Chapter Twelve: The Swindler Akman

  "Waiter, who is that man?" Javier asked, pointing at the man as the waiter served the dishes.

  The servant said with disdain, "That man, his name is Akman. He used to be a noble, but he's been stripped of his title long ago and now makes a living by cheating and deceiving people."

  "He said his uncle was the Minister of Internal Affairs, is it true?" Javier asked again.

  The servant nodded: "This is indeed the case, but because of his vicious style, the Minister of Internal Affairs has long since ignored this nephew."

  Javier said: "Then bring him over."

  "This..." The waiter said in surprise: "Sir, are you serious? That guy is a swindler."

  "It doesn't matter, just bring him over." Javier insisted.

  The waiter opened his mouth as if he wanted to persuade him, but in the end, he just sighed and said, "Well, since you insist..." and walked towards the door.

  Over there, two waiters at the door rolled up their sleeves and were about to drag Akerman away by force. The waiter who had whispered something in their ears earlier looked back at Raymond's table with a few others in surprise.

  "Why did you invite him over?" Raymond asked in puzzlement.

  Javier smiled: "Aren't we worried that we can't understand Gaspard's current situation? I think maybe we can get some news from him."

  "But didn't you hear what the waiter said? That guy is obviously a swindler." Hillnis couldn't help but say.

  Freddie said coldly, "What's the big deal? Whether it's trash, scum or a swindler, they all have their uses. It just depends on whether you know how to use them."

  "Alright, I'll never be able to communicate with this guy." Hillnis spread his hands.

  At this time, the waiter led in a man named Akerman and pointed at Javier: "It's this gentleman who wants to see you."

  "I told you, you can't stop me." Akman said with a smirk to the waiter, then without waiting for Javier's response, he plopped himself down in the chair across from him.

  "Hey, I'm saying, how come it's taking so long?"

  "What?"

  Akerman said slowly: "I mean, how come you're so slow to call me in, I almost got driven away by those guys."

  "Do you know I'll call you in?" Javier hesitated.

  Akman smiled and did not answer, but instead reached for the bottle of wine that the waiter had just brought: "Ah, Marzemino wine, it's been a long time since I've tasted it."

  Freddy pushed the bottle away with his hand and said in a low voice: "Answer the question."

  Akerman withdrew his hand with a completely natural air: "What did you think I was yelling about in the restaurant entrance?"

  Javier was finally surprised: "Are you intentionally trying to get our attention?"

  Akman smiled complacently and said, "To be honest with you, I've been paying attention to you since you entered the inn. That's why I deliberately caught your attention at the door just now, because I knew you'd definitely be interested in me."

  "It's a good thing you spoke up before I was kicked out, your performance is pretty good, otherwise it would have been really disappointing."

  It's obvious that he was able to get in here because of Javier, but now he speaks as if he's testing everyone. This person is really ridiculous.

  Javier, however, showed a rather interested expression: "Why are you so sure I'll be interested in you?"

  Akman wagged his finger: "Let me guess, mysterious rich people, high-profile behavior, choosing to come to Orlate at this time...hmm, I think you're a group of people who are taking advantage of the king's death and looking for opportunities, but are struggling to find a way in, right?"

  Ignoring the astonished expressions of everyone, he continued: "So, you need someone who can help you understand the current situation and even help you break through the obstacles? Otherwise, you wouldn't have called me in immediately after hearing that my uncle is who he is."

  At last Akhman pointed at himself: "Well, I must congratulate you all, for I am the very man you are looking for."

  "Oh, now I agree with you." Hillnis whistled and said to Freddy, "A swindler indeed has some talent too."

  "Haha, Mr. Akman is really a very interesting person." Javier also laughed.

  "Well, now I can have a drink, right?" Akman licked his lips and reached for the bottle again with great eagerness.

  "No way." But Freddy moved the bottle again.

  Just as Akman looked at Freddy with a surprised face, Javier had already turned around and said: "How can such wine be worthy of Mr. Akman? Come on, bring me the best wine you have here."

  As Javier carelessly tossed the Maram wine aside and poured a glass of the most expensive wine in the store, which he had never drunk even when he was still a nobleman, Akman muttered in an almost imperceptible voice.

  "I... seem to have really caught a big fish."

  "What's going on?"

  Akerman savored a sip of wine, enjoying the feeling of the mellow liquor unfolding on his tongue. Ah, I didn't think I'd be able to drink such good wine in this lifetime.

  "With his eyes closed, he finally said: 'The assassination of King Fagana will have the worst impact on Gasper. Now people are in a state of panic at home, and no one knows what will happen next. After all, other countries have been eyeing us for a long time, and who knows if they will take advantage of the turmoil after the king's death to attack us.'"

  "But that's still not the worst."

  "Oh?" Seeing Ackman intentionally pause for a moment, the cunning Javelin, who didn't know his tricks, cooperated and asked: "What's the worst that could happen?"

  As expected, Ahkman felt refreshed all over his body. This person was generous and knew how to coordinate with himself, truly a rare treasure.

  "He continued: 'The worst impact is on the issue of royal succession.'"

  "Are you suggesting our children will fight over it?" Freddie's eyebrow shot up.

  "Not descendants, but uncles and nieces." Akman said.

  "The uncle refers to the younger brother of King Fagana, Prince Udina. As for the niece, it is the only daughter of His Majesty, Princess Sofia. Since His Majesty passed away suddenly this time and did not have time to designate a successor, the problem arises."

  Javier frowned slightly and said: "Shouldn't it be the king's children who inherit the throne?"

  Akman nodded: "That's what people say, but first, Princess Sofia is still young, and secondly, there has never been a precedent for a queen to ascend the throne in Gasper's history. So now many people hope that Prince Udina can be promoted to succeed the throne, because the country currently needs a more mature and stable king to stabilize the situation."

  However, there are also many people who hope to maintain the orthodox successor, so they are currently competing fiercely.

  It never occurred to Gaspard that he was still singing there, Raymond asked: "So what about the attitude of those two people?"

  Akerman shook his head: "Prince Udina originally also supported his niece, but he couldn't withstand the persuasion of so many people. According to internal news, he has already been somewhat moved by this. Among them, the one who most supports him inheriting the throne is Prime Minister Duke Charles."

  "It's unclear about Princess Sofia though, she has always been less visible in public and a bit mysterious. However, there will inevitably be some trouble." he said finally.

  The man in black indeed had some connections. Javier asked again: "Then who did each country send to mourn this time?"

  Akman counted on his fingers, introducing them one by one: "The first to send someone was, of course, the Kingdom of Dirg, which never gave up on annexing Gasparde. Their prince, Renard, came. This guy is called 'Mad Prince' in Dirg and has been active everywhere these days, not hiding his delight at the death of King Fagana."

  Next was the representative of the Gordana Prairie Alliance, the Gordana Prairie is an ally of Gasperd, and Dirk is a mortal enemy. The one who came was Guder, the chief of the largest tribe on the prairie, the "Wind Wolf Tribe". He also brought a group of half-human horse warriors from the most mysterious part of the Gordana Prairie. Lately, they have been having friction with Dirk's people almost every day.

  "Centaur?" Raymond asked curiously, this was his first time hearing of such a race.

  Akman said with a strange tone, "Don't you know? Centaurs are a humanoid species that only live on the Gordan Prairie and rarely leave it, so they're hardly seen anywhere else on the continent. Those guys are extremely brave and are the strongest warriors of the Gordan Prairie."

  He continued, "The third to arrive was the Ravit Trade Federation. They are also allies of Gasperad and have sent a heavyweight representative, Sonari Central Council Vice Chairman and merchant Lorain."

  Upon hearing the name of the Ravierte Federation, Ramon and others immediately showed a cautious expression towards this great enemy.

  Akman indeed had some skills, he observed and inferred, but didn't say it out loud, only saying: "Ah, right, I heard that the Ravite Federation is supporting Princess Sofia."

  Finally, he said: "And lastly, the representative of the Crot Empire who arrived just today. But unexpectedly, it was those divine sticks from the Sidonis Church who came."

  "Does anyone know who's coming?" Freddie wondered.

  Akman shook his head: "They just arrived, and the messenger was mysterious, so no one knows who it is. But judging from the fact that they are escorted by the famous Divine Punishment Knights, it's clear that they are not ordinary people."

  "Hasn't anyone from the Croft royal family come?" Raymon asked, knowing a thing or two about the internal strife within Croft.

  "This is what's incomprehensible. Given that the Croft royal family has always been vying with the Sidonis church for control of the country, they would let the Sidonis church take the lead in something as symbolic as mourning Legaspi."

  "There are only two possibilities here: either the Sidonians have gained the upper hand in their struggle for power, or they have reached some sort of compromise with each other."

  "You don't seem to like this church," Javier asked.

  "Who would like those war maniacs who claim to be acting in the name of God?" Akman shuddered: "No, it should be said that no one on the entire continent of Veronika likes them. Good heavens, let them continue to consume each other, otherwise the other countries on the continent will suffer."

  "Alright." Akman patted and said: "I've already told you what I know, of course it's free, just consider it a return for this bottle of fine wine."

  "So, you all came to find me, definitely not just to know this information that can be figured out with a little inquiry?" Akman drank the beautiful wine in his cup in one gulp and stared straight at Javier: "Speak, what do you want me to do?"