"What is it?"
Lian knew the three ministers wouldn't believe any explanation he gave. An issue like this would only get murkier the more he tried to explain it away. He might as well just ask what they wanted.
The three ministers looked at each other, finally pushing forward the bravest of them, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alex Pool, to ask.
"Did Lord Moria take the Gift with him?"
Alex Pool asked, having summoned all his courage.
Lian didn't answer directly. Instead, he posed a question of his own.
"If the Gift was lost, what effect would that have on the Green Shade Territory?"
"Of course! Without the Eye of the Future, the Green Shade Territory couldn't make the right decisions, couldn't avoid danger, and couldn't control its own destiny," Chief of Internal Affairs Karel Dennis said gravely.
"Yes, the Eye of the Future is as important as the army. They are both crucial assets for the Green Shade Territory," the pot-bellied Minister of Finance, Omari Hani, added nervously.
Lian continued his questioning.
"If that's the case, then why is the Green Shade Territory so deeply in debt?"
"That's because Lord Moria indulged in pleasure and was extremely generous to his mistresses. Half the noblewomen in the city were his paramours."
Omari Hani couldn't resist dropping a bombshell.
The corner of Lian's mouth twitched. He recalled the sight of Old Golden Hair hooked up to an IV. 'Could that have been caused by him overexerting himself day and night?'
"The Eye of the Future isn't lost. It's just been lent out," Lian said calmly.
Anna and Annie also supported each other as they stood up. They couldn't sleep in front of so many people; it wasn't proper.
They walked to Lian's side, just in time to hear his words.
'Lent out?'
"Lent out?"
Alex Pool looked at Lian in confusion. "Lord, who was it lent to?"
"That's a question for the old Lord. If anyone asks, you are to say that the old Lord lent out the Eye of the Future himself. However, everyone should rest assured that the Eye of the Future will always belong to the Green Shade Territory. It will be returned once the other party is done with it," Lian said.
The three ministers exchanged a look, clearly thinking this was a lie.
'In other words, Moria really did take the Eye of the Future with him.'
'He actually dumped the Green Shade Territory on his illegitimate child while taking all the jewels and the Eye of the Future for himself! He's completely abandoned the territory to its fate!'
The three ministers cursed Moria once more in their minds, while a newfound admiration for Lian bloomed in their hearts.
'Saying the Eye of the Future was lent out is ten times better than saying it was stolen.'
'But will people accept that story?'
'If we can't even say who it was lent to, we'll still lose the people's trust, won't we?'
'Won't the people of the Green Shade Territory, especially those sly, wealthy ones, guess that Old Moria abandoned the territory and then flee with their own fortunes?'
The three men began to worry anew.
"Lord Lian, I know who Lord Moria lent the Eye of the Future to."
Anna's gentle and pleasant voice rang out.
Everyone looked at her in surprise.
Anna said in a calm tone, "A very powerful and influential figure, but we cannot publicly announce his name."
"Powerful and influential? Cannot be announced? Could it be His Majesty the King?" Chief of Internal Affairs Karel Dennis couldn't help but say excitedly.
Minister of Finance Omari Hani and Minister of Foreign Affairs Alex Pool chimed in together, "Is it His Majesty the King?"
Anna replied,
"Whether or not it's His Majesty the King is unimportant. What's important is that everyone knows a great personage—someone with more power and authority than a Lord—has borrowed the Eye of the Future. The Green Shade Territory still technically possesses it, so our status won't change. In fact, we will now be under the protection of this mysterious figure. That will keep the Green Shade Territory safe. No one will leave because of this, and no opportunistic outsiders will try to move in."
The three ministers looked at the maid Anna, and suddenly saw her in a new light.
'As expected of the maid Lord Moria left for Lord Lian. She must have been hand-picked.'
As they thought this, they silently credited the disgraced Moria with one good deed.
Lian was also very satisfied with Anna's suggestion. "Then let's do that. Karel, you will announce this to the public tomorrow."
"Lord, Romayada is asking about tomorrow's masquerade ball. Will you be attending?"
"Of course. I never miss a ball. Tell them not to worry and to throw the most splendid party they can."
'My plan is to become as thick as thieves with this crowd before the Bank Envoy, Emran, arrives. I need to figure out their keywords, identify their weaknesses, and then persuade them to become shareholders in the Green Shade Territory Bank. That way, the first loan payment can be repaid to the Empire Bank on time.'
'I'll use their money to pay back the Empire Bank. Then, I'll have them take out loans from the Empire Bank for real estate ventures. The profits will be reinvested into the Green Shade Territory Bank. If this cycle continues, the Green Shade Territory Bank won't just be able to repay the Empire's debt; it will also be able to offer loans to the middle and commoner classes. They can use it to start businesses or just to spend. It's not a pipe dream to think we can raise the material production of the populace!'
'And the best part is, I don't even have to pay for these balls and banquets. I just provide the venue. Only a genius like me could come up with something so clever.'
'I also have Old Moria's extravagant corruption to thank for this. He built the Lord's Mansion to be as grand as a castle. It's basically the American White House, free and open to the public. Of course everyone is dying to get a look inside.'
After dismissing the three ministers, Lian returned to his bedroom with Miss Witch Sophie, and the maids Anna and Annie.
Anna and Annie's condition had recovered somewhat by this time, and they no longer looked so exhausted.
Lian's bedroom was huge, its luxury far exceeding that of a five-star hotel from a later era. The bedroom alone contained a walk-in closet, a study area, a reception area, a private washroom, and a bathtub that could fit at least four people.
Of course, as a decent man, Lian wouldn't choose to discuss matters in the bathtub—even if it could fit all four of them perfectly.
Lian sat on the sofa in the reception area. He looked at the twin maids, who had just been won over by his personal charm, and asked,
"What do you know about the 'Eye of the Future'?"
Lian believed that the spy, Anna, would know more than Miss Witch Sophie.
And he was right. Anna spoke candidly.
"'The Eye of the Future' is the sixth Divine Gift discovered by the Empire. It was designated Sequence Six."
"Everyone thinks the Eye of the Future can only see the future. In reality, its true function is not to see the future, but to change it."
"To choose the most suitable future for oneself from among countless possibilities—that is the true purpose of the Eye of the Future," Anna said.
"If that's the case, if you obtained the Eye of the Future, couldn't you also change your own futures?" Lian asked.
Anna looked at Annie and continued,
"Theoretically, yes. But we cannot bear the price of using it."
"What's the price?"