novelSusiti Chapter 213 The Deal Under the Moonlight
Chapter 213 The Deal Under the Moonlight
On the balcony, the night breeze, like a cool piece of silk, brushed against everyone's face.
Major Lionel Harrison exhaled cigar smoke into the Athenian night sky; the smoke rings spread and distorted in the moonlight before finally disappearing without a trace. His expression held a solemn air tinged with a commanding composure.
"Your Highness, Your Highness the Crown Princess. Please allow me, as a friend, and not merely an intelligence officer, to offer you a suggestion..."
His voice was gentle, full of the concern and guidance of an elder for a younger generation.
Constantine remained silent, merely turning to the side and asking with his eyes. Sofia, on the other hand, perfectly portrayed the expectation and reliance of a frightened wife seeing her husband's friend finally step forward to uphold justice.
Harrison was pleased with the couple's reaction. He cleared his throat and continued to slowly and methodically construct his logic in that magnetic London accent.
"The Crown Princess's concerns are not without merit. Total war is a last resort that any civilized nation should strive to avoid. The wounds it inflicts often take generations to heal."
This statement first appeased Sophia and also gave the Prussian princess ample face.
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in the night breeze. Then, he turned to Constantine, his tone suddenly becoming serious and forceful.
"but……"
The two words, like the pause before a judge brings down the gavel, instantly drew everyone's attention.
"...Combating the drug trade and purifying the international business environment is the responsibility and right of every civilized nation! This is not war, Your Highness, it cannot even be called a conflict. This is a 'surgical' law enforcement operation!"
"Surgery!"
Harrison repeated the trendy phrase, emphasizing it, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with intelligence.
"The objectives were clear, the methods precise, and the process swift. I believe London will fully understand and appreciate this noble act of maintaining regional health and stability. After all, no one wants to see the Balkans become a powder keg again due to the rampant spread of opium, right?"
These words casually packaged a potential act of aggression as a noble act of "law enforcement" that conformed to international principles.
He completely stripped away the sensitive word "war," replacing it with words like "responsibility," "power," and "law enforcement," which are full of moral superiority.
Constantine's brow furrowed deeply. His expression was a mixture of being persuaded and deep concern about the consequences.
"But the Ottoman navy... though old, still has a numerical advantage. If they blockade our ports, especially Piraeus... it would be a devastating blow to our fledgling industry."
He plays a young monarch who only has a hammer and sees everything as a nail. He has determination and courage, but lacks the means and confidence to deal with complex situations.
He posed this crucial question to Harrison.
This was exactly the question Harrison had been waiting for.
He smiled.
It wasn't a flamboyant smile, but a shrewd, fox-like smile that suggested he had everything under control.
He walked to the edge of the terrace, stretched out his white-gloved hand, and instead of pointing to the nearby Acropolis, he pointed to the distant, dark Mediterranean Sea bathed in moonlight.
"Your Highness, what a coincidence."
His tone was as relaxed as if he were talking about tomorrow's weather.
"Next month, the Royal Navy of our Great Britain, the Mediterranean Fleet, will be conducting a routine annual military exercise off the coast of Crete. I imagine any unrelated vessels, for their own safety, will voluntarily avoid that area, right?"
These words were spoken casually and nonchalantly.
But every single word is worth more than a thousand pieces of gold.
Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet!
This world's most powerful naval force is about to draw an insurmountable deep blue barrier between Greece and the Ottomans!
"Routine exercise".
"Navigation safety".
Behind these impeccable diplomatic pronouncements lay a promise that couldn't be clearer: Go ahead, Greeks. The Ottoman navy can't get out of the Dardanelles, and even if they did, they won't reach your doorstep.
This is no longer an implication, but blatant indulgence!
The atmosphere on the balcony instantly became tense.
Sofia opened her mouth in "astonishment," looking at her husband with eyes full of "Look, Major Harrison can really solve problems," and a woman's "naive worship" of such authoritarian methods.
Constantine's expression of hesitation and struggle reached its peak.
He first glanced at his wife beside him, then at the distant sea, and finally fixed his gaze on Harrison's expectant face.
As if after a great struggle, he finally made a "difficult" decision.
His chest heaved, eventually turning into a long sigh—a sigh that contained resolve, helplessness, and a sense of relief at having shed a heavy burden.
"Since that's the case..."
Constantine's voice was slightly hoarse, but every word was powerful and resonant.
"For the people of Greece to no longer suffer from drugs! For the workers who toil in factories to have a healthy future! I... am willing to take this risk!"
His expression became incredibly solemn, as if he had truly been persuaded by Harrison's "justice".
"But the operation must be limited! It must be swift! I don't want the war to escalate, Major. I only want to destroy their drug trafficking network on the border as quickly as possible, punish those derelict Ottoman officials, and then withdraw immediately!"
He completely exposed his "trump card" to Harrison. The image of an impulsive young man who just wanted to teach his neighbor a lesson but was afraid of making things worse is vividly portrayed.
The deal is done.
A satisfied, victorious smile spread across Major Harrison's face.
He extended his hand to Constantine: "Your Highness, your bravery and mercy will earn the respect of all civilized world."
Constantine grasped his hand and nodded solemnly.
The dinner ended in a happy atmosphere.
Harrison took his leave, satisfied. He boarded the carriage back to headquarters, feeling the Athenian night air was exceptionally refreshing. He believed that, almost without bloodshed, he had, as an intelligence advisor, made another crucial move for the British Empire in the complex diplomatic game of the Balkans.
He had even already figured out how he would write this report of achievement to the Foreign Office and MI6 in London after the play ended.
As the silhouette of the carriage disappeared at the end of the palace gardens.
Silence returned to the balcony.
The night wind blew by, leaving only Constantine and Sophia standing side by side in the moonlight.
The distant singing had long since ceased, and the city had fallen asleep.
Constantine, whose face had just been filled with "impulse," "hesitation," and "struggle," now had a calm expression, as serene as a marble sculpture.