Luke smiled and drank all the wine in the glass. At this point, he was sure that although Augustine wanted to kill him, he had to endure it no matter how uncomfortable he was when faced with the pie he had drawn for him.

At this time, there were noisy sounds outside the door, and someone shouted: "Your Royal Highness, the eldest princess, Your Majesty has given an order that no one is allowed to disturb his dinner with Mr. Meteor Star."

"I have something important to report to my father, get out of the way!"

"I'm sorry, Your Royal Highness, Princess, you can't go in..."

The door was forcibly pushed open, and Agatha broke in regardless of the guards' obstruction. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Luke safe and sound, and then saluted Emperor Augustine: "Father, I'm sorry for disturbing your meal!"

The guard also bowed and apologized.

Augustine looked at Luke and Agatha, and then said to the guard: "I don't allow anyone to disturb me, not including my daughter. You go out and don't let anyone break in again."

As if they had been granted amnesty, the guards immediately left and closed the door.

Emperor Augustine said to Agatha: "You haven't had dinner yet... sit down together and listen to the meteor's views on the administration of the empire."

The atmosphere at the dinner table was so harmonious, which was beyond Agatha's expectations. She came to save Luke just after getting bad news, but she didn't expect that he was very happy after eating.

There is a plate full of food in front of you!

The puppet waiter brought a chair for Agatha, placed a set of tableware, and poured wine into the glasses.

Emperor Augustine asked Agatha: "You said you had something important to report to me. What is it that makes you so anxious?"

Agatha, who had not figured out what was going on now, glanced at Luke first, and received a very relaxed smile. Agatha, who was even more puzzled, said to Augustine: "The Imperial Secret Service has just obtained intelligence, and an army from

The envoy from the Tedga Hills has arrived in the west. The annual harvest festival is about to be held in the Halmutu Basin. During the festival, the western minority groups and lords will bring their caravans to the Halmutu Basin for trade.

The Celtic Duke's envoy will meet with the leaders of the parties at that time.

In order to prevent changes on the western front, I think the empire should also send envoys to the west to participate in the harvest festival and appease the lords and minority groups."

Emperor Augustine originally thought that Agatha was looking for an excuse to save the meteor, but he didn't expect that the excuse she gave was so hardcore.

The western part of the empire was vast and barren. The large areas of grasslands and deserts made it difficult for the empire to effectively manage this territory. Therefore, the entire west was dotted with small aristocratic territories that even Augustine could not determine in number, as well as nomadic minority groups.

Barbarians, orcs, goblins, elves, halflings, dwarves... Sometimes they do business with the empire in a polite manner, and sometimes they turn into bandits and sack the villages and towns in the western border of the empire.

A piece of loose sand cannot threaten the core area of ​​the empire, and with Alec sitting in the west as the prince, there is no need to worry about threats from the west.

But the Celtic Duke definitely wanted to stir up trouble when he sent people to visit the western border of the empire during the Harvest Festival.

The Empire must respond!

Emperor Augustine thought about it and said to Agatha: "The Blade Bearing Brotherhood still has a lot of influence in the West. Some nobles are even more conservative than the Celts. It's just because they are too weak that they have been holding back.

.

The envoys sent not only had to face a group of old diehards, but also uncivilized barbarians, and their lives were at risk at any time.

Any mistakes will affect the awe of the western tribes and lords towards the empire, allowing Celts to seize the opportunity to seek a breakthrough in the western part of the empire.

Do you have a suitable person to visit?"

The direction of the war will not conform to the wishes of any party. While the empire generally remains optimistic about the war on the southern front, the Celtic Duke of Tedga Hills is also actively playing his own chess.

For a time, the western border of the empire, which was not a very important area, became a place that both sides had to fight for.

Although the second prince Alec is supervising the war on the Western Front, his status as visiting various clans is too flattering to them, and as a strong contender for the crown prince, he should not take such a big risk.

Agatha, who had been prepared for a long time, responded to Augustine's question: "It would be more appropriate for members of the royal family to go to deal with the nobles in the West.

The grandson Sinclair should be the most suitable candidate, but the eldest prince Fania is unwilling to let him go to the southern front, and he will certainly not be willing to let him go to the more dangerous western border.

The second most suitable person...is me."

Emperor Augustine approved of Agatha's proposal.

The nobles in the Western Region are all stubborn. They guard the land left by their ancestors and live the same life for hundreds of thousands of years. If an important official of the empire like Gabriel is sent to visit, they will not care how high-ranking the chief minister of the empire is.

, you must first ask, "What is your title? Which of your ancestors has done any legendary deeds?"

They would only feel humiliated if they heard that the person coming was a lord, or someone who paid for it.

Therefore, the best way to deal with those extremely conservative nobles is to talk family to family.

The Augustine family thought too highly of them when they sent the prince. They sent a royal princess, or a canonized eldest princess... her status was powerful enough and her deterrence was enough.

"Now that you are ready to go to the West, select members of the envoy to leave as soon as possible to represent the Augustine family in the Harmutu Harvest Festival.

Let the barbarians and lords in the Western Region feel the grace and power of the empire, and let them not have any delusions of resisting the empire."

Agatha replied: "Yes, father! I will set off to the West as soon as possible."

Emperor Augustine nodded and asked Luke: "How long does it take to prepare for the decisive battle against Leo at sea?"

Luke replied: "The Raging Waves City Fleet and the Cape District Anti-Smuggling Fleet have received the first batch of No. 1 machine-class all-metal battleships. All battleships have two sets of crew members for alternate training.

Three months later, the second batch of No. 1 machine-class all-metal battleships will be launched, and all war supplies will be in place. By then, the Raging Wave City comprehensive fleet can mobilize 200 ships of various types for the attack on the Leo Navy.

Baron Jeff of Brilliant Island can also gather a maritime mercenary fleet to implement a naval blockade against the Republic of Rio."

Agatha added: "The Imperial Secret Intelligence Service has strengthened its intelligence collection on the Leo Republic. Leo has felt the threat at sea and is seizing the time to rectify the navy.

However, Leo's all-metal battleship technology is not yet complete. It can only perform protective upgrades on existing battleships and strengthen the coastal defense system of important coastal cities. However, because of the Restoration War initiated by the Watchmen, Leo can be used in the navy.

And Haiphong's funds are very limited.

Three months later, the strength of Raging Wave City's comprehensive fleet has a generational advantage over Leo's fleet. If other fleets of the empire allocate warships to participate in this war, the empire can destroy all of Leo's maritime achievements in these years in one fell swoop, and in a long time

It will not have the strength to challenge the Imperial Navy during this period."

Emperor Augustine had read Luke's document and realized that gaining the right to speak on the sea was the basis for monopolizing trade. Whether the Golden Shield Empire can become a giant empire that has never appeared in world history depends on whether this battle can cleanly defeat Leo.

This maritime competitor is unable to get up.

Even to deal with the immediate crisis, the Leo Navy needs to be defeated so that the eastern part of the empire can be freed to support other battlefields.

Emperor Augustine said to Luke: "During the time you were in the imperial capital, Raging Waves City was still able to operate well. It can be seen that Raging Waves City Council and the Government Affairs Office are an efficient and responsible team.

This visit to the tribes in the Western Territory will take about a month. Take a look at your work plan. If it does not conflict with important events, you can follow Agatha to participate in Harmutu's harvest festival as a deputy envoy!

"

Augustine's sudden instructions took Luke and Agatha by surprise.

Agatha immediately said: "Harmutu is a long way away and the traffic is not smooth. Many things in Raging Wave City require meteorites to make timely decisions, so it is not suitable for me to visit the Western Region."

Augustine the Great asked Luke: "What do you think?"

Luke analyzed Augustine's intentions in his mind.

A month is not a long time, not a short time. It can allow Emperor Augustine to see whether the timely decision of no meteorite in Raging Wave City will affect the operation of the entire system; and avoid big problems that affect the entire overall situation.

If the city of Raging Waves continues to turn around without the meteor, then Emperor Augustine can kick out the initiator of the plan and let him follow suit and do it himself.

If there were no meteors in Raging Wave City and there were operational difficulties, then he would have no choice but to continue to endure the unhappiness in his heart and let the meteors implement the plan.

After thinking about it, Luke also wanted to examine how the gang in Raging Waves City would stand at a critical moment. The Reform Society expanded too fast, and sometimes it was necessary to clean out the white-eyed wolves hiding in it.

"Your Majesty asked me to follow His Royal Highness the Eldest Princess on an envoy to the Western Region, and I will definitely comply with Your Majesty's will."

Agatha looked at Luke and couldn't figure out how he could agree to this. It was like the atmosphere at the entire table was filled with weirdness after she came in.

After a dinner party, Agatha's mind was filled with questions.

After the dinner, Agatha and Luke left together, and Emperor Augustine sat in his seat without moving for a long time.

Millscomb sent a signal for the hidden killers to evacuate, and then asked Emperor Augustine in a low voice: "I need to conduct a mental examination on you to determine whether you have been affected by mental spells."

Emperor Augustine said after a while: "I was not under magic, I was just shocked by the great plan that the meteor showed me.

It’s hard to imagine what the empire will look like when his plan starts to be implemented. It will definitely be an unprecedented prosperous era, and greatness will no longer be a blessing."

"Is there no need to kill him anymore?"

"It's a pity to kill him, what a pity! I hope he can return to his rightful place..." Emperor Augustine said with emotion: "The month Meteor and Agatha went to the West, let Gabriel use

Divide the cities for the expansion of Nutao City as quickly as possible, and ask the Nutao City Government Affairs Department to send me work reports every day."

Millscomb replied: "Yes, I will immediately send someone to convey your will to the chief minister Gabriel."

"Also, and the most important thing..." Emperor Augustine said with some excitement: "I must buy myself time for the entire plan, and such an empire must be created from my hands.

Have you arranged what I asked you to do?"

Millscomb replied: "While the palace was levitating, the entire shadow parasite research team moved underground to the palace."

"Very good, some research cannot be conducted outside. My son, daughter and ministers don't want me to live well.

Starting from tomorrow, all imperial meetings will be cancelled. I will recuperate my body and fight for the final experiment. Issues that require me to make decisions in the future will be sent to my room."

"As you command, Your Majesty!"

At this time, Agatha and Luke were walking in the open corridor, and from time to time there could be heard the sound of insects in the gardens on both sides.

A group of patrolling royal knights saluted Agatha and walked over in formation.

"I heard that my father had arranged a killer in the restaurant, so I went to rescue you. But obviously I was the one who was in trouble. What did you say to him that made him change his attitude so decisively?"

Luke stopped and took a deep breath, looking at the empty and dark night sky on one side: "Our Emperor has a paranoid obsession with power, so I will show him what greater power is?

This is his strongest point and also his most fatal weakness. Faced with a temptation he couldn't refuse, he chose to endure me."
To be continued...