Chapitre 48: Meeting with Prince of Barlia
Nicholas I stood still in front of his office. He knows exactly what makes Niall unhappy.
He shook his head and said inwardly. 'He really shouldn't be a king'.
He was disappointed with Niall's violent behaviour. He only heard it through the butler's report up until now. He ignored it, assuming that it was a childish rebellion.
Today, for the first time he sees it with his own eyes.
Nicholas ordered other servants to move the beaten maid from the hallway before returning to his office. He can't let the commoner's blood stain the expensive soft red carpet.
The other maids hurriedly help the unlucky maid who is lying on the floor. The beating has caused her to bleed so much. It would be a miracle if she didn't have any complications.
Soon, the news of this incident spread. The news related to the royal family is the most sought-after. The nobles who supported the second prince were very happy to use this incident as an opportunity to tarnish the first prince's reputation.
The neutral nobles would be more inclined to favour the second prince.
Of course, this news will reach Riz's ears too.
....
At the same time.
Capital City of Thyrate, Principality of Barlia.
Mark is receiving the latest news regarding the looming war that will definitely happen. It has been two months since he met the Bagyarosia King, Nicholas I.
He didn't expect the situation there to escalate so quickly. Just a month after his meeting with Nicholas I, his agent receives news about the nobles all over the kingdom gathered in the capital. Such a large movement couldn't be hidden from anyone. Since then he has ordered his agent to be on high alert and inform him of any news regarding this matter as soon as possible.
It is his main job to create chaos and unrest throughout the central part of Jozia mainland. To accomplish this, the prince gives him access to Blackout Information Storage.
Blackout is an intelligence organisation that works as a spy in other nations to collect intelligence regarding political situations, military, technology, people's sentiments, noble factions and other miscellaneous stuff. They infiltrate all layers of society; merchants, farmers, blacksmiths, tailors, and maids in mansions and palaces. They basically collect everything they can and send it to their respective regional office that is spread all over the Bagyarosia, Cerdeauxia, Turtevekesia and Ingnynes. The information was sorted out before sending it back to the main office in Thyrate.
Their extensive network in these kingdoms allows them to transfer news and information faster than anyone else.
The reason why Blackout focused only on the central part of the Jozia mainland is that the central part only consists of weak nations. On the west is Sidgean Empire and on the east is their main trading partner, the Kingdom of Tormia. They can't mess around with both of them.
Tonight, Mark has a meeting with the prince. He is currently updating the information based on the latest news he just received a moment ago. The prince has ordered him to update him about the development of the central mainland. He needs to make sure nothing is amiss as the prince attaches importance to the central mainland.
Before long, Mark leaves his office an hour after the sunset, and he rides a horse carriage to the palace located beside the Thyrate river. Along the way, he saw the port area still full of people. It only took him around ten minutes to arrive in front of the light blue palace. The structure of the palace has a striking resemblance to that of the Belvedere Palace on Earth.
Mark stepped out of the carriage and moved toward the entrance. The butler was already standing there, waiting for his arrival.
"Good evening, Mr Harford". Mark took the initiative to greet a butler named Harford Harper despite him being a noble. Harford is one of the few people that the prince trusts and also the current leader of the Blackout organisation. It won't do him any good if he makes Harford his enemy.
Harford replied, "Good evening to you too, Mr Mark. The prince is waiting for you in his study. Let me lead the way".
"Thank you"
Both of them walked in the hallway in silence. Only footsteps can be heard, neither of them opened their mouths to speak. After walking for a while, they reach the study. The door is slightly open and the light is leaking out from it.
Harford stops in front of the door, not going in despite it being open. He begins to say, "Your Highness, I have brought Mr Mark Donald for you".
"Let him come in", the prince replied.
"Please go in, Mr Mark", Harford extends one of his hands, making a welcoming gesture.
Mark pushed the door and entered the study. There, he sees a young man in his early twenties turn and look at him. He brushed his long golden hair to the back as the fallen hair blocked his red eyes from staring at Mark.
In front of Mark is Prince Baldwin Boris Barlia, the ruler of the Principality of Barlia. The principality is just the same as another kingdom that practises absolute monarchy and a feudal system.
"Welcome, Mr Mark", Baldwin smiled a little. He continues speaking with an apologetic tone. "I am sorry to call you this evening".
"It's okay, Your Highness. I know you attach great importance to the south just like your predecessors."
"I am glad that you know". Baldwin asked, "Do you have any updates for me?".
"Yes, Your Highness", replied Mark. He begins to inform Baldwin about the current situation in the south, especially in Bagyarosia.
"That's interesting", Baldwin commented. "To think that the Ryntum family will fight against the entire kingdom."
Baldwin has a contented look on his face. The founder of the Ryntum family, Rayleigh was the one who turned the tide of battle in the war around two hundred years ago. Under Rayleigh's leadership, the Barlia army at that time was pushed back and only able to hold on to the Eikadir territory.
If it is not for him, Bagyarosia has already ceased to exist. Barlia will probably have its own fertile land for farming. Barlia is located in the north which makes it colder than the south. The majority of land in Barlia is barren, with only around ten percent of the land being fertile and suitable for farming.
Since then, it has been hard for his predecessor to invade Bagyarosia again. The Ryntum has always been one of the obstacles for Barlia to move south. To top it off, King Bagyarosia put Tetherswest to guard the north at all times, further solidifying their northern defence.
Hearing the situation faced by the Ryntum, he is delighted. He feels this is an opportunity that occurs once in a million. Once Ryntum is gone, Tetherswest will take a hit too since they were connected to Ryntum by engagement. Nicholas I will never leave them alone. It is not impossible that Nicholas I will strip their position as northern guardian.
"Make sure the civil war occurs. Napuna family will lose the loyalty of both Ryntum and Tetherswest after this war. When it happens, Napuna will no longer have a guardian to protect them."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
"What about that kid? Did he have another trick?" asked Baldwin. He is worried about Riz as he is capable of inventing such a novel siege weapon. In addition, he is also the last descendant of the Cerdeaux Dynasty and has a rightful claim to the throne.
Mark shook his head, "Unfortunately we're unable to discover anything related to the military."
"Then how are you able to get your hand on the trebuchet that you gave me a few months ago?"
"It is all thanks to our agent in Tetherswest, we are able to copy its blueprint"
"So, what are you saying unless the young master of Ryntum didn't share his blueprint with others, we have no way of getting our hands on it?", Baldwin asked. His red eyes are staring at Mark, making sure he notices if there is a subtle change in Mark's expression.
Mark starts to sweat as he answers Baldwin's question. He didn't dare to lie to the prince. "Unfortunately not, Your Highness. It seems that ninety percent of our agent in Bideford has been neutralised. We are however able to discover his new invention".
"Hooh! What is it?"
"It was called the printing press. This machine can make a copy of a page without the need for a scribe. It is another of his ingenious inventions."
"Make sure you send an agent to get his hand on it"
"I will have it done with haste."
"What about Cerdeauxia?", Baldwin asked.
Mark reports, "The unrest is still going on in that place and has already spread to the entire nation. All thanks to our agent who has contributed by making it bigger."
Baldwin nodded, "It is a good thing that Cerdeauxia turned into a republic. We can put our puppet on the presidential seat before slowly annexing them. Tell our agent to make the unrest as chaotic as possible."
"Your wish is our command"
Baldwin feels like Barlia will definitely acquire large territories in the south during his reign.
"Ohh... Mark, wait!!" He stops Mark from leaving.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"What about the searching mission I gave a long time ago?"
Mark tries to determine which long-term mission Baldwin is referring to. "Ohh!!... It's going well, Your Highness. We are in the process of finalizing."
"Alright, just be sure it fits my criteria."
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone