The kid

The servants started looking at each other, trying desperately to think of reasons why they should be kept alive. However, it seemed like they couldn't think of one. To be honest, I'm disappointed. Like, I thought they would at least be able to give me one reason. However, it just seems like they're useless. But that doesn't mean that I'm gonna kill them or anything. I'd much rather not have any more blood in my hands at this point.

Anyhow, all of a sudden, a rather young looking guy, I guess you could call him a kid at this point, raised his hand. "Yea, you. Go on. I'm curious as to what reason you're gonna give now."

"The poison." He mumbled.

I don't know if it's just my reflex acting out or whatnot, but the moment I heard the kid say poison, I lost all my rationale. I grabbed the sword from the hilt of Jerome, who thankfully seemed to go with the flow at that point. And because of that, I found myself pointing the sword at the kid's neck the very next second.

"Choose your next words very carefully." I muttered.

Even when death seemed really close to him, he didn't flinch for some weird reason. Instead, I was the one getting chills at that point.

The kid sighed. "I know who did it and who ordered that person to do it. And I know what they have planned next if this wasn't going to work." He spoke.

"What is the kid talking about?" The servants around me were murmuring to each other like crazy at that point.

I couldn't help but sigh at that point. "Jerome?" I turned towards him and threw his sword at him, which he caught quite gracefully.

"Yea?" He asked.

"Kill everyone else in this room except this kid. And after that, lead this guy to my room." I spoke.

"Ok, I will order the guard to do so." He nodded his head as he replied.

"My Lord, I know about the poison as well." When they heard my verdict, many of the servants raised their hands and screamed as if they knew what was going on when they clearly didn't.

"Oh, do you now? Then why did you wait until the kid opened his mouth, huh? Cut the crap and just die now." I replied, before leaving the room.

I don't know how he got it done, but I saw Jerome in my room with the kid after exactly five minutes. Like, did he kill all those people himself or did he make others do the deed? Who knows? But the fact of the matter is that everyone that I ordered to be dead is dead now and that in itself is a plus.

"My Lord, can I speak to you in private?" Jerome used formal speech as he said that, so I guess it's important.

"Yea, sure. Kid, step out of the room for a moment." I turned towards the kid and ordered him.

"Yes, my Lord." The kid bowed down before swiftly leaving the room.

And once the kid left, Jerome gave out a sigh. "What the hell is that kid?" He mumbled.

"Huh?" I was a bit confused when I heard that question.

"Oh, it's nothing. Anyhow, I don't get it. You were planning to make all of them your spies, right?" He asked.

"First of all, I decided on that the moment they heard about the poison. Yea, they're not gonna make it alive after that. Also, they're not cut out for it. And I feel like there weren't any major spies there other than the kid. But the fact that he is just a kid… Ugh, I feel like there's a slight chance that I made the wrong choice." I muttered.

"Nah, man. You made the right choice, if you ask me. That kid. There's something seriously wrong with him." He spoke.

"What do you mean?" I was curious at this point, so I straight up asked him.

"Well, he… He just lacked basic emotions, if you ask me. Like, we killed all those people right in front of his eyes and yet he showed no emotions. None!" Jerome cried.

"A trained spy, huh? I mean, it makes sense. Like, no one would suspect a kid being an expert spy, right? Which begs the question, why the hell did he reveal about the poison to begin with? I mean, to be honest, his presence was so small that he could've easily saved his ass out of this predicament. And yet he threw himself out there." I spoke.

"Maybe it's cuz he was worried for his life or something?" Jerome asked.

"Nah, that will never be the case? Why? I pointed a sword right at his neck and yet he showed no reaction. And that means that he just doesn't care about dying. Which means that he has some sort of ulterior motive. Now, what would that be?" I asked back.

"Well, the only way we get the answer for that is if we let the kid in, right?" Jerome asked.

"True." I nodded my head in agreement. "Get him in then."

Jerome gave out a thumbs up before leading the kid in.

"My Lord." The kid bowed in front of me yet again. Jerome was right. The kid really lacked expressions.

"Kid… What's your name?" I asked.

"It's Reeve, my lord." He replied.

"Reeve, huh. Be honest with me now. Out of all the people out there, you were the one who could've easily escaped from this situation. And yet you just put yourself in like that. Why? I feel like you've got an ulterior motive. What is it?" I asked.

"My lord, I would've died no matter what if you had spared me. My owner—previous owner is quite a meticulous man. He would've killed me once he learns that you started killing spies and yet I was spared." He replied. "And ulterior motives… Well, I do have an ulterior motive behind my action, my lord." Reeve spoke.

#