One-Eyed Monster

All signs indicated that Governor Rostov was a tough character who tolerated no dissent. No one dared to criticize his plans...

However, Aevernan didn’t believe so. He regarded Lord Governor Rostov as far-sighted, always able to perceive things that others couldn’t. These seemingly useless welcome speeches weren’t for their own people; these speeches would be carried to every corner of the Empire along with puffing steam vehicles and the widespread steam railways. By then, Yonder Travel Academy might have to expand again. The gold bars lost due to these seemingly useless and wasteful plans would naturally return to Luona Capital with the influx of large numbers of people.

So, all his predecessors had failed because they hadn’t comprehended the Lord Governor’s vision. Aevernan didn’t want to follow in their footsteps. He resolved to firmly stand by Governor Rostov, scrutinizing every signal issued by the Lord Governor...

After all, the Lord Governor was a legendary figure in the Empire; every furrow of his brow and every smile concealed numerous political tricks. Only by listening carefully could he understand. Of course, this ’listening’ naturally referred to the Politician’s specific Sound Sensing Skill.

Aevernan was not one to be distressed by Governor Rostov’s orders; as an excellent Politician, he placed great importance on listening and discernment. What made him uneasy and torn currently, however, was the matter of taking sides...

Of course, Aevernan didn’t feel he had chosen the wrong side. On the contrary, he believed his choice of allegiance was the wisest, and he had no intention of changing it. He was just a little hesitant about whether to report the abnormalities he had recently perceived to the Lord Governor. No, those probably weren’t abnormalities; those matters, when laid bare, were plain provocations. To exaggerate slightly, they even amounted to clear-cut betrayal. Moreover, this method of betrayal was despicable and loathsome.

The problem was that the person causing these feelings for Aevernan was Chief Officer Louvkat. He was the leader of another faction, a relatively conservative group that always tried to sway His Majesty the King through traditional means, such as by increasing taxes and contributing more gold bars...

Lately, Louvkat had been frequently visiting the Department of Roads with only one goal: to confirm Young Master Rostov’s travel route map.

At first, Aevernan hadn’t found anything inappropriate about the Chief Officer’s interest in Young Master Hustace’s travel route. After all, they were all comrades striving together, merely with different stances and chosen paths of contribution to the Empire. Occasional concern for a comrade’s son was considered a normal exchange. Moreover, from an outsider’s perspective, it was likely that the young master’s travel route would pass through Star River or Bess Mountains. Those lawless territories were often unstable due to frequent warfare, so everyone was naturally concerned about the young master’s safety...

Nevertheless, his making such frequent visits just to confirm the route was a bit strange...

Although Louvkat’s facial expression was perfectly restrained, revealing no personal emotion, his series of actions in recent days had led Aevernan to vaguely hear some astounding whispers.

The whisper was Louvkat’s murmur: It shouldn’t be; the route doesn’t pass through Star River or Bess Mountains. This group shouldn’t fail and return defeated.