Chapter 83

Tirian raised his head, his one eye fixed on the chief secretary before him, his face a mask of "are you kidding me?"

"Having fought side by side and jointly resisted a crisis that could have led to the city-state's destruction, many now know that it was the Sea Fog Fleet that stepped forward at the last moment to defend the city alongside the navy. And by this time tomorrow, this news will have spread to every corner of Frostfell. The city hall will tell the people—the Sea Fog Fleet's departure half a century ago was merely a difference in direction, and the steel-willed lieutenant admiral who left in anger never completely abandoned his duty to protect the city-state."

The chief secretary paused here, and after confirming that Tirian had no intention of interrupting, continued, "All things can have new explanations, and all transformations will be given appropriate reasons. You may think this change is unacceptable to the people of Frostfell, but in fact… most ordinary people are not so easily able to maintain their 'original intentions' when faced with continuous and single-minded propaganda. The stability of life and the tangible improvement of order will soon overwhelm everything. People's views can be 'customized,' it just takes a little time."

Tirian listened patiently to all of this, calmly looking into the chief secretary's eyes. "It seems you are very good at this sort of thing."

"Every city-state is good at it—including Frostfell during the Queen's era," the chief secretary said expressionlessly. "Shaping a set of 'ideas' for the people that are adapted to the current social environment and can alleviate the psychological burden for most people is not a dirty thing. Saying beautiful things but failing to maintain social order or ensure the stable life of most people is.

"Captain Tirian, the city hall's duty has never been justice—the city hall's duty is to allow as many people as possible to survive."

"…Let as many people as possible survive, she said that back then too."

"Yes, that sentence is still engraved on the door of the domed office—what we overthrew back then was only the Queen, not those things that were already correct."

Tirian was silent for a moment, quietly thinking, and after a long time, slowly opened his mouth, "Why do you think I'm suitable for this position?"

"Initially, it was Ms. Agatha's suggestion, but she only mentioned that you and your Sea Fog Fleet might be able to help the city-state restore order—further decisions were made by the city hall's internal emergency discussions," the chief secretary said. "Personally, I'm not sure if you are a suitable candidate. In fact, I still have doubts about this matter, but the others' view is… before you were a 'pirate,' you were first a general of the Frostfell city-state, and since the city's history, one-third of its monarchs or governors have come from the military."

"You still think things are too simple," Tirian shook his head. "This is not a question of whether a candidate is suitable or not, but a sum of a lot of 'historical legacy issues.' Even if, as you say, people's views can be customized, but you also said it takes time—Frostfell doesn't have that time, the city must restore order as soon as possible, so you should find someone else…"

"Captain Tirian," the chief secretary suddenly interrupted him, "before you explicitly refuse, please take a look at what I brought, it may give you some new perspectives on the 'feasibility' of this matter."

Tirian paused, and for the first time seriously examined the documents that the other party had just placed on the table.

The files had no gorgeous titles or exquisite covers. After opening the simple folder, there were just plainly written series of "suggestions" that seemed to state facts.

Tirian glanced at them, and the expression on his face changed visibly.

He quickly flipped to the end, slammed it shut, and stared at the chief secretary before him.

The latter still maintained a calm expression, and nodded gently before Tirian could speak.

"First, the anomalous disasters encountered by the Frostfell city-state were caused by the Annihilation Cultists, but the root cause was the unsafe mining of the city-state's deep underground mines by the old city hall over the past few decades. The failure to take sufficient safety measures in the darkness, as well as the neglect and even concealment of abnormal alerts, were the main reasons for the aggravation of the situation.

"Second, the successive governors were aware of this matter and chose to conceal it for their own benefit.

"Third, the Sea Fog Fleet chose to leave Frostfell fifty years ago due to a difference in direction. The reason for the difference was related to this type of 'illegal mining' and different attitudes towards foreseeable anomalous disasters.

"Fourth, successive governors carried out planned and continuous smear campaigns and concealment of the truth against the Sea Fog Fleet, in order to cover up the true differences between the two sides, and to divert public hatred to General Tirian personally, thereby shifting people's attention away from the mine problem.

"Fifth, Governor Winston is strongly suspected of colluding with the Annihilation Cultists. He had received news before the anomalous disasters occurred, but did not make any effective response, and instead chose to defect. He will become an enemy of the city-state, and we believe he has become a member of the Annihilation Cultists and will be wanted by Frostfell for eternity.

"Sixth, the new governor will reshape the city-state's order, the mine investigation will begin immediately, and the liquidation of those responsible who are still alive will also begin immediately."

Tirian did not speak, but sat there like an extremely cold ice sculpture, staring into the chief secretary's eyes, the heavy pressure in his gaze almost suffocating.

However, the chief secretary simply took a breath, and then took out another stack of documents from his briefcase.

This document was thicker and contained more content.

"This is the list," he raised his head, meeting Tirian's heavy gaze. "The first half is the evidence required for liquidation, including partial records of illegal mining in the mines, the concealment of abnormal alerts, and instructions to distort and vilify the Sea Fog Fleet. Only a catalog of this part of the document is currently available, but within three days, all the evidence will be complete.

"The second half is mainly a list, including those responsible who can be arrested and tried, as well as their corresponding 'evidence of crime.' Please rest assured, they are not innocent, but have other crimes—but it doesn't matter, their real crimes are no longer important. Now the city-state needs them to have 'colluded with the Annihilation Cultists.' These people can be regarded as the city hall's 'criminal reserves.'

"Finally, there are letters and some diaries, evidence of Governor Winston's collusion with the Annihilation Cultists, some of which bear his signature."

Tirian did not look at the second stack of documents that the other party handed over.

Cold mist slowly appeared around him, and a layer of fine ice crystals gradually covered the coffee table. Everyone in the room who could breathe had their exhaled air condense into white mist.

"…Who prepared these things?"

"Successive governors," the chief secretary said calmly, "Each government prepares one, as well as many 'alternative plans,' not necessarily prepared for you, but also for other successors, such as the next 'rebellion army.' The last piece of information in front of you was left by Governor Winston. Coincidentally, he also listed the Sea Fog Fleet as one of his 'alternative plans,' which coincided with the 'suggestion' brought by Ms. Agatha."

Tirian slowly placed his hand on the document, the fine ice crystals almost freezing it into an ice sculpture. He raised his head and stared into the chief secretary's eyes: "So, this can be used to define Winston."

"Frostfell has a saying, the dead must give way to the living," the chief secretary said slowly. "General Tirian, you are not native to Frostfell, but you should also understand this sentence. If 'defining' Governor Winston and the successive city halls can quickly restore order to the city-state, then he and the successive governors would not mind."

(End of this chapter)