"Alright then, we will see you the day after tomorrow," the elders said as the meeting concluded, and one by one, they began to leave the conference room.
However, just as John was about to exit the room, the chief elder glanced back at him and requested, "Kid, can I see you in my office for a moment?"
"Yes, sir. Of course, you can. But may I ask what it's regarding?" John inquired, nodding with a perplexed expression.
The chief elder sighed and replied, "Aiiiiiishhh, just follow me. No need to ask too many questions." His words carried the weight of age and experience.
"Ah, yes, sir," John acknowledged, trailing behind the elder with a measured pace.
As they left the conference room, Nicholas and the rest of the group awaited the young prince. Nicholas gestured, silently questioning John about his destination. John simply shrugged and shook his head, indicating that he had no idea what the elder wanted to discuss.
Shortly after, John and the chief elder entered the only other room on the fifth floor—the chief elder's office.
The room lacked lavish decorations, but it held a collection of artifacts adorning the walls and pedestals. Most of these were crafted by the elder himself, lending a sense of personal significance. However, what truly caught the eye was the towering stacks of paperwork covering nearly half the room. As they entered, the chief elder coughed lightly and remarked, "I'm sorry for all the paperwork. Being the chief elder hasn't become any easier even after several centuries. Please, take a seat. This won't take too long." He navigated through the piles of documents and settled onto a small sofa positioned at the room's edge. He motioned for John to do the same.
"Whoa, the quality of this sofa is truly remarkable," John exclaimed as he sank into the comfortable seat, his body instantly relaxing. It was evident that he hadn't experienced a moment of relaxation in the past week. But the ease with which he settled into the sofa spoke volumes about its exceptional quality.
The chief elder waved off the compliment. "Ahh well, it's nothing. I made it years ago when I was learning carpentry," he remarked casually.
"Now, never mind that. I have a few things I want to ask you," the chief elder interjected, cutting off John before he could speak further. As he posed his questions, the elder's attention shifted to John's left arm. "That arm of yours, what happened to it? In all my years of life, I have never encountered something quite as unsettling as that… it practically radiates hunger."
"Also, are you truly human?" the chief elder inquired, his gaze fixed on John with curiosity. "I'm sure the others sensed it too, but no one mentioned it. Your body emits an aura that closely resembles that of a dragon or a titan. Could it be possible…are you a hybrid?"
While the chief elder studied John intently, John couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Ayyyyyeeee, how could you even think of something like that? You're old enough to know that dragons and titans cannot reproduce with humans. Our genes and bodies aren't compatible for procreation."
After his laughter subsided, John wore a sad smile and continued, "As for my arm… let's just say it was the price I had to pay for survival. Nothing more."
"I see, I see," the chief elder nodded, his face displaying a mix of understanding and awkwardness as he observed John's somber expression.
Attempting to shift the atmosphere, the chief elder spoke up, "Well, putting that aside, I'd like to take a look at the projects you have planned for your infrastructure initiative. If we decide to accept your offer, I'd like to know what exactly I'll be working with."
"Yes, sir. Here you go," John said, retrieving a copy of the documents Dante had shown to Crassus. "These are the plans my uncle has developed over the years. While there is certainly room for improvement, I believe these plans provide a realistic foundation based on my uncle's insights." John handed the documents over to the chief elder.
"Thank you. It won't take me long to review all of this. Just give me a moment," the chief elder responded as he began flipping through the pages, engrossed in the content.
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After thoroughly reading through the documents, the chief elder began posing questions to John about the infrastructure initiative, delving into the reasons behind certain decisions and offering suggestions for improvement. As they engaged in conversation, both of them lost track of time, and it was only when they realized the evening had arrived that they snapped back to the present.
"Oh my… I lost track of time discussing these matters. Please accept my apologies," the chief elder apologized, returning the infrastructure documents to John. However, the papers now bore numerous red markings, indicating the adjustments and recommendations made by the elder. There were quite a few, to say the least.
"It's no problem, sir. I've learned a great deal from our conversation," John replied, offering a slight bow of his head as he made his way toward the door.
"How old did you say you were again? You don't behave like someone your age. While occasionally displaying childlike behavior, most of your actions, based on my initial impression, exhibit maturity beyond your years," the chief elder remarked, stepping out of his office with John following closely behind.
"Hahahahaha, well, it's somewhat necessary for someone like me to be this way. It would be challenging for a motherless prince to survive in the imperial castle otherwise," John replied with a wry smile, scanning the area for Nicholas and the rest of the group, who had seemingly disappeared.
"I see, I see. By the way, I may have an idea of where your friends were taken," the chief elder interjected, attempting to shift the atmosphere after unintentionally broaching another sensitive topic.
"Oh, really? Where are they, then?" John inquired, a puzzled expression crossing his face.
"No questions, just follow me," the elder replied, leading the way toward the elevator.
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"If I know dwarves as well as I think I do, there is only one place they could have been taken," the chief elder remarked as he and John stood in front of a bustling pub, emanating the sounds of loud shouting and cheering from within.
As they entered the pub, the raucous chorus of "Drink, drink, drink!" filled the air, and a group of people congregated around the counter, cheering with fervor.
After scanning the room for a moment, the chief elder summoned a waiter and inquired, "You there, are the group of people who came with him in here?"
"Oh, Chief Elder, good evening. Yes, they are all here," the waiter replied, pointing towards a sprawled Nicholas and Friedrich on the ground, completely inebriated. "And there is one more person; he's been drinking since he arrived. Honestly, by the amount he can consume, some onlookers began to wonder if he was a dwarf." The waiter gestured toward the center of the crowd, where Hans could be seen downing beer as effortlessly as water.
Stunned, John gazed at Hans, at a loss for words. Sensing the moment, the chief elder commented, "Your butler seems quite skilled in the art of drinking."
"I had no idea my butler possessed such remarkable talent," John chuckled in response.
Approaching Nicholas's intoxicated figure, John called out to Hans, "Hans, enough drinking. Let's go. We need to carry these two back to…" He paused and turned to the chief elder, inquiring, "By the way, where are we staying?"
"Up there," the chief elder pointed towards a flight of stairs on the right side of the tavern.
"Here?" John questioned, his expression reflecting his confusion.
"Yes, here. I'll take my leave now. I have some matters to attend to," the chief elder declared, departing from the tavern and leaving John still gazing blankly at the spot where the elder had stood.
"Hans, pick these two up and follow me. Could someone please show me to my room?" John requested, his voice resonating through the clamor of the crowd. With that, he guided Hans away from the throng, gently lifting Nicholas and Friedrich from the floor.