The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 40 : Secret of the North

"Thanks. So, I am the enemy of the Nobles?" Drabert commented drily as he with his elder cousin.

"Stop acting cute and come to the secretariate so you can see your new office. The media is searching all over the place for you, incidentally. They even have your photo." Julien replied with a smile. On the video feed he could see Drabert was not really worried.

"What do you actually need me to do?"

"Start with an investigation into the entire ministry, and I want you to get the best of the analytics you know from your dad's team. Put them to work. We need to trace the threads out and find some bad guys."

As he cut the call, Drabert saw a message from his father and called back, "Governor? I am sorry I missed your call. I was talking to the Crown Prince."

"Do you have to always be formal Drabert? You now have an impressive position. Any way, Congratulations. I know Julien gave the position because you are his brother. But you need to deliver. Or you will be in trouble."

"Governor! You never give me any credit, do you? You think Julien gave me the position because of nepotism? You don't think I have any skills?" he retorted hotly.

"Son, I know exactly why he gave you that position. It's because he needed someone he could trust and because your name will be accepted by the Emperor immediately. And yes, because he knows the public will be intrigued with the youngsters like you, hoping you will take action. What they do not realise is that you people know nothing!"

"I do not need to sit here and be insulted by you!"

"You need to listen to me if you do not want to be insulted by the Emperor and by every member of the Nobility! You think you are very big and powerful just because Julien is asking for your help? You are my son, so I know you can't be stupid. Just think! What do you know about Finance? Do you realise that Finance Minister has quit? You may even become the de-facto Minister. You are on thin ice! You are primed for failure and walking into a trap. You will drag Julien with you. I cannot allow that." Jules Lidwig replied calmly.

Drabert knew what his father was saying was true. He knew nothing of all this. Playacting was fun, but now this was reality. When Julien first discussed with him at Ci'gazze, they were talking in vague terms of a 10-year plan. Suddenly they landed in the middle of the crisis.

"Bring Julien here, right now!"

"NOW? What do you mean now? You think Julien is still a 10-year-old that you can send me to fetch him and he will come running with me?"

"You do not know Julien then, Drabert. He has gone far ahead of you. He knows what's at stake. I can bet he will not refuse." Said Governor Jules and cut the connection.

... ...

About 90 minutes later, a battered old fighter jet landed at Romaska airport and went into a parking slot inside a hangar at the deserted end of the airport. The pilot and the passenger got off, took off their flight suits and picked up their small backpacks. They swiftly changed to leather riding jackets, the kind worn by the young college kids and biker gangs. They got on to a large motorbike and rode off out of the airport, getting lost in the normal traffic.

Above them, military jets doing some complicated flight manoeuvres suddenly turned and zoomed off to some other destination.

Drabert could not believe that Julien actually dropped everything and walked off as soon as Drabert told him that his father had called. He had always believed that his father was an outcast from the Royal Family, looked down on by others, banished far from the Capital. Julien had not visited their home for almost 5 years. When Drabert wanted to spend time with Julien, he had to come to Regis or Ci'gazze.