Chapter 355: Meeting The Big Shot.

Leo drove inside the palace and drove directly under the porch. Colonel Armas got down from the car, and Leo followed her, while the young attendant drove the car away to the parking. Another attendant followed Colonel Armas, Leo looked around and found that the entirety of the palace was covered by the protection of battle hardened veterans.As they entered a young stalwart figure stood there awaiting them. He saluted Colonel Armas who reciprocated the gesture and the man said, "The Field Marshall will see you now."

Leo was stunned inwardly, he didn’t expect that he was called here to meet the Field Marshall, he sighed but knew that he had no other way but to meet the person.

They walked through the corridors of the palace, and the host who led them observed Leo’s reaction. Every ten meters, there stood an armed guard but Leo didn’t even look at them. After a few minutes, they arrived at the study room and the young man knocked lightly, before a deep voice came from inside, "Come in."

Dippy pushed open the door and went inside after signaling the people to stand outside. Then a few moments later, the door was pushed open and Dippy came out before he turned to look at Leo and said, "You may go in."

Leo said, "Thank you, Sir."

He was a civilian and this young officer had been observing him, so Leo decided to act within decorum that suited him. He then entered the study and spotted an old man sitting behind a premium antique wooden table. Leo stood with a straight back and a standard posture that resembled that of a soldier and said, "Hello, Sir."

The old man raised his head and was taken aback, and then he said, "Had you saluted me just now, I would have mistaken you for a soldier. Have a seat."

Leo smiled and said, "Thank you, although I don’t mind saluting you, but I am a civilian, and I cannot bear to have you salute me in return Sir."

The old man raised his brow and then nodded faintly. He asked, "So, these past few days, I have been hearing a lot of things from the people below that they want to support you in refusing the military envelope. Why do you not want it?"

Leo replied calmly, "Sir, I am just a businessman, yes there are things that I have done for the military but that doesn’t make me a soldier. I have only tried to make up for the compensation that the society owed them and their families. Thus, it is not suitable to have these iron forged warriors of the nation to protect a civilian.

Also, you are someone who has seen a lot more of this world than me, Sir. The politicians are trying to suppress me because I am not listening to their silly demand of giving up the clues about the guy who triggered the clean up. It is not only them but even the people in the business world who want to locate that person. However, I don’t see what he did wrong. This is why I am not supporting the investigation and so they want to suppress me to enable such people again."

The old man raised his brow and asked, "Why do I sense this sense of conviction in your speech, young man? Do you happen to know the person behind this?"

Leo looked at the old man in surprised, to think he would pick it up with just one exchange, and he sighed as he said, "I do, Sir. However, do you also hold him in contempt for cleaning up the country?"

The old man shook his head and said, "However, such a big step had indeed created chaos for the nation. What if the neighbors and the rivals take opportunity of this? While the intent to help is good, but their must be long term consideration for such moves."

Leo thought for a bit and said, "Sir, if the people who were stained with corruption are allowed a chance to gather themselves, they would try to hide themselves and then go back to what they have been doing all this while."

His words refuted the old man and caused the latter to hold back before he said, "The younger generation has a different way of looking at things, but it is true that you have only upheld the virtue of protecting the benefactor of the nation. These corrupt parasites needed to be purged once and for all, because the situation was getting out of control."

Leo nodded faintly and then the old man said, "I have two solutions regarding your situation. First is to cooperate with the military and I will make sure that the envelope that you receive will not hinder your movements much. Second is to play along with us."

The second option caused Leo to raise his head and the Old Man continued, "I will tell the people that you have disclosed the details about this whole thing. You will go to the media and tell them it was a project undertaking by the Cyber division under the command of the Royal Family. Then everything we go away like it never existed. However, before that, I want to know who the real person behind this was."

Leo took a deep breath and said, "If I told you that this person is me, would you believe me, Sir?"

The old man opened his eyes wide in shock and he asked, "Are you telling me the truth?"

Leo nodded and replied, "I did all this to destroy the reputation of the Primal Family."

Under the scrutiny of the Field Marshall, Leo told him about everything that he had been through and how he decided to destroy the Primal family but he didn’t expect that the best of the ammunition would be delivered at his door by the so called enemy itself.

The more the old man heard the more shocked he grew. After a few minutes, he took a deep breath and said, "You have gone way overboard. However, I cannot judge you because had it been me, I would have started a war for my family. Well, fine, if you have this much skill, then I will appoint you as a special consultant in the Military. You will have a status and don’t worry, the Forces don’t let others bully our own people."

Leo was stunned but he knew that after this confession he couldn’t really refuse the position and nodded as he said, "Thank you for your magnanimity, Sir."

The Field Marshal stood up and said, "Good, you may go, send in Dippy on your way. I will give you an answer on this by tomorrow evening."

Leo nodded and stood up before he saw the old man extending his hand. Leo shook the hand and then he turned to leave with a straight back.

...

When he came out of the palace he was still accompanied by Colonel Armas who looked at him calmly. Leo had not once shown any anxiety and she could no longer hold back and asked, "Master Cardinal, if nobody supported you, what would happen?"

Leo shook his head and replied, "Nothing, it would just delay the growth of the projects that are undergoing, but to make up for them, I will have to sale some of the shares to the people from the other Sigil Families, however, if these politicians think they can manipulate me, then they are wrong. I didn’t come so far to be suppressed by a bunch of selfish undying old men and women."

His voice was low and his words were blunt. His back oozed with confidence and after a few minutes, they got in the car and left the place. Leo had decided to stay in the capital till next morning and shop a few gifts for his family. These days, they have suffered a lot because of him, and so he wanted to appease them.

...

While Leo was shopping, the Field Marshall made his way to the Imperial Palace where the Queen and King lived. His arrival caused a stir, but that was normal. The Field Marshall was the younger brother of the Queen and although he could have contended for the throne he took the position in military and gradually rose to the current rank. His achievements were totally the result of his own skill.

In the imperial study, the Queen was going through some of the invitations when she raised his head and saw the old man, she was surprised and asked, "Danny, what caused you to come here at this hour?"

The Field Marshall sighed and said, "Big Sister, I need your help."

At this moment, they were just two siblings and not royal family members. After the old man narrated the whole thing, the Queen sighed and said, "To think that someone had grown so strong under the eyes of the Kingdom. Well, what you did is right, let them suffer. One Leo Cardinal is much more valuable than these corrupt people."