Cohen of the Rebellion

Trouble Maker part 5

Characters in this chapter:

• Cohen Kheda: The main character.
• Luhrmann: The Prime Minister, a Holy Temple assigned official to Swabia.
• Fischer: Prince of the Swabia Empire, Cohen’s friend.
• Visual Kheda: Cohen’s father, Duke of the Swabia Empire.
• Climos Summers: King of the Swabia Empire.

Half of the hall left for a good while, and I enjoyed by looking at their twisted face and twitching shoulders. Suddenly, I noticed Fischer’s winking eyes. I subconsciously glanced around to find the headmaster was also missing from the hall.

I peered at Fischer with a sincere look and thought at him, “What do you want me to do?”

“Take care of him, or you’ll suffer later…” Fischer fixed his eyes on the ceiling, but his thought traveled through the air into my mind.

“Roger!” I never question any advice from this golden insider. Thus I wandered out and searched for my target while plotting strategy.

I pass through straggling officials who either tempted with laughter or gazed at me viciously and find the Royal Headmaster at a corner.

The old man was standing by a wall, faced with the delicate engravings. He seemed to be struggling with earlier grammar errors and did not notice my presence.

I signed the Royal guards to secure the area.

“What went wrong?” I sneaked behind him and overheard him mumbling, “My wording was right? Or was the problem my tone?”

“You have three sons, right, Mister?” I whispered in his ears, “Are you proud of them?”

He startled and shocked and turned to face me.

“My family affairs are not of your concern.” He said, “Farewell, Your Excellency.”

I glanced and find nobody around, pulled his arms and fixed him on the wall. I then reached a regular pill and forced it into his frightened open-wide mouth then squeezed his throat.

“Taste good?” I made sure he swallowed.

“Yo… you! What did you give me?”

“Regular painkillers.”

“Regular? What is it!”

“The kinds you’ll die if you don’t behave.”

“Oh yeah? Death… won’t scare me.” He straightened up, “If you’ve done what you’ve done then, excuse me.”

“En… don’t look at me like that.” I grinned, “I know it wouldn’t work if you are the only one to take it. As of now, all of your family, including your three sons, are eating this delicious piece of jewel.”

“You!” The headmaster gnashed, “Your Excellency, you are despicable!”

“I had no other way. Who expelled me from the Academy and ended my chance of a decent education.

“What do you want from me?”

“I don’t wanna suffer from today’s fair, and I have to get my money.” I said, “You’ll help me.”

Thus at a hidden corner, two men whispered and conspired secretly under the bright sunshine.

“I see, then why don’t we hear from the Headmaster.” People gathered again in the grand hall, the King said, “Just repeat the words, no need to add an explanation.”

“Your Highness, I’ve done talking.” He looked at his foot and said.

“Cohen Kheda.” The King said, “Why did you curse the Minister.”

“Your Majesty!” I said, “I have to deny his accusation.”

“Reasons?”

“Because I didn’t say anything bad about him.” I cleared my throat, “I said first: ‘Fuck your mama’ which sounded dirty, however, please pay attention, I used ‘your’ the subject. Thus I was only asking a typical question about gossips I've heard on the streets.”

“Is that so?” The King looked to the Headmaster, “What do you say?”

“Now as I recall, Viceroy Kheda’s words did hint a sense of the question.” He leveled his head and with a faceful of helpless look, “Yes, it’s a general form of question.”

“Then… what about ‘old bird’?” The Minister pointed at me, trembled.

“About that, I need to apologize to you. Please forgive me on my wordings. However, I was not saying anything bad about you.” I stated with a smile, “In general, I’ve accustomed to use the word rookie for freshmen who lack experience. An old bird is, on the contrary, I’m complimenting your sophisticated way of handling things.”

“En?” The King asked, “Is that a thing, headmaster?”

“The literal meaning of this, I’d say it’s a proper explanation.” He was threatened by family’s fate, thus gave another favorable answer. He was the headmaster, so others won’t stand to oppose him, leaving the Minister and his people gazed at him with confused and vicious looks.

“Then that, all things are settled.” The King said, “Who's next?”

“Father,” Fischer said, “The Treasurer’s charge on Viceroy Kheda.”

“Okay, Treasurer, you may begin.”

Faced puffed, and covered by a bandage, the Treasurer stepped forward.

“Your Majesty!” He pointed at his face, “I was transferring his money, then he beat me cruelly on the ground!”

“You are indeed severely wounded.” The King then turned to me, “Cohen! How did this happen?”

“Your Majesty!” I knelt beside the Treasurer, “The money you have approved to me, he took half of it!”

“Was it really?” The King fawned, “I don’t think so.”

“It was indeed!” I yelled, “I did everything I could; he would give me only half!”

“He might want to give you half then the other half in a few days.” The King said, “Why on earth were you being such an impulsive man and a hitter!”

“No, it was not! The Treasurer had explicitly said,” I pointed at the Minister, “He’s giving the other half to the Minister!”

“Snap!” King slapped on the armrest, “Minister is a major figure in the empire, don’t you make nonsense!”

“I did not.”

“Treasurer!” The King looked graved, “Is it true, what Viceroy Cohen said about your deeds?”

The Treasurer did not expect things to change this drastically and muted by the King’s question, he answered after a good while, “Ye… yes.”

Then uproar arose between the other officials!

The money, in fact, if given as a renovation fee, made no difference to handing cash to him. However, it will be treated differently if it were given directly to the Minister. It will be corruption. A simple wording choice would make such a huge difference. Now even if the Treasurer alters his evidence as to mansion renovation, who would believe him! The Headmaster of Royal Academy was worthy of his name. He gave me the best idea!

“Minister,” The King murmured, “Start talking.”

“Your Majesty,” Minister said, “I have no idea! I really don’t.”

“Are you saying you don’t know?” My father asked, “Why didn’t he give the money to me?”

“Your Majesty!” The Treasurer has finally realized his fault, “The money was intended for the Minister’s mansion renovation project!”

“My house repairs every year!” Minister yelled, “I don’t need you to worry about my house! You must be drawn to money and wanna fill in your pocket, and you did it with my name!”

“Shit!” I thought. This Minister indeed earned his name. He saw the condition wasn’t right then he abandoned the Treasurer! I have underestimated him. At least it has proven he was a man able to know when to advance and retreat. I need to be careful!

Then everything went as they planned. The current Treasurer became former Treasurer and imprisoned, trial to be dated. The Minister avoided responsibility due to his lack of awareness.

“So to speak, we’ve had a few rough days in the city recently!” The King glanced at me.

Did he want to kick me down the ladder?

“I said you are impulsive, you triumphed that every time.” The King was playing his ring again! Each time he did that someone will get unlucky! In this case, me!

“Arrogant! Extremely arrogant!” The King neglected the stunned look on my face, continued, “You beat up the Treasurer, you beat up the gatekeepers, who knows what's your next target tomorrow. If I indulge you any longer, you might beat me, am I right!”

“Your Majesty!” My father said, “He’s done nothing wrong!”

“He has!”

“NO!”

“I SAID YES!” The King merely roared, “He broke my study chair!”

“Yes!” The Minister echoed with his shining eyes, “Damage royal property is a punishable offense!”

“That was not me…”

“Orders!” He interrupted me, “Get his rat and give him thirty!”

“NOOOO!” I freaked out, “That was not me!”

“Your Majesty!” My father yelled, “Cohen is a civilian viceroy, you can’t beat him!”

“Then, Your Majesty,” I was dragged outside and overheard the Minister’s exciting voice, “You could give him a military position.”

“Might as well, I hereby name Viceroy of Dark City, Cohen Kheda as…” I couldn’t listen clearly from afar.

End