Henwell is deeply concerned about what’s happening in Billie. After wrapping up the discussion, he immediately sends a message to the Western Federation using the Holy Spirit Church’s Message Icon.

  To Henwell, the assassin has to be Veil.

  The previous marriage alliance war started because Billie hired mercenaries but didn’t settle their final payment.

  That’s what led to Veil colluding with Vorry’s high-ups to orchestrate a bloody marriage alliance.

  Though Billie paid a heavy price, it’s clear Veil Organization hasn’t let go of its anger.

  Veil has always wanted to spark war to plunge the continent into chaos, ideally dragging the Western Federation into the fray.

  If chaos is a stepping stone for Henwell, for Veil Organization, it’s a warm, comfortable bath.

  Only Veil has both the motive and the power to assassinate a king.

  Henwell pns to use this opportunity to step forward as a Padin of the Holy Spirit Church.

  Whether maintaining continental stability or hunting Veil Organization, it’s all part of his duty.

  With that settled, Chick continues updating Henwell.

  Doyle in Cloud Tree City has firmly established his position. Next up is clearing out rivals to fully control the Gilbert family.

  The few hundred people Doyle secretly sent to Peace Haven for training have been under cultivation for over half a year.

  By next year at the test, they’ll return to Cloud Tree City to help Doyle seize power.

  Henwell hadn’t pnned to interfere much with Doyle’s affairs, but with Billie on the brink of upheaval, the Gilbert family near Cloud Tree City becomes crucial to Peace Haven.

  To cross the South Regions of the Vorry Kingdom and enter Billie, Peace Haven needs a logistical rey base.

  Liverpool and Tyran City are good options, but the territory between them belongs to Duke Quinns of the South Regions.

  He’s a staunch royalist supporting the third prince, Christo.

  Though Quinns and Henwell haven’t cshed directly, they belong to different camps.

  Henwell can’t risk leaving his back exposed to Quinns.

  Likewise, Quinns won’t allow Henwell’s troops—even logistics units—to station on his nd.

  So, if Henwell wants to send forces into Billie, he needs a strategic logistics hub in Cloud Tree City.

  Tyran City is under Duke Quinns’ control, but Liverpool remains loyal to the king.

  As long as Henwell and Amir don’t fall out, Liverpool won’t cut off Henwell’s supply lines by force.

  After studying the map for a while, Henwell asks Chick, “Where’s Meredith?”

  Chick blinks in surprise. “Blood Fox is still inside Ogiro territory. She just finished weaving her intelligence network.”

  Henwell thinks for a moment. “Have her wrap up what she’s working on and properly hand it over. She must return to Peace Haven within a month at the test. Then get her to prepare a team to head to Cloud Tree City. She’ll assist Doyle in controlling the Gilbert family. We need to speed up our yout in Cloud Tree City.”

  Looking up, Henwell expins, “Meredith is from Cloud Tree City and knows the situation there better. She’ll get up to speed faster. Plus, she’s a woman—a beautiful one, so Doyle won’t feel threatened.”

  ”Even though Doyle is loyal to us, we have to maintain a cooperative retionship and avoid giving him the impression he’s just a puppet. Meredith suits this task better than you. It can’t be too fast, but not too slow either. Opportunities won’t wait.”

  Chick responds seriously, “Sir, no need to expin to me. I accept any orders!”

  Henwell smiles and pats his shoulder. “Jar, rex. I just don’t want you to misunderstand. We’re brothers bound by life and death, but there are some things I have to consider how you feel about.”

  Henwell’s assignment of Meredith carries no hidden agenda, like cutting into Chick’s authority.

  As Henwell said, he met Meredith in Cloud Tree City. She’s a capable woman with solid connections there, more suitable for this mission than Chick.

  Next, Chick reports something that catches Henwell’s interest.

  There’s been an uprising inside the Ogiro Kingdom.

  Of course, to Henwell, it’s an uprising. After all, it’s the serfs who started it.

  For Ogiro, it’s nothing less than a despicable rebellion.

  Meredith has already made contact with the leader of the serf rebels in a very discreet way.

  The leader’s sister-in-w is now his official wife, and she used to be involved in the flesh trade.

  All the maids around this woman are people Meredith has trained.

  Using her as a channel, Meredith passes secret intelligence to the rebel serfs.

  The rebels have already captured several castles and even one small city.

  But Ogiro is mobilizing troops to crush these defiant serfs.

  Though the rebellion is far from Peace Haven, Henwell wants to turn up the heat on Ogiro for the sake of his own wedding’s peace.

  How to do this requires some finesse.

  Peace Haven can’t openly intervene, nor leave any evidence for Ogiro to use against them.

  Henwell informs Chick about the situation in Pawari within Lumir territory.

  He instructs Chick to send people to negotiate with Pawari, using funds in Lumir to purchase a batch of weapons and equipment.

  These will be secretly shipped by sea into Ogiro, fueling the fmes of rebellion.

  The uprising is just south of Peace Haven, near the coast.

  If the rebels push a few dozen kilometers south, they’ll reach the sea.

  At that point, Lumir’s smuggling fleet will supply the rebels with gear and provisions.

  No matter how Ogiro investigates ter, the support will trace back only to Lumir, with no link to Peace Haven.

  If the serf rebellion survives the initial phase and builds a solid military and political structure, more factions will likely join in.

  Many actually want to see Ogiro fractured by a new warlord.

  Some of these people are even inside Ogiro itself.

  Such instability is a ticking bomb for any country.

  If triggered at a critical moment by those with intent, the damage would be immeasurable.

  What Henwell wants now is to stuff more explosives into that bomb, ideally blowing Ogiro to pieces!