Annan prepared to press his advantage and round up everyone involved in framing Princess Sails before they could react.
As for the wealth he seized, he would handle it as he always had: three shares to the Royal Palace, seven for himself.
The Council Chairman would get nothing, because Annan had no desire to spoil his image as an... incorruptible man in the Council Chairman's eyes.
A butler named Luby... the lead was as clear as someone carrying a torch through a dark forest.
Unless he had used a false name.
He had.
Annan's men made inquiries everywhere, but found no butler named Luby. There were plenty of carriages and guards, though.
So Socrates had believed a fake butler? Annan was more inclined to believe Socrates was lying.
He returned to the Dungeon. The moment Socrates saw him, he knew what had happened. "I lied to you."
"Are you stalling for time? Or is that name a code to signal that the secret's out?"
"Neither." Socrates shook his head, making the chain around his neck rattle. "It was just a way to tell the Council Chairman that I'd die."
"So you know who's behind it?"
"I only know who contacted me. He used a false name and thought he'd covered his tracks perfectly. But I didn't want to be thrown away once I was no longer useful, so I found out who he was."
"You're smarter than I thought. Tell me who he is."
"Young Miss Olmedo, I have a request."
"You want me to let you go?"
Socrates tugged at his chains with a clatter and pleaded, "I'll cooperate with anything you ask. I'll be your servant, even your dog, if you'll let me live. I don't want to die..."
"If you're so afraid of dying, why get involved?"