Read Online The Secret War (Jack Blank Adventure) by Matt Myklusch - Free Book Online
Authors: Matt Myklusch
Ads: Link
threw his hands up in disbelief. “Here we go again. Congratulations, you made it a full minute before you brought up the Rüstov this time.”
“One day it’s going to be the last time,” Smart shot back. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking I’ve gone soft like everyone else. Unlike the Inner Circle, I’ve yet to slow down when it comes to the Rüstov.”
“No arguments here,” Noteworthy said, and grinned. “How’s that working out for you, Jonas?”
Smart narrowed his eyes at his successor on the Inner Circle. “I may have paid the price for maintaining a level of vigilance that has fallen out of fashion, but I have no regrets. I do what is necessary. No one else in this city cares to remember the events of the Rüstov invasion. No one else in this sphere cares about the ongoing Rüstov threat! I’m still watching for enemy agents. I’m preparing for the day their armada returns, and when that day comes, you’ll all see that I was right about this boy.”
Tired faces stared down at Jonas Smart from the Circlemen’s table. His fiery passion for the subject of Jack’s loyalty was starkly contrasted by the Inner Circle’s exhausted patience for the topic. “Still holding a grudge, I see,” Virtua said. “Bitterness doesn’t become you, Jonas. The smartest man in the world should at least know when to quit.” Jack knew Virtua had a grudge of her own against Smart for the way his Peacemakers had run Machina at the height of his power. Jack wasn’t about to complain about Virtua’s grudge.
“Jonas, please,” Hovarth pleaded. “Haven’t we been through this enough times already? Jack’s given us no reason to suspect anything close to what you’re suggesting.Og’s blood, the boy bested Revile in single combat! Hasn’t he proven himself by now?”
“A
lot
of people fought Revile, Lord Hovarth,” Jack chimed in, very eager to share the credit for that victory. “You were there too. You all were.”
“But you finished him,” Hovarth countered. “You won that battle.” He turned back to Smart. “Jonas, can’t you just admit that you were wrong about Jack? I have.”
Jack forced out a weak smile. He appreciated having the support of the Circlemen, but it always made him feel uncomfortable whenever one of them would commend him for defeating Revile. They wouldn’t be singing his praises if they knew the truth. What if they knew it was his face behind Revile’s mask? That he might grow up to be Revile one day?
“Hovarth, I mean you no disrespect, but I am simply stating a fact when I say you are not known as a great thinker,” Smart said. “You’re the one who’s wrong about Jack. You all are. The whole of Empire City might love this boy, but I see right through him. Jack is hiding something. I know he is.”
“Hiding what, exactly?” Chi wanted to know.
Jack held his breath, hoping desperately that Smart was not about to reveal the secrets Jack had been guarding so closely all year. Smart glared up at Chi and paused a moment before answering. “I don’t know … yet,” he said at last.
The members of the Inner Circle shook their heads. Only Smart would have the audacity to accuse Jack of treason with absolutely no idea what form the alleged treachery took. Jack was relieved when he heard Smart admit he was still in the dark. Smart was playing the Rüstov card, but he didn’t have any details to come after Jack with. For the new-look Inner Circle, that wasn’t going to fly.
“Do we really have to devote so much time to this?” Noteworthy asked, checking his watch. “I have a luncheon to attend this afternoon with some very important people in Hightown society. I don’t want to be late.” The comment struck Jack as odd. Noteworthy’s peers on the Inner Circle were arguably the most important people in all six boroughs of Empire City, and he clearly didn’t mind showing up late to their meeting. Jack noticed a few Circlemen shooting disparaging looks in
“One day it’s going to be the last time,” Smart shot back. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking I’ve gone soft like everyone else. Unlike the Inner Circle, I’ve yet to slow down when it comes to the Rüstov.”
“No arguments here,” Noteworthy said, and grinned. “How’s that working out for you, Jonas?”
Smart narrowed his eyes at his successor on the Inner Circle. “I may have paid the price for maintaining a level of vigilance that has fallen out of fashion, but I have no regrets. I do what is necessary. No one else in this city cares to remember the events of the Rüstov invasion. No one else in this sphere cares about the ongoing Rüstov threat! I’m still watching for enemy agents. I’m preparing for the day their armada returns, and when that day comes, you’ll all see that I was right about this boy.”
Tired faces stared down at Jonas Smart from the Circlemen’s table. His fiery passion for the subject of Jack’s loyalty was starkly contrasted by the Inner Circle’s exhausted patience for the topic. “Still holding a grudge, I see,” Virtua said. “Bitterness doesn’t become you, Jonas. The smartest man in the world should at least know when to quit.” Jack knew Virtua had a grudge of her own against Smart for the way his Peacemakers had run Machina at the height of his power. Jack wasn’t about to complain about Virtua’s grudge.
“Jonas, please,” Hovarth pleaded. “Haven’t we been through this enough times already? Jack’s given us no reason to suspect anything close to what you’re suggesting.Og’s blood, the boy bested Revile in single combat! Hasn’t he proven himself by now?”
“A
lot
of people fought Revile, Lord Hovarth,” Jack chimed in, very eager to share the credit for that victory. “You were there too. You all were.”
“But you finished him,” Hovarth countered. “You won that battle.” He turned back to Smart. “Jonas, can’t you just admit that you were wrong about Jack? I have.”
Jack forced out a weak smile. He appreciated having the support of the Circlemen, but it always made him feel uncomfortable whenever one of them would commend him for defeating Revile. They wouldn’t be singing his praises if they knew the truth. What if they knew it was his face behind Revile’s mask? That he might grow up to be Revile one day?
“Hovarth, I mean you no disrespect, but I am simply stating a fact when I say you are not known as a great thinker,” Smart said. “You’re the one who’s wrong about Jack. You all are. The whole of Empire City might love this boy, but I see right through him. Jack is hiding something. I know he is.”
“Hiding what, exactly?” Chi wanted to know.
Jack held his breath, hoping desperately that Smart was not about to reveal the secrets Jack had been guarding so closely all year. Smart glared up at Chi and paused a moment before answering. “I don’t know … yet,” he said at last.
The members of the Inner Circle shook their heads. Only Smart would have the audacity to accuse Jack of treason with absolutely no idea what form the alleged treachery took. Jack was relieved when he heard Smart admit he was still in the dark. Smart was playing the Rüstov card, but he didn’t have any details to come after Jack with. For the new-look Inner Circle, that wasn’t going to fly.
“Do we really have to devote so much time to this?” Noteworthy asked, checking his watch. “I have a luncheon to attend this afternoon with some very important people in Hightown society. I don’t want to be late.” The comment struck Jack as odd. Noteworthy’s peers on the Inner Circle were arguably the most important people in all six boroughs of Empire City, and he clearly didn’t mind showing up late to their meeting. Jack noticed a few Circlemen shooting disparaging looks in
Similar Books
