Bab 17: Anger before the Storm
"I'm not sure you may want to know everything about Undeath official Jordan," Lucius spoke while leaning forward in his chair. His tone indicated some unpleasant deeds committed by Jordan.
"For my future plans, I need to know." Jack unfolded his hands. He laid his left hand in his lap but kept his right hand on the table.
Lucius looked over to his left, and seen Leslie half laying lazily on the couch. He wasn't sure what her reaction was going to be hearing his report. He was sure it wasn't going to be a good one...
"If you must know, your Grace, it was truly a brilliant idea to investigate Jordan Grimnight." Lucius praised, and even spoke Jordan's real name, showing his lack of respect for him.
Jack remained silent, as his bony fingers started to tap the desk in a rhythmic pattern. If Lucius could sweat, he would have a brow full.
Lucius inwardly signed as he couldn't put this off any longer. He desperately tried. "We have found some... troubling evidence. We are pretty confident that the Grimnight clan knows what Jordan Grimnight is doing... and is profiting off his... endeavors."
Jack could clearly feel that Lucius was still beating around the bush, as the saying went in his last life.
"Lucius... What are We talking here... Embezzlement? Fraud? Treason?" While Jack was hoping for treason, he also hoped it wasn't treason. He would have to deal with a much more difficult situation if it was.
Lucius and Leslie noticed Jack didn't use Lucius' title... While Leslie noticed this, Lucius was trying to figure if Jack wanted to keep their friendship from Leslie or not, as it wasn't really acceptable for The Holy Witch King to be friends with a court member, let alone the Grand Minister. This was a conflict of interest.
"Yes. Everything, but treason." Lucius left these words hanging in the air...
Leslie, who up to this point, knew her clan was up to misdoings by rumors that she would sometimes overhear, but gravely underestimated the offenses her clan had and was still committing. She had always looked the other way, while not knowing what they were doing for fear of her parents. She felt sick in her soul hearing Lucius' statement.
Jack thought for a moment before looking over to Leslie. he could clearly see the discomfort on her face. "Leslie are you sure you want to hear the rest of this."
Leslie bit her lower lip, then spoke, "Yes. As your consort, I must know of these matters, as well." If one listened closely to her, they could hear the helplessness in her voice. Even Lucius didn't detect this type of tone, but Jack did! He paid careful attention to his consort, Leslie.
"Alright, then." turning back to Lucius, "If you don't want to speak about these crimes easily, Lucius, then it must be bad, let me think then. Grimnight is a small Clan, and they are based in the City of Sosuhalf."
"That's right, your Grace," Lucius said.
"And what is their primary trade?"
"They are in control of one large, and one small Glowstone mine, with a bunch of local markets."
Placing his hand on his chin, Jack started thinking aloud, "Alright, so they are a small Clan, and they want more power. They were willing to sacrifice a fine woman of their clan for more status." Jack looked over to Leslie. "So, they are about benefits before honor. This means with Glowstone mines, they are keeping more than what they are to turn over to kingdom. Tell me Lucius, how much is Our Tax on the Glowstone mines." Jack was sure the kingdom took a cut, but didn't know how much it was. If it was a ridiculously high tax, then he could understand tax evasion.
Slightly surprised, Lucius resounded, "We take 10% of all Glowstone mined, and only Glowstone mined. If the Grimnight Clan, or any Clan in control of Glowstone mines, mine other ore, jewels, or artifacts, they can keep it for profit."
"Now, What trade does Undeath Official Jordan keep?" Jack asked.
"Ah, this..." This was what Lucius didn't want to talk about... "He keeps a franchise of brothels and gambling halls."
[Mafia...] This thought hit Jack like a light in a flash pan.
"As expected. Leslie, when was the last time you actually saw your parents?" Jack asked while carefully looking at Leslie's expression.
"Over a thousand years ago, right before your entombment. That was when I was given the ultimatum to marry into the Doomcry Clan... Ah." Leslie stopped right after speaking. She figured it best, if Jack didn't find out her previous Clan betrothal, even if she did settle it, and get exiled. He had already deducted what they had intended for her to do, what else could he figure out. If this had been a thousand years ago, she wouldn't of minded telling Jack, but now it seemed his temper wasn't as good as before.
"Doomcry Clan... Tell me, do they also own brothels and gambling halls?" Jack asked the room.
"No...?" Lucius spoke, questioningly.
"But We do know that the Grimnight Clan and the Doomcry Clan were or still are in communication? In addition, their members are often seen at these brothels and gambling halls of the Grimnight Clan?"
"Yes," Leslie spoke. She wasn't sure where this was going, and neither did Lucius.
"If I recall correctly, the Doomcry Clan is a very old Clan and has high authority to the north. They even have Clan branches in the Republic of Stonedge, a major aristocratic Clan."
This time Lucius answered, "That is correct."
Jack got up from his desk and paced behind it. While pacing, he started his monologue, "The Grimnight clan is using Undeath Official Jordan as a scapegoat, by placing the brothels and gambling halls in his name. The profits from these places are split by them and the Doomcry Clan, as the Doomcry Clan serves as protection for the Grimnight Clan. This is really a ploy by Doomcry, but is willing executed by Grimnight." Jack came to a stop and looked over to Leslie...
"Your parents... Your mother is in charge of a brothel, and your father is working in a Glowstone mine, bets are on the minor mine Grimnight controls. Using you as a deterrent, they had the Grimnight Clan agree to send your father to the mines. The Grimnight Clan, in turned, used your father in the mines to threaten your mother, to send her to work as a matron in the brothels." Jack finished his hypothesis, and again... He was one hundred percent accurate! The fact that Jack actually figured out what was going on behind the scenes, that no one else openly knew, was... Unbelievable!
[Seems like this was used in a novel I read once... If what I read was right, its time to beat the bush to scare out the snake...] Jack then laughed inwardly.
Lucius was scared stiff! Half of what Jack said, was exactly what he found out, the latter half about Leslie parents... He wasn't sure if it was true, but it made too much sense to not be! He always knew his Grace was deductive, but this was absurd. Ever since he woke up, it was like he knew everything; he just needed to be reminded! A freak among undead!
Leslie was first to over come her shock. She had heard some things over the years and could be said to be more knowledgeable about Clan workings than Lucius. She knew that the Major Clans used the Minor Clans for dirty work, but her parents... She refused to believe this, even if it was the truth.
"Dearest. I am sure my parents are still living in their courtyard, in the country side." Leslie spoke up.
Jack was feeling good with his deduction, but when he saw Leslie's face, cloud nine was a distant feeling.
"I hope that's true, and I hope I am wrong, very wrong," Jack spoke, while his golden flame eyes paused on Leslie. He then sat back down in his seat, behind his black desk. "Remind me, Lucius. Brothels and gambling halls are illegal in Our kingdom?"
"Yes. At most, they are tolerated at the border Cities, but never within the kingdom."
"So out of everything spoken, What is it that Undeath Official Jordan has done personally? I've already saved a lot of talking for you, Lucius, and my patience is running thin. We will need to greet the Court, soon."
Lucius had already given up, as the last wall he had crumbled, "We found that Undeath Official Jordan has been kidnapping young undead and sending them to his brothels for work. The ones he likes the most, he keeps for himself."
Jack didn't say anything, but the golden flames were dancing angrily, and brightly. If one listened closely enough, they would hear the crackling of fire. Leslie turned to stare at Lucius; her expression turned exceedingly grim and disgusted.
"You can't force yourself on undead women," Leslie spoke, harshly.
"Yes, no... Not just women... men, too where kidnapped. Some patrons of their establishments have... unique tastes, to say the least." Lucius deliberated his next words, "It seems that the kidnapped undead are "trained," before they are sent to the brothels. The most trusted are sent to the gambling halls. In short, they are tortured to do this kind of job, and the ones that don't are sent to the Glowstone mines."
In Jack's last life, he rarely had any moods. He went to work, he came home; he enjoyed his hobbies. The most he felt was being lonely, but now in this new type of life, if life it could be called, he felt emotions much more strongly.
Jack slammed his fist on the black desk! BAM! The sound of metal striking bone issued forth. Golden lightning arced off his fist, and on to the table and into the air. A small display of fireworks, unknowingly released in Jack's anger.
"IN MY KINGDOM!" Jack snarled.
Both Lucius and Leslie jumped in fright! They had never seen The Holy Witch King display this type of behavior. He had always been calm and collected. They were both angry but never expected his Grace to show it, as well.
Jack sat there silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He lifted his hand to reveal a small crater in his Black bone desk, smashed by the impacted and charred by his magics, unwittingly released. He was ashamed by causing such a spectacle, even among his most trusted.
[My dear...] Leslie was at a loss of how to help, even as she was angry.
"This is why I didn't want to speak about such... Criminally immoral topics." Lucius spoke bitterly.
"No. Again, I must know these things, and this is EXACTLY what I wanted to know." Jack said decisively.
Leslie thought for a moment, then spoke, "It's almost time for court, dear... Let's go get you ready."
"Yes." Jack nodded and rose from his seat. "I will see you soon Lucius, and one more thing..." Jack said to Lucius, as Lucius was preparing to stand.
"Inform your Archbishops that We will need some... extra crowd control," Jack spoke, mysteriously.
[For What?!] Lucius thought, but spoke aloud, "Yes. Your Grace."
Leslie walked to the door, and Jack soon followed. Leaving Lucius behind in his thoughts.
[I thought I understood his Grace's disposition, but with his memory loss, it feels like I don't know him at all.] He just shook his head. [His Grace is still his Grace. How did he figure the Doomcry Clan was behind all this...] He rose and soon exited The Holy Witch King's Office, and went to inform the Archbishops to assist in security with the Holy Sentinels.
The Holy Sentinels were the silent guards of the palace. The personal guards to The Holy Witch King. They were always out of sight, but always close. Even while The Holy Witch King was asleep, or in his study, they were guarding. They were all of the knight level, and only fell short of the number one War Marshall of the kingdom. War Marshall Verruca! However, they outnumbered her by hundred, against. The Holy Sentinels were also known as the Silent Templars, by the faithful.
Jack followed Leslie until he once again seen the familiar double doors to the dressing room. The censers were still spilling the wispy white smoke, as they opened Leslie and Jack walked in, as the doors closed behind him. The same hand maidens greeted him again, this time, their attire had changed. They now wore long white qipao dresses, also with gold trim. These qipao dresses were much more grand in design than the plain white dresses they wore previously.
Jack took a guest, "You have already committed your servants to the palace?"
"Of course, as your consort, I had to give them status, as well," Leslie said with a forced smile. It was obvious that she was still unhappy about the recent revelation about Undeath Official Jordan, and her Clan.
Jack followed the same routine he did last. The hand maidens busily worked to dress Jack in his regalia. Soon, Jack's last article was brought before him. The ark was placed in front of him. He, once again, picked up his Femur Ferula.
He turned to admire himself in the mirror, as the hand maidens backed away exiting the room.
Leslie walked to the side of Jack, now that both of them were alone. "You want to remove my Clan from the kingdom, don't you?" she spoke softly.
"It has crossed my mind, but because you asked me not too, I have another solution. However, it isn't far from enslaving your Clan to the kingdom. Are you fine with that?"
"....Yes."
Jack walked to the entrance to the Court, the massive double doors that were the exit to the dressing room to the Court, the Holy Entrance. A moment of silence from Leslie and the white smoke started to bellow forth from the massive censers embedded in the door.
Jack turned to Leslie and held out his left hand to her. She was prepared to walk behind her love to the Throne. She looked at his hand, and then to him. Did he want to hold hands to enter the court? This might bring his status down, but it would differently bring Leslie's up!
"Why?" Leslie asked, still as soft as she spoke earlier.
"Because I want everyone to know. I want the kingdom to know, but most of all... I want your Clan to know."
Leslie didn't say anything but placed her delicate hand in Jack's. The double doors opened; as they started walking into the white smoke, disappearing within.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone