The God of Jesters
Chapter 279 - 5.03.2 Fight over Henry.

Chapter 279: 5.03.2 Fight over Henry.

Who was he?

It was an answer easy to find if one were to look deeply enough or had their eyes deep into the government of Yethel or anyone with high clearance.

Which was one of the weaknesses that comes with Radiant Eyes.

As said before, they were common folks most of the time, they had no true training or any skills that would give them access to higher-level information.

Not to mention, the purpose of Radiant Eyes was to look and archive any weird events that could be related to curses and then send it to the hands of an active Knight, who in turn would handle the matter, if they could.

Nothing more, and nothing less.

These Radiant Eyes were not truly spies with deep reach. Making it harder for Remira to learn details about an individual as protected as Rashid was.

But then again, one thing that was easier to find out was that Rashid was from Cynark. As no matter how much he tried to hide his accent, it was easier for slips by him as well as those that worked directly under him.

"You don’t seem interested in looking for your old friend?"

After Remira informed Sheva about the fact that she had found the location where Crow now lived. She had thought that Sheva might ask for a visit, just like she had done so before with the orphanage. But it doesn’t seem she was much affected by it.

Of course, it was the easiest thing to find in truth using the Radiant Eyes, who followed the boy home from school after his classes were over.

Blame it on Crow’s action of coming to the market a second time in his school uniform and him being the only dwarf in his class didn’t help him much.

"He was already close to death at that time, and I don’t intend to see how he might be now." That was one reason, the other being, that it can be considered a joke on Remira’s end. They both knew that they couldn’t give themselves away anymore.

Not after so much sacrifice, so much effort to fool Jester’s pawns in this city.

*****

"It seems futile at this point." Looking at the letter that he received from that person, Rashid knew that the longer it went, the lesser his chance would be of finding her. How wonderful it would have been if there was another way.

A kinder way where he didn’t need to put innocent people at risk. But at this point, fate always shows him glimpses of hope before taking it away. It would seem Rashid has no other choice but to use that lamb for his own purpose.

"I need... hmm?" Before he could make up his mind though, he saw that there were a few more words scribbled at the very bottom of the letter. Small in size and written in an apparent dead language.

If it was others, they might not be able to see it or even understand what it means.

But Rashid knew it too well, for he had been forced to learn the language of elves since he was young. "Be leery of the rat, he walks along you."

’A spy among my men?’

’No, it’s impossible, they all are under oath, they can’t betray me.’ It was at this time that Rashid made the biggest mistake in his life.

He considered oaths to be absolute, he never knew that there were various methods to render them useless using some wordplay and proper manipulation if someone is aware of the details in the contract.

’I am acting like a fool, this school is turning my mind into mush, it’s not working as it should.’ His eyes turned blue for a bit as cold air blew through his mind for a bit. Then he looked at the words again.

’A spy, I can’t trust my men... I can’t trust those students. Specifically that new guy. Too many coincidences around him, including his background.’

Isn’t the timing too good?

The moment that woman was going to visit this land, that boy popped up in this town a few weeks ago beforehand. And unlike others like him, who usually go to the city to look for studies or opportunities, he came to live here.

Although it can’t be considered odd that he chose to live here, in cases where outsiders do this, there is always someone in their family who gets work in one of the shipbuilding firms that Phuket was famous for. It’s why they study here.

But Crow’s only family, his foster father, couldn’t even move from what Rashid could recall.

So why choose to live here?

’The only one I can currently trust are those students from old noble families as well as Henry.’

Rashid made up his mind. The window of opportunity was very small and it would be stupid to make a basic mistake as being too much of a coward to not consider putting the sacrifices at minimum.

’If I had known this would happen, I would have stopped Henry from making Crow a friend of his.’

*****

Crow, unaware of the changes that Rashid’s mind has went through lived his life as usual, which was focused around training and studying, then some more training where he could partially transform his arms lankier than normal, almost like a monkey, making him smile with joy, as it meant, although the zoo limited his ability to properly learn about an animal in its natural habitat.

But there was some progress.

He was making progress at a rate which can be considered unprecedented in the eyes of Max, if he was capable of deeper thought than watching his daughter.

’Rashid seems more distant than before.’ It was the third day since Rashid made up his mind. And it was time for Crow to notice something odd.

’Is he on to me?’ Although others in my current friends group might not notice, Rashid has almost stopped any interactions from his end, and if I do try to have a conversation with me. He would use the most optimal and polite way to end that conversation as fast as possible.

So others might not notice it, but he really seemed different than before.

’The timing correlates with the day that Sheva and the Knight disappeared. Is he sad about them?’ Crow wondered for a bit, before shaking his head.

’If that was the case, why would he treat me like this? I had nothing to do with them.’

’Fuck.’

Although he had no concrete proof, Crow had suspicions that he might have been compromised. ’What gave it away?’ He wondered for a bit, before jotting down a note and then putting it between the spaces of his table where two wood beams were connected with a nail.

Generally, he can’t visit Baldar, unless he was called for. So in case he had to given a report or an update, this was the method that Crow came up with.

*****

And Baldar received that information on time.

’With this, we can conclude what is going on.’

Baldar knew that something was odd with Rashid to begin with. It’s not everyday a small part of Team two was on his case, with the current active leader directly overseeing it.

’He is panicked and paranoid for one. He is suspicious of everyone around him for some reason.’ Baldar didn’t know what scared the boy so much, but recalled how the boy had stopped looking for the two women and even taken back his quest in the mercenary hall. One can see that there was something odd going on there.

And with Crow’s little update, it can be seen what it is.

’He is not sure who is the traitor, so he is putting everyone under the finger of scrutiny.

"Inform our little spy, act normal and don’t create drama at the moment."

"Of course sir."

*****

’Life truly is pain.’

They were asking me to remain a mute, a normal member of the society and act my part by being a student.

From their wording, they even suggest giving up my primary mission for now. Though, the more dangerous it was, the more fun it would be.

It was easy to consider from the very fact that they didn’t ask me to abandon the mission, it meant that I was not compromised, not at this very moment at least.

Which would mean there was something odd going with Rashid to begin with. And due to this oddity, he started to treat me and some other students to my surprise, a bit coldly.

Of course, his relationship with Henry and some others remained tight. Specifically Henry, with whom Rashid started to do everything together.

’If you can’t get close to Rashid, just get close to Henry.’

I made up my mind.

If I can’t join in on the crazy things Rashid was going to enjoy on his own, then I will stick to Henry.

Oh Henry, my poor lamb.

"Henry, wanna go out to the fish market to look for her again?" I asked, before pointing at others. "Others are planning on going on another adventure." I was more open than before, no stutters and fear on my face as I now considered them friends. There was no embarrassment while talking to him or others.

That was called growth on my end or one should think of it as adaptation in the environment.

"Bastard just wants an excuse to drink again. At least share some of it with us."

"I just can’t, it’s against the rules. And besides most of you’re only a year away anyways, drink it then."

"A sip won’t make us drunk."

The banter continued, attracting Henry’s attention and he agreed, ruining the little plan Rashid might have made with Henry.