[Tanilia Islands]

[Jingang]

At dusk, a sea eagle flew over Golden Harbor. It circled slowly over the anchorage and sandbar outside the harbor, as if being pulled by invisible threads.

The sea eagles sit high and calmly overlook the Golden Harbor: the sweating stevedores on the dock pier, the cargo ships scattered throughout the anchorage waiting to enter the harbor, the fishing boats and small boats that shuttle in and out of the harbor like sardines...

Golden Port is the brightest diamond in the Inland Sea and the most dazzling pearl in the Alliance. The wars and turmoil in the distant lands not only did not make her dusty, but made her even more dazzling.

In the bustling exchange, cargo ship brokers loudly and ostentatiously announced the delivery of the entire cargo;

In the tavern at the end of the dark alley, the smugglers negotiated prices using gestures that only connoisseurs could understand.

Wealth is as timid as a rat and a rabbit, but as sharp as an eagle.

As the struggle between the United Provinces and Veneta intensified, more and more merchants began to use Golden Port as a transit station and warehouse to deal with increasingly severe trade bans and unbearable harsh tariffs.

Gold, silver and all kinds of people were integrated into Golden Harbor, making this decadent city already famous for enjoyment and indulgence in the inner sea even more luxuriant.

What burns in the shadow of the firelight that lasts all night is not grease and wax pillars, but flesh and soul; what flows in the shining gilded river is not the setting sun and fresh water, but business opportunities and wealth.

The sea eagle stared sternly at the Golden Harbor at dusk. Although the sun had already set in the west, the sky was so clean that it was intoxicating.

Looking far into the distance, except for a few faint white streaks in the sky, there are almost no colorful clouds.

It was another rare good weather but the howling wind told the sea eagle something that humans don't know.

To the east of Golden Harbor, across the rough sea, beyond the reach of falcons, the wind direction has changed.

Lasting throughout the winter, the cold air currents blowing from the land to the sea are getting weaker and weaker, while the air currents pushing from the sea to the land are gradually strengthening.

A huge cyclone is forming on the ocean surface of the Procellarum.

"The monsoon is coming."

…

[Republic of Vann]

[Champaign City]

[Alliance Congress Venue]

News has no legs, but it leaks faster than a horse with four hooves.

The incident that happened at the Imperial Reception spread throughout the city of Champagne overnight.

Although in people's vivid narrations, the specific process of the incident is constantly iterated and distorted. But there is no doubt about one thing:

The soldiers of the United Provinces stormed into the Imperial Consulate arrogantly and forcibly took away the Chief Secretary of State of the United Provinces, His Excellency Lionel;

The person leading the federal army was none other than Lionel's most trusted deputy, the assistant to the chief secretary of state for the federal province [Richard Milehouse] who was supposed to be in Guitu City.

Power, betrayal, conspiracy... The conflict and drama contained in this incident are enough for an imaginative writer to write three plays and a novel with more than 5,000 lines.

Today in Champagne, every citizen who claims to be well-informed has transformed into a bard and fabler, eager to recount to others what happened that night.

In this way, history inadvertently turns into stories and legends.

But the man who should have been at the center of the storm, Richard Milehouse, was hiding in a small dressing room at the moment.

This man, who was considered a great conspirator and traitor and was given many nicknames, was staring stiffly at himself in the mirror, his shoulders and fingers shaking uncontrollably.

According to the procedures of the League Congress, the supreme consul of the United Provinces should make a speech first before the opening.

However, on the night when the soldiers of the United Provinces forcibly abducted Secretary of State Lionel, the consulates of the republics in Champagne and the Speaker of the Republic of Vanne simultaneously received an official document delivered in the name of the "Provisional Supreme Assembly of the Republics of the United Provinces".

In this official document, the "Provisional Supreme Council" announced that John Lionel had been formally dismissed from his position as Secretary of State, and that all domestic and foreign affairs powers granted to Lionel by the National Assembly of the United Provinces were also stripped at the same time.

The sudden change made all parties not sure how to react, so most of the consuls and representatives in Champagne chose not to react.

On the one hand, they silently observed the actions of the people of the United Provinces; on the other hand, they eagerly collected information about the "Provisional Supreme Council" and sent the fastest riders to deliver the news.

The situation was like a stone being thrown into the lake. First it made waves, but soon the lake surface returned to calm. It seemed like everything was back on track, but mud and turbid waves were already rising at the bottom of the lake.

In any case, the Alliance Congress was held in strict accordance with the established procedures.

John Lionel, who was supposed to deliver the opening speech, is now a prisoner.

The so-called "Provisional Supreme Council of the United Provinces" took over the consulate of the United Provinces in a logical manner, as well as all the symbols and powers represented by the consulate.

The person who will replace the former Secretary of State in front of representatives of the republics, duchies, and distant lands is none other than former State Assistant and current Speaker of the Interim Supreme Council, Richard Milehouse.

Malhouse stared at himself in the mirror. The reflection reflected in the mirror was a gloomy, dull-looking middle-aged man.

Although every wrinkle has been carefully smoothed, and although every gray hair has been patiently pulled out, the unlovable temperament that was brought from the mother's womb still cannot be changed. Even as he grows older, he

This temperament becomes more and more obvious.

Richard Malhouse has never been a handsome man. Compared with the personable, impassioned and charismatic Lionel Secretary of State, he has a face that is more suitable for behind-the-scenes work.

Twenty years of successful career as a steward also proves this. Richard Malhouse worked diligently and faithfully and efficiently completed every task assigned to him, starting from the lowest level of third-class clerk.

Climbed to the position of the actual deputy of the Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary of State, one person below the federal province, and above ten thousand people.

Yet even as Richard Malhouse reached the pinnacle of stewardship, no one ever thought he would one day step into the foreground.

He is considered a loyal, reliable but only tool to be used by others.

But today, this little-known, gloomy-looking, unpleasant guy will step onto the rostrum and deliver a speech to three hundred representatives from the republics and twice that number of foreign envoys in attendance.

A public speech was given.

Richard Malhouse stared at his reflection in the mirror, convinced that his shoulders and fingers were shaking uncontrollably.

Suddenly, the candles went out and the dressing room fell into total darkness.

"Crack!"

Richard Malhouse received a stinging slap on the face, causing him to lose consciousness for a moment, but it also woke him up from the self-doubt he had just experienced.

"Crack!"

Before Malhouse could recover, he received another slap on the other cheek.

The person who did it was very careful in using the force to make him feel pain without leaving any traces of swelling on his face.

Milehouse knew exactly who was waving next door, because there was no third person in the room, only Mr. Richard Milehouse, and Mrs. Claire Milehouse.

"What are you doing?" Mrs. Malhouse's tone was filled with suppressed anger.

"nothing."

Richard Malhouse, who was already nominally in charge of the power of the United Provinces, neither got angry at the two slaps nor showed any anger towards his wife. He just replied in a hoarse voice: "Nothing."

Gu Da

"Do you know why I put out the candle?"

"Why?"

Mrs. Milehouse, who was famous for her beauty and virtuous character in the society of Guidu City, replied coldly: "Because I don't want to see that face of yours."

Richard Malhouse narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

Mrs. Malhouse continued, minding her own business:

"In the mirror, I don't see my husband, because my husband is not a self-pitying, self-ashamed loser! My husband is a beast, he is ambitious, he desires power, he wants to be a great person In the mirror, I did not see that person, I only saw a coward, a humble servant! No! I will never accept this!"

Richard Malhouse stood quietly in the darkness, making no sound.

Mrs. Malhouse's questioning was not over yet: "Do you regret it?"

"No. I didn't." Richard Milehouse broke the silence: "I have never regretted it at all."

"Then are you feeling guilty? Are you afraid? Is your chest filled with guilt? Or is the anxiety and fear about the future blocking you?"

Richard Malhouse fell silent.

"Have you forgotten our poisonous oath?!" Claire Malhouse's voice suddenly became sharp, and the intense emotions even distorted her delicate facial features:

"Never let hypocritical morality constrain us!"

"If you need to use cunning, use intrigue."

"If the end justifies the means, then do it resolutely."

"We will never let hypocritical morality constrain us. If achieving our goals requires 'evil', then we will choose evil! Fill our bodies with the most cruel evil thoughts, never let regret pass through our hearts, and never let our nature be corrupted. His compassion shakes our ruthless resolve."

"If necessary, even if it is a matter like a mother killing her child or a son killing his mother, we will not hesitate to do it."

"We will never deceive ourselves or others, never give ourselves any false excuses, and whitewash our goals with noble reasons. We have set a goal long ago. We want power, more power, first to unite the provinces, and then to maintain peace. Neta, and finally the entire Senas Alliance! We will hold the power of this land and be remembered and worshiped by thousands of generations of future generations! Have you forgotten all of this?"

Richard Malhouse listened quietly, inhaled and exhaled deeply, and his tone became majestic and steady: "Of course I have not forgotten it."

Mrs. Milehouse heard the change in her husband's voice, and she took a long breath and then exhaled. Her tone changed, as if she was a different person, her voice became gentle and quiet.

She stretched out her hand, gently brushed her husband's forehead, and put her head against his chest: "Then quickly put on your best purple robe and put on your most sincere smile. A treacherous heart must be covered with a hypocritical smile.

Don't forget, first stabilize the officers outside. Now we still need them, but they treat us as puppets and fools, which is good."

"It's a pity that you are not a man." Richard Malhouse seemed to be making a judgment: "Otherwise you will achieve a greater cause than I can achieve."

"It's a pity that I'm not a man." Claire Malhouse raised her head, took a few steps back to light the candle again, and smoothed the wrinkles of her husband's collar: "Fortunately, I still have you."
To be continued...