It wasn’t until the afternoon that the people of Landinset roughly understood what had happened.
Bauer Dandolo had been arrested for treason.
It was truly difficult to evaluate such a development, and even the patrons drinking in the taverns had fallen silent.
Some who had stayed up late had witnessed the summit villa district lighting up like a fireworks display the previous night.
Consequently, people were asking around everywhere, even trying to find anyone acquainted with the nobles of the villa district to fish for information.
In truth, everyone understood in their hearts that Bauer, that stubborn opposition leader, had finally reached the end of the line.
The more perceptive individuals ran straight to the docks to see if the warships were making any unusual moves, only to be surprised to find them moored or setting sail as normally as ever.
Was Bauer Dandolo, the head of the Dandolo family, truly finished just like that?
Domenico, at least, knew he was definitely done for.
At noon today, an official dispatch had arrived from Keolan Port.
It was sent by the Commander-in-Chief of the Sea, stating his support for bringing the traitor to justice.
The Navy was the Navy of Hobrick, not Bauer’s private army.
At the same time, he believed that Emilia had demonstrated the qualities of a naval leader during the operations to intimidate the Kingdom of Keammelot, and that she should be publicly given full authority over naval affairs.
With this, the main force of the Home Fleet, which had been stationed at Keolan Port, could be transferred back to Landinset Port.
Domenico tapped the letter on his desk with satisfaction.
He was currently drafting the official document to promote Julia to Vice Commander of the Home Fleet.
This way, Emilia would oversee naval civil service while his own daughter would control the Home Fleet.
The risks associated with the Navy would be further mitigated.
As for the Shipbuilding Department, he would leave that to the elven lady.
Domenico didn’t need to worry about anyone daring to criticize the appointment of an elf to office anymore.
The golden age of the Laguance family had arrived.
Thinking of this, he looked at Julia, who was standing beside him.
“Daughter, it would be for the best if Miss Livyat would deign to serve as the General Affairs Officer of the Shipbuilding Department. That way, the elves can also monitor the construction progress of the capital ship Ricardo Dandolo at any time. Er, we might need to change the name of the capital ship, but the elves haven’t given us a definite answer yet.”
Julia toyed with her hair absentmindedly and replied.
“Father, if we really go and ask the Elven Nation, they might demand we rename it the Livyat.”
Domenico wasn’t surprised.
He was an old fox; at this point, if the Elven Nation told him their Queen was Livyat herself, he wouldn’t be shocked.
After all, those two letters had been delivered far too quickly.
If anything, it was better this way.
The Frostweave Kingdom’s counter-attack against them would definitely happen soon.
He needed more support.
If the elves were willing to send troops to threaten the west bank of the Great River again, it would be perfect.
But if that were the case, what exactly was the relationship between Livyat and the Lady Regent?
Why would the Lady Regent send her daughter to Livyat’s side?
What was the intention?
Domenico decided to bypass the Queen for now and test the Regent’s attitude.
He would write a bland, formal state letter of the highest specification and deliver it directly to the Regent to see how she reacted, and then see how the “Her Majesty the Queen” reacted.
As for asking Julia directly?
That was out of the question.
He knew exactly where Julia’s loyalties lay; the moment he asked, Julia would definitely lie.
Thus, he spoke to Julia again.
“Should we renovate the elven consulate, or perhaps just buy up the neighboring storefronts and merge them into the consulate’s grounds? You need to be more proactive; you can’t be timid in this regard.”
Julia, who had been so listless she was almost falling asleep, blinked and looked at Domenico awkwardly.
“I… I think it’s appropriate. Let’s do that. I want to give Livyat some more gifts, too.”
Domenico shook his head with a smile.
“Then go and see to it quickly. Don’t worry, you can issue as many promissory notes from the Laguance family bank as you like. The bank will handle the payment.”
The father and daughter’s rare bit of family time was soon interrupted.
The butler informed them that the Governor had come to visit.
It was rare for the Governor to visit in person.
Domenico hurried to the courtyard with Julia to greet him, finding the Governor already sitting at a table drinking tea.
Domenico rushed forward with pleasantries and sat down beside him while Julia stood to the side.
The Governor set down his teacup and said slowly, “Julia, no need to be formal. You sit, too.”
Only then did Julia sit beside her father.
“Domenico, I’ll get straight to the point. I may choose to resign early. And I advise you, do not contest for the position of Governor this time. Leave it to those who want it most. You cannot let the bomb explode in your own hands.”
Domenico’s smile froze on his lips.
He knew what the Governor meant, but he hadn’t expected him to be so blunt.
“Your Excellency, I truly have no intention of running for Governor. But regardless, we must ensure a pro-elf Governor takes office, right? Otherwise, all our efforts will be in vain.”
The Governor remained unimpressed.
“You burned the evidence Bauer collected, which got you through the first gate. But can you truly guarantee that cooperation with the elves will alleviate the Republic’s troubles? Years of deficits, a lack of solvency, and the need to maintain an enormous force of mercenaries and fleets. You will have to pass a second gate, a third gate, on and on without end.”
“You are already walking on a tightrope, Domenico.”
“I am saying this for your own good. Let go. I know you have already made a great deal of money. There is nothing wrong with retiring like this.”
The 50-year-old Domenico was being lectured like a child in front of the Governor.
Julia, sitting nearby, didn’t dare to utter a single word.
But after the Governor finished with Domenico, he turned his gaze directly toward Julia.
“I know your father wants you to take his place and is sparing no effort to train you. But this is no longer the golden age from decades ago when the Golden Book was first promulgated. What you are taking over is a massive, broken wreck of a ship.”
“I had lunch today with some relatives from outside the city. Even they know that in Landinset and a few surrounding towns, certain organizations are cropping up. They seem to call themselves the ‘Sans-culottes,’ hmph. He asked me if he should arrest these people first.”
“What use is there in arresting them? After all, how many nobles are there? But if you count the commoners outside the city, how many people would you have to arrest? Julia, you were systematically educated at the Landinset Academy. Do you know where the name ‘Hobrick’ comes from?”
Julia lowered her head and answered the Governor’s question word for word.
“Legend says that over 10,000 years ago, when the tax collectors of the old Landinset city-state traveled with their tax cavalry to collect taxes, they always emphasized to the villagers that they must pay taxes to the ‘Republic’.”
“The villagers were illiterate. How were they to know the name of that magnificent city they were never qualified to enter? They thought ‘Republic’ was the name of the city itself. Thus, as thousands of years passed, the pronunciation was slowly distorted through word of mouth from ‘Heppublica’ into ‘Hobrick’.”
“The best part is,” at this point, Julia stole a glance at the Governor, “the nobles of Landinset thought the name was good, believing it was a name the citizens had spontaneously chosen for the country. So, in the end, Hobrick became the name of the Republic, and Landinset referred specifically to this city.”
Only then did the Governor close his eyes, leaning back in his chair wearily.
“Exactly. Now, the Sans-culottes in the city may have reached some kind of alliance with the country-folk in the fields. Yet they haven’t done anything yet. Domenico, do you really want to take over, and then have the mercenaries sack the rural towns first?”
Domenico replied, “No. From the current perspective, we certainly cannot do that. Your Excellency, please do not resign just yet. Let us pass the second gate first. The Kingdom’s counter-attack should be arriving any moment now.”
“Furthermore, Bauer has not been tried yet. I hope that will satisfy the commoners.”