Chapter 2718 - 1171: Poisonous Scheme – Welcome the King Back to the Capital (3)

Chapter 2718: Chapter 1171: Poisonous Scheme – Welcome the King Back to the Capital (3)

It is said that he is colluding with the pirates of Narlanther, secretly manipulating the surrounding sea trade routes.

"What time is it now? You still have time to play charades here. Whether we are willing to listen, you have to say it first."

"If Duke Walter has a good plan, just say it directly, we are on the same side with you in this matter." The other two dukes said impatiently.

"Welcome the King back to the capital!" Duke Walter slowly uttered four words.

"Welcome the King back to the capital?!" The other three dukes changed color upon hearing this, almost writing ’Are you crazy?’ on their faces.

They have such great power in Thacel Kingdom because the Royal Family is in exile.

Actively inviting the Royal Family back, isn’t that tying shackles to themselves?

"Don’t be quick to veto this." Duke Walter patiently explained, "Our ruling position in Thacel Kingdom, like the Royal Family’s ruling position here, is unapproachable and unshakable, especially if we actively bring the Royal Family back. They will only rely on us to complete their rule over Thacel, that’s one.

The second is, in the situation of the Royal Family’s return, will Lord Zalanda recognize the Royal Family’s rule?

If she doesn’t recognize it, she will stand on the opposite side of the entire Thacel Kingdom, and everyone can crusade against her. The alliance she just established will collapse without attack."

"That makes sense, both political power and military power are in our hands. Even if the Royal Family really returns, their influence on us won’t be too great. At most, we pay a little tax annually to support them. But for the improperly positioned and rapidly expanding Lord Zalanda, it will be more unfavorable."

"Lord Zalanda won’t be foolish enough to do this. What if she is also willing to recognize the Royal Family’s rule?"

"Once she acknowledges it, wouldn’t that fall within our game rules? Let’s not discuss anything else. As long as Ruitawen surrenders, we immediately enfeoff him as the new duke and redraw territory borders. What situation do you think will occur?"

"Her legitimacy in ruling Darama City is also questionable. Although Count Lambert was uprooted, it wasn’t thorough. He has an illegitimate child who escaped the ordeal and is now seeking asylum in my territory. If the Royal Family returns, he can initiate a petition to restore his territorial ruling rights."

"Seeking asylum? Ha... Unexpected that Duke Zeber also prepared a fallback!"

"Do you all agree with this plan?"

"The overall direction of this plan has no issues, but some small details need discussion. After welcoming the King back to the capital, where will the capital be set?"

"Do we need to say? Obviously, directly returning here, Zaze Sibo’s palace!"

"Duke Walter really plans well, this move is not just aimed at Lord Zalanda, but also against us. When the King’s decree is issued, who knows whether it truly comes from the King or was directed by you, old duke? Is the next step for you to have the King marry your beautiful granddaughter and enfeoff you as Regent King, leading all affairs of Thacel Kingdom?"

"You’re purely slandering; I absolutely have no such thoughts. It’s purely for our collective interests!"

"Maybe you aren’t considering this now, but after dismembering Lord Zalanda, who can say you won’t plan for this? Welcoming the King back to the capital can be done, but absolutely not placed in Zaze Sibo, nor in the hands of you, old duke."

"The Royal Family not being placed in their own capital not only brings national disgrace but is unjust and inappropriate!"

"National disgrace, since when did the old duke care about this? If you want me to support your plan, the Royal Court absolutely cannot be in Zaze Sibo, that is my bottom line."

"I support Duke Zeber."

"I agree too!"

The four are seasoned in politics, quickly weighing the pros and cons. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

When the Royal Family was in exile, the entire Thacel Kingdom was in a fragmented state, which was most advantageous for them.

But when a far more powerful native force emerges in Thacel Kingdom, bringing back the Royal Family to reassemble, forming a massive political interest conglomerate, they can play the political games they’re most adept at within it.

Nationalism and righteousness are the best weapons against people like Zalanda.

In the details, they faced divergence again.

Though Felen’s case doesn’t have the story of wielding the Emperor’s power over the dukes, they understand this principle.

The welcomed King is bound to be a Puppet; whoever controls him, controls a joker, gaining the boost of legitimacy.

They don’t care, but against those ignorant ordinary citizens, it’s extremely useful.

Those fools think that as long as the Royal Family returns, they can live a better life.

Little do they know, nothing has changed, but instead, there’s an added layer of exploitative class over their heads.

If handed to any one of the four, the remaining three will be restless.

When proposing this plan, Duke Walter already anticipated this situation. As the stalemate remains unresolved, he suggested a compromise: "Then we’ll place the King at Thacel Fort, which is the Royal Family’s residence. We four form the Governance Council, assisting the new King’s rule. What do you think?"

"Doing so indeed resolves the mutual trust issues. However, don’t you think the autonomy given to the new King is too great? Thacel Fort is the Royal Family’s origin, a strategic place surrounded by battlefields, the kingdom’s key point, where the Royal Family naturally holds significant prestige.

If he suddenly grows, the threat he poses will far exceed Zalanda’s. Let’s not end up lifting a stone to hit our own feet." Duke Francis, the most experienced in warfare among the four, immediately saw the new problem.

"You overestimate our new King too much. If he had this ability, he would have fought his way back on his own long ago; there’s no need for us to welcome him back." Duke Walter’s eyes glimmered with intelligence. "You think I would choose a capable and ambitious man as our new King?"

"We really overlooked the core issue just now. Where is our new King?"