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Shi Lang nodded when he heard the report. The team disposed of the two intelligence officers and then they carried the target into their vehicles. Rosa said, “First mission complete.”
The others also nodded and were about to congratulate each other when Shi Lang said, “They were too open. The intelligence department would have spotted them way sooner before they could even get close to the target. You do realize that this was the weakest target in the circle?”
The others nodded, and Shi Lang said, “The meaning of covert action is to be done in secret, and this was what? A public execution, so while it is a good job that they completed the task, they still have a long way to go.”
The girls nodded and Shi Lang said, “Prepare assignments for the rest of the teams, they will start executing the less valuable targets and bring back the strong ones. Kill any of the intelligent people who stand in their way.”
The iron decree was passed on. While Shi Lang was delegating the people in Queen’s snare, the whole political lobby was shaken. The nobles and the officials did not expect to someone be so gutsy and pick a fight against the most powerful department of the nation, yet turn up empty-handed.
Rosa and Darcx had sneaked inside the intelligence department, and they were sure about this whole department being inside the pocket of the finance minister. The head of the department was a lady from the house of the Duke. She dreamt of being near the throne in whatever manner possible. However, the old queen realized her ambition and directly stationed her at the helm of the most powerful tool of the empire.
This was a mistake Abbey took advantage of. He seduced the girl at the top chair and then married her in secret. She wanted something to do with the throne, but now she could be the empress of the empire, so all the resources of the intelligence department were redirected to suppress the queen.
Shi Lang and the rest have found a lot of evidence to back up their claims but they will not be impeaching the couple at the moment. He leaned back in the chair and asked, “Captain Ameris, any progress on the paw-gents?”
Ameris smiled and said, “Zysha is a boon. We have placed small animals with relatively high intelligence in almost all of the major noble households. Zysha had told them to pass the word through the video conference. It will be a daily event held by her majesty to let the tigress familiarize herself with her new friends.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “I am glad to help.”
…
While the people in the Den had begun planning out abductions and executions. The situation in the intelligence department was not looking optimal. A lady in her early thirties sat behind the dark table, with her silver tresses covering one of her eyes. She was gazing at some reports on the holo-screen.
As she read, the temperature of the room kept dropping. She took a deep breath and asked, “Claut, can you tell me what is going on. Who is taking on our agents? Give me something, damn it.”
Claut was her deputy, he was an honest man, usually, he would have a detailed report ready but today, he heard her questions and gave her a despondent sigh. The lady said, “Speak.”
Claut shook his head and said, “Madam Chol, we found nothing about the enemy. They had made sure to burn off the bodies of our agents and the targets of protection. They appeared out of nowhere, their faces were all blurry on the surveillance. They seemed to be aware of the weak spots in our department.”
Chol raised her eyebrow and said, “Is it possible for that whore Nexalia to have sold herself to get someone the inside of our department?”
Claut almost bit his tongue hard. However, he would not say that getting someone inside the department. He said, “Madam Chol, you know it is not possible for any of the high rankers to betray the department. They will die before they could do it. You are aware of the kill switch, are you not?”
Chol thought again and said, “You are correct, but how will I explain the hit last night to the finance minister. You do know that he is the one paying for all our vanity these days.”
Claut nodded and said, “You can tell him that we need a week to find out who did this.” his tone carried a trace of begging. At this moment, Chol’s communicator rang.
Chol nodded and the man was asked to go outside. Then she picked up the call and Abbey’s face appeared in front of her. He asked, “What is going on? Who did it?”
Chol replied in a calm voice, “We have sent out people, they are investigating. The enemy has high-tech support and is very clever, they did not leave many traces. However, let us see, what we can find out.”
Abbey nodded, he asked her to drink water on time and to rest as well before disconnecting the call.
…
Abbey has just disconnected the call when he was told that the Queen has called for him in the Imperial study. This surprised him, it was very rare for his younger sister to have a meeting with him. However, today she called him.
Abbey thought while walking through the corridors that his sister needed some advice and this was his chance to take advantage of something. However, when he reached the imperial study, he found that Nexalia was busy teasing the big cat in front of her.
He asked, “This animal, was it not with the Terran convoy?”
Nexalia replied in a cold tone, “You better call her, Zysha. Understood, or I will have your name changed.”
Abbey turned cold as well, “Dare you to say that again.”
If it was still the hesitant Queen, she would have yielded her demand to him. However, things had changed now. How can this man tell her anything to do? She was the Queen. So, she said, “Come here.”
At her voice, the door of the study was pushed open and a palace guard walked inside. She asked, “You called, Your Majesty?”
Nexalia nodded and said, “Yes, confiscate the weapons and communication tools on the body of finance minister Abbey and escort him to the solitary confinement. He stays there for a week.”
The man was shocked and so was the palace guard. They did not expect the event to turn out like this. The palace guard seemed to have been shocked, when the lady said, “Did you not hear my commands?”
The guard replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.” and then she moved towards Abbey.
The finance minister was shivering in rage, he said, “On what basis are you doing this to me?”
Nexalia said, “It is because you disrespected the guests of the empire, and also, I did not like you challenging me.” her tone was machine cold.
Abbey has been trying to get out some reaction from Nexalia for a long time. But he did not expect her to flip the table over. She was acting like a complete tyrant. Abbey wanted to say something but the pressure radiated by Nexalia’s cold gaze was giving him an uncanny vibe. She said while gazing at him as if a piece of stone, “Nuiya, you are free to immobilize him, in case he puts up a protest.”
Nuiya sighed and said, “Yes, your majesty.”
The next moment, she was in front of the finance minister, who said, “You, do not come forward. I am not only the finance minister but also the Prince of the royal family. What right do you have to touch me.”
Nuiya said, “Yes, your highness, you are the prince, however, we serve only the ruler.”
That said, she punched the daylights out of the finance minister and was about to lift him up when Nexalia said, “Careful while you drag him through the lobbies.”
Nuiya shivered and said, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
There was a reason why Nexalia made this scene, it was to keep the pawns of the minister busy. She was asked to do this by Shi Lang. They were going to pull down something big, although she was not told, she was asked to rest assured.
“You are sure about this?” asked Zysha.
Nexalia nodded and said, “Since I have placed my stakes at the Terran team, I will see it through. I have been too hesitant in the past, but that changes now.”
“Spoken like a true wannabe,” said Zysha.
Nexalia gazed at her with an expression that said, ‘Bitch.’
Zysha said, “You better prepare yourself to deal with what is coming your way. The court will be noisy tomorrow.”
Nexalia nodded and said, “I am aware. They can react all they want, I will just smack them off.”
Zysha did not expect this lady to change so much all of a sudden. Surely, a pleb cannot predict how a monarch will react to a bird shitting on their plate. Some might think the bird was looking down on them, while some may think the food was not good for them and many more.