Reis may have just figured out another reason why he was sent here. Here, as in, this specific office.
"Good morning, Your Highness. It's been a while since we had the chance to meet."
The old man, Sir Phineas, made it sound as if they were long-lost friends reuniting after a decade.
But it had only been a month. 'Ann' had an encounter with them involving a very tall wall, a very short rope, and loss of dignity while trying to run away for the nth time.
A month was a long time of peace, considering the third prince caused something every other day. This man was the one in charge of catching him.
"Please have a seat," Phineas gestured, "Let's have some tea."
Reis took a seat, but Adonis didn't. His eyes darted around the room before finally landing on the walls.
"Sir Phineas, why do you have so many pictures in your office?"
Priorities.
There were many pictures in this otherwise unadorned room. It naturally seemed weird to Adonis because magic cameras cost a lot and the pictures weren't…pleasing to the eye.
"You noticed." The old man's voice was a mixture of a gentle and a knowing smile. "Prince Ann never bothered to ask. He was usually too busy looking for the nearest window."
Reis ignored the jab. He knew the art of the 'indirect diss' well enough to know exactly when to shut up and sip his tea.
Adonis had never been to this office before. In contrast, 'Ann' had been dropped here so many times throughout his childhood to his teen years that he probably had a favorite chair.
He didn't.
|The chairs here would not be his choice.|
"I've been in this office for thirty years," Phineas said, leaning back. "I've poured my blood, sweat, and soul into it."
He was just a field-level employee when he joined. Now he was in charge of the whole office. Back then, this office only caught and detained criminals. Now they were responsible for the investigation, interrogation, and security planning, along with the full responsibility of law and order, minus judging.
Time sure flies.
He knew emotional manipulation was useless on the Third Prince. A few years ago, he'd given a heartfelt lecture about how 'Ann's escapades created mountains of paperwork for underpaid guards.
Ann had simply looked him in the eye and told him to ask the King for a raise.
But the youngest prince was different. His eyes glowed with curiosity.
"Even so," Phineas continued, his eyes cloudy with feigned sentiment, "There were people I never managed to catch. I keep their pictures here to remind myself of my failures."
'If you had time to take a photo, you had time to tackle them,' Reis thought. That seemed more logical to him.
"But..." Adonis leaned forward, pointing at a frame near the center. "There's a picture of brother Ann there."
". . ."
|You have learned the Skill: 'Keep It Down.' You no longer spit out tea when receiving a psychological shock.|
Thank god, Reis thought, gulping the hot liquid down and barely maintaining his poker face.
Sure enough, there was a moderate-sized portrait of 'Ann' prominently displayed on the wall of shame. He wouldn't have seen it if Adonis hadn't pointed it out.
"Ah, you noticed?" Phineas smiled, fixing his glasses. It was the smile of a fox. "I got that one from His Majesty himself. We always have such a hard time tracking the Prince down; I figured the staff needed a reference."
Reis didn't know whether to be proud or embarrassed. It wasn't his achievement, but now it was his burden to bear.
"Enough of the trip down memory lane. Just tell us what we're doing here. I'm sure father hasn't lost his mind entirely enough to put us in charge of anything. Let's get this over with so we can leave."
Phineas's smile widened, making Reis want to look anywhere else. This man was a fox in human skin indeed. How else would he have taken care of this office?
He slid a stack of documents across the desk, already signed and sealed.
"We were ordered to reinforce the palace security. I wish to ask you for help."
Reis blinked. This time, his practised unbothered expression faltered. "Help? With what?"
"It would be wonderful if you could map out the security gaps," Phineas said, his eyes twinkling.
|Task: The thief knows more about the lock than the key does: Active.|
'I hate you.'
He hated how the system was translating the underlying intentions. They really wanted him to reveal Ann's hard work of many years.
King Aldric wanted to put all their best qualities to use. How else would it be a fair fight?
But that was also the only advantage he had on him.
"The office still isn't prepared since we were only informed yesterday, but it will be ready by tomorrow," Phineas added, his tone far too pleasant. Too promising.
"What makes you think I'd agree?"
"The council will increase your training in that case."
Damn it. This was the easiest task he could have. Giving away his own benefits just to get out of a lesson...
Reis didn't want to overestimate his own intelligence, but it wouldn't be impossible. Or, he could just half-ass it and not reveal all of his cards.
|Palace security will be compromised in the future in that case. Choose wisely.|
|It can also improve your credibility and trustworthiness within the palace.|
Hmm...
"Fine then."
Phineas turned to Adonis. "Since your highness will be returning to the academy, you don't need to take a separate task. Just help him with his."
"Alright."
"Also," the old man rescued another file from the drawer. "There is one more thing. A personal request."
Reis froze, his tea halfway to his mouth, which he was drinking to avoid the old man. The steam fogged his vision.
They were already asking a professional escape artist to count on the bars on his own cage. Now this man wanted him to do more.
"No."
"At least hear me out, Your Highness. It's just some interrogation."
"I'm not doing it," Reis repeated, "And I already told his majesty, I'd rather do anything else. Don't push it."
"I see."
Phineas let out a long, theatrical sigh. He looked at the portrait of Ann on the wall, then back to Reis, wearing an expression of profound disappointment.
"Looking forward to your help, your highness."