Inside the Tower, Gertrude continued her work report to Lacey.
"The Intelligence Department has completed its initial framework."
"At present, our network covers all Elector territories except for Heidenshweir."
"The border regions, especially the towns adjacent to Ursus and Kazimierz, are our key areas for infiltration."
She handed a document to Lacey.
"This is the list of the first batch of 'seeds,' one hundred and twenty-seven people in total."
"They include disgruntled noble butlers, ostracized chamber of commerce deacons, city guard captains dissatisfied with the status quo, and some... well-informed friends from the taverns." Gertrude chose her words carefully.
"They provide us with information on grain reserves, troop movements, tax ledgers, and private conversations among the nobility within their respective territories."
"In return, we pay them in gold, or promise them a brighter future."
Lacey looked through the list. Behind each name was a detailed background file, a list of character flaws, and a specific plan for turning or buying them.
He even saw a few familiar names—figures who were quite well-known in certain cities, now extensions of the Workers' Party.
The efficiency and infiltration capabilities of the Intelligence Department far exceeded Lacey's expectations.
"Excellent work." Lacey closed the document and praised her sincerely. "This is much faster than I anticipated."
"Efficiency is born from necessity," Gertrude replied calmly.
"The old order is decaying. There is no shortage of people who yearn for change."
"We simply gave them an opportunity, and a sufficiently persuasive reason."
Her gaze turned back to Lacey as she continued her report. "Additionally, while organizing intelligence on the Hochberg family, we discovered an interesting secret."
"Oh?"
Lacey's interest was piqued.
"This Lord Hochberg is something of an anomaly among the Electors," Gertrude said.
"He has no passion for power struggles, no lust for wealth. He's more like a man of letters living in a world of poetry and fantasy."
"Publicly, he has always maintained the image of a bachelor with no heirs, masking himself as a detached romantic who is above worldly affairs."
She pulled a photograph and a document from the folder and placed them gently on the desk next to Lacey.
The photograph showed a cherubic little girl, around three or four years old, with radiant golden hair and a pair of adorable deer antlers. She was hugging a cloth doll, her smile one of pure innocence.
"Vivianna Droste." Gertrude's voice lowered slightly. "Elector Hochberg's illegitimate daughter."
"Her mother was a member of the former Droste family."
"You may recall that the Droste family was one of the Witch King's most loyal lapdogs. After the Twin Empresses took the throne, the entire family was uprooted. All its members were either executed or sent to prison for life."
Lacey picked up the photo, his thumb gently caressing the girl's smiling face.
He could imagine how much Wolner, that sentimental man, must cherish this child.
Gertrude continued, "Wolner must have secretly hidden his pregnant lover back then, allowing her to escape the Voice of the Empress's purge."
"Following an extremely covert flow of funds, our agents eventually traced the girl, Vivianna. She is currently in Kazimierz, being raised by Grand Knight Captain Iolanta Russell on his behalf."
Lacey's eyebrow twitched slightly.
This was no longer a simple scandal about a nobleman's illegitimate daughter.
One end of this rope was tied to an Elector of Leithanien; the other was connected to the bloodline of a Witch King remnant.
Gertrude looked at Lacey and summarized, "Once this secret is exposed, what Wolner von Hochberg will face is not merely the end of his political career."
"Harboring the bloodline of a Witch King remnant is the ultimate betrayal of the Twin Crowns."
"The royal family, the other Electors, the entire old nobility of Leithanien—they will tear him to pieces. The Schtong Grand Region would be carved up immediately."
"It's the perfect leverage!" Gertrude said, sounding rather excited.
She did not hide her thoughts: "We use this secret to force him onto our side!"
"He has no choice!"
"The moment we leak this information, the Hochberg family will instantly fall apart!"
"He either becomes our ally, or his reputation is ruined and he loses everything!"
It was the most direct, and also the most brutish, method.
To force the other party into submission with leverage.
But Lacey shook his head.
"No." He placed the photo back on the desk.
Gertrude frowned slightly, a little confused.
"Gertrude, what do you think this poetry-loving Elector fears the most?"
Gertrude immediately understood Lacey's meaning.
She thought for a moment before answering, "What he fears most, I imagine, is not his own death or the loss of his power."
"For someone who lives in a world of the spirit, the greatest fear is to watch helplessly as the thing he cherishes most is destroyed."
"Meaning his daughter, Vivianna. He's afraid she'll be dragged into this storm and suffer the same fate as her mother's family."
"Exactly." Lacey stood up.
"Therefore, we cannot act like bandits, marching up to him with this information and forcing him to pick a side."
"That would only turn him into a cornered beast. To protect his daughter, he would be willing to pay any price to fight us to the bitter end."
"He might even take it to the Twin Empresses, ensuring mutual destruction."
Gertrude fell silent for a moment after hearing this.
She had to admit that when it came to wielding political stratagems, Lacey saw further and understood the human heart better than she did.
"Then what is your intention?"
"When surrounding an army, leave an outlet; do not press a desperate foe too hard," Lacey said with a smile.
He continued, not caring whether Gertrude understood the proverb, "You must leave an escape route when you encircle an enemy. Don't press a cornered foe too hard."
"If you block all his exits, he has no choice but to fight you to the death."
"But if you leave him a path that seems to offer survival, he will give up his resistance for that glimmer of illusory hope."
"Wolner is an extremely valuable chess piece."
"He is kind, sentimental, has a good reputation among the nobility, and controls a Grand Region."
"A man like that should not be threatened. Instead, we must find a way to make him serve our purposes."
Gertrude pondered Lacey's words, and understanding gradually dawned.
"You mean... give him a choice?"
"Precisely."
"We must make him understand that his secret is in our hands, but we have no intention of using it as blackmail to destroy him. Rather, we want to offer him a shield."
"We need to show him that by cooperating with us, he can not only protect his daughter, but also gain far more than what he has now."
"For example, if he desires power, we give him power."
"If he desires wealth, we give him wealth."
"If he desires freedom... we give him freedom."
"Then, what should I do?" Gertrude asked.
"Prepare an anonymous letter and have it delivered to him."
"Remember, the letter should contain no threats and make no demands."
"I understand." Gertrude bowed and accepted the order.
________________________________________
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