Chapter 105 Chapter 105 - Brewing Tensions (1/2)

CHAPTER 105

BREWING TENSIONS

City of Sun, over the past two months, had begun experiencing immense changes which developed into increasingly dangerous tensions. Nearly everyone in the nobility felt air growing ever more oppressive whenever they'd venture out, while commoners seemed to have gained an enlightenment about life. Some quit their jobs, some left the city entirely, some demanded basic human rights while some even began their own little newspaper where they wrote articles on numerous things.

While few were left unaware of the reason for the sudden change, majority had a perfect clarity of who was behind it all: a single beggar. By now it was nigh impossible to actually discern his whereabouts and no matter what nobles did, not a single commoner they arrested or brought in for questioning ever divulged it. Felix also returned to his family and soon after began another campaign that had risen the tensions within the ranks of nobility itself.

Prince Annel was currently reviewing the situation with a terrible expression on his face. By now he'd realized the mistake he had made; he should have captured the beggar the first time he met him rather than let things escalate to this point. He was no longer able to control the situation and, as it stood, it was only a matter of time before either a civil war or a rebellion breaks out. Rather, Annel had a feeling that if beggar chose so, it could happen tomorrow morning.

The problem, both for him and the rest of those looking for the beggar, was that they didn't know the latter's goal. Such elaborate game certainly wasn't just a side-activity he did in-between his begging sessions; it had to have some sort of grander purpose. Most still believed his main goal was to usurp current powers and perhaps even don a title of a high noble in exchange for calming things down.

Others believed he was sent here by one of the main, opposing forces in the Demonic Battlefield to weaken the Empire from within and steal away their focus from the battlefield itself. There was even a small minority who believed he was simply doing all this for fun, though they were mostly ignored - even mocked - by others.

However, today, Annel had invited the most prominent supporter of that theory over; his name was Je'vel Haqin and he was a small-time Baron who'd risen to such position as an public entertainer and playwright. Since the start, Je'vel was the loudest proponent of the 'for fun' theory, and no matter what was thrown at him, he never shrunk back which is what piqued Annel's interest into inviting him today.

Baron Haqin was a relatively short, slightly plump man in his mid fifties. He wore a strange, white wig over his perfectly fine, black hair and had a spectacle over one of his eyes. He currently stood in front of Annel with posture of respect and submission, though not lacking confidence in the slightest.

”I assume you know why I invited you today.” Annel immediately cut to the chase as time was of essence.

”Indeed I do, Your Highness.” Baron replied in a tame, yet slightly joyed tone.

”Tell me, then,” Annel said, taking a sip of the tea. ”Elaborate your reasons as to why you believe he is doing this merely out of entertainment.”

”Yes, Your Highness,” Baron said, taking a deep breath. ”First, it is important to note that he'd spent two years in the city without stirring much trouble; from my research, I understand he committed occasional petty crime, such as mild theft and public urination, but that was really all. Am I correct?”

”Yes, continue.”

”If he was a spy, specifically one sent by someone from the Battlefield, why wait so long? If his mission was to infiltrate the nobility, it would make sense to bide his time and gain our trust, but he clearly neither had nor has such intentions. Furthermore, no matter how much he riles up the commoners, a spy should know that it won't impact the main battlefield that much. A single squadron of guards would be able to suppress whatever unrest happens to occur without too much trouble even if they do incur some wrath from commoners. It simply isn't a feasible strategy in long term.”

”...” Annel said nothing in response, simply indicating for Baron to continue.

”On the subject of him chasing after noble title,” Baron continued, slightly quickening the pace of his speech. ”Isn't this just... a bit too much if that's his plan? I'm fairly certain that with his intellect he could have become a noble in no time, perhaps even ascended the ranks faster than the rest of us. With all due respect, it's not as though earning noble title through regular means is terribly difficult.”

”... still, even with all that,” Annel said. ”To say he is doing all this for mere entertainment seems a bit too far fetched, no?”

”Indeed,” Baron said, smiling faintly. ”It's the manner in which he does it that gives it away.”

”Manner?”

”Yes,” Baron nodded. ”Escalation of events, in his case, isn't a steady climb but rather an upright jump; this indicates that he was bored with his previous status and decided to chase after something more. Perhaps even bigger giveaway is his relationship with Master Felix.” Annel's eyes shined in a strange glint for a moment which Baron naturally didn't miss, prompting him to speak with even more confidence. ”Master Felix is Duke's son, a direct heir at that; if one has him as a follower, is there nothing in this city - or even Empire itself - they can't acquire? Indeed, there is not. Yet, what did the beggar assign him to do? To follow him around, talk to commoners, and then go back to his family to preach. He didn't even consider exploiting Master Felix's background for any sort of financial or political benefit.”

”... is his value of entertainment entwined in sheer chaos? Which makes all his actions seem so random?” Annel asked, feeling slightly convinced by Baron's words.

”Partly,” Baron explained. ”It is true that he most-likely enjoys seeing chaos he himself had engineered, but I firmly believe his joy of it all comes in three layers.”

”Elaborate.”