Chapter 55: A deal
"The situation is even more serious, Mr. Roger," Ryan said with a half-smile as he took out a document. "I hear she is one of your family’s most loyal subordinates."
Roger grabbed the document with a drawing and some information on it.
It was about Professor Sara.
Of course, he knew her. After he retired from the military, he taught at the university, and she was one of his most outstanding students then.
Eventually, when the cruelest war broke out, he recruited her into his family to protect her and also to benefit from her teaching talent.
She was not someone he expected to see at this negotiating table.
"She is." He confirmed. "A good professor."
Ryan smiled. "Well, she’s one of the ones behind all this." He assured him. "Not only that."
He handed him another document. "I heard that these people came to meet with you to request permission for a private investment in the city’s eastern part. Is that true?"
Roger hadn’t finished processing the fact that his student turned out to be a traitor when he was reminded of what was happening with detailed information about those who had come.
He frowned. "Can we talk about one thing at a time?" he asked, wanting to resolve the most pressing issue first.
"They are both closely related, Mr. Roger. Is that correct?" she asked.
’He’s clearly trying to test me,’ Roger thought. ’Does the Ninth Prince have that much information? It’s impossible on his own. It must be the King.’
This informed him that the King had been investigating them, fearing signs of treason. Now, what did that have to do with the theft?
Roger simply nodded.
Then Ryan smiled placidly and leaned back in his chair.
"Cecily, which region is currently the most heavily guarded, in terms of the mission?" he asked suddenly.
"It’s the East."
"Just as you hear, Mr. Roger," Ryan emphasized. "The thief entered from the east, and the hospital where the Kazaks broke in is also nearby. At the castle, we suspect that your allies were the traitors, which is why the investigations have recently been focused on this area. We want the traitors."
Roger stared at him. "Do you consider me a traitor?"
"It’s possible. But we can’t make too much of a fuss, so they had to send me, the most despised of the princes here, to investigate further."
"Have they left the investigation in your hands?"
Ryan laughed heartily.
"That’s a joke, Mr. Roger. I’m just an observer who has found some important things." He straightened up and leaned on the desk.
"Mr. Roger, I don’t consider you a traitor. I’m sure you have nothing to do with it, but your subordinates and allies are different. But that’s just my opinion; perhaps my father doesn’t think the same."
Roger nodded. "What do you propose, Ninth Prince?" he asked. This time, he did not speak arrogantly, but with a hint of respect. This young man had surprised him.
Ryan took this in a good way, so he spoke again.
"I consider you one of the greatest heroes of my nation, so I respect and admire you. Therefore, I do not want to harm you. I won’t lie to you, I’ve already caught your student, she’s in my hands, and I have all the evidence that points to her as the main traitor," he said. "So let’s make a deal."
"Before that, I want to know, is she really a traitor?"
"Why would the king investigate her if she weren’t?" Ryan asked back.
Roger nodded. He wanted to say that it could be his invention, but who would dare to lie blatantly about the king?
He didn’t think Ryan had the guts.
"I want to hear the deal you want to make, Ninth Prince."
"It’s simple." Ryan smiled. "No one knows that Professor Sara is in my pocket and that she’s a traitor, so I want you to help me make her look like she orchestrated all of this. In return, I’ll give you names of suspects that we’ll deliver together to the King to win his favor and dispel his doubts."
That sounded better than Roger had imagined. Not only would it help him dispel the King’s doubts about him, but it would also help him regain his lost favor by handing over traitors.
Moreover, turning in traitors would make him remembered as the hero he once was. It’s not that he’s particularly fond of these traitors; it’s just that they have a lot of money, and he certainly benefits from dealing with them.
That’s why he can turn a blind eye to certain issues.
’Now seems like a good time to disassociate myself from everything. After all, they have now crossed the line and are already orchestrating direct betrayals against the kingdom,’ he thought.
During his more than 100 years running this wealthy community, he has realized that in high society, there are no heroes or villains. There are selfish and ambitious people who seek their own benefit and personal growth rather than collective growth.
So he felt no remorse about this. His heart had changed.
And this was incredibly beneficial for Ryan, who would not only turn in traitors from the most prestigious neighborhood, which would earn him great rewards in terms of points to gain the status he deserves in the kingdom, but he would also turn in the "thief" of the item.
It was an extreme win for him, especially when the fight for the throne is underway.
"Tell me your entire plan, Ninth Prince. I will help you in any way I can," Roger replied, committing himself.
Ryan smiled. "I will trust your good word, Mr. Roger," he said.
--
A short time later, Ryan and Cecily left Mr. Roger’s mansion through the back, heading towards the western part of the city.
"I have several questions," Cecily said suddenly.
"It must be more than 100. You’ve been staring at me for a while," Ryan joked.
"I can’t help it." She sighed. "I had no idea you knew and had all that. But this doesn’t seem like something the king would do. Everything you’ve said and done, I think, has your signature on it. Besides, I saw you write those documents yourself earlier. How did you do it? How much do you know? Why do you know so much?"
Ryan smiled. "I can answer all your questions later. Right now, we should focus on the mission. If we don’t finish before dawn, we’ll lose track of the treasure, and I won’t be able to do it." He said and quickened his pace.
"At least answer me one thing," she said quickly. "Who are you?"
Her question made Ryan stop completely.
An interesting question. He wanted to answer it.
He turned around and walked toward her.
"I’m still Ryan," he said, lightly raising his hand to caress her face.
Although she frowned, she didn’t stop him.
"But I’m not the same Ryan. That Ryan died that day and came back to life shortly after. The shy, unambitious Ryan, that bookworm, no longer exists, because when he did, everyone despised him and wanted to kill him. But I am Ryan Kraham, the Ninth Prince of the Kingdom of Evigheden, who met you that freezing winter on the city walls."
Technically, he wasn’t lying.