*It seemed like my intelligence gathering was still not thorough enough.*
Ryan had no idea who the "Nicole" mentioned by the fat uncle was, so his prepared persuasion got stuck and couldn't proceed.
The fat uncle clearly assumed Ryan knew this person called "Nicole," so he didn't explain further. Instead, he rolled up the bedding on the bed, stuffed some money and necessities inside, tied it up with a rope, and strapped it onto Ryan's back.
After dragging the reluctant Ryan out of the house, the fat uncle tore open his own coat, pulled out the stuffing used for warmth, and shoved it into the collar of "Little Baskin." Then he forced two wind-resistant thick coats onto him and pointed to the dim mountain path in the distance, urging,
"If you leave through the 'door,' the leader will definitely find out. You have to take the mountain path! Then head south to Laine County, and don't come back!"
*Looking at the fat uncle in front of him, who whispered anxiously and urged him repeatedly, Leon, who was stuffed like a plump bear, couldn't help but try his best to resist,*
"Actually... I think things might not have reached..."
After giving "Little Baskin" a hard shove, the fat uncle angrily urged,
"I know you're afraid of implicating me and Fanny, but even though the leader seems kind, he is actually a proud person. If only the two of us old folks are left, he might not do anything to us.
But if you stay and don't leave, he will definitely take action against you! I saw his expression clearly at the time, believe me! He won't tolerate you!"
"Uh... what if I go ask him and see..."
"Go! Do you have to drive me to death to be satisfied?"
*Seeing the fat uncle stomping his feet in the cold wind with anger, Ryan knew he couldn't stay with conventional means, so he sighed deeply, in line with "Little Baskin's" character, and then, wearing the "bear warmth suit" forced by the fat uncle, turned and walked up the mountain path out of the valley.*
*Finally sent him away....*
Just as the fat uncle stood in the cold night wind, watching Ryan leave, another person stood on a high rock, squinting in the dark, watching the only road out of the valley.
*As expected, things went as I thought.*
Watching the distant "bear" trudging up the mountain path, the middle-aged man on the high rock let out a long breath.
*Following him was not an option, nor was confronting him.* The best way to deal with such a prickly situation, that couldn't be ignored, was to make a little noise and let him perceive the danger and leave on his own.
As for Little Baskin, Old Owen had always treated him like his own child, so as long as he showed a hint of hostility, it would be enough to alarm him, prompting him to actively seek out Little Baskin and scare away the troublesome prickly hedgehog, thereby achieving his goal of maintaining stability.
What would happen to Little Baskin in the future was not something to ponder now.
For himself and this kingdom, the most important thing at the moment was to disperse the police force's patrols, then launch a full-scale attack on the Boarding Tower before the Crolock Kingdom's agents left, destroy the data on mineral distribution, and kill all those who could bring destruction!
After deciding what to do next, the middle-aged man once again exhaled, then turned and walked down the rock to his place, sitting at a table piled with various data.
Looking at the data from the police department on the desk, remembering the reliable subordinates that folded in the Secret Investigation Bureau, the middle-aged man couldn't help but sigh again.
The police department's patrol map... After Barton's rebel identity was exposed, the intelligence he desperately sent out was already of little significance.
However, it was because of looking at this defense map and noticing the signature in the lower right corner, remembering loyal Barton, that his mood turned heavy and he went for a walk, coincidentally encountering the transforming Little Baskin and sending away this hidden ticking bomb ahead of time.
*Perhaps... this is Barton's blessing.*
After sighing lightly, the middle-aged man put the defense map aside, then reached out to light the whale oil lamp on the table, and began reading through other materials.
The personnel situation of Ryan Armaments Company... might be useful.
After the new Duke of Lionheart took power, the veterans of Ryan Armaments began seeking their own paths and desperately selling assets. Perhaps, they could take the opportunity to acquire some powerful weapons, making it easier to attack the Boarding Tower with people.
The shipping company's schedule along with the special passenger list... very important!
Those agents mostly entered the Capital City by water, then took the Sky Clipper back to the Crolock Kingdom. Although it was unknown which agent discovered the mineral deposit, they were certainly on the passenger lists of these private ships.
The construction plan of the Boarding Tower... this would be the last resort!
Picking up the feather pen at hand, the middle-aged man's eyes revealed a hint of ruthlessness as he circled several main beams of the Boarding Tower.
*If they could fight their way in, get the data recording the mineral deposits, but if they couldn't reach the top, for the sake of the kingdom's safety, they would have to find a way to blow up the entire Boarding Tower, costs be damned!*
As the whale oil lamp burned gently and the cotton-wick length shortened, the thick white grease in the brass lamp decreased.
Yet, as the lamp's light dimmed due to a lack of fuel, the darkness outside gradually turned clear.
Eventually, the morning sunlight streamed softly through the thin curtains, scattering into the room, lighting up the table piled with various data, as well as the middle-aged man who had stayed awake all night in front of it.
*Phew... It's almost done!*
Rubbing his bloodshot eyes, looking at the action files compiled through the entire night without sleep, the graying middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction, then stood up, took his coat from the hanger, and walked out of the room with the files.
Next, *it was the time for a "showdown!"*
After glancing at the meeting house in the center of the valley, the middle-aged man, who appeared aged, confidently walked toward his destination.
*To save the kingdom, I have made all necessary preparations! Be it weapons, equipment, intelligence, manpower, everything is impeccable!*
*Even at the most critical moment, with Barton's blessing, I discovered and successfully defused a deadly hidden bomb, eliminating all potential disruptions.*
*Finally, just by setting a great fire in Louther Arcade to engage the Capital City's defense forces, then sending the remaining Anomalous Object holders to attack everywhere, diverting the already scarce Cleaners of the Virgin Branch, there would be no one left to stop me from attacking the Boarding Tower!*
"My plan, infallible..."
As he turned a corner, seeing the "bear" curled up with two thick blankets, snoring at the "conference room" door, the middle-aged man's lips trembled, and his face suddenly turned a deep shade of iron blue.
"*Didn't you leave yesterday? Why did you come back?*"