Chapter 1332

Jacob had received Cameron's complete file. The 47-year-old Valken native had passed the first level of the national examination at 13, and the second by 18. In Valken, he was renowned for his extraordinary abilities. However, after passing the second level, he delayed going to the capital for the next, due to his mother's illness. Instead, he accepted a position as a scribe in Valken's local government.

Cameron's career had been consistently steady. Both the people of Valken and the Ministry of Infrastructure praised his decisiveness and efficiency. He consistently received high marks in the Civil Department's triennial evaluations. Some even considered his position in the Waterworks Department a waste of his talent; others attributed his lack of promotion to a lack of connections, suggesting he could have become the Ministry's deputy minister.

The kingdom had many such officials—low-ranking but reliable, lacking grand ambitions, quietly efficient, and grounded. His life was simple: one wife, a concubine, a son, a daughter, and three servants. He'd recently purchased a modest home with a courtyard, large enough for his family. His Waterworks Department salary, while lucrative, only allowed him to buy a house in the last two years, suggesting integrity.

However, Jacob noted several officials under Cameron lived far beyond their means, despite salaries insufficient to support their lifestyles. They were clearly embezzling from riverworks funds. Did Cameron not know? It seemed improbable. The strangeness lay in his apparent knowledge and tolerance of the embezzlement, yet his own abstention from it. An honest official wouldn't tolerate such corruption, unless he were a master embezzler expertly concealing his own involvement.

Alternatively, he might have tolerated his subordinates' corruption to secure their loyalty and obedience, thus gaining unfettered control over appointments within the Waterworks Department.

Jacob laughed bitterly. "We initially focused on the lords and nobles. Eleanor believed she could secure their support. But Mr. Judd's approach—targeting lesser officials—was unexpected."

Carissa frowned, considering the implications. After a moment, she said, "With Prince Yuvan's rebellion, Mr. Judd exploited the resulting chaos and gaps in oversight. Without Yuvan's distraction, he could never have operated so freely for so long."

Jacob nodded. Without Yuvan's rebellion, the rise of bandits and rebels in the countryside, and the Sandoria-Westhaven alliance, the capital's riverworks would have held little significance. It was like overloading a camel until it collapsed under the added weight of a single straw—a minimal effort yielding significant results. A clever plan, indeed.

"Continue the investigation. Detain all managers and halt the work immediately," Carissa ordered.

"That requires a royal edict, and we lack concrete evidence. The riverworks are crucial—summer rains are approaching, and delays could cause life-threatening floods. Without proof, His Majesty won't order a shutdown," Jacob countered.

Carissa considered this, then stated firmly, "Three days. We need evidence by then. We can't afford to wait."

"Understood. I'll proceed immediately," Jacob assured, departing promptly.

Claire rushed in. "Your Grace, I have news about the person Lord Gerald sought."

Carissa rubbed her temples. "That search can wait. We have more pressing matters."

"No, this is crucial. The man is closely connected to Prince Nicholas, and funds all of his Nerovian charitable expenditures," Claire stated.