Starting from the Planetary Governor

“Governor, your response was indeed quick, you handled it very well.”

Inside the Holy Terra Palace, Ambassador Salihovic was reporting to Gu Hang. He couldn’t help but praise Gu Hang when mentioning what happened at the triumphant ceremony.

Gu Hang waved his hand, not picking up the conversation.

Indeed, at the scene, his reaction was not considered slow.

But how well he handled it, that’s not certain.

It was managed to get by, but when Gu Hang realized the problem, his temporary reaction and handling in a moment of urgency made it difficult for his words to be particularly smooth.

He had to elevate the Prime Minister to avoid that awkward scene. But his words were blunt, and the intent might have been a bit too strong.

It’s hard to say if Prime Minister Qi Bodu was really assured afterwards.

After all, essentially Gu Hang hoped that Zebert would not be wary of him, and didn’t want him to think he or the entire Alliance was a threat to him and his power.

Whether this goal could be completely achieved, is really hard to say.

In this matter, he felt quite helpless.

Ambassador Salihovic indeed operated in Holy Terra for a long time, with Galaraldo as the backing. However, Prime Minister Qi Bodu’s position was too high, and he wasn’t within a circle that Salihovic could easily contact. He did have some chances to see the Prime Minister in public occasions, but naturally, there weren’t opportunities for communication. As for private interactions, those were even less frequent.

He did have the intention to plant some Foreign Affairs Bureau agents around the Prime Minister.

He actually did so, but dared not be too excessive, only able to plant some personnel at the periphery, satisfied to gather some relatively peripheral information.

Otherwise, did he think that the Legal Department and Tribunal weren’t formidable?

Even currently, regarding the intelligence activities of the Alliance Foreign Intelligence Bureau in Holy Terra, many institutions within the Central Empire were likely aware.

But firstly, the Alliance was an Empire force, with a background, and hadn’t done anything outrageous, making it hard to target them.

Secondly, the actions of the Foreign Affairs Bureau were filed with the Legal Department, applied under the guise of the normal activities of the Alliance Ambassador. Although some tactics by the Foreign Affairs Bureau were testing the boundaries, ultimately with official documents, it seemed slightly safer.

But that’s it, relying on such means to plant spies near the Prime Minister was unrealistic; more drastic and aggressive means were too risky to use, getting caught would be catastrophic.

So this was all they had.

The Alliance and Salihovic here had no means to influence the Prime Minister.

Even thoroughly probing into his thoughts was difficult.

In this matter, it could only be entrusted to Galaraldo.

Facing Gu Hang’s request to explore the Prime Minister’s thoughts, Galaraldo agreed but also stated that he would try his best to help, yet the final result could not be guaranteed.

Galaraldo was indeed now part of the Prime Minister’s political faction, but definitely not considered a core member.

He wished!

However, he didn’t grow up within the Prime Minister’s faction but transitioned from Ou Juren’s faction. With the stigma of having backstabbed his former boss, it was impossible to gain complete trust, being considered a genuine member at most as a joined ally or surrendered individual.

Indeed, Galaraldo suspected that after a transitional period, sooner or later, the Prime Minister might want to replace him.

After all, the Military Affairs Department was a very important department; how could they let a turncoat hold it?

Even if he wasn’t directly removed, he would at least be required to do many things to prove himself.

Just that time hadn’t arrived yet.

In this regard, he instead had to rely a bit on Gu Hang’s external support. Otherwise, he, this rootless Military Prime Minister, would be easily dismissed with a word from Qi Bodu.

The two were considered mutually supportive.

…

After the triumphant ceremony concluded, most participants gradually left in the following month.

They often received what they came for.

Gu Hang certainly hadn’t left yet.

What he wanted, he had not obtained.

Gu Hang actually didn’t want to stay in Holy Terra for too long. Many affairs awaited his return to handle within the Alliance.

However… at this moment, he couldn’t help but criticize the Empire’s low administrative efficiency.

Regarding the “Alliance Plan,” the internal study of the Empire continued.

Gu Hang had submitted multiple applications, hoping they could at least convene a formal meeting, even if no immediate result was reached, at least pushing the discussion forward.

Even, in the worst-case scenario, if the “Alliance Plan” failed, even if it reached the point of confrontation, that would also count as a conclusion.

However, should it reach such a stage, Gu Hang would likely find returning to the Alliance challenging.

Indeed, one could say that this was precisely why the Central Empire insisted on Gu Hang’s presence: if he didn’t dare come, that proved rebellious intent, ensuring the “Alliance Plan” wouldn’t pass, even requiring military preparation for suppression.

Since he came, then the “Alliance Plan” was negotiable—though just barely negotiable. If talks broke down, Gu Hang, he might as well not go back.