In the Name of the Queen

The residence of the Minister of Finance.

This is a luxurious mansion located in the Carnaby Street District.

The Minister of Finance has a mansion of this size in the center of the city, which shows how rich he is.

But Smith was not happy today.

A few days ago, his wife mentioned that the people sent to carry out the elimination mission failed.

Originally, I thought it was enough to deal with two people who had little resistance, but I didn't expect that three killers with firearms and poisoned knives could not do it.

It was really unlucky.

Afterwards, he sent people to investigate, but got very little information. He only knew that a young man rescued Norton.

He didn't care whether Norton lived or died, he was just a coward.

It's okay as long as Shanina died.

After confirming the news that Shanina was dead, Smith was finally relieved.

Just when his brows were relaxed, the butler appeared at the door.

"Master, the banquet is about to start. Madam, please go out to greet the guests."

Hearing the butler's reminder, Smith suddenly remembered that he would use the opportunity of his 50th birthday to hold a simple private banquet tonight to entertain several colleagues.

The few people he invited to the banquet were ministers in the cabinet who were close to him, as well as important personnel in the military and the Military Intelligence Bureau.

These were radicals who advocated weakening the imperial power.

Their political views were basically the same.

Hardcore royalists like Walder were not qualified to attend this dinner.

Smith cheered up, simply tidied his appearance in front of the mirror, and went out with a smile to greet the guests.

As a mature politician, it is basic to be proficient in switching between various expressions.

Smith certainly would not write his emotions on his face.

The dinner was held in a small banquet hall in the backyard.

Although there were not many people, it still adopted the buffet format of a formal banquet, and everyone could move freely and find the target they wanted to approach.

Picking up the wine glass, Smith keenly discovered that he was not the only one with a frown.

He also had troubles?

Smith noticed that Alban, who was drinking alone next to him, was moved.

He knew that Alban had wanted to get close to the queen and gain higher power, but the result was not ideal.

Later, Alban and Roland had contact, but they still parted unhappily.

Thinking of this wavering guy being rejected twice, Smith felt much better.

He picked up his glass and walked towards Alben who was drinking alone in the corner.

"Old man, you don't look very happy."

"I'm fine, but the security in the imperial capital has been a bit bad recently."

The security in the imperial capital needs the attention of the Minister of Justice?

Is the Security Bureau just for free?

Obviously, Alben is worried.

Smith knew what to do and didn't poke his scars. He asked casually:

"Alben, what do you think of Her Majesty the Queen?"

"Old friend, I must correct your name. According to the law, she cannot be called the Queen before she officially ascends the throne. During the period when His Majesty Edward is missing, her correct name should be the Crown Prince and Acting Emperor."

"Wait three years?" Smith pretended to be surprised and suddenly realized: "You are an expert in law. Since His Majesty Edward is missing, he is indeed missing."

Alben took a deep breath and said helplessly:

"Smith, we have been together for many years, and I will not hide it from you. A while ago, she asked me to do something, and I also thought about getting more power through her."

"Don't look at me like that. Will you let go of the opportunity given to you?"

Smith answered very frankly: "That won't happen."

He asked tentatively: "So your choice is."

Alben looked at Smith coldly and sneered: "I didn't choose, I was chosen. Don't ask this question again in the future, I don't want to answer."

Although his expression was calm, the resentment flashing in his eyes was accurately captured by Smith.

Smith breathed a sigh of relief.

He was indeed a little worried that Alben would turn against the Queen.

Although they were not allies who advanced and retreated together, their interests were the same most of the time.

Although Alben was rejected by the Queen and fell out with Roland, and his performance did not show any flaws, he still could not be completely trusted.

After all, hatred is also a kind of relationship.

In history, there was a famous assassin who approached the assassination target at the cost of his entire family being killed and his limbs being disabled, and after gaining complete trust, he killed the target with a single knife.

Alben's performance was impeccable, but who knows if he was playing a trick.

Smith believed for the time being that Alben had not joined the royalist camp, but he needed to observe.

Fortunately, Alben was also a mature politician, and he could still make deals with him.

He lowered his voice and asked tentatively: "I have a friend who came back from Oak Town. I heard that a murder happened there."

"Did the villagers fight fiercely and cause a death? You really don't understand the law, old friend. There are sheriffs in the town. They can handle these things. The cabinet ministers don't need to worry about it at all."

Alben's answer made Smith feel a little relieved. He smiled and said: "I know this. I just asked casually after hearing about it from my friends."

Smith and Alben clinked glasses and took a sip, then walked towards other colleagues.

He was the host of the banquet, and he was destined to be busy tonight.

Alben didn't look up, but he knew what Smith was talking about.

As the Minister of Justice, he controlled the judicial and police systems across the country, and the intelligence he had was far more accurate and timely than that of ordinary people.

Not only did he know that Smith had sent someone to murder Shanina, he also knew that Roland was there at the time.

He even knew that Shanina was not dead and had gone with her father and Roland the next day.

(The intelligence officers could not see Shanina turning into a puppet from a distance)

But he would not tell Smith these things.

Let this idiot do more wrong things.

Although Alben has made money, he is definitely not as stupid as Smith, who openly trampled on the bottom line of the law and caused a murder.

In his opinion, it is shameful for a cabinet minister who has so many political resources to be angry and compete with the owner of the alchemy workshop. In the end, he sent a killer to solve the problem, which is even more stupid.

This is clearly giving the handle to the political enemy.

At this time, Smith was talking to the chief minister William with a red face.

Looking at his smug look, it seems that he has no idea of ​​the consequences of this matter.

Her Majesty is cleanliness.

Not only cleanliness in hygiene, but also political cleanliness.

Although this cleanliness is a bit childish.

If it were just like this, she would be no different from those simple and incompetent monarchs, but she has Roland.

Sylph is responsible for playing the most beautiful white rose in the sun, and Roland is the black mandala of death.

This is an invincible perfect combination.

Neither will make childish political mistakes, nor will they maintain a flawless image.

Alben could guess what Smith and William were talking about without getting close to them.

He could see clearly what the officials attending the dinner wanted and what they were doing.

But he couldn't understand Sylph and Roland.

He couldn't figure out how Roland could appear in Oak Town at the right time to change the situation.

On one side were the old bureaucrats he could see through, and on the other side were a group of enterprising young people he couldn't understand.

He even saw the shadow of his youth in Roland.

But he was more cunning and more realistic than he was at that time.

What should I choose? Do I still need to think about it?