Suspicion

Alex looked at them confusedly.

Looking at Alex's confused face, the grand duke whispered something to him.

"Fortunately there is no power struggle in our kingdom and my brother picked the minister himself. So, our current minister is the one who strives for a better kingdom and focuses on how to realize it. But now, the situation between humans and demons is starting to heat up.

Especially since Zircodina managed to ally with the Holy kingdom. We might get dragged into the war. Though some small-scale war is already happening in a few places, a bigger war hasn't broken out yet. Previously, Zircodina can't fight alone with the demon and suffer from defeat. That's why they summoned a hero."

Alex pondered something about what he heard. He especially focused on Zircodina and the Holy kingdom alliance. He thought about someone, 'Is it Maria?'

But he was also a bit relieved that there was no power struggle here or he might get dragged into it.

Alex suddenly frowned and muttered in a low voice, "Unprocessed?"

Although Alex's voice wasn't loud, the ministers heard it, anyway. Especially the Civil Minister. "Yes, the extra yield is still unprocessed because the men still need to prepare for the war. Do you have any opinion on this, Young Alex?"

Alex pondered for a moment, then he shook his head. All the technologies he had seen on Earth were too far to reach.

The Civil Minister was dejected seeing Alex shook his head. He sighed. The mood became depressing.

"Alright, let's go to the meeting room," the duke suggested.

Alex nodded, but when he was just about to leave, he recalled something. He suddenly shouted, "Water wheel!"

The duke and ministers turned to Alex, they were all confused.

Alex noticed that they were staring and he scratched his head embarrassed.

"What is a water wheel?" The duke asked.

"Water wheel is literally as its name suggests. The function is to change energy created by water to another form of energy. It can transfer force from water to a mechanism for flour processing. In my journey, I often see rivers with good water flow. This can become the foundation."

All of them were interested in it, especially the Civil Minister. His eyes glimmered in hope, "How does that work?"

"We need to build two wheels, then build wood plates between them to catch the water flow. So, when the water passes and hits the plates, the wheel will rotate. Then, we use this rotation to move the mechanism to grind the flour," Alex explained.

All of them were surprised by his idea, especially the Civil Minister, "This... This might work."

Gilian grabbed Alex, "Let's go to my house. We can discuss this further at my house. Oh right, my daughter is coming back from her vacation. Since you two are the same age, I'm sure you two can get along well. She is smart and competent, she..."

"Cough!" The duke coughed loudly.

He glared at him and shouted, "He is my man, how can you do that!"

But Gilian only gave him a sly glance, "Your man? No one knows that."

A spark flew between the two of them.

"Alright, we need to go to the meeting first," Rindo tried to stop them.

"Hmph," the duke and Gilian snorted and started walking.

All of them followed, but suddenly there was a palm grabbing Alex's shoulder.

Alex was surprised, then he saw the hand's owner, it was the War Minister, Leyfon.

"Cough cough... Young Alex... Do you have any ideas for our Military Department?" He asked.

"Hey, Leyfon, stop! How dare you! The military is already supplied with a bunch of pills from him, are you still unsatisfied!" Rindo stopped him.

"I only ask," he righteously said.

Alex made a weird smile, he pondered for a moment before shaking his head, "I'm sorry, I don't have any."

Leyfon sighed.

They continued walking to the meeting room.

There were three people in the room. Alex immediately recognized the one in the middle, he was the king.

Alex bowed, "Your Majesty."

"You finally come huh... and with you guys together," the king sighed.

"These three people are the ones who take up our time and made us late," the duke said.

"Oi oi! Young Raymond, you can't blame us for this. Especially since his idea just now was brilliant!" Gilian said.

"Oh, another idea?" the king was astonished.

"Yes, Your Majesty. After hearing his idea, it might give our kingdom a big help," Gilian said.

"Hoho..."

"Wait!" The old man beside the King suddenly said.

All of them looked at him. He glared at Alex.

"I got information that you are also the hero's companion. You are their spy!"

Alex was surprised by this accusation.

"Higa, what are you saying?" The king shouted.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I need to do this. He might be a spy from the Zircodina Kingdom since he is the hero's companion. If he gets a high ranking in this kingdom, it will be like letting them point their knife to our own throat!"

"Sir Higa, what are you saying?" The duke was angry.

Though Alex was surprised, what was more surprising was Alex's calm face.

Alex only smiled, "Yes, I am one of the summoned people."

"Alex," the duke looked at him worriedly. He knew about him being a summoned person from Alicia, but he didn't care about it. He only knew that Alicia and him were close, so he believed that Alex wouldn't do something like that.

"Sir Higa... right? What do you want to ask about me?" Alex said calmly.

Higa was surprised by Alex's reaction, "What are you doing in our country?"

"Me? I was wandering around after the King banished me from the castle and somehow met Alicia and got here," Alex smiled a little.

"Banished?" All the people present were shocked, Higa was also shocked. In his information, there was nothing that mentioned Alex's banishment.

"Yes, there are only four people summoned and I am the extra. Four of them are the hero, archmage, sage, and archpriest. While myself is the person who somehow gets dragged to the summoning thing. I am the worst of them, and my status is even weaker than a kid."

"And what is your relationship with them?"

Alex hesitated a bit, he didn't want to talk about this.

"Alex," the grand duke looked at him worriedly.

Seeing the duke's concern, Alex smiled gently, "The hero is my former best friend, the archmage is my ex-lover, the sage is my classmate and also the hero's admirer. As for the archpriest is the archmage's childhood friend."

All who present were shocked once again.

"Former best friend? Ex-lover?" The duke muttered. He didn't know anything about this. He only knew Alex was somehow connected to the hero and his companion.

"I'm sure you already know their name. John Penn, the hero, was my best friend at school. While Sandra Elexis, the archmage was my lover back then. But one day she had an affair in front of my eyes with John Penn. The next day, we were summoned to this world. They plotted against me and here I am."

The duke's heart was a bit in pain. He already considered Alex as his own, but he never knew Alex's past. After he heard this story, he somewhat felt hurt and angry.

"Then, if the kingdom wants you to kill them?" Higa asked.

"They are now strangers for me. Although I'm sure to get my revenge on them, for the other two... if they offend me, they will have to pay the price," Alex said with a determined tone.

Minister Higa was observing Alex's expression all the time. Judging by Alex's expression, he couldn't see Alex spout any lies. He was a Finance minister who often interrogated corrupt people and somehow could judge them from their expression. But he didn't see any lies in Alex's words and expressions. However, he couldn't be so sure about it, especially since Alex was the hero's companion. Then he took a bluish gem.

"Sir Higa!" The duke was getting angry.

"Hold this gem and swear you didn't lie," Higa gave the gem to Alex.

Alex took the bluish gem and said, "I swear what I told just now is the truth."

The bluish gem didn't shine. The duke was relieved, pained, and angry.

But suddenly, the scene they saw was shocking.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for this. I'm ready for any punishment," Higa kneeled in front of the king.

The king only sighed, "Haiz, I already told you. You should apologize to him first"

Higa then turned to Alex, "I'm very sorry for what I did. If you hate me, you can punch me or kick me as you like."

Alex was shocked, but he suddenly realized from his conversation with the king just now. He hurriedly helped him up, "Don't be, Sir Higa. It is normal. I won't let some suspicious person enter my house too."

"Brother?" The duke looked at the king and he could only sigh.

"I'm sorry, Young Raymond, it was me who wanted to do all this. If you hate me you can punch or kick me as you like."

"Sir Higa!" The duke was shocked.

***

Before the meeting,

"Your Majesty."

"Minister Higa, do you have any business with me?"

"Allow me to accompany you to the meeting, I beg you."

The king was surprised, "Why do you want to join the meeting?"

"From the information I received, this person is a Zircodina's hero's companion. He might be a spy."

The king didn't have any change of expression.

"Your Majesty, you know it already?"

"Yes. I know about it already and I can attest to you, he is a trustworthy person."

Higa shook his head and looked at him with determination. "Your Majesty, please let me interrogate him. I will bear any punishment for this if he isn't a spy. I will even personally apologize to him."

"Sigh... I know you love this kingdom. You already served this kingdom when my father was on the throne."

"Yes, the previous king saved my life. This is the only way to repay him."

"Oi! Don't say it like he already died. He still lives in that place."

***

Turned out, this all was only a test for Alex.

"Alright, let's go back to the topic of our meeting today," the king said. He then turned to Alex and introduced the person beside him. "He is our Finance Minister Higa Bruhman and the other beside me is our Education Minister, Adrian Miltes. And those three, well you already know them."

"Please have a seat."

Alex and the rest found their place to sit.

"Today's meeting is to grant you a title for your achievement in agriculture. Though Raymond already informs me that you don't like nobilities, I will still grant you this title. Don't worry, I hope you know that this title is just a name, in case you don't like it. It won't impose on you any responsibilities. All I ask is to help this kingdom when this kingdom is in peril."

"Yes, I promise, Your Majesty," answered Alex.

Then the king's expression turned solemn, "Alexander Sirius, with your achievement, I grant you a Baron Title."

"I accept it."