313: Chapter 313 The King's Fatal Scales

Lin Xiao looked up and pointed to a complex line on the relationship diagram connecting the royal asset management institution to offshore accounts. "The key is the attitude within the royal family. It's not a monolith. Based on information I gathered from some Southeast Asian brokers I encountered on the periphery of 'Council of Elders' in the past, combined with recent surveillance evidence, the royal family is roughly divided into two factions."

She took a deep breath, trying to make her statement clearer. "One faction is represented by some elderly Privy Councillors and traditional royal family members with deep ties to the military. They are more inclined to rely on their long-term alliance with the US, believing this defeat is temporary. They think that as long as the US increases its intervention, they can hold out or even counterattack by relying on Thailand's strategic depth and the public's 'defend the nation' sentiment. They worry that complete submission to Myanmar would permanently damage the kingdom's dignity and royal authority, potentially even triggering a backlash from domestic radical nationalists, targeting the royal family for being 'weak'."

"The other faction," Lin Xiao's finger moved to the names of several younger royal family members, or those who had studied abroad and had closer industrial ties with Chinese businessmen and ASEAN, "is more pragmatic, or rather, panicked. They saw the northern front army crumble before those 'inhuman weapons,' saw the navy humiliated and blocked at their own doorstep, and witnessed the stock market crash, the Thai Baht's devaluation, and capital flight. They fear that once the war spreads to the central plains and even threatens Bangkok, it won't just be a military defeat, but a total national economic collapse and social upheaval that could ultimately shake the foundations of the constitutional monarchy. Therefore, they advocate for peace talks with Myanmar as soon as possible, accepting reality—even if the conditions are harsh—with damage control as their primary goal. This group has secret contacts with the pragmatists in the current civilian government."

Erica nodded. "In other words, the royal family itself is becoming a battlefield. The US and Council of Elders are desperately trying to win over and support the hardliners, attempting to use the banner of the monarchy to obstruct or even overthrow the civilian government that favors peace talks, keeping the war going to wear us down."

"Exactly," Lin Xiao affirmed. "Furthermore, according to a blurred conversation mentioned on the 'Shadow Channel,' 'His Majesty' seems to feel 'deeply concerned' about the livelihoods being ruined by the ongoing conflict and the potential danger to Bangkok. This might mean the King's own balance is tilting slightly toward the damage-control faction. However, this has caused extreme anxiety among the hardliners and external forces."

Just then, a team member responsible for external surveillance whispered, "Boss, the target vehicle has appeared. It has a royal license plate and just drove out of the Grand Palace's side gate, heading toward Silom Road. Thermal signatures show three people inside, with high-level security."

Erica looked at the monitor. A black Mercedes S-Class, escorted by motorcycles in front and behind, was leaving the Grand Palace area. "That's the car of one of the younger royal family members who attended the royal council meeting. Tracking team, follow them and keep your distance. The focus isn't on him, but on who he's meeting, or if someone wants to meet him."

She turned back to Lin Xiao. "The value of your intelligence is becoming apparent. But it's not enough yet. We need more direct evidence of how the US and Council of Elders are inciting or even planning subversive actions at an operational level, and just how far the royal hardliners are prepared to go. Disagreements aren't enough; we need the content of their conspiracies."

Lin Xiao watched the car receding on the screen, then looked at the complex network she had drawn. One name was circled—the person she had suspected for a long time but lacked direct evidence for: Council of Elders' highest-level agent in Thailand. He was a former Prime Minister and one of the King's current chief private advisors, a political veteran known by the honorary title 'Tan Long.' On the surface, he was highly respected and on good terms with all parties, but in reality, he had multiple secret financial dealings with the 'White Elephant Trading House' and had always been a key bridge between the military hardliners and the US.

"Perhaps," Lin Xiao whispered with a hint of resolve, "we should find a way to get close to this advisor 'Tan Long,' or... someone in his inner circle. Recently, he seems to enjoy hosting 'salons' at an extremely private club in Bangkok. The participants are all wealthy or influential, and the security... is strict to outsiders, but for those inside, if the identity is right, there might be a chance."

Erica's eyes flashed coldly. "A salon? What kind?"

"On the surface, it's for art appreciation and philosophical discussion. In reality, it's a breeding ground for various exchanges of interest and secret resolutions. My former master... a representative of 'Council of Elders,' was once invited to attend, though I wasn't allowed into the inner hall," Lin Xiao recalled. "But I remember the style of the invitations they used, the code words, and some of the club's internal layout. If we could get a 'suitable' invitation..."

Erica quickly assessed the risks and rewards. Directly infiltrating the inner circle of the royal family was extremely difficult, but this semi-public, semi-private high-end club might offer an opportunity. If they could sneak in and get first-hand information...

"Find out the time, location, and theme of the next 'salon.' We need an entry ticket and an impeccable identity," Erica decided. "Lin Xiao, write down every detail you remember. Tech team, try to find a breakthrough in the communications of known attendees. We might only get one chance."

Inside the safehouse, the sounds of typing and whispering rose once more.

Three days later, in downtown Bangkok, near Lumphini Park.

A white three-story Western-style building with a classic and elegant exterior was hidden behind tall tropical trees. Its iron gates were tightly shut, and there were no signs at the entrance. This was 'Siam Twilight,' a private club well-known within Bangkok's elite circles. The membership requirements were strict to the point of absurdity, requiring not only immense wealth and a prominent family background but also multiple layers of vetting by several 'sponsors' to ensure absolute 'security' and 'like-mindedness.'

Tonight, 'Siam Twilight' was brightly lit yet unusually quiet. The theme was a small appreciation session titled 'Symbols of Power in Khmer Angkor Art,' which sounded elegant and harmless.

At 8:20 PM, a black Rolls-Royce Ghost slowly pulled up to the club's side entrance. The door opened, and first to step out was a tall man with a European face, wearing a well-tailored dark suit, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings—a bodyguard. Then, a young woman dressed in a custom champagne-colored Thai silk gown and wearing understated but expensive pearl jewelry stepped out gracefully, arm-in-arm with a steady, gray-haired middle-aged Asian man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

The middle-aged man was the chairman of the 'Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Foundation,' the famous collector and critic 'Dr. Chen Wenhuan.' And his female companion was his 'personal assistant and translator,' Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao's appearance had been subtly adjusted by Erica's disguise experts, and her temperament was deliberately shaped to be intellectual and low-profile, making her look like a completely different person from her previous state as a spy or prisoner. She kept her head slightly lowered, her gaze calm, holding a clutch bag equipped with miniature high-definition cameras and recording devices.