The war had not yet begun, so Victor had to communicate with Festina before the spies were executed.
After Scarlett left, Victor headed to the park where the spies were kneeling in the snow.
He looked at them and said: “Who am I negotiating with?”
Someone replied: “With me.”
“Bring him to the reception room.”
Victor headed into the room, and the soldiers quickly brought the spy.
He was a promising blond young man wearing a marine uniform, which seemed ironic.
Victor sat across from him and said: “How far have the war preparations reached?”
The spy smiled instead of answering, then said: “Salanter doesn’t treat people who truly deserve appreciation.
Why do you stay loyal to her?”
"truly?"
Victor laughed sarcastically.
The spy continued: “Festina glorifies soldiers and technicians alike.”
“Talty spy, that's good.”
“Leader”
“Speak, I'm listening”
“If you go to Festina, our country will become master of the world.”
The spy continued: “If you join us, Salantaire may surrender without resistance, and we may achieve peace without bloodshed.”
The sailors' expressions were strange.
Victor, who went to sea to become royal, and defended Salantaire with his life, hated wars after fighting battles.
The spy seemed to know his tendencies well.
He suggested abandoning Salantaire to make peace without blood, a contradictory offer.
While he was listening, Blight entered: “His Highness Adam Eren of the Royal Palace is here.”
Victor nodded, and Blight opened the door, and Adam Yerin, Victor's uncle and the Crown Prince, entered.
Adam, who was accustomed to seeing Victor at the palace, felt pressured by the presence of the tied-up spy and the Marines who quickly stood up as he entered.
Victor got up, buttoning his jacket: “You should have told me earlier.”
He signaled to the soldiers to salute Adam, and they performed the naval salute preciy.
Adam realized that they had no intention of obeying him, despite him being their nominal leader.
Adam spoke nervously: “There was a plane that dropped leaflets north of Salantaire and disappeared.”
“How long did you stay?”
"What do you mean?"
“How long did you cross the border?”
“Does this matter now?”
“If Festina’s technical strength doesn’t matter, what does it matter?”
Adam closed his mouth.
Victor pointed, so the soldiers took the spy and left.
In the quiet room, Victor said: “Why did you come?”
Adam thought, then lowered his voice: “The plane has appeared, but the palace is very quiet.”
“Okay”
“I think there are spies in the palace.”
Victor replied: “Not spies, but traitors and defectors.”
“What?”
“If you don't know, strengthen your protection.”
“Are you saying that there are traitors among kings?”
“Yes, there is”
“Don't talk nonsense!”
Adam shouted, but Victor continued calmly: “The kings and nobles are preparing to flee to other countries.
There is no more gold in the market.”
“What about you?”
“I receive daily offers from Festina spies.”
Adam frowned.
The king was dying, and Adam was busy inheriting the throne, delegating politics to his brothers and son, writing only his letters.
Adam said: “What do we do?”
“Decide for yourf”
Salantir was safe thanks to its mountains, but the Festina plane changed the equation.
Adam said: “If the plane attacks, what do we do?”
“There is no solution”
“What?”
“We have no air defense system.
Even Festina, according to spies, would take 30 years to create anti-aircraft weapons.”
“Do they tell you this easily?”
Victor smiled without replying.
Adam realizes that Victor's ways are not noble.
Victor saw no hope in Salantaire.
If he joined Festina and the southern coasts fell, Salantaire would quickly collapse.
Adam sighed sadly: “How did we get to this?”
Victor laughed softly, and Adam’s expression froze: “Why are you laughing?”
“Don't you know why?”
“No”
“Because His Majesty the King has despised technicians for religious reasons for more than ten years.”
“And now, the traitors are oppressing the technicians again.
Previously it was for religious reasons, and now to facilitate Salantaire’s delivery of Festina.
Since you believe in the ruler of nature like a king, wait for his salvation.”
Adam felt a headache as he heard Victor, who was silent in front of the kings, speaking frankly.
“You're too pessimistic,” Adam said.
“Pessimistic?”
“Yes.
We have you and good cannons.
It may be difficult in the mountains, but there are solutions.”
“We can win the war.
Why only think about losing to Festina?”
Victor frowned.
Adam rose: “We will build more factories and weapons.
Salantir is a great nation.”
“You talk about war easily.”
Victor did not say that Adam had not fought a sea battle, but Adam seemed to have heard him.
After the short conversation, Adam returned to the palace and summoned his son Yuli.
“It looks like Victor might escape to Festina,” Adam said.
Yuli paused, then smiled: “Why do you think that, Dad?”
“Today, there were spies from Festina detained in his house.
There is no guarantee that he will not be convinced by their offers.
He believes Salantir is without hope.”
“Victor, when he sets his goal, does not care about duty or emotions.
He even said that someone was following Festina into the palace.”
“It's amazing that he thinks like that.”
Yuli continued: "Victor wanted to be a royal, but he was always arrogant.
Now, after realizing how difficult it is, he might try to discredit royalty."
“Maybe you're right.”