novelraw Chapter 149: Aftermath Handling
Chapter 149: Aftermath Handling
The sunlight outside was just right, and the temperature wasn't high. It was simply one of the handful of good weather days in Nari these past few days.
On ordinary days, such weather would be a good day for various families in Nari to scramble to go out traveling. Even the impoverished workers who didn't have time to go out and play would cook somewhat more food during dinner to celebrate. After all, it truly rained too much in Nari.
But the people of the New Party evidently didn't have such a good mood today.
The New Party's current Party Leader was an elderly gentleman named Matilon. Before the early pioneering period, he was the owner of many workshops in Nari. He established the Nari Workshop Organization. At the very beginning, it was just an alliance of handicraft workshops. After absorbing workshops from other industries, this organization became the predecessor of today's Nari Chamber of Commerce.
And following the parliamentary system reform, under the funding of the Nari Pioneering Company and the recommendation of the Chamber of Commerce members, he founded a brand-new party——the Pioneer Party.
But in front of the Gryphon Party, which wielded massive influence at the time, his Pioneer Party, just like other small opposition parties, had no status to speak of.
It wasn't until that legendary pioneer, Captain Blake, reappeared before the Nari people with a naval vessel and a ship full of treasure, that they seized upon the Nari people's desire for wealth and external pioneering. Prescribing the right medicine for the illness, they brought forward a massive slew of policies beneficial for citizens engaging in business and trade, instantly gaining quite a high number of votes.
Coupled with the continuous expansion of the Nari Pioneering Company's volume behind them, whether it was funding or public support rates, they far exceeded the other small parties. Ultimately, in the election a few years prior, they defeated the traditionally-minded Gryphon Party in one fell swoop, thoroughly dominating the Nari political arena.
These past few years, they had always been sailing smoothly with the wind, until this incident with the Schwalian visit gave them a head-on blow.
"What's going on? You guaranteed me it would be perfectly safe!""Yes, yes... but we indeed checked everything the academy could check. We even invited members of the Magic Association to investigate. They confirmed that no one could engrave magic in that building."
"Do you think the Royal Family, the Gryphon Party, and the commoners will go looking for that nonsense-spouting Magic Association member? Closy! Wake up, they will only look for you and me! Look for the New Party!"
That emaciated-looking New Party Leader, Matilon, straightened his suit and stepped off the carriage at the entrance of Saint-Nazareth University. He looked with an unkind expression at the gentleman behind him who also wore a helpless expression. He was the New Party's Party Whip, Closy.
The so-called Party Whip was an existence responsible for inner-party discipline and eliminating party scandals. Their status within the party was quite high.
Closy's abilities were very strong, constantly winning Matilon's trust. The reason why Closy currently didn't hold any high office in the Nari government and was still in the position of Party Whip was because Matilon had already privately decided that Closy would be his next successor. He was advanced in years, and his retirement would happen right after this general election. He absolutely needed someone trustworthy to inherit his position.
But who could have imagined that something like this could happen right before the midterm elections?
Matilon frowned, taking out a handkerchief to wipe away the sweat hidden within the wrinkles on his forehead. He swiftly led the Nari government personnel behind him as they strode into the school.
He was already an old man too, yet he was still rushing about for his career every day. Originally, he thought that after the next general election, he would yield to someone more capable and retire in old age. Who knew that destiny always made people worry endlessly.
"Did anyone die?"
"No, we are still inquiring about the situation inside. I heard Chancellor Kaine say that an Ultra-Ring Space magic was set up inside the school at the time. Inside, there were even assassins from the Kadu evil cult trying to kill them. Their goal was to seize the Holy Artifact that the Schwali delegation brought to Nari this time..."
"Ultra-Ring magic?"
Matilon's expression blanked out. He glanced at the empty Saint-Nazareth University entrance behind him. The media of Saint-Nazareth hadn't received the news yet, but it definitely couldn't be kept under wraps for long.
When the time came, this place would be densely packed with journalists from Saint-Nazareth who were like flies seeking dung.
He immediately turned his head, whispering to Closy behind him with a stern expression,
"Listen, just talking about this kind of thing in front of us is enough. Neither the Ultra-Ring magic nor the assassins should be revealed to outsiders! We must suppress the turmoil of this incident to the minimum extent possible. Especially toward the Schwalian people—apologize if we can. The previously confirmed negotiation terms absolutely cannot be touched!"
"Yes."
Matilon believed that if there were no personnel deaths, although Schwari would express dissatisfaction, they probably wouldn't cancel their cooperation with Nari. But the problem lay in whether they would use this to demand Nari to change some terms that were unfavorable to Schwari.
How to decently placate their anger while maximally protecting their own interests was the most important thing.
Matilon brought a group of people and walked to the front of the Saint-Nazareth University meeting room. Seeing many people in the school gathered on this side, that group of people who came out from inside was just like refugees running out from a battlefield. The clothes on their bodies were torn and stinking, and quite a few people were even injured.
The expressions of that group of Schwari scholars were unkind. Prince Lausanne, with his upper body half-naked, was directing medical personnel to carry the injured scholars and family members away.
Isabelle and Milika also ran over worriedly to check on Jasmine. Only after seeing her completely intact did they heave a sigh of relief.
Matilon led the New Party personnel to stand before Prince Lausanne, expressing their dereliction of duty regarding this event.
Prince Lausanne threw a glance at the two New Party figures before him. Smiling slightly, he said,
"We will talk about these things later. But right now, I am considering whether or not I should report this matter to the Queen of Schwari immediately, and then listen to her opinion..."
The moment this sentence came out, Matilon immediately said,
"We will immediately notify His Majesty the King in the Golden Palace about this matter. If possible, please give us a chance to submit a letter to the Queen, so that we may express our apologies for our poor hospitality this time."
Since the incident had happened, the Queen of Schwari would definitely be informed. The problem was, a reply letter from the prince and a reply letter from the Golden Palace were two completely different things. Who knew what the prince would say in his private reply letter? Don't tell me you still expect the prince who was attacked to put in a good word for Nari on your behalf?
Prince Lausanne glanced at Roger and Serena behind him, who were paralyzed on the ground from exhaustion, as well as Fisher and Caro not far away. Then, he turned his head back.
"Although the attack was unexpected, your Nari accompanying personnel have already gone all out to protect our delegation's safety. This matter is obvious to everyone, myself and the scholars included..."
Behind him, the young Schwalian who had been threatened and intimidated by Fisher opened his mouth, always feeling like something wasn't right. But he definitely didn't dare to interject when the prince was speaking, so he had no choice but to stutteringly remain silent.
"Let's do this: please have the Nari authorities investigate this matter, and give us a satisfactory answer regarding the ins and outs of this incident. Before knowing the cause of this incident, I will not reveal any contents regarding this itinerary to the Queen."
"Oh, thank you so much for your deep understanding of righteous principles. I sincerely thank your generosity on behalf of the Nari authorities. Please rest assured, I will definitely investigate this incident thoroughly. During this period, please recuperate well in Nari."
Prince Lausanne watched that large group of New Party officials leave to inspect the interior of the building. Afterwards, he slowly walked to Fisher's side. His female student had been taken away by her roommates, while Fisher was unexpectedly looking at that building, deep in thought about something.
"Are you considering the mastermind behind this attack? At the very end, I was driven out of the room by that group of monsters. Did you converse with that thing hidden in the water pipes?"
Fisher nodded, then shook his head.
"...That's right."
"Heh, to think that thing could actually talk..."
Prince Lausanne wasn't an idiot. At the very least, he was smarter than the majority of New Party people, and didn't let down Queen Schwari's all-out cultivation of him.
Fisher indeed knew who the mastermind behind the scenes was, but he had no way to reveal it to the Nari authorities.
The trap the Pink Pavilion designed was very perfect. In terms of planning, they had basically genuinely packaged themselves to look like the Witch Research Society. Whether it was that Magic Power mixing Witch and human traits, or Medieval Era magic, both were forceful proofs.
The most crucial part was the steps, it was that Silver Mirror of Kasiu.
To this day, Fisher still didn't know how the Pink Pavilion found out that the item Schwalie invited from Kadu to prove their theory just happened to be the Holy Artifact that the Witch Research Society had been bitterly pursuing...
This time, regardless of whether it was the goal or the methods, on the surface, the Witch Research Society looked very suited to doing this kind of thing.
Moreover, this Witch Research Society was famous precisely for its lawless nature. A bunch of fanatics willing to do anything to get close to the Mother God could do anything. The organization's internal discipline was also very scattered.
It was even possible that while Schwalie and the Nari authorities stated that the Witch Research Society plotted this case, they themselves would be internally discussing which comrade performed such a righteous deed, wouldn't they?
Of course, this was just a joke. They would probably still deny that they had done this deed. But who could believe the words of an evil cult? Even if they were wronged, they'd have nowhere to complain.
Even if Fisher knew it was the Pink Pavilion operating behind the scenes, his sole clue was Karolina. The Nari authorities would very quickly trace down that among the people present at the scene was Karolina, a member of the Witch Research Society...
If he waited until the Nari authorities discovered Karolina one step ahead of him, then she absolutely wouldn't survive. The Pink Pavilion calling her over wasn't for an assassination at all, but to make her become the scapegoat.
Right now, there weren't enough clues regarding the Pink Pavilion. The proof steps were a closed loop. There was absolutely no way to drag that entertainment venue into this assassination plan that could be called madness.
After pondering it back and forth, Fisher didn't plan on revealing to the Nari authorities first that it was the Pink Pavilion making a move.
The internal workings of the New Party were extremely complicated, and they were also regular customers at the Pink Pavilion. Just in case someone ran their mouth and pointed him out while working part-time there, they would take notice of him.
Rashly exposing his own identity to a place capable of plotting this kind of plan was exceptionally foolish.
Fisher only planed to reveal a bit of tone and drift to those he could trust first, incidentally waiting until after the investigation yielded more evidence before speaking further.
Moreover, he still hadn't figured out what the Pink Pavilion's ultimate goal in executing this plan was.
He looked at Lausanne beside him and reached out to him, signaling him to get a bit closer to himself.
Lausanne then crouched down, bringing his ear closer. He only heard Fisher say,
"The people who made a move this time aren't the people from the Witch Research Society."
Prince Lausanne's expression slightly changed, looking at Fisher in disbelief. Yet he saw Fisher shake his head with a serious expression, signaling him not to tell anyone else.
Prince Lausanne wasn't a stupid pig. He should be able to comprehend that when all the evidence pointed to the Witch Research Society, but it wasn't the mastermind, then the true mastermind behind the scenes absolutely had to be an extremely dangerous existence.
The reason Fisher wanted to reveal this matter to Lausanne right now was because he was honoring his previous deal with Karolina.
Prior to entering, he hadn't anticipated the Pink Pavilion's methods. Now that they were out, using traditional methods to protect her was impossible. He himself didn't have this capability either.
Karolina's lifeline was currently not in Fisher's hands, but in the hands of Prince Lausanne before his eyes.
"Not the Witch Research Society? On what basis are you saying this?"
Their conversation was exceptionally quiet; only the two of them could hear each other's words.
"Karolina is not someone from the Nari government, and of course she's not an attendant here either. She is a person from the Witch Research Society..."
Lausanne looked at Fisher, then turned his head to look in all directions, but didn't see Karolina's silhouette. Fisher knew she had hid back in her own room again.
"Are you saying she is a Witch?"
Uhh... to be precise, she should be an Artificial Witch.
But Artificial Witches were also Witches. Currently, for the primary purpose of making Prince Lausanne generate the thought of sheltering her, the matter of male and female genders should be set aside for the time being. As for later, it would depend on Karolina's own charismatic personality. The floor and ceiling were both very obvious: if done poorly, she'd be chased all over the world by Lausanne crying foul at being deceived; if done well, she'd directly rise to power, and becoming a Princess Consort wasn't entirely impossible, right?
After a pause of one or two seconds, Fisher went against his conscience and nodded at Lausanne with difficulty.
"No wonder she could recover so fast... If this is the case, I want to ask you a matter."
"What matter?"
After hearing this, Prince Lausanne hesitated somewhat. He inquired toward Fisher,
"Witches are a type of Demi-Human, right?"
"Mn."
"Then this Witch you're speaking of, can she produce offspring with a human?"
"..."
Wait a minute, you guy, have you already thought as far as the step of having children with Karolina?
You haven't even already thought up what names to give the children, have you?
Facing Fisher's somewhat shocked expression, Prince Lausanne sat down, explaining somewhat helplessly,
"You understand our situation in Schwali. I am the only prince; the matter of branching out and producing heirs is exceedingly crucial. The Queen even wants me to marry a consort and have babies earlier. I am not someone who spreads his affection wantonly. However, I heard that it is a particularly difficult thing for Demi-Humans and Humans to produce offspring. If I continuously have no descendants, my stress will be immense."
Fisher opened his mouth; he actually seriously pondered for a moment.
Strictly speaking, Karolina was not a Demi-Human, but rather an Artificial Witch. That is to say, she was in essence a human. If she was a human, it should be very easy to produce offspring with him.
Therefore, Fisher nodded his head, counting it as a response to Prince Lausanne,
"She is very special. Having descendants with you should be very relaxed. You can go ask her about this matter."
Prince Lausanne heaved a sigh of relief, laughing freely. Subsequently, he stood up and said to Fisher behind him,
"Then that's fine. I've long since said, as long as I like it, there's no problem... I will carefully consider the matter of the Witch Research Society, but I'm afraid I have no way to change the thoughts of your Nari. If the mastermind proposed by the Nari authorities is the Witch Research Society, I will acknowledge it when the time comes. But I will conceal Karolina's situation inside at the time. The prerequisite is, I must meet with her alone to understand the situation."
Really just to understand the situation? Why did it feel more like this was a date invitation from you? Furthermore, the kind with a legitimate pretext.
"No problem, I will talk to her."
"Mn. I have to go look at the accompanying personnel and instruct them on some matters... See you later, Mr. Fisher."
Fisher sat on the ground, watching Prince Lausanne walk further and further away, quickly disappearing from his line of sight.
He also stood up carrying his walking stick and Fluid Sword. Countless policemen were currently entering from the school entrance; they wanted to completely seal off this place for investigation.
Fisher straightened his clothes and left the scene alone.