“Someone here is disloyal.”
Shade said simply, and then asked President Pigman who was sitting there in surprise:
"If I'm not mistaken, did the negotiation between His Highness and you just now go unsuccessfully?"
Xia De didn't want him to answer:
"I just received news that this Mr. Giles is connected to the official intelligence agency of Delarion."
"What? What's my connection to MI6?"
Some of the fat middle-aged people widened their eyes in surprise.
"At gunpoint by an MI6 ace agent."
Xia De thought in his heart and said:
"I didn't say MI6."
Mr. Giles' eyes widened again, and Shade continued:
"There is clear evidence that Mr. Giles was promised an offer he could not refuse to undermine His Royal Highness's dealings with the Association."
Margaret made a serious expression, and President Pigman was even more surprised:
"Giles, is what this gentleman said true? I was wondering why you were acting so strangely today. If you have been wronged, explain it now."
"I, I..."
The man wearing the monocle already had sweat on his forehead.
"You have accepted benefits from MI6. Those people from Delarion do not want Her Highness Margaret to solve the historical problems left over by the royal family."
The muzzle of Shade's gun was already pointed at his head:
"Since you've worked so hard, you must have received a portion of the benefits. It won't be difficult to find these."
"No, I... I'm not from MI6! I didn't take any advantage of Mr. Beiguo!"
The fat man nervously explained.
"Who did you make the deal with?"
Shad continued to ask, but Mr. Giles opened his mouth and then closed it immediately.
Now he has completely offended Princess Margaret. If he offends Prince William by mentioning his name, then he will really not be able to live in Carsenrick anymore.
President Pigman stood up angrily at this time. He was not unaware of the situation:
"Giles, did you really take advantage of others? Who asked you to do this? Can't you see that if you really reconcile with the royal family, how many craftsmen who were affected by the accident more than ten years ago will benefit from it?"
Mr. Giles looked at him with a look of despair, and drew back a step:
"I... someone did give me a benefit, but I don't know who it was... Yes, I don't know."
"Your Highness, have someone take him away first. I suspect this is a foreign group conducting espionage activities against our country."
Xia De said seriously, and Margaret nodded:
"In the name of the investigation, please invite Mr. Giles to have a cup of tea and don't embarrass him."
Then he turned to Mr. Pigman:
"I will show my sincerity in wanting to reconcile with the Stonemasons' Guild, and I can assure you that, as long as Mr. Giles is not a member of MI6, he will be back to work tomorrow morning."
The fat man shuddered, probably imagining what he would encounter during the period before tomorrow morning. But he had no choice. The female guard at the door went downstairs to find someone, and soon someone took Mr. Giles away.
Although if he shouted at this time, he would completely expose the situation here and might be able to get away. But this shrewd and greedy guy at least had basic reason. Of course, it might be because when Xia De sent him downstairs, the muzzle of the gun was pressed against his waist.
The fact that Mr. Giles was taken away did not interrupt Margaret's conversation with President Pigman. However, the Masons Association was in the wrong after all, so in the following conversation, Margaret had a slight upper hand.
She showed the share document that Shade found in the secret room of the association, which was held by the guardian, Mr. Fleming, when the Stonemason Association was first established. But just as Shade expected, the association today did not recognize this document. After Mr. Fleming's accidental disappearance, his shares had been relatively properly inherited and distributed.
But even so, at least in legal terms, this document is still legitimate. Margaret uses this as a breakthrough point and hopes to have more cooperation and exchanges with the association.
Of course, she did not forget to express her intention to repair the relationship between the Association and the Anjou Royal Family and make up for the impact of the accident more than ten years ago. President Pigman, who had anticipated this, was silent for a moment:
"If it can be done, it would be better. But Your Highness, you know what we ask for, an apology and compensation, nothing more. Time allows hatred to ferment like fine wine. More than ten years ago, I was just an ordinary clerk in the association... I am very happy that someone who wants to resolve this matter has finally appeared in the Anjou royal family. I can help you, but you should understand that the decision on this matter lies not only with you, but also with your father."
After all, Margaret at this time was not qualified to apologize on behalf of the royal family.
Her Royal Highness the Princess was also thinking:
"I understand what you mean, but I also want to express my apologies. Mr. Pigman, you can selectively disclose the information about our meeting to some of the association's senior executives within the next week. This friendly conversation between the two of us can only be regarded as the first step towards reconciliation, and I hope you can cooperate as much as possible."
"Yes, I understand."
The middle-aged president stood up and bowed slightly:
"The conflict between us and the Anjou royal family is actually a conflict between us and your ancestors. I am not qualified to accept your kindness on behalf of others, but at least from my personal perspective, you are indeed a qualified princess."
Margaret smiled:
"Then today's meeting ends here. I will take this document with me. It will become a gift to you on the day we officially reconcile. I will communicate with my father. Although it is not easy, at least I can try. As for the association..."
"Not everyone is willing to continue hatred forever. If the Anjou royal family is really willing to compensate and apologize, we will not insist."
The president said, Margaret nodded, turning slightly to look at Shad, obviously wanting to ask if Shad wanted to say anything.
Shade thought for a moment:
"President Pigman, you probably understand that there will be many people who don't want to see the reconciliation between the royal family and the Stonemasons Association. Among them, there are not only hostile foreign forces, but also... So, before this matter is really accomplished, please don't make it public. If you feel that someone is strange, please notify His Highness as soon as possible for investigation."
"I see."
Margaret then extended her hand to Shade, placed her hand on Shade's hand and stood up. President Pigman wanted to send the group downstairs, but Shade refused:
"Your Highness's trip is completely secret. Please do not draw attention to it."
President Pigman nodded immediately and just watched the group leave at the door of the office, but he was very curious about Xia De's identity.
“It went better than expected.”
On the stairs going downstairs, two female guards walked in front, and the maid followed behind. Shade whispered to Margaret, and the girl with long light golden hair smiled and said:
"Before this, the royal family had never thought of communicating with the Stonemasons Guild. I am the first princess to come here directly and have a talk with the president. Although there are conflicts between the Guild and the royal family, no one can deny the power and strength of our family. Pigman respects my identity as a princess, and since you found out about Giles' problem, he naturally has to express his respect, not to mention..."
Margaret looked back up high:
"President Pigman is also very clear that the long-term hostility with the royal family has actually had a greater impact on the Stonemasons Association. Since more than ten years ago, they have not received any business in the Willendel area. In some ways, this is also one of the reasons for the decline of the Randall Valley Stonemasons Association."
Xia De did not comment on this, and walked around the corner of the stairs between the second and third floors holding Margaret's hand:
"So how are you going to convince your father to agree to apologize?"
"Expressing apologies also has different circumstances - who says it, how it is said, whether it is said publicly or privately, all of these are very particular."
She looked at Shade:
"Lesia Cavendish said that you have a good sense of politics, so guess what I will do?"
"There is no possibility of a public apology from the royal family. So, what you need to do is to get the royal family to apologize privately, and it is best not to leave any paper documents. But even so, you need the consent of the association and your father. The consent of the association is relatively simple, as long as you come up with conditions that they cannot refuse. And the consent of your father, His Majesty the Lion 'Lain', I am afraid..."
The group walked from the second floor and continued to the first floor:
"You want to use your own merits to exchange for his consent? As long as it is a private apology without leaving any written documents, I believe your father will not refuse it. Just send his personal secretary or aide to handle it locally."
"Yes, I will communicate with the Stonemasons Association first during this period. I will talk to my father after the opening of the shipyard is over."
Margaret praised softly:
"You really understand me."
"In other words, this matter will be resolved in early spring this year... ... It's true that everything is concentrated in early spring..."
Shad was thoughtful.
"What did you say?"
Margaret asked.
"Nothing, nothing."
Xia De immediately shook his head, and at this moment, an old gentleman with a cane happened to walk up the stairs from downstairs. The stairs of the Stonemason Association were not very narrow, so the group of people going downstairs just moved aside slightly, and the thin old gentleman was able to pass.
The old man was wearing a relatively fashionable plaid coat, leaning on a cane with one hand and holding his hat with the other, nodding to express his gratitude to the group. However, just as he passed by Xia De, the old man suddenly paused and fell forward on the stairs.