But, of course, the Author’s Path couldn’t easily interfere with him.
So the most accurate question...
"Better than I expected, but harder than I imagined."
Neither one thing nor the other.
Still, it was a gratifying answer for Martin, who smiled, stood up, and grabbed his jacket.
"I was just leaving to go where the members are waiting for me for the mission. Would you like to come with me? Miss Cecily and the rest of the members are there. I think this concerns you too, since you are a Prince," he said.
Ryan got up too, smiling. "That’s what I expected," he said.
"Since we are short-staffed, given that several of our members are on another mission, we need to split up to search for clues. I have obtained information about the investigations being carried out by other organizations, so I already know where not to investigate so as not to run into them. At the same time, we have good information about where to look, since the thieves are still in the city."
Martin Reynolds wore a dark suit with a linen shirt under his jacket. His clothes allowed him to move freely without losing the elegance befitting a minister.
As he spoke to the members of his organization in an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city, he pointed to a map of the city on the wall.
"We will split into three groups and investigate these three areas. The first group will go to this residential area and will consist of Alan, Samira, and Zion. Anything you discover must be reported immediately. Avoid fighting if it is not necessary."
Zion was completely covered from head to toe, a man of few words who hated being put on a mission with Alan, so he seemed to sigh.
’Taking care of the Myers again.’ He felt frustrated; he already felt like a babysitter, but he understood it was their best combination.
"The second group..." Martin Reynolds spoke again. "Miss Cecily, Samuel, and Ninth Prince Ryan will go to study the abandoned area after the breach appeared. For safety reasons, I will personally lead this mission," he said.
Given the danger of the place, even if Cecily and Samuel were in the group, it was necessary for Martin to go with them, as they couldn’t let a prince die.
That might be favoritism, but everyone understood this would happen. Besides, with a prince in their ranks, the kingdom would give them more resources, which was important in a world where Evigheden was the only kingdom.
By the way, this has not been big news socially. Given the immense power wielded by the Kingdom at this time, many already took it for granted that it would happen sooner or later.
"The third group has only one mission: investigating the city gates. Old Roy, I want to put you in charge this time," said Martin.
A gray-haired old man with a rather large beard nodded gently. "Hahaha, we’re suspecting that the guards might collude, right?" His laugh and voice were gratifying; he seemed like the grandfather of the group, someone you would surely like from the first time you met him.
"Yes. The presence of powerful and strange beasts leads us to believe that certain groups of guards are in contact with the leaders of those beasts. The beasts alone would not steal something so important, so they must have a mastermind." Martin replied.
"Oh..." The old man’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Did you find out what they stole?" he asked suspiciously, noticing something in his words.
Martin remained serious before answering. "Royal secret. I can only say that it’s a great treasure and has nothing to do with gold as a mineral."
"Tsk. Will you at least let me drink alcohol?" Roy asked, revealing annoyance in his gestures.
Martin sighed when this question came up. "You can drink, but don’t give the young ones a drop. Do you understand me, old alcoholic?" He scolded him.
Roy immediately smiled, and his mood changed. "Count me in then. If we recover it, I hope you’ll let me take a look. It might have secrets that will help me in my research." As he said this, he took out a bottle of high-proof alcohol and began drinking as he always did.
"Don’t get your hopes up. Many people are looking for this treasure. If we find it, it will be a blessing because the reward is great, but if not, it will just be a waste of time," Martin replied.
"Let me have some hope at least, you stubborn old man, tsk." Roy complained, though smiled. "See you later, leader." And he looked at the members Martin hadn’t named, knowing he would go with them.
"Let’s go, guys, it’s time for an adventure, hahahaha."
They were mostly young, but the cream of the current generation. They rolled their eyes at his enthusiasm, but they followed him closely.
"See you, Leader Martin." Alan said goodbye casually and glanced sideways at Ryan. "Be careful out there, little prince. The bad guys might be hot on your heels."
"I hope you do well, Ninth Prince." Samira said goodbye with a smile, almost apologizing for Alan’s words.
Zion had to follow behind them, like a good babysitter, ensuring that these guys, especially Alan, didn’t turn the mission into a disaster.
"Let’s go. We have a long night ahead of us." Martin led the way in a carriage pulled by ordinary horses.
They were disguised so that they would be difficult to recognize, because this was a complicated mission.
While riding in the carriage, Cecily threw a tantrum after learning that Ryan would travel ahead with Martin, and she had to go in the wagon with Samuel.
To begin with, where was the logic in the Ninth Prince being the one in charge of the horses?
Samuel should have done it!
But it was something Ryan himself decided, so she had to resign.
"Are you worried about the Ninth Prince?" Samuel asked, looking at Cecily, who was curious to hear what Ryan and Martin were talking about.
Samuel was a relatively older man, around 35 or older. This content belongs to novel·fire·net
He looked upright in manner and stature, and was the third most senior member available, behind only Martin and Roy.