The God of Jesters
Chapter 56 - 2.15.2 A small meeting.

Chapter 56: 2.15.2 A small meeting.

Hearing those words, a flash of panic appeared on the Minister’s face. But it was only there for a second.

"You have put me in a tough situation, old friend." Putting down his drink on the table, he looked toward Kairut, intending to read anything off his face and see how much he knew.

But Kairut gave off nothing.

"So, I would presume I was right?" Kairut smiled finally. Seeing that his shot in the dark really hit.

In truth, he never really was sure of the Minister’s involvement with the group. The only reason he was able to learn about it was through his own investigations and some details he acquired from the Jester.

Which really hit the mark, if he has to say so.

"I would like to learn how you found out about it. But that would be pushing too hard, I presume." The minister knew that there was no use in denying these accusations.

No, he was aware of something going wrong the moment he learned of the fact that a suspicious archmage had arrived at his doors at this time of the day.

So he was already aware of the danger when going into this meeting, which was not unfounded.

But being the financial Minister and having to deal with countless greedy merchants who would always come to him for a private meeting, he had learned that the only way to go is forward and eke out a profit from all the adversity one faces.

Which was currently a mighty powerful Archmage, who appeared like an unassuming old man in front of him.,

"There is no need to presume, I can just let you know. None other than me would have learned about it. So you have kept your traces clean." Kairut didn’t lie, not everyone has access to the Jester’s information network.

A network capable of overseeing the whole city and what goes in it, without a fault.

A network that overpowers even magical contracts.

"Well, I will take you up on that." And the Minister chose to believe Kairut’s words. There was no other reason than the fact that Balok understood that Kairut came here for something.

A product only he can provide his customers.

"Then let’s get back on the topic, old friend." Balok said, while taking out a contract and putting it in front of Kairut. "I would only speak, if you can sign this contract."

Seeing the contract, some past bad memories surfaced in Kairut’s mind. One of which was none other than the Jester and how he had been fooled into turning into his servant.

So he shook his head. "You call me old friend and this is how you treat me?" Kairut denied the request.

He had given the contract a look and he can see that there was nothing beside the need to keep secrecy and some other details of fulfilling obligations. But Kairut was not going to sign it.

There was already a contract over his head that he had come to regret. He doesn’t wish to be enslaved by another one.

Not to mention, with the state of the city during these few days. The obligations mentioned in this contract might just force him to give up his life. And even if the chance of that happening was low, it didn’t mean that Kairut would put his life in the hands of someone else, once again.

"Everyone did it, their conditions were a lot worse than yours as well. This contract is sign of goodwill from me and truth be told, I too am under something similar., Making it impossible for me to speak, unless you come under the contract." Minister Balok explained clearly, his reason for putting forward the contract, as well as the simple fact that he too was unable to speak much about Blue Lotus, unless the other party was already part of it.

The most he could speak was to talk in a roundabout manner, which was needed in front of Kairut, who came here knowing what he wanted.

"You speak of goodwill, but from what I understand, this goodwill will do nothing beside bringing me immense trouble."

"That is the way of the old world friend. We all got to our places by losing parts ourselves."

"Some lose their dignity, some their morales and some even their loved ones." Minister Balok’s eyes turned a bit emotional. Recalling the past for a moment, before he straightened his will and looked at Kairut. "This is the highest level contract with least constraints to follow. There is nothing better than this."

"So, if you want to meet with them, this is the only way to open my mouth."

Kairut was conflicted at this point, what to do. Or so he wanted to let Balok think.

Seeing that there was no way to move forward without the contract, Kairut understood that the time of talking is long gone.

It was then that Balok felt something.

The hand that was holding the fruit drink, loosened up, causing the glass to fall. Then slowly, the Minister felt his entire body turning numb. Even his attempt to cast a spell was broken when he found that his mind was filled with chaotic thoughts. Making it impossible for him to concentrate properly.

"YOu..."

"Don’t you me, I told you clearly what I came here for... not for some contract." Kairut spoke, while a small beetle crawled out of Balok’s back and slowly climbed up to Kairut’s hand.

"This farce really took a long time, your shield was really tough to break. You should feel proud of wasting so much of my time." Standing up from his seat, Kairut looked around the room, ignoring the paralyzed Minister Balok.

"I know you are here... It’s best to not waste anymore time. I don’t have much of it left anyways."

Kairut had no intention to meet with the Minister from the start. Instead, while being aware of his job. Kairut was more interested in the one overlooking the Minister from acting out. Or one could even say, the real recruiter for the Blue Lotus Cult and not a figurehead like Minster Balok.

And like Kairut had expected, a hooded figure did appear from the shadows, hiding from direct sight, which even made it impossible for him to detect him.

Though, his mood was not as calm and collected like Balok, as he had directly aimed his gun toward Kairut’s head.

"Speak, what is your true purpose?"

"Young man, being an assassin. Isn’t it better to hide and shoot me?" Kairut asked, before continuing. "Or the one you are showing is not your real body to begin with?... An illusion? Or a clone?"

Hearing those words, the hooded figure was surprised for a bit, but considering the man he was aiming his weapon at, it was understandable.

Hence he didn’t panic and kept maintaining his aim at Kairut, waiting for his true response. While his real body was taking a better position to end Kairut, in case of any accidents.

"And can’t down, I am not here to fight. There is only one reason an old man like me would look for your society... though, as for the need for a contract. I don’t wish to be treated like your other outer members."

Whether to believe the words to the old man in front of him or not, that was the question.

Not to mention, at this point in time, when soon enough, the double moon would rise in the sky. It would be too stupid to take any chances.

Not to mention, Kairut acted first. Putting their vital chess piece into paralysis.

The assassin even wondered what sort of beetle Kairut used, which was capable of directly penetrating the protective film of a mage’s barrier and inject who knows what into their system.

He even thought, what would happen if Kairut were to summon an army of these beetles. Making him consider Kairut a danger to not just him, but his cause as well.

’He hid too well.’

The beetle did scare him. But not for his own life, which can be reclaimed in his next life, if he lost it here.

Instead, he feared the cause.

As for Kairut’s claims of desire to work with them?

If it was before, he might have taken chances and recruited Kairut. But not now, not when they were so close.

"Sorry, but I have deemed you to be dangerous."

The shadow of the assassin that stood in front of Kairut, spoke while pointing toward Balok, who was dripping saliva from his lips.

"Is it so?" Kairut had no intention to fight here. A fight would attract unneeded attention and there were many after his life. Not to mention, he would soon lose the immunity granted by the city council, the moment his letter of resignation is found out by the Academy staff.

Something he did to give a way for his own descendents, so that they didn’t get involved in the things he is going to take part in.

"Not even when I know what that traitorous information agent of yours is planning?"