Once summoned by the king, Sig was led into a lavish room where the king, three princes, an advisor, and a general stood waiting. The air was tense, and Sig could sense that there was a serious issue at hand.
"I am at your service, Your Majesty," Sig said as he bowed respectfully.
The king spoke first. "I have summoned you here, investigator, because I suspect that there is a traitor among us. Someone in this room has been leaking sensitive information to our enemies, and I need your help in identifying who it is."
Sig listened carefully, his senses on high alert. "Please tell me everything you know about the situation."
The advisor spoke up next. "We are in the midst of negotiations with our neighboring kingdom to form an alliance. However, it seems that they are aware of our every move and strategy, even before we have had a chance to implement them. This has been going on for some time now, and it is causing a great deal of concern for our security."
The general added, "It is not just the negotiations that are at risk. Our troop movements and battle plans have also been compromised. We suspect that there is a spy among us, but we have not been able to identify who it is."
Sig nodded thoughtfully. "Can you tell me more about the suspects? Why do you suspect that someone among you is a traitor?"
The king replied, "The leaked information is limited to those who have access to it. The soldiers have been kept out of the loop, and our staff have been thoroughly vetted. That leaves only us in this room."
Sig turned to the advisor. "Can you tell me when the last time the sensitive information was shared?"
The advisor replied, "It was yesterday morning that the information was provided to all of those present in the room."
Sig nodded and turned to the general. "When did the enemy find out about the information?"
The general replied, "It was yesterday night that the enemy found out."
Sig considered this information carefully. "May I ask everyone here for their alibis? What were you doing yesterday after you received the information?"
One by one, Sig questioned everyone in the room, including the princes, the advisor, and the general. The conversations were tense and the answers were not always satisfactory, but Sig remained composed and focused.
However, the investigation was not easy. The castle was bustling with people, and Sig had to sift through a lot of irrelevant information. He spent hours questioning staff members, trying to find any clues or inconsistencies in their stories.
As Sig was questioning one of the cooks, he heard a commotion outside the room. He stepped out to find the princes engaged in a heated argument.
"What's the commotion about!?" Sig commanded, trying to regain control of the situation.
The youngest prince, Charles, turned to Sig. "We don't need your help, investigator. We know who the traitor is."
Sig was taken aback. "Who is it?"
The middle prince, Thomas, a small, wiry man, spoke up. "It's the advisor. He has been acting suspiciously and has been missing from important meetings."
The advisor, who had followed Sig outside, protested. "That's ridiculous! I have been working tirelessly for this kingdom, and I would never betray it."
The middle prince pulled out a letter. "We found this in the advisor's room. It's from the enemy kingdom, thanking him for the information."
Sig took the letter and read it carefully. It did indeed seem to implicate the advisor. However, Sig knew that things were not always as they seemed. He turned to the advisor.
"Is this your handwriting?"
The advisor examined the letter and shook his head. "No, it's not. Someone must have planted it in my room."
The middle prince scoffed. "Do you expect us to believe that?"
The advisor looked at Sig with pleading eyes. "Please, investigator, you must believe me. I swear on my life that I am innocent. I have been absent from some meetings because I have been working on a secret project to help the kingdom."
Sig listened to the advisor's words carefully. "What kind of project?"
The advisor hesitated for a moment before replying. "It's a project that could change the kingdom for the better. It's something that could put us in a positive light and strengthen our position in the region."
Sig was intrigued. "What is the objective of this project?"
The advisor took a deep breath. "We are working on a plan to provide education to every child in the kingdom. We believe that education is the key to a better future for our people, and we want to make sure that every child has access to it, regardless of their background or social status."
Sig was impressed. "That sounds like a noble cause. But how does it relate to the leak of sensitive information?"
The advisor looked down at his feet. "I'm afraid that I had to keep the project a secret from the rest of the council. They are not as supportive of education as I am, and I was afraid that they would try to sabotage the project. I swear on my life that I did not leak any information to our enemies."
"Can you provide any evidence to support your claims?" Sig asked.
The advisor nodded. "I have a team of experts working on the project, and I can introduce you to them. They can vouch for my whereabouts and the legitimacy of the project."
Just then, the eldest prince spoke up. "Education for commoners? That's preposterous! We are of noble status, and we should be the ones to receive the best education. This project is a waste of time and resources."
The youngest prince chimed in. "I agree. We should focus on strengthening our military and expanding our territory, not wasting our resources on the common folk."
Sig observed as their souls changed color from green to blue, indicating their displeasure and disappointment. Their amicability towards him also changed from friendly to neutral.
The advisor took a deep breath before responding. "Your Highnesses, I understand your concerns, but I must respectfully disagree. Education is not a privilege reserved only for the nobility. It is a fundamental right that everyone should have access to. By educating the commoners, we can create a more knowledgeable and skilled workforce, which will ultimately benefit the entire kingdom."
The eldest prince shook his head stubbornly. "I still don't see the point. The commoners will never be able to rise above their station. Why waste our resources on something that won't bring any real benefit?"
The advisor remained calm and collected. "Your Highness, with all due respect, I believe you are underestimating the potential of the common people. With the right education and training, they can become skilled craftsmen, artisans, and entrepreneurs. They can help boost the economy and bring prosperity to the kingdom."
The youngest prince scoffed. "You really think a few lessons will turn a bunch of peasants into successful businesspeople? That's ridiculous."
The advisor smiled patiently. "It may not happen overnight, but with time and effort, it is possible. We just have to give them the chance to learn and grow."
Sig paid close attention to the conversation, carefully observing the body language of each person in the room. Then, out of nowhere, the middle prince leaned forward and interjected, "What about the spies from the enemy kingdom? We can't take the risk of educating them and giving them the skills to use against us. After all, they're known for being a hierarchical country that suppresses their citizens based on their bloodline, aren't they?"
Sig couldn't help but think about the middle prince's comment about spies. It was a subtle hint, but it could be a clue to the real traitor behind the plot to overthrow the king. He made a mental note to investigate further and gather more information.
Sig decided to reach out to the king to discuss the project further. Sig wasted no time and asked the king if he was aware of the advisor's project.
The king nodded, "Yes, I am aware of the project. In fact, I approved it myself. The advisor has been working on it for some time now and has been making good progress."
Sig was surprised to hear that the king was aware of the project. "May I ask, Your Majesty, why you didn't mention this earlier?"
The king looked at Sig with a knowing look. "I didn't want to reveal too much too soon. The project is still in its early stages, and I wanted to keep it under wraps until it was closer to completion. However, I understand the importance of transparency, and I should have informed you earlier."
Sig nodded and then asked, "Did you inform the Military General about the project as well?"
The king's face darkened at the mention of the General. "Yes, I did. I thought he would be supportive of the project, but it seems he has other plans."
Sig was taken aback by the king's response. "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"