"So Your Highness means that Jann used the Cavendish Family's power and credibility as collateral, stringing together layer upon layer of new chains of interest..."
A quarter of an hour later, Federico sat opposite Tales, his hands clasped as he pondered carefully.
"...wrapping Emerald City up airtight. By taking him down, you would damage Emerald City's governing order and institutional foundations, thereby affecting its industries, sources of funding, and market conditions, even endangering public safety and the people's confidence."
Tales sighed and nodded.
"When Emerald City must protect the Duke's family in order to preserve its own way of life, then even the mighty Royal Authority cannot overthrow Cavendil's rule alone without disturbing Emerald City in the slightest or affecting the existing distribution of interests."
Federico's expression was solemn.
"And if Your Highness insists on your own course, determined to carry out the arbitration and investigate the truth from back then..."
Tales snorted softly.
"Then what Emerald City will have to bear will not merely be economic and material losses. It could even be a comprehensive decline in civilization and institutions, which serves no one's interests—including my father's."
Federico fell silent for a while.
"Yes. Holding all of Emerald City, even the Southbank Territory, hostage and forcing you to hesitate—this is indeed something Jann could do."
He shook his head.
"Unfortunately, this is the field in which he excels, after usurping the city lord's position and immersing himself in it for years. I am ashamed to admit I am inferior, and I cannot defeat him there."
Tales's hopes fell through, and he asked in confusion, "Even if you replaced him as city lord, guaranteed that Cavendil's prestige remained unchanged, and publicly declared that everything would continue as before, restoring Emerald City's confidence and order?"
Federico's gaze shifted slightly.
Tales sounded