Chapter 108

Critic Newspaper: "Laien Blood Night, Over a Hundred Casualties Among Nine Departments!"

New Industry Newspaper: "Large Number of Mid-Level Laien Family Members Killed, Arms Company Suspected to Shut Down!"

Royal Post: "Deeply Mourning the Fallen Members of the Laien Family"

Horn Alley Newspaper: "Lionheart Fallen? Kingdom's Twin Pillars May Exit the Historical Stage"

Sun Newspaper: "Shocking! Laien Family Brutally Slaughtered Last Night, the Culprit Is Actually..."

"..."

An investigation mission almost wiped out their entire family? Is this how you make me trust you, kid?

After finishing the front-page headlines of over a dozen newspapers, the red-haired Director felt a rush of blood to her head and felt a bit lightheaded.

It's the end of the year! The year-end review is coming up soon!

A large-scale casualty event occurring in the capital at a time like this, and a great noble family dying at that—the performance of the Virgin Bureau, which had just started to improve this year, would definitely plummet straight to the bottom!

And compared to the collapse of performance, there seemed to be something even more unlucky...

Looking at the photo on the front page of the Sun Newspaper—Li Ang's back as he reached out toward Bobby Laien's corpse while lying on the ground covered in blood, and the bolded culprit label under the photo—the red-haired Director couldn't help but sigh toward the sky, feeling like she had a massive headache.

Although it was only in the "Sun Newspaper" and not the "Capital Times" or the "Royal Post," how did you manage to get yourself thrown into death row just by going on an investigation field mission?

"What? The Laien family is gone? And it was Li... it was that bastard rebel who did it?"

"Sit down, sit down!"

Looking at the policewoman who had suddenly bounced up from her chair upon hearing the news, the scarred strong man couldn't help but frown and pressed his hand down.

"The Laien family is still there, it's just that nearly two hundred core members and some high-status clansmen died at once, and the old Duke is also critically ill from the shock. It's estimated that he's not far from collapse.

As for the culprit... it's really not certain that it was that rebel. This Laien family matter is very suspicious."

After taking a deep drag from the cigarette in his mouth, the scarred strong man said thoughtfully:

"Although that rebel did appear at the scene and killed the first-in-line successor, Bobby Laien, there were no signs of other intruders in the entire manor. Relying on him alone, it's unlikely he could have slaughtered the Laien family's mid-level members in one night.

Also, according to the old Duke's testimony, he was stabbed awake by a maid in the middle of the night. That maid held scissors to his throat, forcing him to step down early and yield his position to his younger brother, Bobby Laien. So if you ask me, what happened to the Laien family yesterday looks more like an internal conflict."

"So that's how it is..."

Hearing this, the policewoman breathed a slight sigh of relief, then asked with flickering eyes: "Since it's an internal conflict, why not investigate who the culprit is instead of throwing that bastard rebel into death row?"

"Isha, get used to using your brain when things happen!"

After pointing his index finger at his forehead, the scarred strong man replied calmly while smoking:

"Whether that rebel named Li Ang is the culprit doesn't depend on whether he did it, but on which of the two situations—'Rebel Attacks Duke Family' or 'Duke Family Internal Conflict'—is more suitable."

"I don't understand..."

"Simply put, the truth isn't important; benefits and stance are what matter."

After stubbing out his cigarette on the glass tabletop, the scarred strong man extended his nicotine-stained fingers, tapped a stack of newspapers on the table, and explained patiently:

"Did you notice? Except for the Sun Newspaper, which treats it as a joke, other newspapers are either mourning the deceased, describing the situation, or focusing on the impact of this event. But regarding whether it was an internal conflict or an attack, none of them have given a clear answer.

These newspapers aren't failing to grab the news, nor are they waiting for our investigation results; they've been warned by the people behind them not to rush to pick a side, and to wait until the wind direction is determined."

"Wind direction?"

"It's the ideas of the old nobles represented by the Laien family, the reformists represented by the Princess, and the loose alliance formed by the new nobles, big merchants, councilors, and the Prime Minister."

These three forces are the true masters of the Kingdom. The consensus reached after their contention and struggle is the only correct wind direction."

After explaining the meaning of wind direction, the scarred strong man lit another cigarette and said slowly:

"Among them, the reformists represented by the Princess hope more that this incident is an internal noble conflict. If so, it would give them an excuse to take action against the old nobles and help the Minister of Defense reduce the pressure from the military."

As for the loose alliance, they hope this incident is a rebel attack, because the rebels' behavior of causing chaos and destroying stability everywhere has the greatest impact on merchants, which in turn affects the councilors supported by merchants and the Prime Minister who needs the councilors' votes."

"So if this is classified as a rebel attack, they can urge the other two parties to cooperate, prioritize dealing with the rebels who are destroying everything, and maintain a stable business environment."

Seems like I understand, but also seems like I don't...

After furrowing her brows and pondering for a while, the policewoman asked:

"Then what about the old nobles? What do those old nobles think?"

"They don't care."

Hearing the policewoman's question, the scarred strong man couldn't help but curl his lips, revealing a strange smile.

"Whether it's people dying in an internal conflict or being attacked by rebels, it's equally shameful for them. And 'internal conflict' will be used by the Princess as an excuse to carve out their power, while 'attack' will lead to councilors grabbing more seats because they are unable to deal with the rebels."

"In short, no matter what the 'Laien Blood Night' is finally classified as, they are already the biggest losers."

"..."

Who cares about losers or winners!

Having listened for a long time and still not knowing what would happen to Li Ang, but unable to ask directly, the anxious policewoman couldn't help but clench her fists repeatedly, then tried to probe as tactfully as possible:

"So Director, what do you think will happen in the end? What will be the fate of that bastard rebel?"

"That's not something I can decide."

After glancing at the policewoman's crumpled sleeve, the scarred strong man turned and leaned against the window, smoking and saying nonchalantly:

"It mainly depends on the Princess's side. Although the councilors and merchants have significant weight, their minds are too scattered, leading to a loose alliance. If the reformists led by the Princess insist, they will eventually back down."

"So how this matter develops depends on whether there is someone with enough weight in the Princess's camp who can stand up and express their stance, to firm up her belief in taking action against the old nobles."

Someone with enough weight... I see!

A short while later, when the scarred strong man finished his cigarette, stubbed it out, and turned around, the policewoman had already disappeared.

But the scarred strong man didn't seem to care much about his capable subordinate's brisk departure; he walked slowly back to his desk and opened a map of the capital.

Let me think... the plan for next month should be to blow up the theater in the southeast of the capital, so when setting up the defense, I'll just draw it toward the west~