Chapter 20: Third Episode: Chapter 2 (2/2)

A gentleman’s voice stuck out in the sea of murmuring discussion, ”Sir Count, I have heard that the young prince owns a special badge representing the Rights from his times in the so-called ‘Underworld’ organisation, can you verify if this rumour is indeed true?”

Count Sakya gave out a half-hearted laugh. He knew that these gentlemen have only heard about the local rampant gangs from rumours. ”No sir, to correct you, the Underworld is not some ‘so-called organisation’. It does exist and it is indeed a system, or more accurately it is a state of existence for a groups of people. They have their own family, their own organisation, their own principles, and their own set of laws. And the Imperial Highness Prince that we are talking about right now, according to my own understanding, he is the representative of the whole Underworld of Titan. I am not sure if it’s an appropriate way to label him this way, but do believe me, His Imperial Highness Prince already has his own large network of third party forces in Dulin, one of which is completely independent from the control of government and the Ministry of Justice. Therefore the main reason I chose to cooperate with him is because of his control over the Underworld dark forces, they would in fact become a practical strong ally.”

The standpoint of Count Sakya was absolutely true, but the capital nobles were still somewhat reluctant to be convinced. Each piece of gold in the whole wide world was in some ways connected to the Underworld as the two were inextricably linked. The nobles had more or less heard of the relevant rumours, and some of the noble family with wide connections have even received warnings from the Underworld individuals themselves. Some of the men beneath the finance minister were responsible for enforcing good relations with the powerful ”criminals” in the Titan empire, because those who wanted to make a great fortune have long since identified a truth - that the works not allowed in the Codes of Titan were the ones hidden with huge business opportunities. If they did not have the approval or assistance from the Underworld, they risked the chance of being kidnapped or assaulted the moment they stepped out of their own house. These cautious lords did not fully express their viewpoints at this meeting mainly because they were reluctant to expose those illegal businesses to the others.

The finance minister had enough of the discussion. His friends and colleagues were still arguing about something trivial and of no importance. As for himself, he had long recognised the opinion of Count Sakya.

The young man only showed a tiny part of his ability and the finance minister was already terrified. What was his intimidating ability? Simple. The young man somehow found out that the finance minister maintained a private armed force in the Croude province. In fact, this already showed how powerful and how connected the young prince was because this was an extremely well-hidden information. What was the other thing that the young prince said to him the other day? Oh yes, ‘the water from far away can not quench your thirst’. It was a proverb from the Eastern that meant he should take whatever help is on hand, even from strangers. Ha ha, the Easterners were indeed more poetic. It was considered a threat to the minister, as the young prince also mentioned that he would lend the finance minister a hand in critical moments without hesitation. That young man was really cautious in each of his move.

Marquis Godzilla knew that it was no longer necessary to analyse the pros and cons of cooperating with the young prince because it would definitely be a profitable move for them. He stood up from his seat and stretched his monstrous body. One could see all the fat hanging out from his belly.

The other lords shut their mouth almost instantaneously. They all were clear that when the Marquis stood up to make his speech it must be something of utmost importance.

”Gentlemen, let’s change the topic and not talk about the young prince for a second. I am honoured to announce the handwritten letter by that old man, and when everyone here has a macro and more objective view of the young prince, then we can continue our discussion about him.”

Baron Thomas Aulet hurried to 31 Penelope Road. He has not been idle for the past couple of days after His Imperial Highness Prince appointed him an onerous task. However, he was pleased to see the current situation, where he and his team have successfully eliminated all Dulin’s lower classes chieftains who challenged the authority of Brother ‘Balance’. Now, he held in his hands almost seventy percent of all illegal income of all the Underworld.

O'Neil Andrew Morisette extended his hand to Baron Thomas Aulet, and the latter kissed it like a devout believer.

Oscar has high expectations towards the baron. He did a small evaluation on the baron during his time in Damorga and he decided that the gentleman was definitely a talented person with extraordinary abilities to organise. Besides, the baron had profound respect towards young Oscar and Andrew family. After Oscar’s arrival at the capital he passed the various criminals collected from all over the place to the baron. The latter did not let his little master down, in just a short period of time he managed to take control over the situation of the Underworld.

Oscar motioned Baron Thomas Aulet to sit opposite him then asked poison doctor Percy to take the seat nearer to the fireplace. The little guy positioned himself comfortably into the velvet chair. For a second he felt that he was back in Damorga again.

They exchanged greetings but that did not ease out the dull atmosphere lingering in the room. Oscar demanded the maid to serve some hot tea and bring in light snacks for the two gentlemen.

”Gentlemen, the situation has worsened,” both Thomas and the poison doctor raised their head, simultaneously, but they couldn’t not sense any anxiety or tension on the young man’s face.

”First of all I want to admit my mistake,” Oscar gingerly swirl the tea in his mouth to savour every taste of the tea. ”I was wrong to underestimate the determination of my enemy, the old guy who was at all times planning to take my life into his hand. Fortunately, one loyal and brave friend of ours helped us through the crisis.”

Thomas was still puzzled by the order that he just received. He was told to deploy a large number of manpower to keep all the bureaus and administrative houses of the Ministry of Justice under surveillance, at the same time sending out spies to control the various thoroughfares of the city.

At the thought of this Thomas could not help but ask: ”Can I know what exactly is this severe crisis that we need to expose the forces we have just established?”

Oscar could not help it but laughed out involuntarily. He did not know if he was extremely down on luck or his enemy was too lucky. The people from the Ministry of Justice and Secretary of State managed to reveal the falsified Imperial Army warrant when they carried out an investigation in Damorga prison. Only the God of Light would know what was the beloved Lieutenant General Moranzo Hanning thinking when he decided to not destroy that document that could take down countless lives and kept it in the official document files so recklessly.

Without realising, Baron Thomas shook his head at the Lieutenant General’s foolishness. The former warden was certainly bold and resolute in his work.

Fortunately, the more sensitive Captain Vick discovered the spies’ action and risked his own life to destroy the piece of evidence in the nick of time. However, because of this he was also under the arrest by the Ministry of Justice.

Thomas realized how tricky the situation had become, as just a few moments ago his subordinates reported to him that since the Ministry of Justice had captured a felon, the security of the nearby neighbourhood would be kept under stricter vigilance. The baron immediately reported the matter to his young master.

Oscar stroked the porcelain cup lightly while his mind moved at incredibly high speed. If Vick has already been arrested, then there might a chance that the criminal experts of the Ministry of justice could force the captain into confessing. However, even under arrest he managed to find someone to deliver the message to the young prince, which indicated that he was still thinking of a way out and had not yet surrendered to the enemy. After all, Vick had participated in the outrageous escape too. Would the young prince want to keep Vick’s mouth shut for ever? On second thought he dismissed that idea as he did not want to lose such a loyal and brave friend. Being forced under this exceptionally passive pressure, the only solution was to fight hard against his enemies, the Ministry of Justice and Secretary of State.

The determined young Oscar pushed his cup aside and his eyes could be seen to be filled with delight. Poison doctor Percy was familiar with this expression of the young master’s, lights appeared to be shining in his eyes every time he was ready for a conspiratorial action.

”Gentlemen, this is what I am thinking. Regarding Captain Vick, Thomas I want you to try your best to sneak Vick out before the Ministry of Justice can obtain more concrete evidence. Use as many manpower as needed. It might seem an impossible task, but I believe with the help from our friends in the Ministry of Justice this plan should work out with minimum possibility of failure.”

”Next up, Percy, you shall begin a journey far away from home. The Minister of Secretary of State seemed impatient, hence we should execute our plan as quickly as possible. Also, send my regards to my friends in the faraway lands.”

Percy received his order and retreated himself out of the room immediately, there was only Oscar and Thomas left in the study. The young man refilled his subordinate’s empty cup and the baron humbly received the cup from his superior.

”Don’t constrain yourself. Tell me what you think about this,” even though the young prince was confident about his plan he noticed that Thomas seemed to have some disagreement.

”Uh…how should I start! My only concern is that once we expose our cards to the enemies, the Imperial family might be alerted and increase their vigilance at the capital. Don’t you think our plan is rather brazen this time?”

”No Baron. I am still comfortably sitting here in my velvet chair, which means the Ministry of Justice has not yet obtain any evidence that could point fingers at me, so if we could rescue the witness as soon as possible they can’t direct any charges at me anymore.”

”But that minister from Secretary of State will not let the matter drop lightly, he will definitely investigate the case further.”

”Indeed he will, but my dear friend, his political career would end way earlier before he manages to reveal the truth.”

Thomas was so shocked that he swallowed the tea leaves. He did not really appreciate the bitterness tea, and he was not completely convinced by the young prince’s thinking either. It was definitely not an easy task to eliminate the ministry of Secretary of State who has served many years for His Majesty the Emperor.

”Why are you so sure, Your Imperial Highness. You should know how difficult it is to charge and accuse this minister?”

”Ha ha, I’m glad you think this way. Generally, lords of high positions and statuses are indeed hard to be defeated, but what if this lord was involved in a severe economic crime? What if this minister had participated in an economic crime by partnering with Titan’s most hated enemy?”

”Then…”

”Then he would be killed in an instant my dear friend. That’s right, he would be killed for sure! Even the God of Light could not save him from this. According to the Codes of Titan, traitors of the empire would be imposed stern sanctions. As long as we accuse the Secretary of State of this crime he will not have the opportunity to rise again.”

”But…”

”Oh la! My dear friend, let’s call it a day! There will be no more buts. These high-status lords mostly do not have any financial problems, and if we play our cards properly, we can even accuse him of incest.”

”Alright then! I will retreat myself now if there are no any more orders from Your Imperial Highness?”

”Oh la! There is an old man inhabiting the porter’s lodge. He’s a brave one, that one. It was him who helped Vick to deliver the message to us. If possible, find him a better job in the capital, and see if there’s anything else that we can help him with.”

”Okay, rest assured Your Imperial Highness. You are a really good man.”

Oscar did not expect the baron to describe him as a good man, ”Ha ha, my friend, one has to know when to be a lion, when to be a fox, and when to be a lamb, so please do not describe me as a good man. Oh God! I feel disgusted hearing that.”

”Ha ha ha, alright Your Imperial Highness! If you say so. Worry not, you will meet our friend Captain Vick very soon.”

”Yes, I hope so. May the force be with you.”

”Thank you, Your Imperial Highness Prince.”

O’Neil Andrew Morisette sent Baron Thomas Aulet out to the gate of the small villa. Although the young fatty made a clear judgment on the direction of the matter, some things were simply unpredictable. From the political point of view, His Imperial Highness Prince was actually quite naive and innocent, he did not even consider the consequences of his conspiratorial scheme towards the minister. No matter what, the time for the young prince to fight with the opposing forces has come. Otherwise, it would be the end of the little guy’s life!