Over the next few days, Sig met with the advisor's team and learned more about the project. He was impressed by their dedication and enthusiasm for education, and he could see how it could benefit the kingdom in the long run. Sig's conversations with the advisors gave him a better understanding of how the project worked, the timeline for implementation, and the resources required.
As Sig focused on the education project, he didn't lose sight of his investigation. He questioned the staff and followed every lead he could find. He spent countless hours piecing together the evidence and trying to identify the source of the leak.
Finally, after several weeks of investigation, Sig had gathered enough evidence to call for a meeting with all the individuals concerned. He arranged for them to present themselves at the throne room in order to present his findings and deliver his final verdict.
Sig spent weeks carefully navigating the seedy underbelly of the capital city, keeping to the shadows and avoiding detection as he searched for any clue that might lead him to the culprit. While the king's castle had provided him with some information, he knew he needed to gather more from the streets of the kingdom.
"Your Majesty," Sig began, bowing deeply. "I have made a discovery that I believe you need to know about."
The King raised an eyebrow, indicating that Sig should continue.
"One night, while skulking through a dimly lit alleyway, I overheard a hushed conversation between two men in a dingy tavern. One was a trusted colleague of the advisor working on the educational project, while the other was an errand boy for a prominent merchant." Said Sig
At this moment, the advisor expression could be seen darkening.
The King's expression hardened. "And who is involved in this treachery?"
"They were discussing a deal they had made, and truthfully I was shocked to learn that the advisor had been providing information to the merchant about the kingdom's plans against a neighboring kingdom, in exchange for financial support for the education project."
"Your Majesty, please consider the long years of trust I've presented to you and the kingdom. Can you really take his word as the truth?" the advisor pleaded with a panicked tone. "It's clear that he's been scheming with the eldest prince and the general to take down our cherished project."
Sig had expected such dramatic action from the culprit and quickly interjected.
"Instead of revealing this findings immediately, I decided to shadow the merchant's errand boy for a few days. It was then that I discovered that the merchant wasn't just in league with the advisor, but also another prominent figure in the kingdom."
The room fell silent as the King and the other individuals present absorbed this shocking news.
"ANOTHER BETREYAL! WHO IS IT!" Said the King with a severe tone.
"It appeared that the general was seeking to sabotage the educational project, while the advisor was purely motivated by financial gain. The general deal was strikingly similar to the advisor's; he was asked to provide information of their plans against the opposing realm. The merchant had used the information he had gained from both individuals to build trust with the neighboring kingdom, which had brought him wealth and influence."
"I was able to confirm that the two were completely unaware of each other's involvement with the merchant, and that the merchant's true motives were more sinister than anyone could have imagined."
"Preposterous! I assure you, Your Majesty, that these accusations are baseless and unfounded," the general said, his voice rising in indignation. "I have always been a loyal servant of the kingdom, and I would never betray your trust or that of the people."
Sig raised an eyebrow skeptically. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, all you would have to do is question the captured merchant's staff, I'm sure that the documented transaction that has been saved on file would also be more then enough to justify my claim."
The advisor and the general exchanged nervous glances, realizing that their deeds had finally caught up with them.
"Additionally, Your Highness, I discovered that the eldest and middle princes were aware of this situation and offered their support in their own manners. The youngest prince was the only one who did not participate in any deception."
"The merchant, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found, I suspect that he had fled the kingdom as soon as he realized that you have hired me to find the traitors." Said Sig
The King took a deep breath, his eyes darting between Sig and the accused. "Very well," he said, his voice heavy with disappointment. "I will hear both sides of the story before making my decision."
Sig nodded, knowing that the truth would ultimately prevail. He was confident that the evidence he had gathered was strong enough to convict the traitors, but he also knew that he needed to be careful. The accused had powerful allies and could try to undermine his credibility, so he needed to make sure that he presented his case clearly and convincingly.
As the hearing proceeded, Sig presented his evidence, including witness statements, documents, and other incriminating materials. The advisor and the general tried to defend themselves while the princes kept quiet as they knew they couldn't defend themselves with the presented evidence, but their arguments were weak and unconvincing. In the end, the King had no choice but to find them guilty of treason and have them punished accordingly.
Sig's investigation had exposed a plot to undermine the kingdom and had prevented a potentially disastrous situation. At this juncture, he received a notification indicating the completion of his mission.