Free Web NovelChapter 373: Chapter 373 Everything is for This Country_1
Gistas Kingdom’s royal palace, the King’s study.
Dressed in uniform, Earl Heinz Hoffman, Director of the Royal Secret Police, was reporting to the young King with his head bowed:
"Our undercover has successfully infiltrated their secret meeting. Those Republicans gather regularly in a private winery in the Holan District, and we are ready to strike at their meeting at any time. However, based on the undercover’s report, I believe there is a high possibility of a higher-level organization..." freeweɓnovel.cøm
The young new King was leaning back on the cushion and chair back, his hands clasped in front of his belly, his eyes closed.
At this point, he spoke softly, "Heinz."
Heinz glanced up at the still closed-eyed King as if he hadn’t heard and continued his report, "If we act now, we should be able to pry something out of them, but if the higher-up organization catches wind, it might become difficult to catch them all at once—"
This time, the King opened his eyes and raised his voice slightly, "Heinz."
Only then did Heinz lift his face, his expression impassive, and asked, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
"You don’t need to report this matter to me anymore," the King said softly. "There’s no need for you to personally handle it either; leave it to the gendarmerie from now on. I’ve already approved the documents."
"It is my duty, Your Majesty," Heinz replied respectfully.
"The chaos caused by the Republican traitors has only grown to about a thousand men; they can’t stir up much trouble for now. The southern consortium won’t help them, nor will the local nobles. Even the Dragon Spine Empire would not be foolish enough to support a pack of wild dogs that might bite back, not to mention the Republicans wouldn’t accept it. So keeping an eye on them for now is sufficient." The King sat up slightly, "With your capabilities, you shouldn’t waste your energy on ’such trivial matters’."
Heinz fell silent for a moment, then finally lowered his head, "I understand."
The King watched him for a while and then began slowly, "I’ve read the report this morning. The task in the autonomous regions doesn’t seem to be going very smoothly. The target was taken by the local police just as he was about to be captured and ended up in the courts... and then prison? What is this all about?"
"I am very sorry," Heinz lowered his head even further.
"It’s not your fault; if you had been there, I believe I would have already heard satisfactory results. If you did anything wrong, it’s that you weren’t there," the King said slowly. "Being forced into jail out of desperation certainly caught us off guard. But there should have been many opportunities during the transfer by police; they all missed them. Who’s in charge of the mission?"
"Direct conflict with the local judicial authorities can lead to significant complications, especially in the autonomous regions. Once they have an excuse, the Empire might act under the ’Autonomous Regions Pact,’" Heinz said respectfully.
"Who is responsible for the mission?" The King ignored his explanation and repeated the question.
"It’s Flosen." Heinz responded.
"I remember before he left, you dispatched fifty elite men from the central office to him," the King said.
"I apologize for failing your expectations," Heinz said.
"He failed your expectations. It seems he is not fit for the mission, and he can’t handle the situation any longer. Have him return. Now that things have turned out this way, for the next steps..." the King stared directly into Heinz’s eyes and continued, "I want you to handle it personally."
Heinz’s expression remained unchanged, and after a long silence, he began to say something, "Your Majesty..."
"I can only entrust this to you; only you can do it," the King interrupted, then added, "And I only trust you."
Heinz swallowed back the words that had reached his lips.
"This is the pressing issue we need to resolve now," the King said slowly. "We’ve been on her tail so closely and still haven’t succeeded. If she decides to send a cry for help to the opposition, they would definitely have taken action by now. In this game, whoever is slower loses."
"Does it have to be done?"
"It has to. She is innocent, but this is beyond her choice. Even if she has only one breath left, the opposition can still wave their banner and carry on, and the new policy can’t be pushed forward. It’s an unavoidable sacrifice. With external and internal threats, those people are still keen on meaningless infighting. To stop such foolishness, we can only extinguish their hope completely. The handover of the mission is effective immediately. I give you the authority to call upon as many people as you want and use any means necessary to complete this task—this is the King’s command."
Heinz looked at the young man in front of him, who seemed fragile and delicate, and saw in his eyes authority and resolution.
At last, he nodded, "I understand."
The King watched Heinz for a while before turning to look out the window, "You don’t want to do this, do you?"
Heinz remained silent for a moment before answering, "I will do it."
"I joined the army at sixteen and heard of your past achievements when I joined the White Eagle Brotherhood. I admired you then and thought you were a hero of this country," the King said as he turned his face back, "And I still think the same now. I’m glad you chose to stand by my side after I ascended the throne."
"I am undeserving," Heinz replied calmly.
"My father might have told you something I can only guess roughly, and I don’t want to make it difficult for you," the King said earnestly. "But sometimes, we both have to make difficult decisions. All this, for the sake of our country."
This time, Heinz didn’t say a word but gave a solemn bow.
At that moment, the King suddenly asked, "She’s the same age as me?"
Heinz was caught off guard for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and nodded, "Yes."
During the old King’s reign, he had been tasked with protecting that illegitimate daughter, a fact he had not openly disclosed to the new King, but the new King obviously had his suspicions.
By asking what seemed like an insignificant question about the illegitimate daughter’s personal information, the King was not only confirming his own suspicions but also gauging Heinz’s attitude.
"What month?" The King asked again.
"March." frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"She’s older than me..." The King mused, nodding his head, but he did not continue to inquire. To him, more important than his unseen sister’s affairs was Earl Heinz Hoffman’s attitude.
"You may go," the King waved his hand.
Only then did Heinz leave the study and strode out of the other palace.
All this, for the sake of our country. He kept recalling the phrase the King had said.
As if chanting a slogan in his heart, as if trying to convince himself.
