Putting on the hood, and pushing open the car door, Harbin's boots stepped onto the solid stone ground.

The flickering lights, the chirping of tree leaves, and the lively shouting and singing of country drunkards and passing merchants could be heard.

In stark contrast to that singing was the silence of the courtyard before Harbin's eyes.

A death-like silence.

This was the back door of a country tavern, with the front courtyard as the tavern and the backyard as the owner's home.

"Sir Harbin." Standing by the back door, a tall, skinny man in black nodded towards Harbin.

At first, Harbin didn't recognize him.

It wasn't until they entered the room and the man removed his gloves, exposing a mechanical iron hand, that Harbin realized: "So it's Mr. Griz, you've returned from Black Snake Bay."

Harbin, being a merchant, was very good at recognizing faces.

"The will of His Majesty above all." As the chief commissioner for Cheka in Black Snake Bay, Griz wasn't one for small talk.

Griz also remembered Harbin, though he did so for entirely opposite reasons.

Harbin had previously met him at a dinner party at Ry Court Barracks, knew Cheka wasn't fond of idle chatter, and directly asked, "Who's stirring up trouble in Rapids City?"

"Leia people and Norn people." Griz pushed a brief onto Harbin's desk, "Local nobles are mixed with those Norn merchants, which gives them the capability to create these disturbances."

"Are they crazy?" Flipping through the entire brief, Harbin couldn't help but curse.

"A River was posted to the front line with Catherine; the fallen nobles and old merchants have long been dissatisfied.

As for the Norn people, they have even more reason; Her Highness Moliat reneged on debts worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, and her legal authority is heavily questioned.

From the perspective of noble law and the empire's common understanding, they can rightfully involve themselves in the Thousand River Valley matters."

Griz placed both hands atop his crossed legs, his gaze burning: "Don't expect everyone to be rational; given such an opportunity, they will naturally cause trouble."

Harbin walked back and forth several times after putting down the brief.

Given the current situation, it was unclear why these people, quite ordinary yet strangely confident.

Nonetheless, Harbin still felt it overwhelming.

Separate external forces aren't frightening, nor are separate internal forces; what's terrifying is when the two combine.

Keep in mind, this is the most critical moment for the counterattack against Leia people; if a mistake happens now...

They might not succeed, but they could ruin Horn's plans.

If at this moment, northern Norn people invaded, while southern Lower Reif County erupted into turmoil, with current military strength, it could indeed be difficult.

"Couldn't we directly capture these devil's lackeys?"

"Capture whom? How to capture? Who will capture them? How to define their crimes and political identities?" Griz rudely retorted, "Do you think Cheka is the Hundred-eyed Giant?"

"Call on Meigedi Commerce Association and Village Monastery to cooperate."

"That's why I said this matter is difficult." Griz was obviously exhausted from many sleepless nights, "I am certain there are devil's lackeys within Meigedi, even within our Saint Father's Association."

"Within the Saint Father's Association? Are you sure?" Harbin could hardly believe the answer.

"People's hearts are concealed, Sir Harbin; you should understand this more than I do." Griz's voice seemed to sink into the ground.

Horn's previous reform had already touched upon countless people's interests.

Previously, in facing Horn's power, they had to cautiously appease, grudgingly accepting the Holy Alliance's decrees.

In other words, they outwardly obeyed but inwardly disobeyed.

Yet Horn has always judged actions, not intentions; as long as you haven't acted substantively, Cheka will not act.

Because if every potential or statement were subject to punishment, there could be mutual incrimination, everyone living in fear, leading to greater harm.

It's just that when the Holy Alliance faces crises or errors appear, these people will jump out.

Some dare to take substantial actions, while others merely dare to shout slogans or play supporting roles.

However, during a vulnerable period, this small aggregation of forces is also a tremendously potent force.

War leads to deteriorating law and order and soaring prices—is almost inevitable, especially in this era.

Horn needs enough people to help govern the newly formed Holy Alliance, and he must continuously fight the opposition throughout his life.

This is an inexorable matter.

Revolution is never a group of noble torchbearers overthrowing the old regime, but rather a few noble torchbearers leading a crowd of opportunists, neutrals, and the confused to topple the greatest common evil of the old regime.

To expect a universally noble and loyal organization is akin to expecting a fairy tale.

Harbin sat heavily in the chair, sweat seeping from the back of his neck: "Do you have names in mind? Just tell me the positions, not the names."

"From the lowest, Hundred Households Captain, to the highest, County Monastery members; even in the Imperial Priest, there are many names."

"How could it have come to this?" Harbin's first reaction was to refute, "Currently, King Jiji is trapped in Hotam County bleeding us dry; we managed to withstand the Chao Character Army with just one territory, and they choose this time?"

"What they see, and what we see, might not be the same." Griz showed little emotional fluctuation, "In this regard, I also regret."

Harbin was silent; in the long history of the empire, the Thousand River Valley Holy Alliance is unique.

They have no historical precedent to rely on; all history proves—the empire side will crush the civilian side.

The high-level of the Holy Alliance may still think there's a fight, but the middle and lower level won't think so.

They would only believe that civilians defeating nobles—we have never seen such a precedent.

If you imagine yourself from the perspective of those ordinary people, the Holy Alliance's reckless militarism, expelling knightly nobles, oppressing monks and merchants, is already a path of destruction.

Only then did Harbin have some insight into Saint's Grandson's famous saying, "There are two Holy Seat Cities in the world, one in Golden Horn Bay and one in people's hearts."

He had always thought that defeating the Chao Character Army would allow external craftsmen and funds to be drawn in.

Yet, under "Truth Newspaper" propaganda, he forgot the blind faith and fear towards the church engraved into ordinary people's hearts for a thousand years.

The fear engraved in the bones isn't easily eradicated.

"Does His Majesty know?"

"Yes."

Only then did Harbin feel the immense pressure ease somewhat, as His Majesty is aware, at least they won't head towards the worst-case scenario.

He walked to the window, suddenly thrust his head out, looked around up and down, left and right, before closing the window and drawing the curtains, leaning closer to Griz: "Tell me, what should we do?"

"There's no other way." Griz didn't lower his voice, "All we can do is—wait."

"Wait for them to slip up, wait for Black Snake Bay tax police and Constitutional Army to be in place, wait for a Miracle Nun who can see through people's hearts and intentions to appear."

Harbin continued to ask, "Is there anything I can do?"

"You know, there really is." Griz organized the brief, "Are you next going to meet with Ms. Theodora?"

"Yes."

"Can you persuade her to take you to mingle with those depraved group's gatherings?" Griz put the gloves on his mechanical iron hand, "Among the Norn merchants active in the Thousand River Valley, Ms. Theodora is the most experienced and powerful.

We've basically confirmed she has no intention to participate in this incident, but if she can help us infiltrate the depraved group's camp, help us surveil them, that would be great."