"A few years? Dammit! I've already suffered so long, I don't want to wait any longer… These accursed heavens, what have I done to deserve such a fate?" Suki roared, his fist slamming down on the desk a few times.
"What may seem like a curse may actually be a blessing, it's just a matter of whether you have the strength to wade through the storm." Minos said, though his words seemed to anger Suki even more.
"What would you know!? You've been blessed every step of the way! You're smart, strong, talented, and now you're king to boot. You know nothing of what it's like to suffer!" Suki shouted in rage.
Hearing this, Minos seemed to have no reaction, just sitting down in silence, his face still.
Seeing Minos's lack of reaction, Suki seemed to realize he may have misspoken out of anger.
Reaching out, he was just about to apologize, but before he could get a chance, Minos spoke.
"You don't know my story Suki, you know nothing of what I've been through to get here. The intelligence you see was only forged out of ignorance. The strength out of weakness. As for the talent? Who said I was talented?"
"The me you know now is the culmination of years of struggle. You only know my victories, yet you've never tasted my defeats."
"I was similar to you at one point in my life, weak… Incredibly weak… But unlike you, I didn't have royal blood to keep me sheltered and fed, every meal was fought for, and every home created through my own two hands."
"And just like you, I constantly cursed the heavens for giving me such a hard life, for constantly depriving me of the people who provided me with warmth and love."
"But at one point all men come to a crossroads, one in which they choose to leave their fate to the heavens, or to forcibly take it back into their own hands."
"When you choose the second, everything becomes clear. You start to understand that suffering is just another tool the heaven uses to slow you down, even stop you."
"I'm beyond suffering, Suki, and I hope one day you will be too."
Like a thunderclap, the words completely froze Suki in place, his mind in turmoil as Minos's voice constantly replayed in his head.
By the time he woke up from his reverie, he realized Minos had long since vanished, but he still didn't get up, the words from before still resonating with him.
'Beyond suffering…? Is such a thing even possible?'
…
The next few days passed in relative peace, Minos having not seen Suki once during this time, the prince having seemingly disappeared.
He only hoped that his words had resonated with him, but that was beyond his control, and only time would tell what would come of Suki.
Of course he could have used his powers to forcefully 'enlighten' Suki, but that would ultimately be a false reality, forever limiting Suki's true potential.
Besides, he had already made a firm rule for himself to not use this power on his friends or allies, restricting its usage to those who were truly irredeemable.
With a long sigh, Minos focused back on the work at hand, which had transformed from paper-work to planning.
Looking at the large board in front of him filled with all sorts of ideas, Minos couldn't help but think to himself.
The future of the kingdom was now left in his hands, and he had no plans of sitting back in stagnation. He wanted to make real change.
While he had only ended up in this position due to pure coincidence, Minos wasn't the type to take without giving.
Since this kingdom and its people were willing to strengthen him, then he in turn would empower them.
'One of the reasons why the kingdom has remained stagnant for so long is because of its lack of mobility.'
'Those born in a certain class will almost certainly die in that class, having next to no chance of ascension, regardless of their own capabilities.'
'As for those rare outliers, the suppressant nature of the hierarchy makes sure to remind them that they are only here by sheer luck, if not destroying them all together.'
'The hierarchy needs to go, but stripping people of a culture so deeply ingrained in them isn't an easy process, instead I have to look at it another way…'
'I have to show them that their ideas are fundamentally wrong, and what better way to do so than giving those at the bottom the opportunity to prove their mettle.'
'The first step is to open public schools, giving all children a chance for a brighter future.'
'The first few years will be an even split between multiple studies, whereas later years will open up more focused programs depending on the students' affinities.'
'Those with the talent to cultivate will cultivate, as for those with the talent to study, let them study.'
'As for the adults who are too old to enter these programs, I can open education centers for them, places where they can acquire a new skill.'
'The fact is the kingdom severely lacks skilled workers, and most trades are simply passed on from father to son, which makes for an incredibly inefficient system.'
'Only problem is the question of money… The Cat Kingdom is quite isolated, and does little to no trading with the outside world.'
'While such an economy can survive, it lacks the capital to fund innovation and progress.'
'Opening trade to the outside world is a necessity, but that in itself will unleash a whole new world of issues. The routes in and out of the kingdom are already limited and dangerous, not expansive nor durable enough to maintain reasonable trade.'
'Funding new roads as well as the security required to make sure the shipments come in and out is also not something I can currently afford.'
'As for simply creating a Teleportation Formation, that's even more pricey… It's a good thing I already expected and planned for as much.' Minos smiled while looking up at the clock above him.
Almost exactly as he did that, a knock came from the door, Minos already aware exactly who it was.
"Your Majesty, everyone has gathered in the council room like you requested. Shall I tell them to keep waiting?" Sephra spoke as she entered the room.
"No need, in fact the timing is perfect."
…
"What has the king called us all for?" Gemer, the Minister of Work couldn't help but ask.
"What else could it be? He wants to get to know the people working for him." Tium, the Minister of Finances, replied.
"I doubt it's that simple…" Rehlin, the Minister of War said.
"Regardless of what it is, I just hope he doesn't ask much of us. I can't remember the last time I actually worked." Ikrum, the Minister of Law, laughed.
"Quiet, he's coming." Another minister said, noticing the footsteps coming from the distance.
Immediately, everyone went silent, no one actually stupid enough to speak out of turn when the king was here.
Soon enough, the footsteps came to a pause, the door slowly eeking open, revealing a tall man with an overwhelming aura.
Despite not saying anything, everyone felt a little nervous the second they saw Minos, as if a lower life form was facing up against a higher one.
"Welcome, your Majesty." Rehlin said first, breaking the tension in the room.
With his que, the others managed to wake up, all of them getting up and bowing towards Minos as they repeated Rehlin's words.
"Everyone sit." Minos replied, soon taking a seat at the head of the room.
"I'm sure you're all curious as to why you're here." Minos said, looking around at the ministers who were all silent at this moment.
"You all seemed happy to talk earlier, what happened? Don't tell me my presence has scared you into silence. No need for that, whatever you can say in front of others, you can say in front of me." Minos smiled, though no one took comfort in that.
"... Well actually, your Majesty, I was just about to ask you that very question." Gemer said after a deep gulp, finding the courage who knows where.
"Oh? Finally someone with a bit of courage. Then let me answer you. The reason you are all here is simple, I don't employ laggards."
"Those who work for me work hard and efficiently, I don't need more empty mouths to feed, I need pillars who can support this kingdom."
"So if any of you still want to waste your days away in lazy luxury, you can dismiss yourselves now."
Saying that, Minos sweeped around the room a few times, but no one moved, clearly none willing to give up the positions they had fought so hard for.
"Don't think you can get away by just pretending. From now on I will watch all of your performances closely, and those who fall behind repeatedly will be dismissed. Understood?"
"Understood!" Everyone replied in unison.
"Good, then for the time being I will trust most of you." Minos said, though the final words of his sentence caused everyone's hearts to slightly drop.
"M-most of us?" Gemer muttered, once again being the first one to speak to Minos.
"Of course, after all there are already thieves among you." Minos smirked.