Overnight, countless once-prominent noble families in Rome had their homes confiscated due to their crimes, and people were also sent out of the city one after another.
Some bloody clashes also erupted during the process, but in the face of such a drastic change, these resistances seemed insignificant, and the losses incurred were almost negligible.
Katerina had been in Rome for more than half a year, and with Faol's secret support and her own extraordinary business management skills, she not only made the Rome Newspaper prosperous but also accumulated her own network of contacts, making her much better informed.
Having heard the rumors early, Katerina immediately understood that something big was happening and promptly began to investigate, but after a whole night, she still hadn't figured out exactly what was going on.
Worried about Augustus and also concerned that such important news might be scooped by other newspapers, Katerina disguised herself early in the morning and came to the gates of the Papal Palace.
Augustus had just finished breakfast and was reviewing the report on last night's confiscations that Enzo had sent over.
Enzo had not sought any outside help and had managed to pull off such a large-scale operation overnight with his own forces, with almost no errors, which genuinely surprised Augustus.
Although Augustus knew that this step was inevitable, the original plan was to deploy the army to assist in the implementation, supplemented by related decrees such as city lockdown and martial law; now, it seemed completely unnecessary.
A knock came from outside the door, accompanied by the attendant's voice, interrupting Augustus's thoughts: "Your Holiness, Katerina, the director of the Rome Newspaper, is requesting an audience."
She's here? Good.
Now that the investigation has reached this point, it can be said that the overall situation is settled.
There's no possibility or need to hide it from anyone anymore; it's time to let her know and then make it public.
Favorable public opinion can make things twice as effective with half the effort.
"Please let her in," Augustus said, tidying his clothes, and went to the reception room first.
"Your Holiness, long time no see, how have you been recently?" Katerina greeted Augustus warmly as soon as she saw him, and then very naturally sat down opposite him.
Augustus looked Katerina up and down.
Clearly, Katerina had adapted well to Rome; she was no longer as sharp as when they first met, much more composed and reserved, but the light in her eyes was brighter than when she arrived, and her gaze was firmer.
"Overall, it's been very good, but there have indeed been some not-so-good things happening," Augustus said with a smile.
"What happened?" Katerina's eyes widened in curiosity.
Augustus shook his head: "Let's not talk about that for now; it will naturally come up soon.
Why have you come this time? If I'm not mistaken, you already know about what happened last night, don't you?"
"Yes, it seems you're aware, so I'm relieved.
When I came, I was still a bit worried that someone was up to no good," Katerina said with relief.
"Oh? Why would you have such a worry?" Augustus asked with interest.
"So many powerful figures had their homes confiscated last night, including even the home of Minister of Internal Affairs Francesco, and the people who came to confiscate them were neither law enforcement officers nor the military.
Based on the clues jointly provided by many witnesses, it seems that Enzo's people were involved.
I inquired everywhere and only knew that these people had their homes confiscated due to crimes, but I didn't know what specific major crimes they had committed to warrant such a severe collective confiscation of so many powerful figures.
Therefore, I suspected that someone was using your name to eliminate political rivals, disrupting the balance of power in the Papal States, or even potentially posing a threat to you.
Now it seems my worries were completely unnecessary," Katerina answered in detail.
Augustus hadn't expected that Katerina could grasp so much key information and make such reasonable deductions in such a short time, and he couldn't help but look at her with new respect.
This was almost the maximum information Katerina could obtain; any more, and it wouldn't be Katerina being capable, but rather Enzo being incompetent.
In this light, Katerina, as merely a newspaper director, seemed to be somewhat overqualified.
"Your ability to acquire and process information is far stronger than I imagined.
All the information you obtained is correct, your deductions are very reasonable, and more than half of them are accurate," Augustus praised sincerely, then his expression darkened, and he changed the subject.
"However, you might be underestimating me a bit too much.
All of this is within my control.
I gave Enzo a great deal of power, including this matter, but Enzo's ability to complete this independently without seeking any other help indeed surprised me somewhat.
As you said, Enzo is indeed using my name to eliminate political rivals, and the original balance of power in the Papal States has been disrupted, but this is also something I have tacitly approved.
Because they are not only Enzo's political rivals but also my enemies, obstacles on the path of the Papal States' progress.
Now that there's a perfect opportunity, it's better to have a short, sharp shock than prolonged pain.
Let's round them all up and purge the Papal States internally, so I can then act freely and do what I want to do."
"A perfect opportunity? What do you mean?" Katerina immediately seized on the key point.
"On my way back from Tuscany, I was ambushed.
And it was Francesco who sought them out to ambush me and provided them with standardized weapons," Augustus described lightly.
"What? Ambush? Francesco? Why would he do such a thing?" Katerina found it hard to understand.
He was already at the pinnacle of power, rich enough to rival a nation; why would he do something so foolish and life-threatening?
"Perhaps I stepped on his toes, but that's not important anymore," Augustus shrugged.
"Then... judging by the current situation, so many noble officials were involved in this?" Katerina asked with lingering fear.
"Not necessarily.
Otherwise, why would I say Enzo is using my name to eliminate political rivals?
Enzo is certainly trying to implicate as many as possible.
I estimate that if there was even a shred of circumstantial evidence, he would directly coerce confessions and convict them."
"And you don't care about that?" Katerina asked in surprise.
Augustus said frankly: "I can't, and I don't need to.
I've seen the names of these people, and the vast majority of them indeed have close ties with Francesco.
Not to mention that I myself cannot ascertain in a short time whether they participated, even if they didn't, how many of them are truly clean?
The Papal States needs fresh blood, and naturally, some people need to make way.
They would certainly be unwilling to relinquish power, and even if they didn't cause harm, they would be destabilizing factors.
It's better to use this opportunity, through Enzo's hand, to clear them out.
They've been bleeding the Papal States dry for so many years following Francesco; it's time for them to bleed."
Katerina nodded, half understanding.
"You don't need to worry too much about these things for now.
Have you thought about how to write the newspaper article?
And is there anything else you need me to add or clarify?"
Katerina reviewed the whole story and replied affirmatively: "This information is pretty much enough.
Any more specific details shouldn't be for me to know, and even if I did, they wouldn't be suitable for the newspaper.
I think we can emphasize the danger and seriousness of the ambush to highlight the sinister intentions and heinous crimes of the planners, thereby demonstrating the rationality and necessity of uncovering and severely punishing the true culprits."
"Exactly, I agree with this approach.
You can write that the Swiss Guard fought valiantly in the ambush, ultimately wiping out the enemy, and that His Holiness the Pope was also injured in the ambush..."
"You were injured?" Katerina immediately interrupted with concern.
"My heart was deeply wounded; that counts as injured too," Augustus said solemnly.
"I understand," Katerina smiled knowingly.