Chapter 700: An Intelligence Shake-Up

Henwell did not kill Meredith, but he is the only person who knows the truth.

He personally infiltrated the dungeon and replaced Meredith, who was awaiting execution, with a disguised female prisoner.

For one thing, he could not bring himself to kill her. She had been among his earliest followers.

For another, Henwell still has work for Meredith.

Henwell takes out a document and hands it to her. "These papers will get you across the border. They contain a false identity."

Meredith nods. "What is my mission, my lord?"

Henwell hands her another document. "Three tasks. First, infiltrate this knight lord's inner circle."

By the moonlight, Meredith quickly scans the document. Fighting Spirit erupts from her hand and shreds the pages into powder.

"Sir Rex. This must be the current identity of Howell, the King of Justice. What do you want me to do, my lord?"

Henwell shakes his head. "Nothing. The Military Intelligence Office already has a planted asset beside him. Your task is to monitor that asset. If the asset tries anything, notify me immediately."

Meredith sighs inwardly. Henwell no longer fully trusts the Military Intelligence Office.

Henwell continues, "Remain undercover there for three years. After that, go to Hornbay City and find a way to board Tigger's ship."

"You've met Tigger before. He is a key part of my plans to build Peace Haven's navy."

"Lately, he's begun pulling against the leash. I need to know whether someone is inciting him or whether this is simply his nature."

"I cannot say how long this assignment will take. You will need to observe him for some time."

Finally, Henwell looks directly at Meredith. "For your third task, find a way to join the Church or the Empire. Ideally, you will secure an opportunity to travel to the Abundant Continent."

"Whatever happens, you will not return to Peace Haven for ten years, perhaps twenty, or perhaps for the rest of your life."

Meredith smiles. "My lord, I may already be in my forties, but I am also a Grand Knight. With enough luck, I may become an Iron Knight one day."

"I have a long life ahead of me. I'll live long enough to return someday. Sparing my life is already the greatest mercy you could grant me."

Henwell sighs. "I know I should kill you, but we have known each other for twenty years. I simply cannot bring myself to do it."

"Atone properly. For the sake of the colleagues who died because of your decision, you must spend the rest of your days rendering enough service to Peace Haven."

"For the families and friends they left behind, you will fight alone in the darkness."

"You will report to me alone. You will have no support, and you cannot afford a single mistake."

"This is an extraordinary communication stone, and the codebook is in the case. Your identity is too sensitive for me to offer much support, and I certainly cannot transfer funds to you."

"I obtained this from Arius. It will allow you to withdraw twenty thousand gold coins from the Trade Alliance branch in Diversion Bay."

Meredith replies, "I will not need the money. No matter how well Arius concealed those funds, someone might still trace them."

"I have a secret cache of my own. When I carried out a mission in Ogiro, I purchased a property there."

"It contains a hidden chamber I built myself, with enough jewelry and coin to begin the assignment."

"Besides, obtaining money will not be difficult for me."

Henwell comes to attention and gives her a military salute. "Take care."

Meredith returns the salute. "Farewell, my lord."

Henwell watches Meredith disappear from view and releases a quiet sigh.

She truly is formidable. She performed exceptionally well at the Military Intelligence Office and trained a large number of talented operatives.

Unfortunately, Henwell can no longer allow her to remain in Peace Haven.

Still in a poor mood, Henwell returns to Blood Hill Manor and summons Chick, who has been waiting for him.

Henwell personally pours him a cup of wine. "My friend, do not resent me."

"Rules are rules. I did not want this either, but the Military Intelligence Office has to be reorganized."

"And it is not only the Military Intelligence Office. I need to restructure Peace Haven's entire military and administrative system."

Chick accepts the cup with a faint smile. "You jest, my lord. I do not care about any of that. In truth, you should have killed me."

Henwell takes a drink. "Bullshit! I haven't even won the kingdom yet, and you expect me to start killing the people who helped build it? I'd be tearing out my own foundations!"

"You will have a great deal to do when you reach Billie."

"Ruper, the Flying Ant, is now lord of Yinxin City and serves as Catherine's foothold in Divine Revelation City."

"Ruper commands two legions and controls nearly ten thousand square kilometers of territory. He will act as your intermediary."

"Billie's royal succession council clearly can't drag on much longer. They should choose a king soon."

"Barring the unexpected, it will be Naiden, the eldest prince."

"Watch the situation closely and thoroughly rebuild the Military Intelligence Office's intelligence network in Billie."

"Billie's national intelligence service, the Lightless Guard, and Ashes, which Ulysses left behind, are both formidable opponents."

"We need someone there to take charge, and you are the only person capable of the job."

Henwell sighs. "If Meredith had not caused this disaster, our intelligence networks in the various countries would already be largely complete."

"Now I can only send you to deal with affairs in Billie."

Chick replies, "Do not worry. I will handle it. I will also gather intelligence on the Tidehunter Pirates."

Henwell nods, takes out a file, and hands it over. "What do you think of this man?"

Chick looks through it. "Scott? The intelligence officer who relayed the news from the Baron of Waterhill?"

"I remember him. He graduated fourth in the seventh class of the Intelligence Division."

"If his martial talent had been better, he probably would have graduated first."

"You want to use him, my lord? He is a promising candidate, but where you place him will matter."

Henwell points to the map on the wall. "What about here?"

Chick considers it for a moment, then gives a slight nod. "It would suit him. Kriye City in western Lumir is under scrutiny from several sides."

"It is the Western Federation's first foothold in its eastward advance, a key target for the Ika Kingdom's Golden Spiders, and the place Lumir's Coral Reef watches most closely."

"Its location has drawn intelligence agencies from several factions, and the Western Federation also maintains a garrison there."

"Success there depends far more on keen observation and a sharp sense for the shifting situation than on brute force."

"By those standards, Scott is qualified."

"Personally, however, I recommend giving him more experience first and posting him to the Southern District."

"Make him chief intelligence officer for the Southern District. The situation there is also complicated. It borders two countries, and their intelligence services are locked in a constant covert struggle."

"Their struggle has not reached the point of open conflict, however, so no major crisis is likely, and his safety can be assured."

"The experience he gains in the Southern District will also give him a better understanding of Lumir."

Henwell nods. "Very well. We will do as you suggest."

The two spend a long time discussing how to position intelligence stations among the various factions.

The next day, Henwell does not see Chick off. Chick leaves the Central District alone and travels to Billie to assume his new post.