Chapter 1490: Misheard Orders

Not bad, he has started moving the chess pieces that can be moved.

Lu Zhenda changed the subject and spoke.

What about Xierta? Among those five people, the Minister of Military Affairs who carries the most weight—did he make any moves tonight?

None for the moment, but he went to the Military Affairs Bureau in the East District of the Imperial City this evening and stayed for about half a standard hour. When he came out, he was holding a sealed document in his hand, got into his private vehicle, and left the Imperial City. The lurking Kalidusi assassin followed; his car went straight back to his official residence and did not come out again.

Lu Zhenda tapped his fingers lightly on the tabletop twice.

A sealed document? An internal transfer order from the Military Affairs Bureau? Or something else?

Unclear; we have not yet infiltrated the internal document flow of the Military Affairs Bureau. But according to analysis, that way of sealing looks like a confidential order, an internal transfer directive within the military.

Lu Zhenda speculated.

As a Minister of Military Affairs, he wouldn't need to take a sealed document back to his residence to read it just to transfer troops within his own jurisdiction. Unless the content of that document is something even his colleagues in the Military Affairs Bureau cannot know.

Never mind Xierta's document for now; keep watching his movements tomorrow. If he has any communication with the rebel-held areas, report it to me immediately.

Understood.

Lu Zhenda shook his head slightly and said.

Y-7 really doesn't have an easy job; being opposed in front of all the ministers, and then having to resolve them one by one later, without resolving too many and causing public outrage.

"Yes, but they are all Alien lives, not worth mentioning."

The next morning, Lu Zhenda finished washing and dressing neatly, and Gewanuosai pushed the door open and entered.

The Imperial Council has already begun; the list of participants confirmed Xierta's name, and the other four ministers who publicly opposed the intervention are also on the list. The content of the discussion is not yet known, but there is a new piece of news.

The rebels have issued another new public communication. This time they did not mention the issue of Kesi's throne, but instead directly attacked the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. They said that once the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance fleet enters the Kesi Imperium, it will plunder resources and occupy territory, saying that Kesi is inviting a wolf into the house.

Lu Zhenda took the Data Pad and glanced at it; the rebels had adjusted the direction of their attack in their wording, no longer targeting only Kesi, but aiming their firepower at the incoming foreign military.

Lu Zhenda spoke with a calm expression.

They want to desperately create public opinion before the fleet arrives, using public sentiment to force Kesi to retract his decision.

Gewanuosai nodded and said.

"They have no idea they are doing useless work."

"Alright, let's see if there will be any new developments here in the Imperial City today."

The Imperial Council adjourned when the morning was more than half over.

Xierta walked out from the side door of the side hall, followed by four colleagues, all of whom were court officials who had publicly opposed the intervention of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance at the Imperial Council these past few days.

Xierta turned his head and lowered his voice to say to the Minister of Finance beside him.

"The attitude today was even tougher than last time; they didn't even give us a chance."

The Minister of Finance also lowered his voice and replied.

"His Majesty's tone hasn't softened at all. I brought up the issue of logistical pressure three times, and each time he blocked it by saying 'The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance will bring its own supplies'."

"What exactly is wrong with our His Majesty?"

Xierta was just preparing to walk toward his transport vehicle when footsteps came from behind him, and two Imperial City guards wearing deep purple uniforms walked quickly out of the corridor.

Xierta turned back and saw the two guards stop in front of the gray-haired old minister at the end of the line, and one of the guards spoke.

"Lord Gelun, His Majesty has a few words to ask you privately; please come back with us."

The old minister called Gelun stopped, his four eyes looking at the two guards, his brows furrowing.

"His Majesty already said everything at the meeting just now; what else is there to ask privately?"

The guard did not explain, but turned sideways and made a "please" gesture.

"Please cooperate."

Gelun looked back at Xierta, and Xierta turned around and walked in front of the two guards.

"You two, the Imperial Council has already ended. His Majesty did not mention at the meeting that he needed Lord Gelun to stay behind privately; whose orders are you acting under?"

The first guard said.

"Lord Xierta, we received a transfer order from the Imperial City Guard Bureau; please have Lord Gelun return to the side hall to wait."

"What is the content of the transfer order?"

"The specific content is inconvenient to disclose."

Xierta's four eyes narrowed slightly.

"Inconvenient to disclose? Then who is the signatory of the transfer order?"

The guard did not answer this question, his gaze looking at Gelun, repeating again.

"Lord Gelun, please come with us."

Xierta raised his hand to block the space between the two guards and Gelun.

"Lord Gelun came with me today, and he will return with me as well. If His Majesty has new instructions, please issue a document through official channels to be forwarded by the Military Affairs Bureau. Intercepting people halfway is not in accordance with the rules."

The second guard's tone also sank.

"Lord Xierta, this is an order from the Imperial City Guard Bureau."

"Orders from the Imperial City Guard Bureau must also be authorized by the Imperial Council. The Imperial Council has already adjourned today; any private summons outside of the meeting requires an official document signed by His Majesty himself or the Chief Minister. Do you have one?"

The guards did not produce anything.

Footsteps came again from the corridor behind them.

A third guard walked out quickly and stood beside the two in front; the three stood in a row, their gazes all falling on Gelun.

Xierta took half a step forward, blocking in front of Gelun.

"Lord Gelun is the former Governor of the eastern star sector of the Imperium, the current financial advisor, and an official seated member of the Imperial Council. Any transfer order directed at him must go through proper procedures. If you cannot produce an official document, then move aside."

The atmosphere around the archway became tense.

At this moment, footsteps came from deep in the corridor, and then Kesi himself walked out from the corridor.

Kesi spoke.

"What is going on?"

A guard turned around to face Kesi and stood at attention to salute.

"His Majesty, we are acting on the Guard Bureau's transfer order to request Lord Gelun to return to the side hall."

Kesi looked at that guard and said slowly.

"A transfer order?"

The guard nodded.

"Yes."

"You heard the order wrong; go back and tell the Guard Bureau that there are no arrangements for individual summons this morning. Lord Gelun will leave together with Lord Xierta."

"Yes, His Majesty."

The three of them stepped back in unison, turned around, walked quickly into the corridor, and disappeared into the shadows inside the archway.

Kesi's gaze turned toward Xierta, and he said in a calm tone.

"Lord Xierta, travel safely."

Xierta lowered the hand that had been blocking the guards and bowed slightly.

"Many thanks, His Majesty."