament brought by those councilors in front of him: "Well... the Fars battle report, the defense of Anta Town, and the plans in the city
A routine protest...isn’t there any news that has nothing to do with the war?”
Helplessly throwing the paper aside, the Speaker, with his hands behind his head, lay quietly on the hospital bed behind him. Then in the increasingly peaceful atmosphere, he suddenly let out a long sigh as if talking to himself: "
at last……"
"You are still the adventurers."
"Horsman supports my reuse of adventurers. At least before the war broke out, he didn't have any objections to my ideas. Now in this situation... except for the compromise, I can no longer think of any other reason for him.
.”
"I am not afraid of death." He said quietly: "If... the principality is still the original principality."
The dim light made the quietness of the room more obvious, but the man lying on the hospital bed seemed to have no intention of stopping: "After two assassinations, I also felt the deep malice... Imperial Fang He
It seems that some people within the principality don’t want to see me continue to live, which makes me have to make some deep reflections on the things I have done and the promises I have made.”
"Which measure caused public outrage? Do they really have no room for adventurers as a group in their eyes?"
He smiled and closed his eyes: "No, it shouldn't be like this. In the hundreds of years after the destruction of the Magic Empire, there has never been a case of adventurers taking power. This is not only because their status and abilities are not high enough, but also because
They themselves are not united enough.”
"They... no, you are not born to be rulers." He twitched his lips: "Adventures, treasures, and heroic deeds... these things are your destination."
"No, no, no, as one of them, I still want to clarify something."
In the deep night sky outside the window, Duan Qing's voice appeared like a shooting star: "We just like that sense of accomplishment, whether it is the power of being a strong man or the power of a hegemon."
"...Why don't you come in and sit for a while?"
"If you wish."
Still wearing the black cloak, Duan Qing's figure appeared quietly in the room, and then before the shaking window was about to close, he sat on a seat in the corner of the ward: "The gathering of adventurers"
, will eventually be transformed into a sense of accomplishment after these successes. As for the grudges and resentments that will burst out...that is another issue."
"We still have reasons to do these things." He lowered his head: "Rule the principality...or change things in the principality."
"Is this the reason why I have been unanimously opposed?" Pamir was still looking at the ceiling quietly, as if Duan Qing's arrival did not surprise him: "Just because you will become a potential threat to them?"
"So far, they only think so subconsciously." Duan Qing spread his hands helplessly: "But... things like murder don't need to be thought through so thoroughly. Sometimes it's just that I don't like you.
...This is enough."
"I have been in office for several years, and I don't think I have left such a bad image on the world." Pamir, who was lying on the bed, slowly shook his head: "Am I labeled as a rebel just because of a piece of legislation?
Is there a label?”
"Either you're a revolutionary, or...it's not your fault in the first place." Duan Qing's voice was full of disdain and indifference: "Just like we always insist that we have nothing wrong."
"...Why exactly is that?"
"Do I have to figure it out?"
"If we don't answer this question, how can we solve the current situation?"
"I also want to answer this question for you, but there are many things I haven't figured out... than what I know now."
Duan Qing's arms were supported on his knees: "The lack of intelligence is also a major reason why the problem cannot be solved."
"Intelligence?" Pamir opened his eyes: "What do you want to know?"
"Originally I wanted to ask straight to the point." Duan Qing hid his chin in his raised hands: "But judging from your current situation... I probably won't get the answer."
"Is this the purpose of your visit tonight..."
"I visited many places today." Duan Qing replied in a deep voice: "The Adventurers Association, the Warrior's Home, the Black Market, the Library...and of course, the Shadow Society. None of them contacted me directly and answered my questions.
Question. It wasn’t until I went to the parliament hall later and learned something that I thought of you who had not yet been discharged from the hospital, and the fat man who was still by your side."
"What is the so-called list...?" Duan Qing asked in a low voice: "And what is the reason for the war that you have been hiding?"
"...Now that things have happened, there seems to be no point in concealing these things." Pamir sighed: "The empire accused our principality of hiding thugs, creating and sheltering criminals who attacked the border. Of course, they are on the list now.
It’s the culprit who asked to be handed over.”
"Of course, the people on the list were 'investigated' by them." Looking at Duan Qing's eyes that were still full of suspicion, Pamir smiled bitterly: "There are also... people they think are responsible for this war."
"Is this the reason why you are among them?" Duan Qing asked in a low voice: "Will you agree?"
"At present, it seems very likely." Pamir replied in a low voice: "And...Horsman seems to be inclined to agree."
"Has Horsman been traveling around lately?"
"Yes, he wants to call on everyone to unite and resist the invasion of the empire..."
"Even now, do you still think he is doing this?"
"...What are you?"
"What exactly is underground in Tania City?"
"..."
"I tried to get close to the bottom of the parliament hall again and again, but in the end I was always stopped by some unknown people. Later, I was even wanted by the entire Tania for this strange reason... This is another
Why?"
"this……"
"Who gave the order to mobilize the city guards?"
"..."
"You should know the news about Tasker's garrison in Talan Village, right? But do you know how many guards he took away?"
"……what do you want to say?"
"You see, our problems have changed."
Looking at Pamir's increasingly serious face, Duan Qing's expression also became subtle: "There are so many things that you and I don't know, and there are so many problems that we haven't figured out yet. If you want to be in such a situation,
It is simply impossible to make a correct judgment..."
"...It's a pity, but I have been hospitalized to recuperate during this period, so..."
"Then let me ask a question you know." Duan Qing suddenly interrupted and asked: "Where is Horsman's residence?"
"……Um?"
"You tell me the location and I'll investigate it myself."
Duan Qing looked at the other party and stood up: "Maybe..."
"Your and my problems will be solved."
This chapter has been completed!