In the heart of the bustling Bailey Kingdom, where the morning sun painted the cobblestone streets with a golden hue, stood a handsome and charismatic figure. Clay Bailey, the Crown Prince of the Bailey Kingdom and a proud Bamborean, cuts a striking figure as he strides through the castle courtyard. His piercing gaze holds a mixture of intelligence and determination, a testament to his upbringing as a noble ruler.
As the Crown Prince, Clay enjoyed a relatively relaxed daily schedule, with mornings dedicated to absorbing knowledge in history, warfare, and diplomacy through scholarly sessions or honing skills through military drills. By noon, he attended royal courts or assisted in the kingdom's administrative duties. At dusk, he usually participated in ceremonies or banquets held by nobles.
Today, Clay underwent his morning military drill, led by one of Bailey's esteemed Military Generals. As he trained, he turned to the General and inquired: “General, is it true that Bailey needs to permanently relinquish control of the Aran mine to avert a full-scale war with the Elvira kingdom?”
The General paused, contemplating deeply before responding: “Your Highness, we're discussing the Elvira Kingdom's heirloom, the Orb Converter. Even if we were to surrender the Aran mine to Elvira, there's still a possibility that war will ensue.”
Clay's expression darkened amidst the din of training, his movements never faltering. “That cunning Kaito has truly brought us a world of trouble! What course of action do you recommend, General?”
The General shook his head solemnly, his voice cutting through the noise of the drill. “We must take proactive steps to apprehend that traitor swiftly! DO NOT TRUST ANYONE; the allure of the artifact is just too great!”
Clay then turned to the General, concern etched on his face. “Think any other nobles might stab us in the back for that artifact? And who's taking charge of the hunt, General?”
The General's expression tightened. "Can't discount the possibility. Your cousin, Colonel Meriam Reid, is taking the reins!”
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Upon hearing Miriam's name mentioned, Clay halted his drill momentarily. "What? Sister Meriam wouldn't betray the kingdom. I know her well! We grew up together, and she has always been there for me."
The General's response was swift and direct: “Don’t be naive, your Highness. While Colonel Meriam may be loyal, her mother, Duchess Sophia, holds significant influence. And there are also other nobles, lurking in the shadows, eager to seize the artifact for their own gain.”
Clay's brow furrowed, his mind racing with the implications. "But you are right General, we can't just stand idly by and let other decide the fate of the kingdom! We need to act swiftly and decisively," he insisted, his voice laced with determination.
The following day, Clay approached his father, the king, determined to lead the mission to retrieve the stolen artifact. Despite initial reluctance, the king found himself compelled by Clay's unwavering determination. Thus, Clay was entrusted with the responsibility of leading a platoon of soldiers to watch over the Fujimoto residence, creating an atmosphere where the residents felt like hostages. Meanwhile, Colonel Meriam embarked on the pivotal mission of tracking down General Fujimoto.
After months of guarding the Fujimoto residence, Clay found himself using General Fujimoto’s chamber as his sleeping quarter. Unexpectedly, he noticed suspicious activity across the lake as Hikaru activated a hidden mechanism to access the chamber he was currently staying. Reacting swiftly, Clay directed his soldiers to secure the area where Hikaru had entered, determined to uncover the truth behind the clandestine activities.
Not long after, Clay heard a noise emanating from beneath the chamber floor. Hastily, he concealed himself inside the closet, surreptitiously observing the activity within. From his covert vantage point, he witnessed Hikaru retrieving a silver flask and stowing it in his hip pouch. After Hikaru left by retracing his steps, Clay promptly ordered some soldiers to guard the chamber. He then joined another group of soldiers stationed at the hidden entrance Hikaru had used.
Once Hikaru emerged from the hidden door, Clay apprehended him and placed him in the holding facility inside the basement of the Fujimoto residence. He then instructed his subordinate to retrieve Hikaru’s file from the BCMA (Bailey Central Management Agency). Clay reviewed Hikaru’s file, which contained only basic information about him. After he had nearly finished reading all the information, he instructed the guard to escort Hikaru to the interrogation room.
Clay first asked Hikaru about how General Fujimoto recruited him. Although this information was already recorded in the file after Hikaru was apprehended by the Bailey Military, Clay needed to verify if Hikaru was being truthful. Next, Clay began to ask Hikaru more probing questions, which he answered flawlessly. Hikaru even divulged details about the mission and the flask without being prompted. Originally, Clay planned to test Hikaru's honesty about his mission, given that he already knew what Hikaru had taken from General Fujimoto’s chamber. If Hikaru lied, Clay planned to prosecute him on the charges of aiding a fugitive and orby experimentation. But seeing Hikaru was being truthful, he decided to give him a second chance.
Clay took the flask and instructed one of his subordinates to analyze it while he continued the interrogation. After a while, his subordinate discovered that the flask was of no use to their mission and shared the news with him. Yet, as Clay's gaze shifted to Hikaru, an idea dawned on him: 'I can use him to obtain the artifact,' Clay thought, 'and if I acquire it, I can secretly wield its power to my advantage before returning it to the Elvira Kingdom to prevent a full-scale war.' Therefore, Clay struck a deal with Hikaru, outlining all the intricate details of their covert mission together.