Chapter 1005: Complying with the Law is the Only Way to Find a Glimmer of Hope

Ke'erwa, Hui Guang City, the private residence of Grand Duke Aldridge.

Sike slammed the crystal glass in his hand onto the tabletop and growled.

"Useless! A bunch of complete and utter useless fools!

You couldn't even get close to him! Two were killed in retaliation, and two were captured alive! That old Masha... she was a deep-cover agent we had planted for over a decade!"

Lady Lina covered her nose with a silk handkerchief and said with a frown.

"What is the point of saying all this now? The key is those two living captives! How much do they know? What if... what if they can't withstand the interrogation and sell us out..."

"They wouldn't dare!"

Grand Duke Aldridge interrupted Lady Lina.

"Their families are in our hands. Besides, even if they said something, without concrete evidence, what could that Sheng Wolun possibly do to us? We are the nobility of Ke'erwa! We are the foundation of this land!"

Grand Duke Aldridge looked around at everyone and spoke.

"Now is not the time to lose our nerve. Sheng Wolun has been targeted by an assassination attempt, so he is bound to be furious. But he is a newcomer with an unstable foundation, and he needs stability more than anything.

I predict he will soon send people to 'invite' us to 'assist in the investigation,' or simply summon us personally to apply pressure, attempting to find the mastermind, or... to use this opportunity to knock us down a peg and force us to make greater concessions on upcoming policies.

This is our chance! We can adopt an attitude of 'active cooperation,' and we can even 'proactively' help him find a few inconsequential scapegoats to calm the situation.

At the same time, we must keep our stories straight and emphasize that this assassination was the isolated act of some extreme conservatives or old military officers dissatisfied with the collapse of the Fengqi Star Alliance, and that it has absolutely nothing to do with us law-abiding nobles!"

"Right! The Grand Duke is right!"

A noble immediately echoed him.

"We can donate a 'pension' to the dead and wounded commoners to show our 'benevolence' and 'remorse.' We can also 'proactively' offer to cover part of the costs for rebuilding the slums in exchange for his 'understanding' in other areas... such as industrial adjustments and tax policies."

"Hmph, understanding?"

Sike sneered.

"If he is sensible and we can keep up appearances, we can live and let live in the future.

If he isn't... hmph, this time the assassination failed, but what about next time?

Ke'erwa is so big; accidents can happen at any time! I don't believe he and his small garrison can guard against 'accidents' that are everywhere!

Besides, those Super Soldiers aren't even here."

Viscount Pake, sitting at the end of the round table, had been listening in silence.

They were still using the mindset of the old era to fathom an opponent who did not belong to this era at all.

Sheng Wolun... the man who remained unmoved at the banquet and did not change his expression when facing an assassination in the slums.

What he represented was an order based on law and a certain belief that transcended their understanding.

Assassination? What use could such underhanded methods have other than to enrage the other party and accelerate one's own destruction?

Pake recalled in his mind what Sheng Wolun had said in the slums.

"Anyone who attempts to obstruct, regardless of their identity or status, will face the severe punishment of the law!"

Viscount Pake remembered what he had learned in secret about how the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance had crushed the Fengqi Fleet in the south, and the rumors about those Super Soldiers known as "Astartes"... to be enemies with such power, using petty tricks like assassination and feigned compliance?

That is simply courting death!

He could not be in league with them, or he would die a miserable death!

At this moment, Grand Duke Aldridge began to assign specific tasks.

"... Is everyone clear? After you go back, immediately clean up all traces that might be related to this operation and pacify the people below. Pake,"

Grand Duke Aldridge looked at the silent Viscount Pake.

"You are young, your mind is sharp, and you have connections with all sorts of people. Find a way to spread some rumors, saying that the assassination was... was carried out by those liberated Human slaves who were dissatisfied with the distribution, or were incited by some former Fengqi military officers with ulterior motives. Muddy the waters!"

Viscount Pake raised his head, met Aldridge's gaze, and forced a strained smile onto his face.

"Yes, Grand Duke, I... I will find a way."

The meeting continued for a while with arguments over details and mutual buck-passing, and finally broke up on bad terms.

Viscount Pake returned to his mansion.

After dismissing all the servants, Viscount Pake walked alone into the soundproof secret room in his study.

"This cannot go on... They are dragging everyone down into the Shenyuan with them!"

The old era truly should come to an end.

These nobles, including his own family, might have indeed contributed to the development of Ke'erwa in the past, but more than that, it was greed and corruption built upon the blood and tears of countless people.

Viscount Pake walked to a corner of the secret room and activated a micro-data terminal disguised as a decorative wall lamp.

Viscount Pake inserted a data chip containing all the audio of the conversation just now in Aldridge's study, captured via the micro-recording device in his cufflink!

Listening to those familiar voices saying such foolish things, Viscount Pake's hands trembled slightly.

Once he took this step, there would be no turning back.

But following Aldridge and the others to the bitter end would certainly not lead to compromise or the continuation of power.

"Complying with the law might offer a glimmer of hope, or even... a place in the new order. Resisting to the end will only lead to death."

Viscount Pake copied and encrypted the audio file, then sent it via an anonymous data link to an encrypted information pool published by the Xintila Squad for receiving "anonymous tips."

After doing all this, Viscount Pake immediately cleared all operation logs and destroyed the one-time data chip.

Viscount Pake walked out of the secret room, summoned his butler, and gave instructions.

"Go, prepare a... well, a gift list of moderate value, and send it to the Zongdufu in my name, saying... I heard the Governor was startled and wish to express my condolences.

Also, clear out those idle warehouses under our family's name near the 'Rust Belt' in the east of the city, and say... we are willing to provide them to the Zongdufu free of charge for the temporary storage of relief supplies."

The butler was somewhat surprised, but still respectfully complied.

"Yes, Viscount."

Viscount Pake watched the butler's departing back and whispered to himself.

"This is just the beginning... the beginning of showing my stance. I hope... it is not too late."