The command center is in a complete uproar. Council members and soldjers clash left and right as they each attempt to be heard over the roar of the room. Some of whom grow so aggressive that I fear they will come to blows.
The whole room is in such chaos that for a moment I am at a loss for what to do, but then the room falls silent and I realize I don’t actually have to do anything. I’m the king now, literally all I have to do is step into a room and everyone will be forced to take notice.
Going off past experience and the way that the council just loves to undermine my authority though, I know that if I don’t act fast I will soon lose control of the room. Which is something I don’t intend to do, especially now that I’ve gotten out of having tea with Lady Diana.
If I play my cards right, I could be looking at some very valuable personal time that I can use to do something fun and not related to politics. But to do that I have to first get this room under controle and settle whatever problem Admiral Ali seems to have.
So, with a deep breath I step all the way into the room and make my way over to the head of the table. No one moves to follow me, which forces me to make a sweeping gesture at the seats around the table before sitting down myself. The others follow suit after a moment.
“So, would someone care to enlighten me as to why my command center has become a battle ground? Because I am fairly certain this is just the room where we discuss battle strategy, not enact it.” I level my gaze on each member of the council before realizing none of them know either, or if they do, they don't have any intention of speaking up. So instead I turn my gaze on the perpetrator of this whole crap show.
“Admiral Ali.” I acknowledge with a nod of my head. “How about you? Care to enlighten me?”
“I seek an audience with the king.” He responds in a calm, reassuring, voice that I have to admit I wasn’t expecting him to have. Aren’t Soldiers supposed to be all stoic and cold with loud commanding voices? How did this guy even manage to become Admiral?
“And you have one. So go on.” I tell him and when he hesitates I fold my hands together and place them on the table. “I said to go on man, so go on. What is so important that you had to interrupt my meeting with the lovely Lady Diana?”
“I demand my nephew’s release from the dungeons.” Ali cuts right to the chase, his voice still calm and I take a second to wonder if maybe that's how he became Admiral. He certainly has the confidence.
“I was not aware you had a nephew.” I say coolly, looking him directly in the eyes. I do my best not to show my confusion at his words. Admiral Ali has a nephew? And what's more he’s been arrested? Since when?
“I do and he has been wrongfully imprisoned. I demand that you release him.” Comes Ali’s swift response.
“I am afraid that is impossible. As you well know, the kingdom rarely takes prisoners. If your nephew was arrested then he is likely dead.” I answer and Ali glares at me. “You are very rude you know. You do realize you speak to the king, yes?” I add with a small smirk and for a second Ali’s demeanor changes, but it doesn’t last long.
“I am quite aware and if your majesty would be so kind as to release my nephew, I, and my rudeness, can be on our way.” He purses his lips at me and I nod my head in thought.
“Yes well, as much as I would like that, I have already told you. Your nephew is most likely already dead.” His glare deepens further at my words and I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Don’t you dare play me for a fool. I know you haven’t killed him. I heard all about your council meeting last night.” His voice remains unnerving calm as he talks and I nearly nod my head in respect. Starting to suspect that I might have underestimated how intimidating a calm voice can be. It's much more effective than stoicism.
Still though. I honestly don’t know what he's talking about. I wasn’t aware he even had a nephew until three minutes ago and the only person we have arrested was…
Holy crap.
“Wait. You’re not talking about Min are you?” I ask, my proper English slipping in my shocked state. “Jintao Min?”
“Yes, Jintao Min.” He confirms and my mouth almost falls open at his admission.
“Jintao Min is your nephew?” I ask again, still relatively shook.
“Yes, that is correct.” Ali affirms and I shake my head imperceptibly to pull myself together.
“In that case I am afraid I can not.” I respond with a swish of my hand and a flippant glance around the room. I can feel Ali’s glare on me the second I turn away.
“Oh? And why is that?” Ali asks, his calm voice finally slipping, giving way to a new tone. One of icy cold anger.
“Because I can not.” I admonish again and I can feel his glare deepening.
“Of course you can, you're the king. You can do anything you want.” He says, his voice still chilly.
“Not when the person in question has broken one of the weighted eight.” I tell him, matching his coldness stride for stride.
“If that were true then you would have executed him immediately.” His voice drops another few octaves and his glare grows colder. I look back at him in order to return it.
“Who says I have not already done so?” I ask just to be cruel and he laughs, actually laughs. What is he? A masochist? I wonder briefly before he starts speaking again.
“I’ve already asked you not to play me for a fool. I know that Jintao is still alive. Who do you think supplies the palace with guards? There isn’t a thing that goes on in these walls that I don’t know about.” I squeeze my hands into fists so hard that the knuckles turn white. Thankfully, by this point my hands have moved under the table and out of sight, otherwise that may have looked bad. I can’t afford to appear so affected by his words. It's un-kingly.
“Insubordination.” I growl at him. “I can have you hung.” Well so much for seeming unaffected. Dumb ass.
“You’re aware that your military has sworn to protect the crown, not necessarily the one wearing it? We may all have pledged loyalty to your father, but no one pledged to you. You a fledgling king with a fledgling army and no experience as a leader.” He leans in a bit closer to me before speaking again. “I’d like to see you try.”
“Is that a threat?” I ask, the room feeling like it has suddenly dropped ten degrees as I stare him down.
“Of course not. I’m not stupid enough to threaten a king in front of so many witnesses.” He says, backing up to his original place. “Think of it as a challenge.”
“A challenge? How am I to see that as a challenge?” I scowl at him when he smiles.
“Let's call it a game of sorts.” Something about the way he says that is very familiar, though I can’t put my finger on it. “My nephew has no doubt proposed one of his own to you, so lets make that more interesting shall we?”
Now that would be why it sounds familiar.
“I have no intention of playing his game, nor yours.” I tell him firmly, but he only smiles.
“Trust me I can make it worth your while.” He says and I give him a suspicious look, though I can’t help but feel a little curious as to what he means.
“I shall give you one minute. If I do not find your proposal profitable by that time, I will have you removed from the command center.” I glower at him, somewhat ashamed at how interested I am in what he is going to say.
“My proposal is this, play whatever game Jintao has proposed. Gain whatever you need to gain, but when the game is over you will release him.” I scowl at him when he says this, but he ignores me in favor of continuing. “If you do this, then and only then, will I and the three hundred thousand troupes currently under my command, pledge our loyalty to you.”
The room feels deathly silent once he finishes and then all at once, everyone begins talking. The loudest of which being Hyppoclytus.
“My lord, have this man thrown out at once. Do not allow this… this scum to sit here patronizing you.” The hippo shouts over the roar of voices and I raise my hand to silence them.
“I will not deny that the proposition is intriguing, but you are asking me to break the laws that have been the foundation of this kingdom for one hundred and fifty years.” I answer and the pudgy sausage man gives me an approving look that sends shivers down my spine. Am I really going to do what Hyppoclytus wants. Well that's disturbing and down right awful. I refuse to do anything that old man thinks is a good idea.
“Then I hope you are prepared to fight because I will not rest until my nephew is free.” Ali rises to his feet and takes a few strides for the door, but I call out to him before he can pass through.
“Very well. I accept your challenge or game or whatever you want to call it.” He stops in the doorway, hand inches away from the knob and turns to me.
Hyppoclytus begins to protest from my side, but I cut him off with a glare.
“Just be sure to hold up your end of the bargain or I will have Min sent to the guillotines faster than you can say decapitation.” I tell him and he laughs before giving me a curt nod.
“A man is only as good as his word and I’ve never been called anything short of a gentleman.” He says before turning back to the door and exiting the room.
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