Chapter 121: The Prime Minister And His Son
Chapter 121: The Prime Minister And His Son
"Done eating? Let's continue."
"You say that, but the next contestant hasn't arrived yet." I replied to Albert after seeing the waiting room with my Divine Vision.
"It's nice to have such eyes, isn't it?" Albert complimented my eyes.
"…that's just another word for 'you have such beautiful eyes'. Did Victoria influence you much?"
"Hell no! I just mean your ability!" Albert protested.
"Umm… your majesty? Is it officially called an Audition now?" Mustache who ate quickly so he can return to his position, asked Albert.
"Yes. The winner will receive our trust. The loser will die. The undecided, we will see how they're doing later. We can ask the winner to keep watch on the undecided." Albert said.
"Let's think of the name of the audition! Like 'Who Wants To Be Trusted' or something." I suggested an idea to Albert.
"That's good. But mine is better. 'Albert's Trust'. Since it's basically to decide whom I can trust."
Albert and I continue speaking nonsense about suggestion for the title of the audition.
"Sigh… I wish the queen can be here…" Mustache sighed knowing that he is powerless in stopping us. I can hear his murmur.
"Hmm? Looks like the first contestant after lunch break has arrived. An old man with… his son maybe?"
I looked at the waiting room and see that Ian is greeting the newcomer.
"That should be the Prime Minister. I told him to bring his son as well since he will soon succeeding his father." Albert replied as he return to his throne.
"Why two of them together? Not one by one?" I asked.
"Because he's the Prime Minister and the future Prime Minister. Other than Ian, those two are someone I wanted to recruit and be on my side no matter what. I'll do the talking. It will be quick. Roy, can you…"
Before he finished his request, I have done what he wanted me to do.
"None of them have explosives inside their mouth. To trust them or not will be your choice."
"Good. Bring him in."
Albert tapped his ring and Sonia, without appearing in front of him, goes to Ian's side.
Ian's back is facing the wall, but Sonia can appear within short distance of where the sand she casted her charm magic is, so Sonia appear behind the wall.
She spoke in a low voice so that only Ian can hear it, then she disappear.
Then Ian brought the father and son pair to the audience hall.
"Your majesty King Albert. For what reason did you summon us?"
The old man kneeled in front of the throne followed by another man who seems to be in his 40s.
I don't know either one of them. Maybe they both died before making a huge achievement to make them famous enough that I can hear their name. Thirty years is a long time after all.
The old man would have died before I died in my past life. As for the one who seems to be his son, I think in thirty years, he will be as old as his father right now.
What's their name again?
"Thank you for coming in short notice, Lowe. I see that you also brought your son, Hector, with you as I told you. You two can speak casually just like when we were alone. These two other people here are my friends. You know Mus- Miguel, my bodyguard, right? And the other person is… Ninja. The one who killed Tim."
"What?!"
The two father and son became wary when they hear my name. Well, my nickname. I told Albert to call me Ninja instead of my real name.
"Albert! What's going on here?!"
Lowe asked for an explanation.
"It's something very important. The fate of this kingdom… no. The fate of this world is at stake. Before I tell you anything, please read these documents I found in Tim's room. It was Ninja who told me about this." Albert stand from his throne and gave several documents for the two to read.
"Telling them to read those already? Aren't your approach is way too direct?" I approached Albert and speak in low voice.
"I told you that I want to trust these two. It's either they became our allies or they died."
"Man, you're cruel to your own men. Well, I'll leave the decision to you. By the way, why is your Prime Minister is so old? Why isn't he retired yet?"
"Well, his son said that he hasn't learned everything yet. So he told his father to keep his position until He learned everything."
"Dude's old enough to have children my age and he still think that he's not good enough? And you want to trust him as well?"
"He's a good man. My father also thought of having Hector as his Prime Minister before he died. Unfortunately, his wish never come true."
"Okay. Just tell me if I have to kill them."
"I hope it won't come to that."
Albert and I finished whispering as the two father and son pair also finished reading the document.
"This… is unbelievable. Not just Tim tried to accuse his own subordinates, he also looked for the weakness of this palace and planning to capture the capital. What is going on?" Hector is angry at the fact that someone close to the king is planning something malicious.
Albert looked at me instead of answering. Looks like it's my turn first for explanation.
"It's the reason why I killed Tim. He's a member of a secret cult called Evil God Cult. I told Albert about what that cult is planning and now we're here to see if anyone here is a traitor or not. The rest will be explained by Albert himself."
There's no point in explaining if the one I speak to doesn't trust me. I'll just let Albert take care of this.
Our plan should be to let the promising candidate to be our allies to enter the room where Candy is and Candy will tell the rest. That's when we auditioned the agents and servants.
But for nobles and people in high position, it will be Albert's duty. Candy's duty is to be by Ian's side in case something happening in the waiting room of the nobles.
Putting several nobles who don't get along in the same room will obviously end up with having a quarrel. That's why Candy is on standby until something is happening.
The questions we ask are quite subtle and will not make the contestant suspicious about it. They would just think that their loyalties to the throne is being tested.
Albert has finished with his explanation and the father and son duo has a shocked expression showing on their face.
"…are you for real?"
Albert didn't tell them about me coming from the future. He just told them about what we knew about the plans that cult is preparing. Which is the stampede that will happen in Melk and some other cities.
"Albert. Just ask them the real questions." I reminded Albert about our real mission here.
"Right. The two of you, does any one of you is or used to be involved with the cult or any other evil organization?"
Albert asked the two which was answered by Hector, the son.
"No way! We swore our loyalty to this kingdom! Right… father? What's wrong?" Hector asked his father curiously.
"Sigh… so this is a test of loyalty, huh? If you can trust us, you will ask us to be your allies. But if you can't, you will kill us. There's no in between." Lowe bravely looked at Albert straight in the eye.
"Sharp as usual. Please answer." Albert locked his eyes at Lowe while Mustache behind him is preparing to intervene in case something happen.
"Yes. I was a member of a certain organization who declare a fight against the world fifty years ago." Lowe said.
"Father!"
Fifty years ago? There was such things?
Then Lowe continued.
"Your grandfather, the king at the time, gave me a job to join that organization and ruin them from within. Which is why no one has ever heard of it and it was never written in any record of history. My job back then was to be a secret agent. Just like Tim. In fact, Tim became the leader of the agents is partly my fault. Back then, I found an orphan whose parent I killed because they are members of that organization. That orphan was Tim. Then my partner, who became the leader of the secret agents during your father's era, adopted him. It was my partner who choose Tim as his successor." Lowe explained.
"Thanks for telling me. Please answer my last question. Can I trust you?"
Whoa! Albert asked him directly! But the fact that he asked them that questions mean that both of them hasn't tell any lies. I guess it's fine.
"My life is only for the sake of the kingdom. I will help you destroy the cult." Lowe kneeled in front of Albert and swore.
"I will do my best to meet your expectations!" Hector followed along.
"Haa… thanks, you two. It's good to have you two with me." Albert relieve a sigh after knowing that the two of them can be trusted.
He said that it won't take long, but I think these two will be the longest one we have.
"Albert. Since you summoned us here is to eliminate the traitors, we both like to help you. Please let us stay." Lowe asked to have the permission to stay.
"Sure. I'll tell you this. The reason we're doing this is because I can tell if someone is telling lies or not. If I don't have this ability, this interview would be useless." Albert said.
"I see! No wonder your decisions in some meeting we had are weird sometimes. It was because you can't trust most nobles, right?" Hector realized something.
"You're right. They are just greedy bastard who doesn't care about the kingdom at all. They just want to fill their pockets. We still have several other people to interview, so will you help us?"
"We will. But I suggest to have a meeting with everyone you trust after the meeting is over. I have something to ask of you later."
Lowe suggested to have another meeting after the audition is over.
It means that I will have to stay here longer.
Since we have two more people, can I just sit this one out? I'm bored.