“It has been sent?” Roland asked Trey who nodded. Their meeting place was in Roland’s home. The spy network that Trey had set up on request of Lawrence was probably far wider than Lawrence knew about because Lawrence’s intelligence briefing consisted mainly of the immediate vicinity. However, Roland received the full intelligence briefing.

“Are you sure it is okay to not inform Sir Carstein about informing General Kaffe first?” Trey asked and Roland smiled, opening a bottle of wine that he has stored away for a long time. Trying it, Trey made a face showing his disgust.

“Sir Carstein’s own brew is still great. I hope more gets sold…” Trey muttered, bearing with the drink. Of course, Lawrence was gradually expanding the operations under his house, but no one needed to know that.

“Why, is the legendary Trey, the head of the Internal Security afraid of consequences at last?” Roland asked, sitting down on his new polished wooden chair.

The room was dimly lit, the stuffing of a bear decorating a corner of the room and a simple study table at another. The fireplace was not lit and the only light source was that of a candle on the table between them.

“Not that. Us in this business is always ready to be fired or purged at any point in time, but to send a letter in his name is…” Trey said hesitantly and Roland waved his hand, as if dismissing it altogether.

“Would you agree that Lawrence Carstein is a remarkable man? I’m not talking about how good he is in a fight. He refuses to spar but his prowess in combat is perhaps unmatched. Anyone who watched him tear those bandits apart would tell you the same thing.”

Roland looked at Trey who seemed to be evaluating his words. The man’s expression gave away nothing. It was a perfectly cold and still poker face.

Roland took it as his cue to continue.

“Extraordinary things are happening in this realm. Even more extraordinary things are happening in Black Bay. What we can agree on is that the world is a mess.”

“King Carmine’s taxes, his upstarts asking for the lord’s rights in their own towns… The old King is probably spinning about his grave. Queen Lorian regarded as a night’s whore by her own husband… The state of this Kingdom is horrifying indeed.”

“What if… A man could come in and clean house? Scrub the filth away from the walls, throw all those who wish ill upon this great nation into the gutters?” Roland leaned forward, asking in a hushed voice.

Trey said nothing, tapping his finger against the chair, but Roland could tell that he was thinking.

“By doing this, we gain the friendship of General Kaffe and perhaps any other lord who is loyal to the regime but against the immense stupidity of the king.”

“The King has one son. No one has ever seen him in years. Word is that Queen Lorian raises him by herself, along with just a handful of maids.” Roland continued and Trey at last sighed.

“Lawrence is going to be furious when he finds out what you have done,” Trey said after a momentary pause.

“Would he? Lawrence is a man who looks at the big picture. If we shoved this onto him, he would take it if we explain the benefits that yields him.”

Trey raised his hand, signaling for Roland to stop talking.

“Lawrence is a pacifist. It is obvious. If you and I had an army like the Owls, we would have stormed Everett a long time ago and taken over this kingdom!” Trey exclaimed and Roland nodded in agreement.

“But perhaps, a man who knows that war may be an inevitable answer to peace is really what we need.”

“He knows that war is inevitable. Look at the expense we put on the Owls… Look at the Storm Arsenal… Is that something a man who only thinks about peace dream about? We have enough food and water to probably live by ourselves and so many other things that the likes of this world has ever seen!” Roland said enthusiastically and Trey shrugged.

“I will categorically deny having ever sent that letter. What he does with you is your own problem, Roland. Good night.”

Trey stood up, putting on his coat and opening the door, he paused, turning to look at Roland before saying, “I hope to believe that man as well”

As the door closed, Roland smiled, sipping his wine in contentment.

“Who did you say?” Lawrence said, looking at Old Man Frost in surprise as the guardian sat in his room, reading a book. He was waiting for night to come for his appointment with Halafina.

“Eveline Evergarden, Sir Carstein. She is most… Insistent on meeting you.”

Shrugging, Lawrence closed his book, setting it aside and he went out to greet Eveline Evergarden who was examining a decorative ornament on his end table, a bronze brazier encrusted with rubies, emeralds and sapphire.

“Ah, Lawrence Carstein, I thought that going to meet Father Karl Franz may have been easier than meeting you!” Eveline said, adjusting her glasses as she narrowed her eyes at Lawrence who gave an awkward laugh.

It is alone time! Do you not understand!?

Lawrence gestured for Eveline to sit as he made himself comfortable in an armchair as well.

“The garden you asked for, the design is done. Please take a look. If you permit, we will have it constructed behind Sector Shina where there is still a lot space, due to the fact that there is an area cordoned off for special facilities such as the Storm Arsenal.”

“As it faces the sea as well, I think that will be the ideal place for the garden.”

Lawrence took the scroll of parchment that was no doubt the design that Eveline had painstakingly drawn up.

The garden was in the shape of a square, with each side approximately 30 meters long. The garden was tiered, with the uppermost gallery being 22 meters high. The walls, 6 meters thick, were made of brick. The bases of the tiered sections were sufficiently deep to provide root growth for the largest trees, and the gardens were irrigated from the nearby aqueduct.

There were various types of trees, flowers and shrubs that would be grown there, with gardeners tending to them to rotate the plants with the seeds that Lawrence would provide. Lawrence made a mental note to create a greenhouse powered by magic so that these crops that would not grow in a certain season could continue to blossom in the greenhouse.

There were several statues as well, each of these statues made in stone depicting the various gods that existed in this world, as well as folk heroes.

There would be benches and open spaces for people to rest during their walks around, as well as a small stage large enough for a few bards and minstrels. Festivals will be held in this garden as well. This was a place that Lawrence wanted for more casual events. If every event was held in a town hall, there would be a degree of formality there. If the location was not formal, the people will be more open to attending instead of thinking that it was a snobbish event for wealthy people or those connected politically.

“It looks good. Can you include a large rectangular area? Let’s say… large enough to house all the plants if they were uprooted.”

Eveline raised an eyebrow, shrugging after awhile.

“Fine, anything else?” Eveline asked, standing up and straightening her dress.

“No, please carry on. Thank you for your hard work,” Lawrence said, bowing a little. As Eveline left, Lawrence got changed into a nice attire that Old Man Frost said made him resemble a minor noble and donned his armour.

He had dinner and supper to attend to.