Salvador promptly dispatchedn to personally oversee the riverworks. Upon arrival,n found himself greeted by Cameron, who skillfully guided him through an inspection of the project''s progress.


    The riverworks had been ongoing for a while, and the reservoir was nearlyplete. The quality of the reservoir was excellent, with the dam built solidly.


    After inspecting the reservoir, they also checked the river channels. The dredging of the channels wasplete, and the previously damaged dams had been repaired, raised, and reinforced.


    Next, he inspected the temporary amodations provided for the workers. The makeshift shelters, primarily constructed of wood and thatch, were modest at best. Each hut contained amunal sleeping area withrge shared tforms, housing seven or eight men. The arrangements were untidy but functional.


    There were no weapons in sight. Tools and equipment were stored in arge central warehouse, essible only during work hours and meticulously returned at the end of each day.


    After inspecting the area,n found nothing suspicious. The workers seemed no different from the usual riverworks workers.


    As for Cameron, he presented himself as a man of simple means. d in in garments, he dined alongside the workers and spoke passionately about the riverworks project. However, when it came to court matters, he appeared shy and clueless, acting as if he didn''t understand much.


    After days of scrutiny,n returned to the capital and presented his report to Salvador. His opinion was that neither Cameron nor the riverworks project workers seemed problematic.


    Salvador furrowed his brow slightly. "Keep watching them. And ensure that the warehouse is closely guarded."


    "Do you suspect something is amiss, Your Majesty?" askedn, confused.


    "Caution is never misced," Salvador replied curtly.


    In truth, the king had been uneasy ever since Carissa mentioned the head of the Waterworks Department. To cover all bases, Salvador had already ordered Galen to investigate Cameron and his subordinates. Cameron was wless in every way, but the officials under him were indeed living well, just as Carissa had said. In contrast, Cameron, their superior, lived very simply, almost to the point of poverty. Of course, Salvador knew exactly how much sry they received each year.


    With so few dependents in his household, there was no reason for Cameron to live so frugally-not to the point of denying his wife and children decent clothing. Though, this could simply be attributed to personal thriftiness.


    But the subordinates'' corruption was undeniable. Given Cameron''s expertise in riverworks, he would know the exact costs of materials andbor. Every expenditure passed through his hands.


    Could he truly be unaware of his subordinates'' embezzlement?


    The most likely exnation was that he condoned their behavior. By allowing them to indulge in corruption, he could secure their loyalty and ensure their silence. Even if one of them noticed something amiss, they wouldn''t dare report it.


    Of course, there was another possibility: that Cameron himself was embezzling funds on a grand scale. Those who were heavily corrupt were often good at hiding it, making their own lives appear extremely simple as a cover.


    Whether it was the former or thetter, the king needed evidence. This was why he had instructedn to keep a close watch.


    For now, with the project''spletion imminent, Salvador was reluctant to disrupt the progress. If corruption was indeed at y, he would wait until the riverworks project was finished, thenunch a full- scale investigation.


    If the matter went beyond corruption-if this was part of arger conspiracy to incite rebellion-then surveince would reveal their next move soon enough.


    As for Nichs, Salvador''s suspicions remained. However, with the prince stationed in Nerovia, any n to march on the capital and coordinate with the riverworks project workers seemed destined for failure. To reach the capital, Nichs would have to move his forces through Valken, where Thomas was stationed. Thomas was a seasoned militarymander with a scout''s sharp instincts. He would never allow Nichs to leave Nerovia so easily.


    If the prince couldn''t make it to the capital, then the riverworks project workers posed little threat. A rebellion required a leader at the helm. Even if an uprising seeded, Nichs'' subordinates could easily seize power for themselves.


    -


    Meanwhile, Carissa sat by the riverbank, chewing on dry, vorless bread as she watchedn lead his men through another round of inspections.


    He had already spent several days investigating, and was now simply going through the motions. His attitude had grown noticeablyx, his inspections perfunctory at best. After a cursory nce at the ongoing riverworks, he and his men would retire to a nearby coffeehouse to rx.


    Carissa knewn didn''t believe there was any issue with Cameron or the riverworks project workers. He was merely fulfilling his duty in the most superficial way possible.


    She couldn''t rely onn, so she took it upon herself to keep watch. She also observed the officials from the Waterworks Department, hoping to find one who appeared overly fearful-someone she could interrogateter to at least get some information.