1885, I came to save Greece

Constantine put down his water glass, the bottom of which struck the table with a crisp sound.

The sound, like a thunderclap, exploded in George I's ears.

Constantine gave his father no time to breathe or think; he immediately followed up with a statement that left the king speechless.

"Moreover, the window of opportunity before us is much larger and much shorter than you imagine."

"Because another important player in Europe, one of our traditional 'protectors'—France—is about to fall into a long and complete paralysis of its domestic affairs."

George I's brows were furrowed tightly.

France? Although the Third French Republic suffered a crushing defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, after more than a decade of recovery, its national strength has been steadily increasing, and its colonies are spread all over the world, making it undoubtedly the world's second strongest power.

How could it be paralyzed?

Constantine seemed to see through his father's doubts. Instead of explaining, he began to tell a story that had not yet happened in a straightforward tone.

"The current president of France, Jules Grévy, has a very beloved son-in-law named Daniel Wilson."

"This Wilson is a complete speculator and swindler. He used his father-in-law's name, that is, the President of the Republic, to openly set up a 'brokerage office' in the Élysée Palace."

"What is he doing?" Constantine's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"He is peddling the highest honor of the French Republic—the Legion of Honour."

"A knight's medal is priced at 25,000 francs. As long as you pay, whether you're an arms dealer, a pimp, or a financial swindler, you can transform yourself into a 'hero' of the Republic."

George I's mouth was slightly open.

Such things are not uncommon in European courts, but to sell the highest national honor so blatantly and industrially is simply unheard of!

"This matter is still being covered up. But, Father, the truth will eventually come out."

"According to my sources, several key figures in the Parisian media, such as the editor-in-chief of Le 19th Century, have obtained solid evidence. They are waiting for the perfect moment to detonate this bomb."

"Once the scandal is exposed, it will trigger a political tsunami that will sweep across France. The people's anger will burn down the Élysée Palace, the cabinet will resign en masse, and President Grévy will be forced to step down. For the next year or even longer, the entire government of the Third French Republic will be embroiled in internal disputes over issues such as 'who will be the next president' and 'how to clean up the government's credibility.'"

"By then," Constantine's voice was low, but filled with a conclusive force, "they will be completely powerless to look eastward. Forget about intervening in the Balkans; even if the Ottoman army marches to Marseille, the politicians in Paris will only care about their own votes."

George I's face had completely lost its color. He reached out his hand as if to say something, but no word came out of his throat.

Unbelievable!

This is incredible!

If the previous analysis of British national policy could be attributed to "genius-like insight", then...

Now, the description of a specific scandal in French politics is so detailed that it includes names, media outlets, and specific methods of operation... This has gone beyond the scope of "deduction"!

This is utterly a fantasy!

"You...how...how could you possibly...know so much detail?"

The King's voice trembled. "Connie, who exactly have you planted in Paris? This...this is playing with fire!"

Constantine had anticipated this question and had already prepared the perfect answer.

"Father, you have forgotten who I am."

He answered calmly.

"I am not only the Crown Prince of Greece, but also a relative of various royal families in Europe. My status gives me the opportunity to meet all sorts of people in various social settings in Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, and Berlin."

"Among them were some frustrated journalists from Paris and disillusioned politicians who had lost in political struggles."

"They are short of money, while our Greek royal family, although the national treasury is empty, can more than afford to pay some 'information consulting fees' in my personal capacity."

Constantine attributed everything to a fictitious intelligence network that sounded plausible but was impossible to verify.

"I did not predict the future, Father. I simply analyzed the abnormal flow of funds in Parisian politics and several suspicious personnel appointments and removals, and eventually, through my 'informant,' I smelled the stench of corruption."

"This is not a prophecy; it is based on precise intelligence analysis. In modern warfare, intelligence always precedes the artillery shells. The same is true in modern politics."

His words were perfectly logical.

All of George I's questions were shut down. He couldn't find any logical flaws.

Yes, his son has been studying in various European countries for many years. Given his position, it seems... not impossible for him to bribe a few journalists and politicians.

Constantine walked back to the map and gave his final summary of the secret conversation that had lasted until midnight.

"A France on the verge of being paralyzed by internal scandals."

"A Russia that is seething with anger because of the Crimean War and the Berlin Conference, and has ambitious plans for the Straits."

"A Britain that we've exploited to 'change agents' and that we can use for quid pro quo exchanges."

"And an... decaying Ottoman Empire, which couldn't even be controlled by Bulgaria and was just an empty shell."

Constantine drew a circle on the map, encompassing all the major powers.

"You see, Father. On the eastern coast of the Mediterranean today, on this chessboard of the Balkans, the great powers no longer have enough pieces to play with."

"We Greeks, on the one hand, must demonstrate sufficient 'utility' to the British, proving that we can replace the Ottomans; on the other hand, we must demonstrate sufficient 'uncontrollable threat' to convince the great powers that we will ignite the powder keg if we do not gain any benefits..."

"They'll have to hold their noses, sit down, and negotiate with us!"

"That's the whole source of my confidence in my 'political blackmail' plan!"

Complete silence filled the study.

Outside the window, the sky was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn. The long night was drawing to a close.

George I sat there motionless, the ash from his cigars piled up into a small mountain.

He looked at his son's calm profile; the morning light of the new day shone through the window, illuminating the downy hair on his face and the light in his eyes.

In that light, there was not a trace of youthful impulsiveness or confusion, only the rationality and calculation that surged into the sea like a glacier melting after thousands of years.

At this moment, the king finally realized it clearly.

The Constantine before him was no longer his son.

Or rather, he is still his son, but more importantly, a strategist he doesn't recognize at all, a terrifying one who even frightens him.

That crazy, absurd "political blackmail" plan had transformed in his mind from a laughable fantasy into a highly feasible, even arguably the only correct, solution.