Six days had passed since the plan had been defined.
Now, all that remained was to turn it into reality.
And for that… they needed to secure something fundamental:
power.
They could not walk into a room with someone from Brazil's coffee elite looking like a group of desperate men.
If they did, they would be easily dominated—swallowed whole by the "coffee whale."
Before the marriage agreement, Luis needed to ensure he would not enter negotiations in a passive position.
For that, he first needed political support—and a position strong enough to sustain this new phase.
Eduardo's office had once again become the center of operations.
But the atmosphere had changed.
Before, it had been a space for debate.
Now…
it was a space for execution.
"Has Álvaro been informed?"
Augusto asked, without taking his eyes off the documents in front of him.
"Yes. Deodoro has also confirmed his presence."
Eduardo replied.
Luis raised his gaze slightly.
"Are you sure he'll be interested in helping us?"
Eduardo let out a faint sound through his nose.
"Interested is an understatement. I've already sent Adriano to the countryside—he knows where I keep part of my money. If Deodoro decides not to cooperate with our plan… I don't mind causing problems for everyone."
A pause.
"Don't worry about me, boy. I'm an old man—I don't have much to lose. If they decide to go after my daughter, they'll pay an equally high price."
Luis nodded, somewhat reluctantly.
"Good. That gives us more room to operate in negotiations. It means we can apply pressure."
Augusto crossed his arms.
"We need to be careful."
Luis gave a slight smile.
"Of course."
But there was something in that smile…
that suggested otherwise.
The meeting was scheduled for the following day.
The location was neutral and discreet—one of Eduardo's urban properties.
The next evening… everyone was gathered.
Álvaro arrived first. He was punctual, but his reluctance was evident.
He had become involved in something far bigger than he had originally planned.
His eyes scanned the room constantly, as if searching for a way out.
A few minutes later…
Deodoro da Fonseca entered.
Unhurried. Unannounced.
He knew this was a turning point.
He also knew he would have to face the three of them again soon—so he had kept his schedule clear in the past few days.
His presence quickly dominated the room.
"So…"
Deodoro said, taking his seat.
"I assume you've decided how to proceed. But let me remind you of something—I will not help you again. Protecting your family once was more than enough to demonstrate my respect for Dom Pedro."
No one responded.
The statement left no room for argument.
Álvaro glanced at Deodoro.
He was clearly uncomfortable with the dynamic in the room.
In the previous meeting, Deodoro had still been undecided.
Now, it was obvious—he had chosen not to help Augusto's family.
Whether that was wise or not… Álvaro did not know.
Luis stepped forward.
"I'll be clear."
A pause.
"My family will leave the country."
Now Álvaro reacted—slightly surprised, though he quickly concealed it.
Deodoro simply watched.
Luis continued:
"My father and mother will leave. We won't cause problems. They will depart without any political cost to the government."
Silence.
Now both men were truly paying attention.
"In exchange… I stay."
Luis rested his hand lightly on the table.
Álvaro tilted his head slightly.
"And why should that interest me?"
Luis looked directly at him.
"We can use your original plan. You wanted to use us to gain political credit. We're giving you that opportunity."
"In return, from now on, you become my political ally. You provide protection and support when I need it."
"Of course, this doesn't affect our previous agreement—the projects will continue as planned."
A pause.
Álvaro frowned.
He didn't refuse.
But he didn't agree either.
"If my family leaves… you become the man who 'resolved' the remaining monarchist issue in the capital."
That statement changed everything.
Now the interest was clear.
"Very well. I can agree to those terms."
Álvaro said.
He knew that refusing would make him an enemy of all three—and that was not something he wanted.
Augusto was already in a fragile position.
If he pushed further, it could trigger unpredictable consequences.
Luis nodded.
Then turned to Deodoro.
"But this doesn't come for free."
A pause.
"We want something in return."
Deodoro let out a quiet sigh.
He shared Álvaro's reasoning—it was better to negotiate than to push things beyond the point of no return.
"That's only natural. State your terms."
Luis was about to speak—
when Eduardo intervened.
"Let me continue."
Luis nodded and stepped back.
"First."
"My grandson must be appointed as Intendant of Rio de Janeiro. We're already halfway through the year, so he can assume the position at the beginning of next year. That also gives us time to settle family matters."
"Second: my grandson must have political independence. We do not want him to become a puppet of the republican government."
"Third: Augusto and Luis are willing to give up the family lands. In exchange, we want the mangrove lands near the port of Rio."
Álvaro smiled faintly.
As I thought… they won't back down easily.
"Don't you think that's too ambitious?"
Augusto answered without hesitation:
"Yes."
"These are our terms."
Deodoro narrowed his eyes slightly.
"And what do you intend to do with that?"
"Industry."
Eduardo replied.
"Luis intends to invest in building industrial chains."
Now the silence was different.
Longer.
Álvaro crossed his arms.
"And why should we accept this?"
Eduardo didn't hesitate:
"Because you need results."
"And besides… my steward Adriano has already traveled to the countryside."
Both Álvaro and Deodoro frowned immediately.
Deodoro spoke, his voice deep:
"You should be careful with what you're implying, Eduardo. We will not tolerate instability in the countryside."
Eduardo ignored the warning.
"This is our final offer."
"We won't concede anything further."
"Either you accept… or you refuse."
Deodoro remained silent.
Observing.
He knew Eduardo was serious.
If they continued pushing…
things could spiral out of control.
Radical monarchists only needed a single valid reason to rise.
And they might even receive support from factions that had once supported the republic.
Too many factions meant conflicting interests.
And inevitably—resentment.
Eduardo understood that world very well.
And his steward would be no different.
Finding small supporters for a monarchist cause would not be difficult.
Even minor uprisings would demand effort to suppress—
something the republicans did not want.
And then there was the Navy.
Those "bloodsuckers" wouldn't hesitate to take their share.
"You speak as if this is already guaranteed."
Álvaro said.
Luis tilted his head slightly.
"As my grandfather said… we only need your agreement for that to become reality."
The silence stretched.
Until Deodoro spoke:
"And what prevents you from taking what you want… and then changing your position?"
"What guarantees that you and Eduardo won't continue supporting monarchist movements?"
Luis answered immediately:
"Because I can't."
A pause.
"My position will depend on you."
"And I will continue the projects we discussed."
Now…
there was balance.
Álvaro exhaled slowly.
"After this… there will be no more disputes?"
"Yes."
Augusto answered.
"Once Luis receives the position, I will leave within a month."
That made a difference.
A significant one.
Deodoro tapped his fingers on the table.
He looked at Álvaro.
Then at everyone.
"Very well. I believe we can agree to these terms."
"However, we will still need to negotiate the details. Full autonomy is impossible—but we can ensure you are not burdened by excessive bureaucracy."
"Your age is also a concern—we will assign you an advisor."
"As for the lands… I see no major issue."
He turned to Álvaro.
"What do you think, Deputy?"
"I agree, Mr. President."
Álvaro replied.
Luis, Augusto, and Eduardo exchanged a glance of relief.
Soon after, the meeting came to an end.
And when Luis left the room…
he was no longer the same as when he had entered.
Not as a pressured heir.
Not as a cornered young man.
But as someone who had already secured…
his own place in the game.