OBS Chapter 666 Going out
Chapter 666 Going out
That afternoon, the convoys led by the two monarchs set off in a grand procession toward the Southwest Governor-General.
The convoy was enormous, consisting of the monarchs of the two countries and their accompanying officials, as well as soldiers responsible for escorting them and vehicles transporting supplies. The procession stretched for a long distance as it moved.
The journey was not particularly difficult, and to ease the tension and prevent the trip from becoming too boring, several short stops were arranged along the way.
Sometimes they would stop to admire the unique scenery along the way, and sometimes they would go hunting with the surrounding nobles. King Midland would occasionally join in, chasing prey in the forest on horseback, but his mind would often wander, repeatedly replaying the image of flintlock muskets firing in volleys in his mind, and he would unconsciously tighten his grip on the reins.
John, on the other hand, seemed quite relaxed. He would occasionally meet with the president of the nearby Heldran Merchant Guild or inquire about some local Blackwatch affairs. When hunting, he would only casually shoot a few arrows and mostly just sit aside and watch everyone's activities.
These brief stops never exceed half a day, ensuring that the overall itinerary is not disrupted and that everyone can rest.
After traveling and stopping intermittently for half a month, the convoy finally arrived at the city gate of Montmartre.
From afar, one could see a welcoming party standing beneath the city gate, led by none other than the Southwest Governor, Charles.
He was followed by a group of officials, who stood neatly inside the city gate, their faces showing respect.
As soon as the convoy stopped, Charles immediately led his officials forward, first bowing deeply to King Midland, and then turning to John to pay his respects.
John's gaze swept across the ranks of officials behind Charles and soon spotted Jacques and his group.
These were all people he had personally promoted, and they still stand in the ranks of officials, looking calm and composed, clearly indicating that their positions have not changed.
John nodded slightly in his heart. The new governor, Charles, was quite sensible. Charles's ability to retain these old people not only avoided chaos in local affairs but also gave him face.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the group headed to the city hall together.
The meeting held here was very brief, and its core purpose was to finalize the preliminary direction for future cooperation projects between the two countries.
The officials attending the meeting all had clear objectives, and their speeches were concise and efficient, without any unnecessary pleasantries.
After the meeting, officials from both countries immediately set off for the previously selected site to begin preparing detailed plans, measuring data, dividing areas, and planning processes. Every task was carried out in an orderly manner.
The two monarchs were then invited to their respective residences.
The embassy, originally intended for the Midland royal envoy and members of the royal family, was naturally reserved for the King of Midland this time, while John was arranged to stay in a residence that the Heldland Merchant Guild had already purchased.
It must be said that Simon managed the Chamber of Commerce exceptionally well, especially in the real estate sector, where he paid particular attention.
This mansion, located in Montmartre, was specially prepared for John by the Chamber of Commerce. From site selection to construction, the entire process was designed and supervised by Pav, the former president of the architectural guild whom John had promoted.
Pav put a lot of thought into the design. Although there are many high-rise buildings around the mansion, he cleverly avoided the view of the surrounding buildings through dense greenery. The courtyard is planted with a large number of tall trees and lush shrubs, forming a natural barrier that not only ensures privacy but also makes the landscape of the mansion look exceptionally natural.
Upon entering the mansion, John was even more surprised by its interior layout.
The interior was furnished with a large number of Helderland-style furniture pieces. The sofa in the living room, the desk in the study, the bed in the bedroom, and even the decorative paintings hanging on the wall were exactly the same as those in his office in the Helderland Palace. Even the ornaments on the table were in a style he was familiar with.
When John pushed open the door and entered the study, he was momentarily disoriented, as if he had not arrived in Montmartre, thousands of miles away, but had returned to his own office.
Night fell quickly, and the streets of Montmartre gradually quieted down, with only a few scattered lights flickering in the darkness.
At the same time, Charles received a summons from King Midland, ordering him to go to the embassy immediately.
Charles's heart tightened. He wondered what the king's purpose was in summoning him so late at night. He dared not delay and hurriedly went to the embassy after tidying his clothes.
Upon entering the reception room of the embassy, King Midland was sitting on the sofa, looking serious.
Charles quickly stepped forward and performed a proper, standard bow.
"Tell me about the specific situation of the Governor-General of the Southwest."
The King of Midland's voice broke the silence.
Charles had already prepared a set of words, and he began to speak fluently, praising the Governor-General of the Southwest for the steady economic development, stable livelihood, and continuous tax revenue growth in recent years. He also listed a few insignificant project achievements, all of which were just very nice-sounding platitudes.
He spoke earnestly, trying to convince the king that everything here was in good order.
King Kometlan had heard all sorts of perfunctory words, and he had already discerned the truth in Charles's words before he even finished speaking.
These words are empty and devoid of any substantial content; they are clearly meant to deceive oneself, and there is most likely something about them that one is unaware of.
The king's face instantly darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups on it to shake.
Charles was so startled by the sudden commotion that he froze, the rest of his sentence stuck in his throat.
"Don't give me that nonsense."
The King of Midland spoke with fury.
"I ask you, how many of your officials were promoted by John?"
This question struck like a thunderbolt, instantly throwing Charles into a panic.
His face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat quickly beaded on his forehead; his previously composed demeanor vanished completely.
The king's wrath was imminent, and he dared not conceal anything, so he could only stammer and tell the whole story:
"Most...most of the key positions were promoted by John himself, and I did not replace them after I took office."
Upon hearing this answer, King Midland's anger intensified, and his voice rose several decibels:
"Why didn't you ever report such an important matter to me before?"
Charles was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he could barely stand. His hands gripped the hem of his clothes tightly, and his voice trembled uncontrollably:
“When I took office, I had some concerns, but these officials were all very conscientious and handled their respective duties in an orderly manner. They never made things difficult for me. Moreover, the tax collection work has been progressing steadily without any problems. I really have no reason to replace them.”
As he spoke, he secretly observed the king's expression. Seeing that the king's face remained gloomy, he quickly added:
"I originally planned to report to you gradually after the follow-up work was sorted out, but I didn't expect..."
King Midland snorted coldly and did not pursue the matter further, but his icy gaze sent chills down Charles's spine. He stood rooted to the spot, afraid to move, and even his breathing became cautious.
Meanwhile, John was reviewing documents in his study on the second floor of the mansion.
Just then, a dull thud came from the window, breaking the tranquility of the study.
The sound wasn't loud, but it was clear enough that something had hit the window.
John put down the documents in his hand, got up and walked to the window. Without hesitation, he reached out and opened the window.
He looked down and saw a figure standing quietly in the open space of the courtyard.
That was the Skeleton Knight, who was looking up at him from the second-floor window, clearly having been waiting for him for some time.