Chapter 66: The Ninth is also good
Ryan felt relieved when he heard his father’s tone of voice, knowing that he had forgiven him for his mistake. Given that he was the lowest-ranking of his brothers and had only just begun to show signs of success, if it weren’t for Roger’s arrival, he might even have been punished for that minor offense.
So he had to thank Roger this time.
Several representatives from various organizations entered the room shortly after and knelt before the king.
"Sir, we have come to deliver the report." This was a routine task that all participating organizations had to perform, and at the very least, they had seen what they needed to look for in case that was what the mission was about.
There were even representatives from the Tower of Alchemy.
They all handed their reports to the king’s various guards. If any of these reports did not match those of the majority, everyone would be in trouble, and they would be interviewed one by one and even investigated.
This was to try to be as fair as possible to everyone, avoid plots against anyone, and prevent anyone from lying, which would be an affront to the King’s intelligence.
Although it is not perfectly enforced, corruption still exists.
But the last to enter, Lord Roger, attracted the most attention. This was mainly because he was one of the heroes of the kingdom, but also because he brought many people with him, several of whom were chained, had their heads bowed, and had a number on their chests.
The King recognized several, but after frowning, he focused his attention on the reports from the organizations.
He read each one carefully. Normally, he would delegate this to his subordinates, but this time, he wanted to read them all because they were about Ryan, a son he believed to be useless.
’I still don’t know what Path this boy has taken, but he has already achieved something incredible,’ he thought as he finished reading all the reports and nodded to the representatives of the different organizations.
"Gentlemen, thank you for your reports. You may leave," he said.
"Thank you for your trust, Great King." They bowed several times in respect and left. They had nothing more to do here.
Finally, he looked at Roger, the only one, along with Ryan, who was still standing.
"Mr. Roger, it’s been quite a while since we last saw each other," he said.
"Haha, King, you can visit me at my home whenever you like. It’s not worthy of your footsteps, but at least it’s clean and we have good food," Roger replied casually.
As he was recognized as a Hero of the Kingdom, he was granted the status of not having to bow before the king, unless the king demanded it. So he didn’t have to pay much homage.
"I heard a little about your report. Would you mind explaining it to me?" the King asked.
"Gladly, King." Roger walked forward, dragging nine men behind him and his subordinates, and threw them to the ground before everyone. "On your knees, you bastard. Have you lost your manners?" He kicked one of them, who was slow to kneel, and fell to the ground helplessly.
He felt ashamed.
’Nine of the twelve I told him about... Did he not find the others guilty, or are he covering for them?’ Ryan thought as he saw them.
Later, Roger personally handed the multi-page report to the King and returned to his place beside Ryan.
"My King, last night’s work was excellent, but very complicated. The robbery was only part of a network of corruption that extended from the housing development I preside over. They used special rooms to hide their misdeeds. We found documents connecting them to the Kazaks, while they were planning different things."
"Smuggling not only substances, but also people, and there was even mention of attempts to assassinate important figures in the empire. Fortunately..." He pointed to Ryan.
"Prince Ryan has extensive knowledge about these misdeeds and these traitors, so he approached me to help him catch them, since he couldn’t do it alone. His strategies and information were most useful in finding these traitors," he assured.
The King nodded and closed the documents he was reading. "You mean that the work of catching the traitors was orchestrated by you in cooperation, right? Minister Martin’s organization, Miss Larsen, Ryan of course, and you and your men."
Roger confirmed this. "Indeed, my King. This time, I must take my hat off to the young people. Miss Larsen and Prince Ryan have spectacular coordination in their plans and in executing their strategies," he clarified.
The King smiled placidly. "I’m glad to hear that," he said, satisfied with what he had read and heard. "I will send someone to investigate this entire network of traitors, so I hope for your cooperation in this matter, Mr. Roger."
"You can count on us, my King."
"Very well." The King ordered all the traitors to be taken and brought to the dungeons.
"Wait," he said before they left, and the royal guards stopped.
"Do you have any additional orders, Your Majesty?"
"My reward for traitors, do you remember what it is?" he asked.
They smiled softly and sinisterly. "Pain and torture for traitors. An iron fist for the corrupt," they declared.
"Then I leave them in your hands."
"At your command, Your Majesty!"
As they turned to take them away, the traitors dragged across the floor began begging for mercy when they realized what awaited them was much worse than they had anticipated.
Even so, no one listened to them.
This was an edict from the king. It could not be revoked.
Silence fell until the King spoke.
"Mr. Roger, what do you think of the new generation?" he asked.
Roger smiled. "They surprise me more and more. His nine sons have already demonstrated spectacular talents, but if I may say so, the ones who have surprised me the most are the Third, the Eighth, and recently the Ninth. Although they all have amazing talents in their respective Paths, those three have minds that are worthy of admiration," he assured.
The Third and Eighth brothers were the best strategists and the most cunning among the brothers; everyone knew that.
But the Ninth?
Now it turns out that the Ninth is just as good?
The second prince who heard this smiled inwardly.
’The tables will turn if all the brothers are qualified for the throne. Will there be preferences for one now, Father? Or will you finally decide to be more neutral in your intentions?’ He thought.
He clearly had his complaints about Brandon’s treatment. In a war, a weak flank would be exploited, and excessive favoritism would be ridiculous.
Now the weak flank seems to have disappeared... Would the other thing disappear, too?