38: Meeting Duke Phoenix (c)

Emilia remained silent, simply listening to Trojan's idea. She had managed to somewhat understand what Trojan was trying to do, but it was too radical.

But it made sense. To save himself, he needed to do it.

"And what do I get out of this?" Duke Phoenix asked.

An agreement was for the benefit of oneself. When Trojan makes an agreement, he would want it to benefit himself first and foremost. The benefit to Trojan was obvious, he wanted to rid himself of the blame.

To Duke Phoenix, what could benefit him?

"With the Royal Family gone, it would be your chance to rule over Ether, you can be the new King," Trojan told Duke Phoenix.

Trojan knew that it was a stretch. Duke Phoenix had never once even been rumoured to try and take the position of King. Trojan could tell the reason why too, because of people like Trojan, pinning blame on the Royal Family.

"I have no interest in things such as power and authority. Being the King does not give me enough of a reason to participate in this," Duke Phoenix answered, waving Trojan's statement aside.

Trojan nodded, hoping he was able to do enough.

"Then in that case, would you like to hear a certain hypothesis of mine?" Trojan suggested.

Emilia prepared for the worst.

"Go ahead."

Trojan prepared himself mentally for whatever was to come.

"The breaking point for this rebellion is the city which was burnt down to the ground. It was the same city which the Phoenix had been sighted, do you perhaps know of this?" Trojan asked.

"Yes, I am aware. Several of my servants have reported to me of the sighting," Duke Phoenix agreed.

"Well, I am sure you know of this. Phoenixes are summoned when there is fire to a massacre where enough lives are lost to produce a Phoenix for a mere moment," Trojan told Duke Phoenix. "I assume not many people knew this, but coincidence does not seem to be the case in this particular event."

"It is true that having a Phoenix summoned by accident is unlikely," Duke Phoenix nodded. "Not many people know of this fact. Only the best of mages as well as myself could know."

"That is indeed the case," Trojan said. "For someone to intentionally summon a Phoenix, and for someone to be able to hide any and all involvement with the event, there could only be a few."

Duke Phoenix gave Trojan a dark look.

"Are you implying that I had summoned the Phoenix?" Duke Phoenix asked threateningly.

"Not particularly, but I can weave the evidence to pin the blame on you, the evidence all seem to point towards Duke Phoenix after all," Trojan told him, risking it.

Duke Phoenix remained calm, which Trojan did not expect.

"I shall give you the next few minutes to finish what you are suggesting before I decide whether you are worth working with," Duke Phoenix told Trojan.

Trojan took a shaky breath before he continued. "I have given the evidence to the Royal Family to pin the blame on you."

"And you are suggesting that we work against the Royal Family?" Duke Phoenix asked, not trusting Trojan in the slightest.

"I make believe that I am working with the Royal Family," Trojan corrected him. "In three days, should I not reach out to them, they will spread the news of your involvement in the fire. So I find it in your best interest that Duke Phoenix does not kill me."

Duke Phoenix tapped one of his rings, not speaking.

"I recommend that we work together before the Royal Family spread this rumour on their own. They have a rather capable mage," Trojan told him.

Duke Phoenix took a few moments to think.

"So you are threatening me?" Duke Phoenix asked Trojan.

"That appears to be the case."

Duke Phoenix let out a small laugh before saying, "Alright, this situation benefits me as well. I shall work with you, so explain how this whole situation will occur."

Trojan started smiling too.

The support of Duke Phoenix almost ensured his plan to work. The only factor left was trying to influence the peasants to do what he needed them to do.

"In three day's time, the Royal Family will publish the rumours blaming Duke Phoenix, so before that time comes, we spread rumours of our own blaming the Royal Family amongst the peasants," Trojan suggested.

It was going to be difficult.

The peasants were convinced that Trojan was the one who was the problem. However, to blame the Royal Family, they needed to be smart about it.

"Does your mage, by chance, specialise in psychological manipulation?" Trojan asked.

"She is."

With two mages that specialised in psychological manipulations, Ash and Domino, they could force the change of mind in some of the peasants.

Have a few doubters in the group, have the doubters spread the rumours, spread the seeds of confusion. In about three days, when they are readily confused, the Royal Family would publish the rumours about Duke Phoenix.

The Royal Family would then look like they were trying to push the blame away from themselves, especially since it occurred after the rumours began spreading.

However, Trojan was keeping something from Duke Phoenix.

Sure, it would have been best for the peasants to instantly storm the Palace. Alastor was a much bigger problem than the Royal Family themselves.

They had to somehow deal with Alastor, and Trojan felt like he knew how to do so.

In the end, what Trojan was doing was not to pin the blame solely on one person. He wanted to create confusion amongst the peasants.

Was the culprit of the fire Duke Phoenix or the Royal Family?

Eventually, there was going to be so much confusion that Trojan's involvement becomes completely forgotten by everyone.

That was Trojan's plan. There would be blood, there would be manipulation, but in the end, he was going to come out on top of the rebellion.