Griffiths' Hostility

After the Round Table Hall Conference this morning, the ministers simply ate lunch and then quietly gathered together again.

This was not a formal Privy Council meeting.

On the surface, they all belonged to the old "Chocolate Club" and were all chocolate lovers. But in reality, it was a small meeting with only a dozen or so ministers, including the Privy Council Minister and the Minister of Trade.

Before and after the Round Table Hall Conference, knights with common interests or who are on good terms with each other would gather together to confirm each other's ideas and suggestions in order to avoid fighting among themselves during the Round Table Hall Conference.

Although it doesn't have two distinct and opposing factions like the Iris, it is actually forming cliques.

The difference was that these knights all knew that there was definitely more than one such small gathering. At this moment, those knights who were astonished by what they had seen and heard would surely gather in groups of three or five to discuss it.

Even each of the ministers here might not have attended just one such small meeting. They might talk badly about others at the Chocolate Club, and some of them might even hold a "Candy Club" or "Honey Club" at night to talk badly about them again.

"I feel that His Majesty is acting a little strange."

Privy Council Minister Camelot said with a serious expression, "The reaction is completely different from what we expected."

"It seems you and Her Majesty the Queen aren't that close."

The white-haired old man said sarcastically, "I didn't even know when she changed her personal style."

He is Avalon's Minister of Education.

Camelot Minister remained silent.

Prior to this, the Privy Council Minister had confidently stated that Isabel was a gentle and mild-mannered child. He assured her that she would be ill-suited to the Queen and would feel immense pressure.

At this time, if a force were to sincerely show goodwill and offer assistance, the helpless and confused young Queen would subconsciously rely on it.

This is their chance—a golden opportunity to eliminate the High-Rise Faction.

The High-Rise Faction" refers to the high-rise buildings at Lloyd's's of London headquarters, specifically those ministers who frequently visit Lloyd's's. This usually implies a close relationship with Lloyd's's.

Although Lloyd's is now in decline and far from its former glory, it still exists. The enormous wealth it controls remains enviable.

Under these circumstances... Lloyd's, having lost its deterrent power, has instead become an ATM. Now, Lloyd's's is leaderless, with no single leader able to subdue everyone, and this business-minded entity is constantly embroiled in internal strife.

Because they no longer possess that immense, shadowy control capable of translating wealth into political influence. It has been fully exposed, and in this situation, simply maintaining their existence requires continuously relinquishing vast amounts of benefits.

As a result, the ministers who were originally receiving money from Lloyd's's continued to receive money.

They could even more money and more benefits more safely than ever before, but with less effort. Or simply do nothing—not destroying them would be considered friendly.

Perhaps after some time, the businessmen will gradually recover. But at least not now.

Under this close alliance of interests, the influence of the Lloyd's Round Table Knights has not diminished but rather increased. Led by the Foreign Secretary, Minister of Finance, Minister of Housing and Community Affairs, Secretary of Health and Social Welfare, Chairman of the Chairman of the Trade Commission, and Minister of the Navy for the Sea, they are more united than ever before, sharing a common goal and supporting each other on many issues.

Their main inclinations are open free trade, free markets, comprehensive tax cuts, and a strong push for the "merchant knight" system, meaning that outstanding entrepreneurs should also be allowed to participate in the Round Table Hall.

As the only Founding Family to have been engaged in business for generations, the Moriarty Family naturally belonged to this faction.

Because of the investigation into Drost, the former Minister of Trade and a key figure in the faction, the Queen reassigned the position of Minister of Trade to another large faction that was opposed to them, as a way to maintain a balance of power.

That was the "Chocolate Club," headed by the Privy Council Minister. They were also known as the Chocolate Faction.

Chocolate, a sweet treat, began to become popular in Avalon during the final years of the Herasul Empire. Due to the high cost of transportation, only a very few knights had the means and wealth to enjoy this expensive delicacy. The "Chocolate Club" established during that period was only open to veteran knights and the Founding Family.

But just as chocolate gradually spread to the common people, the wealth that was initially controlled by these knightly families was gradually taken over by ordinary people.

They were the knights who refused bribes from Lloyd's. But this did not mean they were honest and upright—their stance was to suppress the power and trade of merchants, to prevent the establishment of "merchant knights," and even to demand higher taxes on merchants and improved welfare and income for knights.

Tax increases versus tax reductions, the feasibility of "merchant knights," the constraints and social welfare of knights... these are enduring topics of discussion in the Round Table Hall.

Although they were still informal factions, they could be considered the rudiments of political parties.

This is why the personal stances of these knights are not stable.

They also have their own personal interests, so they each have their own methods for achieving the same goal. This creates room for discussion.

For example, the Minister of Finance likes to impose large-scale taxes on various low-value commodities. For instance, he plans to start taxing matches and kerosene lamps next spring—this would both continue to promote electric lights, make the books look better by increasing taxes, and increase people's subconscious resistance to tax increases, thereby indirectly protecting merchants.

What they are most unsure about right now is which faction this "Minister of Everything" who enjoys the Queen's deep trust should belong to.

On one hand, he is the heir to the Moriarty Family and the future head of the family—although there is no succession ceremony, he could even be considered the current head. He should rightfully belong to the High-Rise Faction.

On the other hand, the High-Rise Faction suffered a series of blows—the president and vice president of Lloyd's were arrested one after another, the Minister of Trade and the Minister of the Navy were arrested, and the Minister of the Navy was executed. All of these were due to the direct intervention of Iver Moriarty.

Nowadays, even the Privy Council Minister are being suppressed.

The loyalty of the Camelot Family is beyond question. Of the twelve monarchs of Avalon to date, eight had their Privy Council Minister from the Camelot Family.

But he was assigned to the fifth position.

If we go a little further back, it could be interpreted as Isabel being closer to the High-Rise Faction, Avalon subsequently leaning towards peace and economic development. In that case, they would also need to make certain concessions and undergo self-transformation.

But the fifth position... is actually quite high.

The first four were all pillars of the nation, belonging to the "Senior Generation," and none of them belonged to any faction. In other words, he was the first after those four Fifth Level powerhouses.

"I think Her Majesty Isabel's attitude is already quite clear."

The one who spoke was the Minister of Defense.

The old general, still in armor even in a private meeting, said with a serious expression, "'Before the Privy Council, there were four Protectors of the Nation.' This means that His Majesty, while maintaining a fair attitude, considers 'individual strength' to be a more important factor."

"When the four protectors hold a higher position than the Privy Council, it means that Avalon needs most right now are transcendent beings of the Fifth Level."

"... You mean, His Majesty's mindset is war?"

The Minister of Education countered with a question.

"Given the ideas of increasing military spending and conscription, I don't rule out this possibility. In fact, it's quite possible."

The Minister of Defense said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, let's prepare for war."

"When Meg is likely already dead?"

The newly appointed Minister of Trade, Griffiths, couldn't help but retort, "Don't you think we have no chance of winning?"

"I'm wondering," the Privy Council Minister said slowly, "Is it possible that Her Majesty, though lacking affinity for the Path of Authority in her youth, is incapable of awakening to it later in life? Just as some of us awaken to the Path of Wisdom in our old age, while others awaken to the Path of Twilight. These are all influenced by factors acquired later in life."

"Although we all say that Her Majesty the Queen may be the only one who cannot inherit the Path of Authority... but after all Blood of Du Lac Du Lac in her veins. What if she awakens again in the future?"

The old man said slowly, "Gentlemen, don't be too definitive. Before today, who could have imagined that Her Majesty the Queen would have such an imposing presence at the first Round Table Conference? Miss Ligeia may not be inferior to Meg either."

"I don't think it's a matter of whether we can compare or not."

The Minister of Trade retorted, "It's not that if we think we might be inferior, then we definitely won't be. Meg is indeed powerful, but we maintain peace not because Meg 've defeated all our enemies, but because the Stibnite Person and the Iris People know we have Meg, and they won't attack."

"Whether Ligeia has Meg's power or not—of course, she can't—it doesn't matter, because she is ultimately someone else. Her name won't intimidate anyone, and that could lead to war."

"Once war breaks out, it may be too late. The current Star Antimony is different from the Iris twenty years ago. Star Antimony has a strong need for war."

Griffiths warned, "Once they start fighting, they will never stop. Because if they stop, they will collapse on their own. So once the war starts, it will be a war of life and death."

Before being appointed Minister of Trade by the Queen, he served as the diplomatic ambassador to the Star Antimony Embassy, but was withdrawn after Star Antimony's diplomatic attitude deteriorated. Now that Star Antimony's diplomatic relations with Avalon have improved, Griffiths, who has friendly relations with Star Antimony, has been appointed by Queen Sophia as the new Minister of Trade to negotiate a new phase of trade contracts.

Therefore, Minister Griffiths was probably the one who knew the Stibium Kingdom best among all those present.

"So what do you mean?"

The Minister of Defense sarcastically remarked, "Hands up in surrender?"

He had always disliked Minister Griffiths.

Perhaps due to his many years on Star Antimony, Griffiths possessed a strong Star Antimony style. He lacked the toughness and courage of a knight, instead appearing timid and hesitant. Furthermore, he frequently boasted about the strength and advanced technology of the Stibnite Person —something the Minister of Defense found extremely distasteful.

"We can easily get them to turn to Iris."

Minister Griffiths whispered, "And we can provide assistance in secret—helping the Stibnite Person and the Iris People. As long as the Stibnite Person feel they have a chance of winning, they will not stop the war; and as long as they fail to conquer the city for a long time, they will most likely disintegrate on their own."

"A very good suggestion."

Camelot Minister said slowly, "But this matter must be decided by Her Majesty the Queen."

"Should we hand it over to Queen Isabel, or to Minister Moriarty?"

Minister Griffiths scoffed, "Are you truly oblivious, or are you feigning ignorance? His Majesty's attitude today was so unusual; it was clearly premeditated. Minister Moriarty was with His Majesty last night, but he didn't come today—His Majesty said he was unwell? He's a priest! In Star Trek, this would be considered harem interference in politics. Whom do you serve, Queen Isabel or Minister Moriarty?"