"I can cook my food as solid food or as soup. How do you want it as, to distribute it to the empire?" I asked Steven and Albert

"Soup, since its liquid easier to cook in batches. Also does it matter how much of the soup each person takes or does a person have to take set amount of the food?" Asked Albert as Steven kept on staring at me, while Seban and his team shone in the background as they seemed to be eating what seemed to be their 4th serving.

"Not really, you can distribute the soup in a cup and make sure each person only receive 1 cup, and that will make sure to cure them." Said John.

"And how do you know it can cure them with 1 cup of soup. Are you directly admitting you made the plague?" Steven questioned me. Oh, so both these guys purposely led me here.

I smiled as I replied "You are forgetting 2 things Mr.Comandment. 1- I am no more a common prince, but a royal heir, so you should be careful in your accusations. 2- I am perfectly aware of my cooking capabilities. The only reason my food can cure this stupid plague is because of food conservation."

Albert sighed as he played the part of the good cop "Please Steven stop fighting, now is not the time for this. Sorry John for Steven but he is like that. Can you tell us what you need then for you to start cooking then?"

"Certain level 1 beast ingredients, that can supply the whole kingdom. I also need a large enough pot to make the food, as well as water in huge quantity ..." I listed of the items I needed to start cooking

"They will be prepared in 2 hours' time. Should we deliver them here" Albert asked me as Steven double checked the note of everything I said.

"No, deliver them to the cold eye dudes house. I will cook there." Both of them looked at each other before Albert asked me

"You mean Dexter? They guy who stopped emperor with me and Steven?"

I nodded. After ordering a meal and eating it they both left.

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"Why in Dexter's compound that makes no sense?" Albert asked himself

"2 reasons mainly. 1 it is the safest place for John, from any attempts from the emperor after he cooks the food for everyone.

From our initial attempt to stop the emperor he guessed who the 3 strongest people after the emperor was, and one of them turned out to be the person in neutral faction, which is currently suspected to be his allies." Said Steven

"So, the 2nd reason must be that once he goes there to cook, most of the courts suspicion will turn true, that one of them is John's backer. Once Dexter decides to support John, the other two will slowly follow him as well." Albert concluded the 2nd reason.

"He is truly fascinating piece of wonder, being able to calculate every step of his, and being able to escape from us even when cornered. It is a pity he had no award, he never showed his talent before Jake or never had interest in politics until that old fool angered him. Otherwise I would have taken him for myself."

Albert nodded "Seeing him sometimes, makes me question the emperors decision of supporting James. But the promise I made to her I will never break it. What would she do if she was here right now Steven?"

"We would all be home relaxing without having to fight ourselves every day or having to deal with this monster, if she was alive. She would be the only person able to predict and stop him.

Sometimes I wonder if it was the empress the mother of John and not Stella. They have so much in common." Replied Steven as a trace of mourning could be seen in eyes.

"Oh, so I wasn't the only one going crazy with those thoughts then. Those calculating eyes, the predatory smile, the relaxed attitude even in the face of danger everything is similar to her. But there is a difference between her and John, the only difference that scares me." Said Albert

"She became like that after being involved in matters of empire for so long and through the use of her award, while John was a natural since who knows how long?" Steven asked Albert

Albert nodded "I really miss the time when all we had to do was follow her orders and not use our heads."

Steven chuckled "Yeah me to old man."

"Remember the time when she chopped of you old man's arms?" Albert laughed remembering that time.

"Old man you better shut up now." Stevens killing intent soared.

"Make me kiddo." Albert said as he dodged a punch to his face.

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"Why did you force us?" Asked Maximus as he glared at the seated John, while 7 tensed up people stood at the back.

"Because it's no fun when some of the participants are left outside the game." I said smiling as I could feel all 3 of their anger directed at me.

"Tell us who he/she is and how you did it, John and maybe I will kill you swiftly?" Said Titus while cracking his knuckles

"Brute force huh. Can't you guys play this in a civilised manner?" I asked them while not bothering about the radiant bloodlust from Titus.

"John don't force our hand. We have been playing this game longer than you could dream.

But today you played a dirty game, which none of us wanted to be part of, but not only did you drag us into it, but you made sure to smear the mud on our clothes and faces." Said Dexter, while still looking at me with the cold eyes of his.

"Seriously you 3 need to chill out." I said as I waved at them playfully.

"How about this? I will make sure you are in the winning side, and never lose this game, by supporting me, ok?" I promised them

Suddenly Dexter along with the other 2 smiled. "Deal" All 3 of them said, at the same time.

Seems like they were waiting for me to make that promise to them. Since they are concerned they decided to trust in my capabilities, which made the whole empire kneel before me.

"Make sure you keep your promises kid, because if you won't then you will beg for a death, that no magic pill can help you reach." Titus said

"Talking about pills, how are you even able to stand the pain John?" Asked Maximus

"Oh, you mean this." I said as I removed my shirt to show them my bare chest.

"But how? We saw that you still had 9 days left." Asked Titus as he pointed towards where the marking used to be earlier in my chest.

"Painting? But Merlin confirmed it, and the painting on your back?" Maximus guessed it right.

"Merlin's anti-test of will, failed on him as soon as he casted it as there was no Test of will in effect. But Merlin must have thought in the heat of process that you passed the 3 days buffer period, along with all of us.

Someone must have painted for him on the back then." I clapped at the assumption made by Dexter and Maximus.

"You guys are not as dumb as you look." I said cheerfully while Titus seemed insulted by that.

"It's not that we are dumb, kid but you are in a league different to us, to the point of playing with us and our emotions like it is nothing to you. No wonder you are a soulless and have no talent in magi. If you had then even the deities wouldn't be able to stop you. Pity you will die soon, but we will make sure you live, as long as possible, so that we can benefit of you as much as possible" Said Dexter.

"Ah, you shameless bastards, taking advantage of a minor. How could you?" I said out loud while covering my chest playfully.

Titus laughed, while Maximus chuckled, as Dexter still kept his poker face.

"Kid be careful and be on the lookout. Someone is able to cure your plague. I presume he is not one of yours as I am pretty sure you would tie up all loose ends. If you know anything about him or see him tell us as soon as possible. We need to make sure we get him before the others do, to not lose the advantage we have right now."

"Oh, so that's what the old man was screaming about. He is not mine. Do you know how he looks like?" I asked as I am intrigued by someone able to cure my virus. Either he is a really strong award user or magi, but then why didn't he help the whole empire heal the people. Or he has an ability to specifically target my virus. Either way he is an anomaly outside of my calculations. I really need to up my game from now on.

"Until the plagues over don't lower your guard kid. If they catch him and they are able to cure the plague, then you are finished. So, make sure to make the cure as soon as possible and as fast as possible." Dexter said as I stood up to leave.

I nodded as I left the room to go prepare the food, as I came 30 minutes early to see the trio and have a talk with them.