"Not long ago, a ssenger sent by the Whigs ca to see ," O'Brien began. "I already knew they were trying to lure our MPs over to their side, so I intended to drive him away imdiately. But the offer they made to was… different."
"Why you?" Killian asked calmly.
O'Brien glared at him.
"Think about it! If you have a brain, try using it!"
The fire in his eyes burned fiercely—like a man determined to clear his na of the accusation of treachery.
"They know perfectly well that within the Young Ireland faction I'm considered one of the more radical voices. Do you think the Whigs—or the Conservatives—are blind? Of course they approached differently."
"I see," Killian said. "And we're supposed to believe the Whigs offered sothing that actually benefits Ireland?"
O'Brien snorted.
"Don't be ridiculous. Do you think the Whigs care about Ireland? Of course not. They were pursuing their own interests."
Killian leaned back.
He had to admit he was curious.
Just what kind of sweet talk had convinced a hardline Irish nationalist like O'Brien?
"Fine," he said. "Continue. I'll judge after hearing everything."
"Their first objective is simple," O'Brien said. "They want to remove Daniel O'Connell."
Killian shrugged.
"That hardly sounds surprising."
"I laughed too," O'Brien admitted. "Until I heard what they were offering."
"What—Irish independence?"
O'Brien said nothing.
Killian blinked.
"…Wait. You're serious?"
"Do you think the Whigs would simply grant independence?" O'Brien scoffed. "You must take them for fools."
"Then explain."
O'Brien leaned forward.
"In parliantary politics, what matters most?"
"Winning elections," Killian replied.
"Exactly. And right now the Whigs can't win. They've completely lost Ireland."
That much was true.
Public opinion in Britain itself was already divided nearly fifty-fifty.
And with more than a hundred Irish seats effectively beyond their reach, the Whigs had little hope of forming a governnt.
anwhile the Repeal Party—the potential kingmaker—had developed an unexpectedly cordial relationship with the Conservatives.
"So what's the proposal?" Killian asked.
"The Whigs want O'Connell gone," O'Brien said. "But they don't intend to destroy our party entirely."
He paused, then continued with quiet intensity.
"After O'Connell falls, I take control of the Repeal Party."
"And?"
"I consolidate Ireland—including the north currently under Conservative influence."
Killian raised an eyebrow.
"That would give you seventy to eighty seats."
"Exactly."
"And those seats support a Whig governnt."
"And in return," O'Brien said, "Ireland becos independent."
Killian laughed openly.
"You really believe that?"
"Why not?"
"Because the mont the Whigs lose Ireland," Killian replied sharply, "public opinion in Britain will crucify them. They'd be branded traitors who sold the kingdom."
Frankly, the backlash would be even worse than that.
They would be accused of treason.
Perhaps even face assassination attempts.
The Whigs weren't idiots.
They must have planned sothing more.
Fortunately, O'Brien was eager to prove he wasn't a traitor.
Which ant he was answering every question Killian asked.
"That problem is solved as well," O'Brien said.
"How?"
"The Whigs won't simply grant independence."
Killian frowned.
"What do you an?"
"O'Connell's downfall will be exposed as a Conservative conspiracy," O'Brien said calmly.
"And?"
"Using that outrage, we ignite mass uprisings across Ireland."
Killian closed his eyes.
His head was starting to hurt.
"So the riots justify independence."
"And the Whigs bla the Conservatives for everything."
Killian exhaled slowly.
Seen from the perspective of a radical nationalist, the plan was undeniably tempting.
Only O'Connell would fall.
If the Whigs betrayed them afterward, they could simply switch allegiance to the Conservatives.
And for soone like O'Brien—who believed violence might be necessary—the strategy aligned perfectly with his convictions.
"So," Killian said slowly, "Ireland gains independence. The Whigs regain power by sacrificing the Conservatives."
"A mutually beneficial arrangent."
O'Brien nodded.
"Exactly."
"And if they betray you?"
"Then we support the Conservatives instead," O'Brien said. "Our seats remain valuable."
Killian studied him carefully.
"You admire O'Connell," he said. "Yet you're prepared to destroy him."
"I respect him deeply," O'Brien replied. "But his thods cannot win independence."
He spoke with fierce conviction.
"Refusing to spill even a drop of blood is the sa as expecting to win a war without casualties."
"And the riots?" Killian asked quietly.
"People will die."
O'Brien didn't hesitate.
"If that happens, I'll be the first in the streets alongside them."
"If I die, so much the better."
"The flas of rebellion will only grow stronger."
Killian rembered sothing O'Connell had said before.
I will not build independence on the corpses of my own people.
Perhaps O'Brien was right, pragmatically speaking.
But Killian found himself agreeing with O'Connell.
Not that he would ever say so aloud.
"Well," Killian said solemnly, "it seems we misjudged you."
O'Brien nodded sharply.
"You did."
"But surely you don't expect an apology alone after abducting ."
"Of course not," Killian replied.
"We're not like Daniel O'Connell. If violence is necessary, we're willing to use it."
He leaned forward.
"Believe it or not, we also want Irish independence."
"If your plan requires assistance, we'll help."
O'Brien narrowed his eyes.
"Then start by removing that mask."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"My position in society makes it impossible," Killian replied. "If I reveal my identity, I'd need permission from my superiors."
"So you're not the leader?"
"Think about it," Killian said. "You can tell from my voice I'm young. Do you really believe soone my age runs an organization like this?"
O'Brien hesitated.
"…Fair point."
"But if you can't reveal yourself, how do I know you're sincere?"
Killian answered by placing sothing on the table.
Stacks of banknotes.
Fifty-pound notes.
O'Brien's eyes widened.
"About five thousand pounds," Killian said casually.
"Consider it compensation for today's… inconvenience."
"And funding for your operation."
O'Brien stared.
"That's real?"
"If you borrow money from the Whigs, they'll own you later," Killian said. "Better to avoid that risk."
"And this proves our sincerity."
After a long mont, O'Brien nodded.
"Very well."
"How do we contact you?"
"Once my superior approves, we'll send soone."
"In the anti, prepare a detailed plan—and estimate the funds required."
They shook hands.
Five thousand pounds had vanished in an instant.
But considering what Killian had gained, the expense didn't bother him in the slightest.
O'Brien agreed to keep the eting secret from the Whigs.
Killian even gave him another hundred pounds to compensate the unfortunate driver who had been knocked unconscious.
"Oh, one more thing," O'Brien said as he prepared to leave.
"What should I call your organization?"
"The Irish Liberation Front," Killian replied.
O'Brien nodded slowly.
"Very well. I'll rember that."
Then he paused.
"If you're truly prepared to target nobles and sitting MPs, there's soone you should deal with."
Killian smiled faintly.
"Who?"
"A traitor to Ireland."
"A man with Irish blood who serves England."
"The worst part is that he spreads the idea that success is possible within the British system."
Killian sighed.
"And his na?"
"You know him."
"Killian Gore."
"The Earl of Arran."
"If you truly want Irish independence, he must be removed."
Killian almost laughed.
Of course.
He had expected nothing less.
"Killian Gore is certainly… a concerning figure," he said carefully.
"So believe he's too young to be a real threat."
O'Brien shook his head.
"No. He's the son of a viper. If you spare him because of his age, his poison will kill us soday."
Killian paused.
Then nodded.
"You're right."
"If soone threatens Ireland's future, leaving them alive would be foolish."
He looked directly at O'Brien.
"I promise you sothing."
"You will never face Killian Gore once he becos an adult."
O'Brien grinned.
"That's good to hear."
Satisfied, he left the underground chamber with Killian's n.
Killian watched him go.
Technically, he hadn't lied.
O'Brien truly would never et an adult Killian Gore.
Because they would not live under the sa sky for very long.
Thirty minutes later.
"The cleanup is complete," Jas reported.
"No loose ends?"
"None. We returned him to his carriage with his eyes covered. He'll never find this place."
Killian stepped outside and climbed into the carriage waiting behind the building.
"This turned out bigger than expected," he said thoughtfully. "What a headache."
"Should we inform the Pri Minister?" Jas asked. "This could destroy the Whigs entirely."
Killian shook his head.
"A man clever enough to design a plan like this will have prepared for failure."
"If O'Brien is exposed, they'll simply cut him loose."
In other words—
The Whigs would sacrifice O'Brien and escape unscathed.
"And even if their plan succeeded," Killian continued, "do you really think they'd grant independence?"
Jas smiled faintly.
"Probably not."
"No. They'd use the riots as justification to crush the Young Ireland faction entirely."
Which ant one thing.
No matter how events unfolded—
There was no happy ending waiting for O'Brien.
"So what do we do?" Jas asked. "Letting him take all the bla feels like a waste."
"Tell no one," Killian said.
"Not the Pri Minister."
"Not O'Connell."
Jas raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because if they act naturally," Killian said, "the rats inside the Whig Party will think their plan succeeded."
"And when they believe they're safe…"
Killian smiled.
"They'll crawl out of their holes."
No matter how carefully soone planned, they could never account for every possibility.
Especially when they were blindsided by sothing they had never imagined.
Killian leaned back in the carriage.
The bait was ready.
Now all that remained—
Was to see who bit first.
It was ti to go fishing.
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