One-Eyed Monster

Chapter 42: Chapter 41: Hesitation_2

All signs indicated that Governor Rostov was a tough character who tolerated no dissent. No one dared to criticize his plans...

However, Aevernan didn’t believe so. He regarded Lord Governor Rostov as far-sighted, always able to perceive things that others couldn’t. These seemingly useless welcome speeches weren’t for their own people; these speeches would be carried to every corner of the Empire along with puffing steam vehicles and the widespread steam railways. By then, Yonder Travel Academy might have to expand again. The gold bars lost due to these seemingly useless and wasteful plans would naturally return to Luona Capital with the influx of large numbers of people.

So, all his predecessors had failed because they hadn’t comprehended the Lord Governor’s vision. Aevernan didn’t want to follow in their footsteps. He resolved to firmly stand by Governor Rostov, scrutinizing every signal issued by the Lord Governor...

After all, the Lord Governor was a legendary figure in the Empire; every furrow of his brow and every smile concealed numerous political tricks. Only by listening carefully could he understand. Of course, this ’listening’ naturally referred to the Politician’s specific Sound Sensing Skill.

Aevernan was not one to be distressed by Governor Rostov’s orders; as an excellent Politician, he placed great importance on listening and discernment. What made him uneasy and torn currently, however, was the matter of taking sides...

Of course, Aevernan didn’t feel he had chosen the wrong side. On the contrary, he believed his choice of allegiance was the wisest, and he had no intention of changing it. He was just a little hesitant about whether to report the abnormalities he had recently perceived to the Lord Governor. No, those probably weren’t abnormalities; those matters, when laid bare, were plain provocations. To exaggerate slightly, they even amounted to clear-cut betrayal. Moreover, this method of betrayal was despicable and loathsome.

The problem was that the person causing these feelings for Aevernan was Chief Officer Louvkat. He was the leader of another faction, a relatively conservative group that always tried to sway His Majesty the King through traditional means, such as by increasing taxes and contributing more gold bars...

Lately, Louvkat had been frequently visiting the Department of Roads with only one goal: to confirm Young Master Rostov’s travel route map.

At first, Aevernan hadn’t found anything inappropriate about the Chief Officer’s interest in Young Master Hustace’s travel route. After all, they were all comrades striving together, merely with different stances and chosen paths of contribution to the Empire. Occasional concern for a comrade’s son was considered a normal exchange. Moreover, from an outsider’s perspective, it was likely that the young master’s travel route would pass through Star River or Bess Mountains. Those lawless territories were often unstable due to frequent warfare, so everyone was naturally concerned about the young master’s safety...

Nevertheless, his making such frequent visits just to confirm the route was a bit strange...

Although Louvkat’s facial expression was perfectly restrained, revealing no personal emotion, his series of actions in recent days had led Aevernan to vaguely hear some astounding whispers.

The whisper was Louvkat’s murmur: It shouldn’t be; the route doesn’t pass through Star River or Bess Mountains. This group shouldn’t fail and return defeated.

Aevernan curiously tried to decipher this murmur. The sentence was baffling, revealing no clues. However, while casually flipping through the ’Checkpoint Outbound Registration Records’ recently established by the Department of Roads, Aevernan discovered some shocking facts. After Young Master Hustace’s departure, a high proportion of Dark Organization personnel in Luona Capital had also left the city, and their routes closely mirrored his.

Although the Department of Roads was a new department in the Imperial Capital, it did possess some means. Any power wishing to operate smoothly had to maintain a good relationship with the Department of Roads. Sometimes, making detours for secret, undisclosed matters was a common occurrence. This practice illustrated a very ancient truth: the one who carves out the mountain pass is always the biggest local bandit. Therefore, as the ’top bandit’ in this arrangement, Aevernan, after some inquiries, pieced together the entire conspiracy.

Various factions were plotting to kidnap Young Master Hustace.

Because of this, Aevernan was worried about the young master’s safety, but his inherently hesitant nature led to indecisiveness.

In his view, various factions were recklessly scheming for Young Master Hustace because the conditions offered in exchange were quite tempting. Though these powers seemed unrelated, careful pondering revealed a pattern. The Vampire Bats lurking in the dark, a merchant association that feigned concern for businesses, and a fairly large school in the Imperial Capital—all these entities, united against their common adversary, Governor Rostov—were joining forces to kidnap Young Master Hustace merely to secure their own interests. This scattered collection of powers was definitely not enough to challenge Governor Rostov; the true beneficiary behind it all had to be Chief Officer Louvkat...

Aevernan didn’t want to think about it anymore. That leader was from another faction. Although he hadn’t aligned himself with that faction, he couldn’t bring himself to sabotage them. He knew that if he reported it, a confrontation between the two factions would likely be provoked. The current road development plan was underway, and such a confrontation would cause delays. But the leader of his own faction was being subjected to an unfair attack—an attack that was underhanded, despicable, and shameful—and he felt he should proactively report it. After all, the young master’s safety was a major issue...

After weighing the pros and cons for several days, Aevernan still couldn’t muster the determination to report this matter. After all, he was just a minor minister; he definitely couldn’t afford to offend the Chief Officer.

Just as he was wavering, unable to extricate himself, members of the defeated Dark Organization returned, their faces bruised and swollen, conveying another piece of information: Young Master Hustace was guarded by some other highly skilled individual. There had been no opportunity to make a move during the journey. Those who had prepared to strike ended up half-crippled, returning with their tails between their legs.

From those injured individuals, who wished to remain anonymous, Aevernan heard that Young Master Hustace seemed to be protected by the ’Hound.’

Upon hearing ’Hound,’ Aevernan felt somewhat reassured about the young master’s journey.

’Hound’ was a notorious mercenary group of Hunters from the outskirts of the Imperial Capital. This mercenary group was renowned throughout the Empire. Its members all possessed exceptional skills, each capable of handling ten opponents single-handedly. In the Empire’s defensive wars, they were hired to execute certain special covert missions. With such mercenaries secretly protecting Young Master Hustace, nothing too serious was likely to happen. Now Aevernan finally understood the true meaning behind the Chief Officer’s murmur.

However, thinking about it, the Chief Officer’s tactic was undoubtedly dishonorable. Although competition between Politicians is justifiable, using an opponent’s family as leverage was extremely base... This made Aevernan hesitate once more. Should he report this despicable attack, or not?

To report, or not to report? It was quite a dilemma.