Novel Full Chapter 448: You Pass
“Another kingdom affair. Suppose Town C wants to impose a trade embargo on Town D because D hired mercenaries from your old ally. Town C will starve unless the embargo holds. Town D claims it’s defense. How do you act so your borders stay peaceful and your markets don’t collapse?”
“I’d…”
Aladdin rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment.
“…open mediation first. Offer a neutral convoy under my banner to supply Town C while negotiations are ongoing, and provide financial backing to Town C until an agreement is reached. Simultaneously, I’d apply limited sanctions to the mercenaries’ contractors—freezing their permissions and levying fines—so Town D feels pressure without feeling attacked. I’d then use diplomacy publicly and subtle force privately, making the cost of supporting the mercenaries higher than the gain. If everything fails, I’d just bring in a neutral lord to enforce a buffer and monitor trade routes. The markets must be kept open; starving a town makes enemies out of the poor. Even we beggars get dangerous when no one feeds us.”
Malik leaned his head on his right hand.
“The last kingdom affairs question. A coastal city wants the port taxes lowered to lure more Eastern fleets. Of course, the known part of the East, not the true continent. Neighbors fear this, losing trades as knowledge of these fleets spreads. How do you deal with this?”
Aladdin’s answer came bright:
“I’d create a tiered tariff concession: letting the port have temporary reductions if they share increased volume with neighboring markets. I’d also set nighttime clauses; the reductions revert unless regional development benchmarks are hit. Profit-sharing structures will be my next step so that the neighbors directly benefit. This’ll keep the port competitive while guarding fairness.”
Next:
“An official embezzles funds. He is high-ranked and beloved by his faction. Killing him would cause more unrest than letting him go. What do you do?”
The boy’s face clouded a little.
“…Expose him, perhaps. Yes, and then confiscate and reconcile. Of course, his crimes would be publicized with proof, and I’d take his assets to pay back what was lost, demoting him and exiling him if possible. Execution would spark civil war, so I’d avoid it, at least at first. For that, I’d need to replace his power base, redistribute his favorites into other roles. This way, I’d cut the roots and remove his leverage.”
Malik didn’t pause long before the next.
“Another internal affair. A military commander is suspected of gathering men for a coup—he hasn’t acted, but his training camps have increased. He’s popular with the border garrisons. Kill him and you risk rebellion; reveal him and you risk accelerating his plan. What do you do?”
Aladdin’s face hardened further.
“I would… watch him. Then, quietly move key units loyal to the Holy City to surround the camps under the pretense of joint exercises. With that as the base, I’d embed loyal officers inside his command. Using them, I’d cut his communication to outside sponsors and gather undeniable proof of treason. When I strike, I’d do it surgically: arresting him at night and trying him publicly with evidence so the narrative is legal and just. The punishment would be made a spectacle of law to prevent martyrdom. The low-ranked men, at least those who did not harm anyone, will be pardoned and reassigned—they’re tools, not the treason’s mind.”
Malik nodded a few times, quite liking that answer.
“Final internal problem. What if a longtime trusted advisor has been secretly funneling small favors to a foreign Court to secure… let’s say, their kid’s marriage and future? He’s not traitorous in intent, but his loyalties don’t necessarily lie with you. He’ll be useful later if spared. What do you do?”
Aladdin’s eyes cooled.
“I’d confront him discreetly and exchange a favor for his loyalty, demanding his resignation from foreign ties while giving him a safe, honorable retreat with a pension if he’s cooperative. If he resists, I’d expose him with proof and remove him publicly, but with dignity, so his faction doesn’t riot. Of course, I’d replace him with someone of the same faction but loyal to my vision, keeping the balance.”
Malik made a small approving noise.
“If your support among the people is eroding. Visiting them and making speeches are no longer enough. What do you do?”
Another loaded question…
“I would start…”
Aladdin thought for a moment.
“I’d start local projects that change life visibly, which means wells, markets, and schools. While doing so, I’d empower local leaders with oversight that ties them to the central government but keeps their autonomy. Publicly, I’d punish corruption and hold Councils where people have a real say, making popular relief visible.”
Malik nodded, clearly satisfied.
“A long-lost brother appears and asks for a seat at the table. He says he wants to help. You feel uneasy; what do you do?”
Aladdin’s green eyes narrowed.
“Ensure that he speaks the truth, and once confirmed, I’d test him. Starting small, I’d give him a deputy role that requires proving loyalty. It’d also help me watch his choices when power is tempting. And while he’s busy, I’d go have my people find something to keep as leverage—something he values—until trust is earned. I’ve learned well that blood is not a guarantee of fidelity; duty and service might be.”
Sinbad hooted, pleased with the nuance, while Malik’s face still didn’t change.
He finally moved to what every question before this alluded to.
“How best to keep unity?”
Aladdin’s reply came quickly, almost too easily, as if expecting it.
“I’d make them face a common enemy, focusing identity outward so internal differences seem small. I’d build institutions that bind them, such as shared service and common training, making them proud of what holds them together.”
Malik raised a brow at Sinbad…
He sure knew how to prepare his people.
Sinbad only puffed his fluffy chest a second time.
“That’s what you wanted to hear, is it not?”
Malik’s gaze returned to the boy.
“Hm. Let’s see if you prepared for this, too…”
Aladdin stiffened as Malik continued:
“How do you keep a fractured coalition together?”
Aladdin’s green eyes trembled, knowing exactly who his Lord was referring to.
“I… I’d… I’d leave them be, give them space, and allow them to attack me… their common enemy.”
Malik smiled a broken one before asking his final question:
“How willing are you to sacrifice your life for Fam Iblis?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Nothing came out of his lips.
That finally had Aladdin stuck.
His eyes flitted to Sinbad, looking for a clue.
The owl’s reply was a tiny nod and a mouthing of words:
“Answer honestly.”
Aladdin nodded, silently thanking him.
“I…”
His voice came out thin, an answer not rehearsed.
“I’m not willing.”
Yet his eyes didn’t lose their light.
“After what the world did to me, I… I don’t believe it deserves my life. I’ll fight, I’ll act, but I will not die for a cause that has betrayed me and left me to rot.”
Again, there was only silence after that.
Malik looked at Aladdin for a long time.
Something moved behind his eyes.
Perhaps it was… acceptance.
“What do you say? Have I done well in raising him?”
Sinbad’s feathers puffed in self-approval.
“He passes.”
Malik nodded, aggreeing.
“Make him experience Hell. We don’t have much time.”
Sinbad flew down in a graceful arc and landed on Aladdin’s shoulder.
“I will.”
The owl promised as he glanced at his disciple.
“You do not yet know the depths. That is for the sooner part of your education.”
Aladdin bowed his head, the motion deep and full of reverence.
“Thank you, my Lord… I won’t disappoint.”
With that, he rose and left the hall.
Malik watched them go.
He had chosen, again, the shape of the world he would be leaving behind.
Maybe when the time finally came, Aladdin would fail.
Maybe he would become precisely what he feared.
Or maybe he’d be what softened everything.
Malik didn’t know…
He’d never know…
Death would’ve claimed him by then.