Semua Bab Her Graceful War Song: Bab 1331 - Bab 1340

Jacob had received the complete file on Cameron.The 47-year-old was a native of Valken. He had passed the first level of the national examination at the age of 13, then went on to pass the second level by 18. In Valken, he had been renowned for his abilities, often referred to as a man of extraordinary talent.However, after passing the second level of the national examination, he delayed traveling to the capital for the next level due to his mom's illness. Instead, he took up a position as a scribe in Valken's local government.Cameron's career had been nothing but steady. Both the people of Valken and the Ministry of Infrastructure had praised him for his decisiveness and ability to get things done. In the triennial evaluations by the Civil Department, he consistently received high marks.In fact, some even said that being limited to the Waterworks Department was a waste of his talent. Of course, there were also those who believed his lack of connections was the reason he hadn't

The topic was a delicate one, so Jeremiah took a few sips of his drink before continuing."To be honest, the truth of the matter is somewhat unclear. The official reason for Mr. Murphy's loss of title was that he showed great disrespect to King Sigmund. In a fit of anger, King Sigmund stripped him of his noble rank. Later, he was given the title of a mere earl."There were rumors going around court that Mr. Murphy and Lord Quinton had some unclear and complicated feelings for each other. King Sigmund was intolerant of such matters. When he found out about it, he berated Mr. Murphy harshly in his fury. The loss of his title crushed Mr. Murphy's spirit, and that was when he left the capital."Carissa had suspected something like that, though she had never imagined anyone who served so close to the king would let their personal feelings show so openly. Besides, she was sure Clifford knew Sigmund's temperament. Such a lapse in discretion seemed out of character for someone so experience

In recent years, the workers requisitioned for the riverworks project came from both inside and outside the capital. The same group of workers and conscripted laborers for the riverworks project were employed for various tasks.Cameron was the head of the Waterworks Department, which was under the Ministry of Infrastructure. Under the guise of river repairs and irrigation drainage projects, the department had seized a considerable amount of land and resources.They scattered houses across these areas, but not in any organized way. Workers and some conscripted laborers for the riverworks project now lived in those places.The river channel crisscrossed the land, and the areas they'd taken covered all directions—east, west, south, and north. Jacob marked these locations and connected them with lines, revealing that they encircled the palace district like an inescapable net.If these workers were private soldiers of the true mastermind behind the rebellion, then guarding the city gate

Salvador promptly dispatched Ian to personally oversee the riverworks. Upon arrival, Ian found himself greeted by Cameron, who skillfully guided him through an inspection of the project's progress.The riverworks had been ongoing for a while, and the reservoir was nearly complete. The quality of the reservoir was excellent, with the dam built solidly.After inspecting the reservoir, they also checked the river channels. The dredging of the channels was complete, and the previously damaged dams had been repaired, raised, and reinforced.Ian also sent people to chat with the riverworks project workers. The rough men, tanned from the sun, seemed a bit shy in front of the officials. Basically, they answered every question posed to them. When asked if they had any complaints, they hesitated for a moment before asking if the food could be improved, requesting more fatty meat.Ian found them to be straightforward men with no signs of hidden resentment or malice.Next, he inspected the te

Carissa sat back in her chair and said, "The king has known about your corruption for some time now. He's allowed me to handle this privately to give you a chance. If you confess, your life will be spared. If you can provide valuable information, the worst you'll face is a demotion. You'll still be able to work your way back into the ranks."Miles had been around long enough to understand what she was implying. Offering valuable information could only mean one thing—betraying both his superiors and subordinates.There was no doubt in his mind that Carissa spoke the truth.Two things made it clear. First, Ian and his men had been constantly patrolling the river. Second, Carissa's personal involvement in the interrogation. If Salvador hadn't authorized it, she wouldn't need to be here and could have easily sent someone else to extract the truth through torture.Of course, Miles had no idea that Carissa had already analyzed his situation in detail and anticipated his thoughts.She le