Chapter 738 (1/2)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“The merchant party and aristocratic party are going to battle?” Clito asked. He was baffled. “Haven’t they already divided the sphere of influence? That’s the equivalent of a separation. Why are they still going to fight?”
The intelligence officer responsible for the arraignment was clearly well aware of the entire matter. Right away, he replied, “According to the merchant party, the aristocratic party sent their troops to attack the trade caravans in the guise of pirates. So the merchant party confronted the aristocratic party and requested that they hand over the culprits. Not only did the aristocratic party refuse to hand over the assassins, but they also turned about and falsely accused the merchant party, saying that the other party had been harassing them on the border during this period. They got so angry that they started a fight.”
“Then what did the aristocratic party have to say?” Clito asked again.
“The aristocratic party feels that, first, the merchant party deliberately provoked them. Then they schemed and fabricated false charges against them. Yet in the end, the merchant party was actually the side to make the first move. It was really unreasonable!”
Clito nodded. After pondering for a moment, he asked, “What is our stand in regards to this matter?”
“Chief Easter told me that it’s not our place as the Republic of Northwest to take a stand. If we must really choose a side to take, that would be to call for peace and mediate between the two parties.”
Clito laughed and said, “This is a good stand; I like it!”
Clito was not a warmonger who believed that “the moment the cannons of war began, the chance to earn a fortune arrived.” Nor was he a war maniac who clamored for war by saying that “only iron and blood could resolve the problem.” Though he was in truth, quite a bellicose character, he was more inclined towards a peace-loving stance on a large political scale.
It was naturally best if everyone led safe and stable lives without fighting each other. But if there was really a fight, the thing he would hope to do most of all, was to mediate it and not to take advantage of the situation to reap some benefits.
From his viewpoint, the Republic of Northwest was very rich and was not significantly lacking in population. In general, things were well for the Republic. There was really nothing that special for them to rob.
Wrong! Even if they did lack anything, it also would not justify the need for them to rob others!
The merchant party and aristocratic party of the Commonwealth of Gold Coins were going to battle; that was their civil war. As a neutral party, the Republic of Northwest should, of course, try its best to persuade them to stop the war and restore peace. This would be the right thing to do.
Anyway, this was what Clito thought.
Yet after smiling, his brows furrowed into a frown again. He thought for a moment, then asked, “Did Chief Easter analyze the situation to find out exactly who was the culprit?”
“Chief Easter said that he felt that there are two possibilities. One possibility is that soldiers from both sides of the border are dishonest and were attacking each other’s civilians. Such a thing is not uncommon and has happened so often throughout history. It’s really a commonplace thing that can happen between two hostile forces.”
Clito nodded and asked, “What about the other possibility?”
“The other possibility is that someone is plotting behind the scenes and playing underhand means. By disguising oneself as someone from both sides, this someone is attacking the sentries and civilians from both sides to instigate a war. Such a thing is also very commonly seen. It’s a kind of strategy that’s fairly common, yet very useful.”
Clito froze and thought for a while with a deep frown.
“How could this happen? The merchant party and aristocratic party going to war… who would want them to go to war? If they really start to fight, who will benefit from it?” he muttered to himself as he fell into deep thought.
Even after the intelligence officer left, he was still struggling in deep thought as he pondered over what was happening.
He was fully convinced of Easter’s vision. Since Easter felt that there was a possibility that someone might be playing underhand means behind the scenes, then such a possibility certainly existed. And it was not a small one at that.
Clito even felt that perhaps Easter already had a conclusion in mind. The reason why Easter sent that intelligence officer over to tell him about the two possibilities might just be to take this opportunity to test him and see what his judgment would be.