Chapter 202: Twenty-third Episode: Chapter 3 (2/2)
”About what?”
Alan's voice became deeper, ”Your Narcissus Knights has an abnormal arrangement on a large scale. Marshal Figg Andrew Tibotty increased three fronts in Persian area towards the Slovenia direction. A total force of hundred thousand soldiers!”
Oscar's eyebrows shivered. He slowly supported his jaw with his hands and stared at Silverfox Alan who seemed 'to be kind' with a playful gaze.
”Are they all knights?”
”That's right!” Alan nodded. He was a little worried over Oscar's reaction, thus he added another layer of his words, ”If this hundred-thousand-man knights army meets with the units that were sent to the border previously, then Andrew's total army forces facing Slovenia will reach approximately twenty hundred thousand. Such a strong unit is more than enough to defeat Slovenia's Kingdom Army that is lower in number.”
Oscar took a deep breath. He planned to throw this question back to Alan. The more Alan said, the clearer his aim became.
”How do you see this matter?”
As expected, Silverfox was a little stunned. He still did not understand what Oscar meant.
”I am saying that I am still unsure of the reason for this arrangement. How do you see the situation at Slovenia side?”
Alan thought about it. He was considering his words and how he would not show his true intention through his words.
”I think... The situation in Slovenia must not deteriorate any further! You have to talk to Marshal Figg. After all, you are the head of Andrew now. Even the Marshal of the Narcissus Knight has to listen to your opinion.”
Oscar suddenly smiled. He could not hold it in any further! Alan was too obvious to the extent that Oscar thought this was not something Silverfox was doing.
”Aren't you going to the southern Vielonna?” The Marshal of Guards raised his head suddenly as if he had a thought all of a sudden. ”Can you ask Marshal Figg to go to Vielonna? This way... the situation at the border can calm down for a bit. You brothers can exchange some opinions about these issues.”
Oscar slowly shook his head, ”There's no need for that. I only need to write a letter! After all, the eastern war is still going on. Figg can't leave that place. I don't want to listen to him complaining.”
Alan shrugged, ”This is the family issue of Andrew. I have no right to say anything... but consider it carefully. The head of the family and a Marshal. This situation will appear sooner or later. The key is how strong you control the other!”
Oscar originally wanted to say that this was none of the Silverfox's concern, but he swallowed the words anyway. Since Alan wanted to pretend to be the old Marshal that cared immensely about the child, then he should just let him be. However, the Marshal of Guards would definitely not be so kind! Oscar had already confirmed that the analysis of that student was correct. The leaking of Lighthouse Strategy was most probably done by Alan himself.
”I know Figg well...” The Prince said as he raised his cup to cover his mocking smiling face, ”I believe the things that you are worried about won't happen.”
Silverfox Alan pursed his lips. He glanced at Oscar unbelievably. If it was before, this guy should be full of doubts by now, unlike how he was acting now... Such confidence! That was right! The Marshal of guards shivered. It was confidence! O'Neil Andrew Morisette was extremely relaxed. Alan did not know how much restlessness and troubles that were hidden under this relaxed pretense.
”To be honest, seeing you healthy makes me happy!” Alan avoided the young man's gaze naturally and stood up from his seat.
”Thank you! Don't you want to have dinner together?” Oscar followed suit.
”No! We are not the people who can have momentary peace... There is still matter to attend to in the Army Division!”
Oscar hugged the old Marshal who came for a quick visit. He arranged his uniform and sent Alan to the door. Perhaps because the both of them had a lot to think about; what they talked about as they walked became some matter that was of no importance.
Walking out of the palace, the flame of the dusk had lit up the fountain and garden of Kenshin Palace. A large shade of brownish red painted a lively scene. The clouds paused at the western side of the city, covering a part of the sky as they faced the red sun in the dusk. O'Neil Andrew Morisette patted the old Marshal's shoulder, ”Don't worry! Tomorrow will be a new day!”
Alan frowned at the huge shade of red in the sky. He could hear a hint of mockery from the young man's tone. Perhaps he indeed went overboard with the matter of Slovenia, but he did not regret his decision. If Andrew was to continue to grow, then the arrival of the day that Andrew brought the flame to Dulin would just be a matter of time.
”The sun is still the sun. However, it goes down, the same way it will rise!”
The old Marshal smiled at the young Prince, ”I am not a poet, but a soldier! I am frank in my speech. Don't mind it.”
Oscar did not mind anything. He closed the door for the Marshal of Guards.
When the carriage that carried Silverfox disappeared at the end of the street, Messier De Quixote approached Oscar with a worried look.
”Maybe Marshal Alan is right!”
”What are you talking about?” Oscar turned his head.
”Marshal Figg! The head of a family and a Marshal. It is indeed easy to have an issue with this situation. Moreover, the issue will be the most dangerous ones among all! You are thousands of kilometers away from Marshal Figg. If there were any issue...”
Oscar suddenly spat, ”Even you are saying this?”
Messier nodded without wavering, ”Is there anything wrong with that?”
Oscar turned to his palace, ”Didn't someone complain that I lack security? I trust Figg on this! I believe that my brother will not do the things that you guys are worried about.”
The Prince suddenly paused in his walk and turned to the Head of Military Intelligence Bureau who kept shaking his head.
”I think Alan's words have confused you. The one that needs us worrying about is our Marshal of Guards! Since I believe in the loyalty of Figg towards the heads and the family, then, just like Colonel Lukas Diyabaker had said, because Alan is being Alan, Alan will be able to understand what I believe in. There are no such things which I believe in that Alan doesn't! However, now that Alan has said that, this shows that this matter is not finished yet. I can smell the scent of conspiracy, but I am not sure that this conspiracy will take its shape! Because Silverfox Alan is being Silverfox Alan. If you can guess what Silverfox Alan will do, then, believe me, your guess must be the wrong answer.”
”Then why are you so confident? Just as you had said, can you confirm that what you guessed is not the wrong answer?” Messier kept questioning as he followed the quick Prince.
”Because Oscar is being Oscar!” Oscar said this the same way he described Silverfox, ”The answer Oscar guess will never go wrong! No matter what Silverfox says or does, the matter that lays in front of you is either conspiracy or trap. Step into it, then it will be hard to get out!”
”What do you plan to do?”
Oscar sniggered, ”Ola... I will see the psychologist. That guy is interesting!”
Messier became more worried, ”Your Highness! Sir! If we don't do anything, we will fall into the trap as well.”
Oscar had to pause. He wrapped his arm around the Head of Military Intelligence Bureau's shoulder, ”Mes, there are six messages delivered by what Alan had said just now. First, he does not wish for Slovenia's situation to deteriorate. Second, he wished that the Slovenia's situation will worsen. Third, he wishes Slovenia's situation to remain just nice like the present. Fourth, he wishes for Figg to leave Andrew's land and stay within the Empire for a while. Fifth, he did not wish for Figg to leave Andrew's land. Sixth, he wishes for Figg to stay at the same place.”
”This... How is this possible?” Messier widened his eyes in question, ”You are talking about two matters in complete contradiction!”
”It's not contradicting at all!” Oscar shook his head, ”Alan only provided six possibilities. You won't know which will begin the conspiracy, neither will you know which, among the possibilities, will have a trap set up by Alan. But, believe this, no matter which possibility you chose, you will still step into a trap and trigger the danger! So... Figg will continue the attack towards the east at Persian, while Slovenia....”
Messier sighed anxiously, ”Slovenia is troublesome! We can't let the situation worsen, get better or stay the same! What are we supposed to do?”
Oscar smiled, ”Alan can't do much about the matter with Slovenia. He is smart in this leaked incident. However, if he does it one more time, I assure you that he will bring the troubles onto himself. Moreover, the traps and conspiracies he set up were mainly aimed at Andrew, so... Slovenia's situation has to worsen as it gets better, and get better when it worsens!”
”I... I don't understand!”
Oscar shrugged, ”I don't understand either. But our university student said that he could do this!”
”You mean Colonel Lukas Diyabaker?”
”Yeah!” Oscar nodded, ”Lukas is writing a new proposal now. I think it still needs some time, but the last military attack will be based on the Lighthouse Strategy.”
The Head of Military Intelligence Bureau did not say anything more. He looked at the Prince as he took the food on the dining table like a mischievous child. From Messier's perspective, the Prince was truly an odd one.
Before this, he was still tortured until he had momentary coma due to some strange emotion. Now, he was cheerful and happy as if nothing had happened.
”What time is my appointment with Doctor Maslow Riodre?” Messier asked in a small voice to the palace secretary Colonel Vick Keegan.
”Tonight... At seven!”
”Don't forget about that!”
The Head of Military Intelligence Bureau said that as he looked at the excited Prince wiping the sweat from his forehead. Usually, he would not think there was anything to it, but now that he knew his young master had a serious illness. He believed that no one in this world would be so excited over deadly conspiracy and dangerous trap.
That fatty hands that kept stealing food off the dining table were finally hit by the master lady! There was no applause or flower. The finance minister of the Empire, Marquis Almodovar Godzilla, who only appeared after a long while, was not as spirited as he was before. He stood beside the dining table cowardly. He glanced at his young and beautiful fiancé with teary eyes and at the tasty delicacies on the table with a gaze that seemed to even gobble up the tablecloths.
The beautiful lady frowned and threw a document to the careful Marquis, ”What was the fifth one? Read it!”
The relaxed and pleasant southern accent made Almodovar Godzilla fell head over heels. He already knew the paper that had his schedule written on it by heart.
”Fifth... Eating is not allowed during a non-dining time. That includes all wine and drinks containing sugar...” The finance minister's voice was as if he was sobbing. This rule was enough to take his life.
”Then what are you doing just now?” Lady Edamorl Havink pinched the Sea Creature's ears without listening to his explanation.
”Pss... Pss... Eda... My Eda... Be gentle! Gentle!” The Sea Creature let out moaning as if he was dying, but his begging was only responded with the lady's stronger pinch.
Godzilla kneeled on the floor. The servants, who were busy about the restaurant, came in and out as if nothing was happening. Obviously, they were used to this situation.
”Eda! My queen! It is just... It is just a fried potato!” The finance minister was full of tears. He was extremely sensitive to pain.
Lady Havink was still moved by her fiancé's obedience. When Godzilla's tears dripped out of his eyes, she could not help but smile, yet her hand was still increasing its force. She did not let him get away with it, ”Not even potato! Not even potato...”
Speaking of her fiancé, Lady Edamorl Havink had to sigh because there was rarely anyone who had not heard about Almodovar Godzilla. The rumored finance minister was a beast that was full of ulcers all over him and had to eat virgin's meat to revive! The lowly jokes and rumors about the Sea Creature were not allowed to appear in any kind of literature. However, even so, Lady Havink still loved him. A pig that had such a bad reputation.... was what the lady's father had said.
It began with a gathering hosted by the finance department. A few members of the Havink family who stayed in Vielonna had come to Dulin to visit. Lady Havink and her father were invited.
When the gathering began, that finance minister, who loved to joke around and had a lot of food, was the focus of the gathering. A new ruler was naturally accompanied by new finance decision. The local officials who attended the gathering wanted to get some news from him. They fought to talk to the high-spirited Almodovar Godzilla! However, the scene did not continue for long. The ball had begun! The men led their partner into the dance floor, while the ladies and madams from good families all avoided the fat finance minister.
Almodovar Godzilla was still self-aware. He was already way past the age of imagining about romance and had lost interest in those pretentious women who wore thick makeup and thought they were beautiful. He had lots of women. Some were lovers. He did not care at all about the flowers in these occasions.
At this time, the young, curious and beautiful Lady Havink noticed the proud finance minister who hid quietly in a corner when the music began. He finally took the pretentious smile off his fat face. Instead, it was replaced with lonesome and undisguisable exhaustion.
Perhaps it was due to a maternal psychology exclusive to women, or a deep sympathy towards a pig. The most beautiful lady did not care about the advice of other ladies and the stopping of her father, she walked towards the lonely Sir Sea Creature who seemed a little scary on the outside as if she was the sacrificial lamb.
Then... Almodovar Godzilla raised his head from unspeakable emptiness and he saw his goddess in the next moment! The eyebrows of his goddess were slightly covered by her front bangs and her clear eyes flickered a light of youth. She had a light brown hair typical of Vielonna lady and large, white breasts! He could not look further down! He could not! The Sea Creature kept reminding himself. It was blasphemy if he looked down!
The beautiful lady reached out her white hands to the finance minister, ”Sir, let's have a dance!”
The Sea Creature did not think he could use the beautiful jade from the east to describe the lady's skin because he had a few valuable jades, but he had never seen skin that was as beautiful as jade.
Lady Edamorl Havink reached out her hands to the finance minister. Just when she thought the waiting time had gone over the limit acceptable by a lady, the Sea Creature caught her hand and stood up! His fat body flipped the table over. The guests were watching both of them.
She laughed so loudly. The Sea Creature was also laughing awkwardly with a smile uglier than when he was crying because he thought he had messed it all up.
His goddess actually did not care about it. Under everyone's gaze, she led the creature to the dance floor. Almodovar always had his self-awareness. When he drowned in the sweet smell of the lady, he was also thinking about the logic behind the whole matter!
The dance finished. The gathering had finished! Rumors began to circulate in Dulin. The Havink family used a beautiful daughter to seduce the Empire's finance minister! Almodovar thought this must be it!
This was because he had experienced many times of similar events. Sometimes, both the mother and daughter would approach him. According to the finance minister's past experiences, the Havink family would soon visit his mansion and that lady would come as well. Following that, it would be the usual event, it's just that this time the Sea Creature had decided to satisfy all requests of the Havink.
However... Things were not what the Sea Creature thought it was. Havink's family members left the Capital in the quickest speed after hearing about the rumor. The head of the family even told the capital's noble circle that Havink would never return to the Capital before leaving. They could not be embarrassed any further!
Almodovar was furious. Furious! He had never thought this was the result he was waiting for! At the same time, the Sea Creature finally confirmed one thing. He had fallen for a well-mannered lady who had a good family background at his age.
The Sea Creature decided to send her away. He was naturally avoided. The Sea Creature decided to bribe his way through. He must see that lady once more. As compared to the past illegal trades of the finance minister, climbing the wall in the middle of the night did not amount to much. However, Almodovar was as excited as a middle-schooler who met with his lover secretly. That bribed servant pointed to the lady's window and even prepared a ladder for the finance minister!
We would never know what Lady Edamorl Havink thought of when she saw a pig head appearing in front of her window, but many would imagine that she would be screaming. Indeed, she screamed but covered her mouth tightly immediately.
For some reason, the lady opened the window. She was a proper lady. She should not have done that, but the Sea Creature still broke the ladder. Letting him into the room was better than letting him fall to his death. Eda then invited the Sea Creature inside. She explained the invitation during the gathering and commented on her naivety. She also apologized for the trouble brought to the finance minister. The Sea Creature was, of course, very sad. To be specific, he was hurt and even cried badly! Eda, with her maternal instincts, hugged him tightly as she consoled him! At the end, who knew what was going on? Perhaps Almodovar Godzilla used a psychedelic drug. Maybe the young lady liked fat guys. Who knew who got the other in bed? The things that should and should not happen... did happen in the end...
Almodovar carefully touched his fiancé's shoulder. The greatest thing he did in his life was making Eda falling in love with him.
”Why isn't our guest coming? Shouldn't we have some--”
”Shut up!” Eda glared at the Sea Creature.
Almodovar quickly shrunk his neck. If that guest was not his fiancé's cousin, he would never discuss the finance's independent idea of the southern five provinces joint government with the person! If the finance department of Southern Five Province Joint Government also did this, then the south was the same as independent. If they could discuss such matter... He presumed Her Majesty Empress Alanis would kill him.
”You have to help my cousin! My family had already broken off with me, but isn't this all because of you? Only my cousin still cares about me!”
Facing his fiancé's question, the Sea Creature could only promise her with gritted teeth! He thought to himself, why would your cousin care about you? What he cared about was the immense profit of the southern government! Only God of Light knew how difficult it was to make this matter work! But... If this truly worked... the Sea Creature carefully considered it. Was the sovereignty of the Empire more important? Or the government's profit the southern people promised more important?
Most probably... To the finance minister of the Empire, the answer to this question should be extremely simple, shouldn't it?