The entire room was filled with a sense of anticipation regarding what Luis still had to reveal.
No one at the table saw him the same way anymore.
The boy who had started the meeting… no longer existed.
In his place stood someone conducting a high-level negotiation.
With calm, confidence, and authority.
Luis returned to the folder and retrieved the final document.
This time, there were no detailed maps or complex sketches.
It was simpler.
Direct.
He placed the paper on the table and turned it slightly so everyone could see.
"The third project is the simplest to understand."
A brief pause.
"And perhaps the most important."
His eyes passed over the admirals before he continued:
"I want to rebuild a shipyard. That's right—rebuild, not construct one from scratch. The goal is to carry out such extensive reforms that it will seem entirely new."
That drew immediate attention.
But not in the same way as the ship.
Shipyards could generate great profit—or become bottomless pits of investment. It all depended on what, how, and for whom they produced.
Luis rested his hand on the document.
"I don't want a superficial renovation. I want a complete reconstruction."
"Modernization of equipment, expansion of capacity, and efficient organization of production."
He then looked directly at Custódio José de Melo and Saldanha da Gama.
"The shipyard must be large enough to sustain the construction of an armored ship. The Rio de Janeiro Naval Arsenal is perfect for this—it has a good location, solid infrastructure, and many experienced technicians."
Now the connection Luis had mentioned at the beginning of the meeting became clear.
The second project was no longer merely ambitious…
it had become viable.
They would simply need to modernize the naval arsenal shipyard first.
This kind of statement was easier said than done.
But Luis had confidence—his knowledge of chemistry and mechanical engineering was both his pride and his foundation.
Luis continued:
"The fort… will take time. Years, in fact. So I expect we can begin as soon as possible."
"I believe the deputy should take charge of initiating the project, together with Colonel Artur."
He glanced toward Artur.
"I'm sure you'd like to be the one commanding that fort in the future, wouldn't you?"
Artur, who until then had been merely an observer, immediately brightened and quickly signaled his agreement.
Luis allowed himself a small smile. His gaze moved across the table, and he finally let out a quiet breath. Before anyone could speak, he continued:
"The entire ship project depends on this."
He tapped the document.
"Without a shipyard… there is no construction."
"Without construction… there is no real naval modernization."
Silence.
This time, there was no doubt.
The structure of the plan was complete.
Each project fed the next. Each piece supported the other.
Luis stepped slightly away from the table.
"This is what I have to offer… in exchange for my family's security."
He then looked directly at Álvaro Bittencourt.
"What do you think of my proposal, Deputy?"
Álvaro did not respond immediately.
He was observing the people in the room.
All of them were watching him.
The two admirals—and even Artur—were looking at him with something close to pressure.
Álvaro quickly realized he was isolated at the table.
His only ally—whose presence he hadn't fully understood until now—had just been won over by Luis with a few simple words.
He had no doubt that the people in that room could grant Artur that position.
His rank was high enough.
He had few enemies.
And most importantly—his name was already tied to Álvaro's petition.
At the beginning, it had been difficult for Álvaro to gather signatures.
But after securing Artur's name, things had become easier—especially among politicians with military connections.
And of course, that favor had to be repaid—regardless of whether Álvaro's plans succeeded or not.
His fingers tapped lightly against the table.
A slow rhythm.
Then…
a smile appeared.
Controlled.
But real.
"I must admit… I did not expect this."
His eyes remained fixed on Luis.
"You brought something far beyond what I imagined."
He briefly glanced around.
At the admirals.
At Deodoro da Fonseca.
At Artur.
Then back to Luis.
"And to be honest… even if I said no…"
A small gesture of his hand.
"I'm not sure these gentlemen would allow it."
It was the closest thing to an admission he would give.
Luis did not smile.
But he nodded slightly.
"Then can we consider our problem resolved?"
Álvaro held his gaze for a moment…
and then replied:
"We can, Mr. Luis."
The tension in the room partially dissolved.
Low, controlled conversations began to emerge.
The atmosphere had shifted.
The confrontation… seemed over.
"Not yet."
The voice cut through the room like a blade.
Everyone fell silent.
Deodoro da Fonseca remained seated, but his presence now dominated the room. The admirals were about to speak, but a simple gesture of his hand silenced them.
He looked at Luis.
"Not so fast."
Silence returned.
Heavier than before.
Eduardo—Luis's grandfather—spoke for the first time in a while:
"What do you mean by that?"
His voice was calm, but carried weight.
"Is this not enough?"
Deodoro leaned back slightly.
His eyes passed over everyone before settling on Luis.
"What you've proposed… is impressive. And it solves the immediate problem."
His fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"But it does not solve the real problem."
Luis frowned.
"What problem?"
Deodoro did not answer immediately.
He seemed to choose his words carefully.
"I came here today with a purpose."
That drew attention.
"To convince you to accept an agreement with the deputy."
He gestured lightly toward Álvaro.
"Because, at this moment…"
A pause.
"It is the best option available to you."
No one interrupted.
No one dared.
"When I was called to this meeting, I already imagined you would find a way to corner the deputy."
He glanced around the room.
Silence.
Colder now.
"But I never imagined Augusto would have a son like you. I am truly impressed."
He said this while looking at Luis.
Then he inclined his head slightly.
"Unfortunately… you would only be delaying the inevitable."
Luis did not break eye contact.
"Be direct. Don't hide behind words."
Deodoro nodded.
"There are people who want the end of any remnant of monarchy in this country."
"And they will not stop… not while you are still here. I tried to hold them back for a time, but these efforts have no future. The deputy was only the first. Soon, the truly powerful will act—and neither I nor Eduardo will be able to help you."
Augusto shifted slightly in his chair, about to speak, but Eduardo stopped him.
Deodoro looked at Augusto, then at Luis, and continued:
"I know that from your perspective, I am a traitor. But understand this—my problem was always with the monarchy, not with the imperial family. I still hold great admiration and respect for Dom Pedro. He will always be a great friend."
Augusto gave a faint, mocking reaction to that statement.
After hearing this, Luis remembered something.
Historically, Deodoro da Fonseca had been a peculiar man—both a great friend and admirer of Dom Pedro II, yet also a powerful Army marshal, deeply frustrated by civilian interference in military affairs.
Luis's gaze darkened.
He spoke, more quietly:
"Who?"
Deodoro held his gaze for a few seconds.
Then answered.
Without hesitation.
"The coffee barons."
The impact was immediate.
Everyone in the room froze.
Unexpectedly, Eduardo did not seem particularly surprised.
Apparently, Luis's grandfather had not told them everything.
But neither Luis blamed him.
Clearly, Eduardo had wanted to deal with one problem at a time.
And this problem…
was massive.
The coffee barons were a powerful social class in Brazil—large landowners who produced coffee.
Extremely wealthy.
In fact, Brazilian coffee barons were among the richest individuals in the world at the time. More than 90% of European nobility could not match their wealth. Even most European dukes possessed less wealth than Brazil's coffee elite.
"They are the ones applying the most pressure."
"More than any other group. There were previous attempts—but I intervened. I made it clear… that you were to be left out of these conflicts. But this movement has now come through intermediaries."
He glanced toward Álvaro.
"They will find out soon. And this time, I won't be able to stop them. It will be easy to influence deputies to do what Álvaro tried to do here."
Luis understood, in that moment, that what his father had said… had not been the whole truth.
His grandfather had protected the family.
Yes—there was no doubt about that.
But only up to a certain point.
The one who had truly been bearing the greater weight…
was sitting right in front of him.
Deodoro da Fonseca.
A man who had overthrown the monarchy…
and yet still protected what remained of the imperial family in the country.
Luis frowned slightly.
He looked at the table.
At the documents.
At the projects.
And for the first time since the beginning…
he realized.
This…
was not the end.
It was only the beginning.