Chapter 79 - Job negotiation (1/2)
The situation was an unexpected one for everyone in the room. Balthazar didn't expect that he would ever openly give Winston any hint about his plans to become an assassin again. D.i.c.k, Evelyn and Xander thought they might need to do a bit more convincing, but their discussion took an entirely different turn and Winston never thought that his grandson would be already planning further action against their enemies on his own.
It was finally Xander that broke the awkward situation between Evelyn, Winston and Balthazar. ”Where are you planning to get a hold of the fake identity cards? What do you intend to do with them?” asked Xander.
”Can't really tell you that. But I can provide you information about others who would be using similar services. I need them to join the underworld. To get to the Nirbaadh pirates, I need to join similar circles, become an assassin,” said Balthazar.
He began to put it all out as having the alliance military support him would make his plans work a lot more easily. Without providing them a few details, they would hardly ever accept to help him. So, he needed to give them the overall idea, but he was never going to share the details of it.
”You want to convince a bunch of murderers that you are one of them? How do you propose you do that?” asked Winston gritting his teeth. The more he heard his grandson talk the angrier he felt. It was not only directed towards Balthazar but also towards Evelyn and Walter.
He knew Walter had thought Balthazar to fight ever since his parents died. He knew that Walter inspired Balthazar along this path and suggested him to join the armed forces. Though he knew that Balthazar would have to face this sooner or later, but he still hated Walter for it. Now, he thought that Evelyn was doing something similar to Walter and to his shock Balthazar was already along an extremely dangerous path.
”I am already prepared for that. I already have a bit of experience in looking out for assassins. Even before the blast, I had dealt with a bunch of assassins they sent to kill me,” lied Balthazar. Though he was a capable assassin in his previous life, he can't prove his skills to others directly. He was used to killing quickly without involving direct confrontation. He had to try and convince that he could defend himself. So, he started to lie to them.
”You were already attacked by assassins at the base?” asked Xander Drake. An assassin infiltrating a military base like the citadel Balthazar was in charge of, was a serious breach in security of the base. It needed some serious security upgrades at the citadel if someone managed to infiltrate a military base.
”Don't worry. I have already taken care of the issue. There was a mole among the members, but he is already dead in the blast. That is why I didn't expect such a method of attack in the hangar,” said Balthazar trying to calm Xander Drake.
Hiding that Max was involved in the blast was already a crime by Balthazar. It could be considered a capital offence by most and was privileged information in the military. Xander was already angry when he came to know it and had thoughts to punish him severely.
It was due to his insistence that Balthazar wasn't promoted. He was three levels superior to Balthazar in the military hierarchy. Moreover, Balthazar was his subordinate. It was only due to the interference of Rodrigo and Evelyn that Balthazar wasn't punished. Now, listening another secret being revealed blew his top.
”Are you kidding me?” shouted Drake as he stood up. Xander liked Balthazar a lot for his achievements and his nature. But if there was one thing that Xander found hard to tolerate, it was disloyal and traitorous people.
”Even if you knew who the mole was and he died in the blast, we can't just leave like that,” said
Xander. ”It is one thing to hide your uncle Max's involvement in this disaster, but all the dead are being considered heroes and were awarded for their valor. Because you hid this, the traitors are being awarded the same honors as the injured veterans,” continued Xander angrily.
”I know that. I have known that it would be unfair to the loyal soldier and if any information about this gets out, it would be a nightmare for the military. Most employees would lose faith in the armed forces and the current authorities and that is something none of us want,” said Balthazar as he stood up looking at the enraged Xander in his eyes.
Xander was clearly someone who could easily intimidate people through his might and physique. Not being intimidated, maintaining a calm attitude and providing clear, valuable explanations was the best way to gain the confidence of such men.
”Just the thought of them having doubts that I might have information about them resulted in the disaster at the base. I have no intention of informing them about what I know and there might be more traitors in the military that I don't know about. If you brand the dead traitors as such, they might be more on guard against us. I am not willing to let that happen. So, whatever you say, I won't inform you anything about my plans,” continued Balthazar staring at Lt. General.
”Calm down, Xander. He might have a fair point,” said Evelyn putting a hand on Xander's shoulder and signalling him to sit down. ”If we brand them as traitors, we might cause the knights of the old republic be on guard.”
”Nevertheless, we need to have information regarding the traitors. We might get hold of more information if we investigate their relatives at the very least,” continued Evelyn looking at Balthazar.
”Already did investigate them. I found them reporting to a person who was revealed to be a Rowley. On torturing the assassins sent after me, they also gave me two names, Rowley and Dave. I am sure that the Rowley family is involved, and they would be very good at covering their tracks,” said Baltahzar.
”I would have informed the military if you were able to find anything from the ship. Even though you tracked it to Raymond Rowly, a simple statement from one of their elders put the investigation on hold. That is the reason, I would inform you of my plans unless my investigations reveal something you could use. Not only the military, even you are bound by the political influences,” continued Balthazar pointing at Evelyn.