The gates of the Governor’s Mansion were tightly shut, with at least three squads of guards patrolling and stationed outside.
Ridge Avenue was completely sealed off; no one was allowed entry without the Governor’s explicit consent.
Within, only the Governor, members of the Council of Ten, and Julia, who had been granted permission, were present.
In fact, during the banquet held for the Prince, not long after the first gunshot rang out, Vittorio—who had briefly excused himself from the table—spotted some panicked guards about to rush into the banquet hall, apparently to report some urgent matter.
Alert as always, he stopped the guards, instructing them to report directly to him and not to disturb the Governor and the Prince during the banquet.
Upon learning the shocking news that a rebellion had broken out and the navy was involved, he immediately ordered suppression, placed the entire city under martial law, and commanded that the rebellious warships be brought under control at all costs.
He also instructed the servant delivering wine to discreetly summon Domenico.
Having drunk quite a bit, Domenico’s first reaction upon hearing Vittorio’s report was that the loyalty of the other warships must be ensured.
At this time, although most of the fleet was docked at the Port of Chioran east of Landingst, some ships responsible for the security of the capital’s port were still patrolling nearby.
He decided to issue orders in the name of the Council of Ten, using flashing signals from the lighthouse to instruct all nearby warships to drop anchor and await orders, forbidding any movement.
No ship docked in port was to depart without explicit command.
Fortunately, the Prince, unable to hold his liquor, soon became completely inebriated.
With the consent of his guards, the Governor decided to send the Prince out of the city directly, to rest in a picturesque northern town famed for its fine wine.
Only after that would he be formally escorted out of the country.
When the Governor saw Domenico leave the banquet, he naturally guessed something had happened.
However, after learning the true situation, he realized it was far worse than he had imagined.
He immediately ordered several guard squads to block any channel that might be used to inform the Prince.
At the very least, the Prince must leave the Republic before learning of these events through any other means.
Thus, they immediately convened a meeting within the Governor’s Mansion.
The rebellion had been largely suppressed, but the thunderous retribution that would follow was still brewing.
The Governor had long since sobered up.
Seated in his chair, he brooded for a long time in silence, simply watching the Council of Ten.
Everyone else remained silent as well, awaiting the Governor’s questions.
Those present were all veterans who had served under the Governor for many years.
Suddenly, the Governor turned to Domenico, deciding to question his newly promoted and trusted subordinate directly.
“Thirty-two people died on Garden Avenue. The warship fired four rounds. Who do you think is backing the rebels?”
Domenico replied, “Your Excellency, there is no backer behind the rebels. Nor do they come from the old noble families.”
The Governor neither affirmed nor denied this.
“Then, why were the rebels so well-informed about the guards’ movements and the positioning of the escort ships?”
Domenico kept his head bowed and continued, “The deployment of the guards and the patterns of the escort ships aren’t difficult to figure out. No prominent figure is required to know these things. Low-ranking sailors, petty officials, even commoners could know.”
Julia looked at Domenico in unconcealed surprise.
She did not understand why her own father would refrain from shifting the blame onto Mrs. Bauer, and even help clear the Northern Faction of suspicion.
The Governor’s hawk-like gaze shifted to Julia, his words full of meaning: “Don’t look at your father like that. You should learn well from him.”
Julia quickly lowered her gaze and nodded in acknowledgement.
The Governor then looked at Vittorio.
“If that’s the case, how do we deal with the rebels?”
Vittorio seemed to have prepared his answer long ago.
Meeting the Governor’s gaze, he responded slowly,
“Your Excellency, we have arrested everyone involved in the rebellion; they are being well ‘taken care of’. Tomorrow, they will be publicly executed by hanging. A gallows will be set up at the docks in the lower district, and all will be put to death, then burned. Among them, sixty principal offenders will be hanged. Boatswain Matteo Barbone, Sailor Giovanni Moro, Dockworker Vincenzo Contarini…”
“I don’t need to hear the list. Just tell me they’ll all be swinging from the gallows at the docks tomorrow.”
The Governor seemed unsatisfied, continuing to stare at Vittorio.
Realizing this, Vittorio had no choice but to continue, even though he would rather not have.
“As for the officers of the guards who failed in their duty, and the captains who moved their ships without orders, they will be dismissed and investigated. Any civilians who, under martial law, should have helped suppress the rebellion but refused or acted passively, will be exiled from Landingst. Any officials or council members who may be involved in this case will be directly tried for treason.”
“Hmm, acceptable.”
After saying this, the Governor looked again at Domenico.
There was one more thing he had to confirm.
Domenico, understanding the Governor’s intent, deliberated for a long moment as if pondering something, and finally made up his mind to answer.
“Your Excellency, we can announce that this rebellion is related to… the Kingdom of Camelot. We’ll send the fleet to the waters near the Kingdom of Camelot as a demonstration.”
The Governor nodded at first, but then seemed not entirely convinced.
He mused aloud, “The Kingdom of Camelot? Won’t they retaliate against such a provocation? What if a real conflict breaks out?”
At this moment, Lady Emilia, one of the Council of Ten, took the initiative to join the discussion.
“Your Excellency, we can send out the fleet, but the only vessels to actually enter those waters should be the clipper ships. As long as the citizens see the fleet setting out, that will suffice.”
The Governor’s hand, which had rested on the table all this while, finally fell, and he leaned fully back into his chair.
“Very well, Emilia. I’ll leave this to you. You may also choose the personnel. Oh, by the way. Domenico, whom do you intend to appoint as Governor of the Estuary?”
Domenico glanced at Luca beside him—they seemed to have already discussed this in advance.
“Let Mr. Luca take on the position as well. He’s always been responsible for the defense of Landingst’s sea outlet and is quite experienced. Mr. Luca, what do you think?”
Luca nodded, looking toward the Governor, who nodded in satisfaction.
“Good, very good… Luca, doesn’t the Laguance family have a distant relative who’s contracted to supply the living quarters aboard the Riccardo Dandolo? I’ve heard all the porcelain and furniture come from the elves—excellent stuff. Don’t shortchange those who serve the Republic wholeheartedly.”
Luca quickly replied, “Of course, of course. The market price must be followed, as the rules dictate.”
The Governor squinted at those present, then concluded, “Good, very good. I am pleased. Here, there are only those loyal to the Republic, no traitors. With all of you loyal servants, I can rest easy during these last years of my term.”
The members of the Council of Ten finally left, leaving only echoes, Domenico, and Julia in the empty Governor’s Mansion.
The Governor gazed at the lush mountains outside the window, then asked at last,
“Domenico, now it’s just the three of us—father, daughter, and I. Tell me, do you think the rebels really had no backer?”
Julia, overcome by impulse, wanted to say something, but her father stopped her.
He remained silent for a long while.
The Governor continued talking to himself.
“Besides. That Miss Livyat, your deputy. She seems quite extraordinary. I heard that even Former Princess Tesvelan defers to her in some respects. Julia, you must… cultivate a good relationship with her. It’s not for nothing that your father and I persuaded the rest of the Council of Ten to let her become your deputy.”
At the mention of Livyat, Julia started, quickly stepping forward in an attempt to explain.
“Please rest assured, Your Excellency, she poses no threat to the Republic.”
Domenico sighed, helpless in the face of his daughter’s response.
With no other choice, he spoke up as well.
“Your Excellency. Rest assured. Whatever her purpose may be, Julia’s close friendship with her will do no harm. This Miss Livyat appears to have a deep friendship with the current queen. If she can speak in front of the queen, then surely she knows that in Landingst, there are some things that must be heard, and others that must be truly listened to.”
The Governor smiled. “Domenico, I knew I was right to promote you. Very good, very good. Tonight, stay for dinner at the Governor’s Mansion—just us, and my wife. My most precious vintage—I certainly didn’t let Yagailon get a drop of it.”