Chapter 105 Chapter 105 - Brewing Tensions (2/2)
”First one is, indeed, the chaos caused by his actions,” Baron said. ”Second, however, is feeling of respect he'd gained with commoners. Regardless of who it is, it's not a terrible feeling to have so many followers willing to do your bidding. As for the third... it's most-likely tied to nobles themselves.”
”How so?” Annel asked though he already had a vague answer in mind.
”If he truly wanted to harm nobles, there were numerous other ways to go about it,” Baron said. ”To me it seems he's simply observing our actions. He knows that it's not that the nobles fear the commoners, or that they had some qualms about killing a few to restore the order, but that the vast majority of nobles is too used to life with servants. He's also aware that it's mostly commoners who do mining of Qi Stones and other precious gems, which is why he's pressing us from that front. I believe he has no intention of actually going through with it, but the mere idea that he could gives him enough pleasure. This, in turn, ties our hands in a sense; we wouldn't be terribly hurt if things truly do escalate to irreversible situation, but it would still leave a mark that would take a while to recover from. There would probably be even dissenters among noble ranks as they and their children would then be forced to do manual labor.”
”...” Annel stroked his chin for a few minutes, deep in thought, while baron Haqin remained standing in silence. It was nearly ten minutes later that Annel finally spoke. ”In conclusion, his end-game is that... there is none?”
”I can't say that for certain,” Baron replied, shaking his head. ”Perhaps there is none and this is all just a mere fun challenge for him, but perhaps there even is a higher purpose to it all. What I can claim with certainty is that he does not intend to actually harm us, and that the whole charade, indeed, is mainly done for his personal entertainment.”
”Can you predict his future actions?” Annel.
”Is Prince intending to send him to Royal Court?” the Baron asked with some caution.
”... I don't know. It's a headache,” as Baron Haqin was one of Prince Annel's supporters in court, he didn't mind revealing a bit truth behind it all. ”On one hand, he truly deserves it if for nothing else but for daring to play with us. On the other hand, he would most-likely be incredible addition to my camp.”
”... if I may so boldly say... should you acquire this man, throne is definitely secured for the future, Your Highness.” one of the reasons Baron Haqin rushed over here the moment he received his Prince's summons was exactly this; he wanted to persuade the Prince to try and acquire the beggar's assets - even if it means through pay rather than through loyalty - than to send him to Royal Court to be tried.
”How can you be so certain?” Annel asked, somewhat curious. Even he didn't think beggar was that key of a piece; after all, while he was smart, he lacked any political and financial backing, making him somewhat of a liability in the long run.
”Looking at how long it took him to practically convert eighty percent of city's commoners to follow him,” Baron explained. ”I'm fairly certain he'd be able to do the exact same thing with nobles.”
”...” though Prince Annel frowned for a moment, Baron braved onward with his explanation.
”Don't worry, Your Highness; I'm neither instigating that the commoners and nobles are equal - as they're certainly not - nor am I instigating that the beggar himself is that smarter than us. What I am instigating is that he's willing and able to do things we are not.”
”... hidden from the public.” Annel mumbled.
”Not only that, but also his personality.”
”Personality?”
”Someone as free as that wouldn't care what was being talked about him,” Baron explained. ”Which means that he would do it both in open and secret. With some backing from Your Highness, he's certain to thrive in Royal Court.”
”... I will take it into consideration,” Annel said, sighing. ”For now, we ought to at least be able to figure out where he is staying.”
”Leave it to me, Your Highness. I'll have an answer for you in a week.”
”I'll trust you.”
”Thank you.”
As Baron Haqin left, Annel remained sitting down and drinking tea while massaging his temple gently. It was exactly the beggar's personality that gave Annel a headache; as Baron said, he truly would do well in court due to it, but he would also be a massive liability. Someone as free-spirted as him would never be tied down with loyalty, and benefits would eventually run out.
Kill him afterwards? Annel hadn't even considered it once. Not only would it set a dangerous precedent, it would also demoralize his entire camp and decrease loyalty of others. Let him go? If Annel was certain the beggar would leave Empire for good and never return, he'd let him go in a heartbeat and with enormous amount of resources at that. Can that be ascertained? Definitely not.
In the end, though, he would still have to talk with the beggar. He'd only had one, brief conversation where he let himself be dragged into beggar's pace, leaving Annel little room to learn more about the former. If he could know his story... he would know a way to chain him. That is way greater certainty than trying to buy him with gold.