In the palace of drassia, prince dustin along with Aldrich,a 8th class swordsmen were waiting for Nathan.

Dustin asks Aldrich, with all this traveling and waiting,I have gotten bored. So why don't we bet on something to reduce our boredom.

Aldrich says,well, I am ready for the bet, but what should we bet on. Dustin with grin says, you know,we are here with goal to bring this guy Nathan to our side,so you tell me how much time it'll gonna take me to achieve my goal.

Aldrich thinks, I heard, this guy Nathan killed his brother,who was supposed to be the next Duke which almost impossible task because his brother was official heir with the support of majority nobles and knights.

So,I think, Nathan wouldn't to be,so simple to persuade. So we might have to stay here for more than a week and use all sorts of methods to convince him to leave 3rd prince and to work with prince dustin.

If I wanted to win the bet,I must give him impossible task. Thinking all this, Aldrich says, prince dustin,if you can convince him within one day, then you win and if you can't then I win the bet.

Dustin smiles and says,well,it seems you have thought this through. Fine, you choosen the bet then I will choose the price. The price is 100 gold coins,do you accept that.

Aldrich thinks, wait 100 coins is my monthly salary, which I have received before coming here. Does that means,he is aiming for them.

Well,no matter,even though I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, I can tell that, convincing that guy in a day would be impossible.

Aldrich says,fine I'll accept it and believe that you won't take back your words. Dustin says, rest assured I won't.

Suddenly, Nathan comes into that room after changing his shirt and politely greets prince and the grandmaster. They also greet him back

Nathan says, sorry for the late arrival. To rectify this mistake,I have prepared a lavishing lunch,so let's go to the dining room first and there we can discuss.

Aldrich was about to say no but dustin stops him and says to be honest I was also a little hungry,so let's go.

Few minutes later the lunch was served to the prince and grandmaster, personally by Nathan because he sent all the maids and buttlers away.

Prince dustin,while eating the lunch says,so you have killed them all,well I'm impressed of your gamble. Nathan with smile says,so it seems,I haven't made a mistake by choosing you.

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Aldrich,spews the food in his mouth and asks,wha .....wha what did say.

Dustin with sheepish smile says, now it's not important what he said. Now it's important that you tell me when are you gonna give me those 100 coins.

Aldrich still in a shock says, wait how is this possible because you neither didn't even persuade him nor did he persuaded you now,still he is ready to work with us.

Nathan says, Grandmaster Aldrich, your words are not accurate because I have persuaded him and he also convinced me even before he came here, not verbally but through actions.

Aldrich angrily says,no you might be deceiving me because you two never met before, so how can you even interact with either words or through actions.

Dustin says, calm down Aldrich because he is telling the truth. He killed his brother ludwin who was very close to my brother Cromwell and also the people who supported Cromwell including vernica family members.

With these actions,he declared that he was not on the side of my younger brother. At that point,I was also in confusion because does he wants side with me or with my little sister Fiona.

Recently vernica family got destroyed along with Eldon,one of the loyal subordinate of Fiona and the person behind this was none other than fire phantom assassin.

With this incident,he not only shown me that he was on my side but he revealed his secret identity of fire phantom and with this,he showed me he trusts me with his life.

Aldrich says, wait wait,I have three questions, firstly how do you know that he is fire phantom and secondly how is his life in danger and finally how can you be sure that he is on your side rather than your big sister Brenda.

Aldrich sighs and says,I already told you he destroyed vernica family who supports my little brother. It was destroyed in the same way,all the families destroyed by fire phantom.

This means either fire phantom is working with Nathan or Nathan himself is fire phantom because he only has the motive. To defeat arch mage Eldon,one must be on the same level and he must be a fire mage and even you can tell who fits that description. That's the answer to your first question.

If I can deduct this, anybody can deduct this,well except for you. Hearing this Aldrich,turns his head to the side with embarrassment.

Dustin continuous, you know that the fire phantom is the most wanted criminal in two Dukedoms,so he will be in danger after exposing himself.

As per my big sister,she has the strongest dukedom backing her,that's why she didn't even try to be friendly with the other three Dukedoms because she didn't need their help.

I think, Nathan also knows about this that's why he choose me. Moreover,if he somehow went to the side of my elder sister,he wouldn't be able to benefit much, due to less demand and more competition for him.

Aldrich questions,fine I accept that he tried to persuade him but when did you persuade him. If you can't explain that then I will think this as a cheating and I'll cancel the bet.

Dustin says, there is no way in hell that this bet gonna get cancelled. I want to explain it but this stake is way too tasty,so mr Nathan gonna explain this.

Nathan says,to be honest,I think prince dustin already explained this. I already made enemies out of prince Cromwell and princess Fiona. Still, nobody made a move against me that can only mean one thing. Somebody with the power equal or stronger to them is stopping them from making their move.

To be honest,it was a very risky gamble for me but I am glad that it paid off and the person who set foot in the palace of drassia was none other than the prince dustin.

But prince dustin,I have few requests before I could wholeheartedly started working with you.