Uchiha Hikaru felt that now was the time to play along with the monarch's wishes and swap his own position with the old man's. Though, to put it another way, it was not really an exchange of positions—he was directly taking over the old man's post.
He knew this was extremely cruel to the old man. The old man had always been very strict about his official duties, and this would force him to stop working in government from now on. It was only natural that he felt deeply distressed.
Yet whether it was when Uchiha Hikaru had first explained the matter to him or later, when the old man agreed to exchange positions, he remained humble and composed.
That reaction and behavior surprised Uchiha Hikaru greatly. He knew the old man was forcing himself to endure his sorrow without voicing it.
Uchiha Hikaru sympathized with him deeply. He could not bring himself to say that this was an even crueler way of doing things, nor did he want the old man to feel that he was old and useless.
"You're still young. Work hard and make sure to achieve our goals and wishes. We can't let everything we've done be for nothing. Hurry and bring that old bastard down."
Uchiha Hikaru could see from the old man's eyes that, as he spoke, the light in them gradually faded and dimmed. Uchiha Hikaru did not want to see him like this, but there was nothing he could do to help.
Because he knew what he needed to do most right now. What he needed to do was carry out all these plans flawlessly, then quickly force that old bastard from office.
That was their ultimate goal, the state they most wanted to reach. Now, he also knew he had to