While Ryoma was reuniting with Korumi in the Sea of Trees, a man—who was often mistaken for a teen—was being scolded by an older man in a room of a building near the edge of the capital.
“Jasper! What is the meaning of this article?!” the older man bellowed.
“I wrote up confirmed intel about the assault committed by House Misville’s second son the other day.”
“I’m asking you why you wrote it! Under whose orders, I don’t know, because it wasn’t mine! We can’t publish this!” The editor slammed the papers on the desk, knocking down a pile of other papers. Both the men glanced at the paper for a moment before the editor went back to glowering at the columnist and he went back to meeting his stare.
The room was crammed with one large desk for the editor, and six other desks—all occupied, save one. Despite the editor screaming at one of their coworkers within feet of them, the other workers kept their heads down and appeared to be completely lost in their work. For some time, the editor’s and columnist’s eyes clashed without either of them speaking a word.
The editor was the one who broke the silence with a sigh. “Jasper... Introduce yourself to me, will you? There has to be some terrible discrepancy between the position I think you have and the position you think you have. If I’m not mistaken, you’re a writer, aren’t you? Surely, you can introduce yourself, at least...unless I’m mistaken about that.” With no effort to conceal his irritation, the editor reached into his drawer and grabbed a cigarette. While he lit it, he waited for the columnist to follow his heavily sarcastic order.
Jasper stiffened for a moment before pushing out the words through gritted teeth. “My name is Jasper Penbroke, male. I turn twenty this year. I was born to a merchant who mostly deals in high-end writing utensils. Ever since I can remember, I have studied literature and writing. From age twelve to eighteen, I attended the capital’s academy. Upon graduation, I began working here—at the Propo Times—as a columnist.”
“Good. We’re on the same page so far. In other words, this is your second year with the paper... Do you think you learned everything you had to learn after a year?”
“That’s not what I—”
“Shut up! Don’t you think it’s rude to interrupt your boss?!” The editor clicked his tongue. “Sure, you’re doing better than your first year. No surprise there. In your second year, you’re not even close to being done learning. You might disagree with that, and if you do, you’re prideful. Just because you can write neat little prose, that doesn’t mean you’re ready to write articles. You gotta know how to interview, validate information, not to mention a hundred things you need to be sensitive to. You’re still in your time of learning that from the other writers. Shut up and write as you’re told—that’s how you’ll learn how to work as a writer. Take an article like this, for example. Nobles are our sponsors—the protectors of the newspaper industry. We need to be careful how to do an interview with stories like this, and you go and write like you’re throwing down the glove! He assaulted a commoner? Who cares?! In this world, nobles can get away with that! What if we’d lost sponsors because of your article? Could you foot the bill? What if that makes it so none of us here can write again? When you wrote this little article, did you think that through? Huh?! Say something!” The editor’s tone and volume escalated with every question.
Jasper, on the other hand, remained perfectly cool. “Since you asked... I have no intention of starting a fight with nobles.”
“What’s the meaning of this article, then?!”
“What triggered the assault was Lord Misville getting drunk and catcalling a woman. Someone tried to intervene, which drew his ire. Several similar incidents had occurred already. In the process of researching him, I even learned that he’d used his status as a way to dine and dash without paying for his meal. I studied alongside nobles at the academy, so I do have general respect for them and know full well the power they hold in society. However, as a writer, I am resolved to report the truth as it is. If this reads like I’m ‘throwing down a glove,’ the problem is with the reader—not me.”
The editor was lost for words at his subordinate’s counterattack.
Jasper wasn’t done either. “Dine and dash, and obviously assault, are crimes. You said that nobles have the right to get away with crime, which is categorically untrue. The idea that nobles use their position to make their crimes disappear...that is the true insult to nobility. Even if nobles did try to silence a story, how could we allow ourselves to bend to their will? The pen is mightier than the sword. Our job is to fight against the darkness of the world by broadcasting truth to the people. Is that not the calling we all have as writers? The historical Propo Times can’t publish a story critical to someone in power? We should be ashamed! Because they’re noble, because they’re our sponsors, because they might sabotage us... My resolve to work as a writer is not so feeble as to crumble in the face of those obstacles!” Jasper was leaning over the desk now, showing his unwillingness to back down.
The editor sighed again. “I get it. You’re passionate. I admire your ideology and determination to pursue it... If I’m telling you the truth, I agree with you.”
“Then—”
“But I still can’t publish this piece.”
“Sir!”
“Jasper. You have the heart. And the guts. That’s clear. But this isn’t just about you. You might be ready to face the consequences that come with publishing something like this, but what about the others? We have no idea how the nobles would retaliate. When push comes to shove, are you ready to kill me, you, every writer here, and maybe even our interns? Do you really have the resolve to do something that might lead to that?” the editor asked. His tone was completely calm now.
“I...”
The editor didn’t miss the opportunity to strike in Jasper’s few seconds of hesitation. “That’s an order,” he said. “I don’t want to do this, but this article is shelved. End of discussion.”
“Yes...sir...”
“Don’t let it get you down, as weird as that sounds coming from me. If you want to keep writing, plenty of your articles will be shelved regardless of the topic. I know, I have the perfect assignment for you.” The editor slid his desk drawer open and took out an envelope full of paper. “Have you heard of Duke Jamil?”
“Of course. Who doesn’t remember the incident at the end of the year?”
“Yeah, that was a big story. Then you might already know that the territory’s garnering attention again. Apparently, the city’s thriving after surviving that end-of-year incident and the severe cold wave. The powers that be have decided that they want a new branch in that city. There are plans to add members by and by, but it’s going to start with a small staff. I’d been told to choose someone young and eager who can handle moving to a new place for a while.”
“I assume you’re considering me for the post.”
“Yeah, I’ve always known you were passionate. Besides, you’ll only be in a team of two or three, so you’ll have more power than you do here—you can write more freely. I told you that you still have a lot of work to do, but your writing isn’t bad. I thought you could try and do things your way for once, even if you can’t do it here.”
“Sir...”
“I’m not going to force you, and there’s still some time for you to—”
“I don’t need any. I’ll take the post.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I want to write my stories.”
“Okay... Then take that envelope with you and go home now. I’ll take care of the paperwork and your duties here. Your top priority now is to prepare yourself for travel. You’ll meet up with the other members there. Details are in the envelope.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Okay. One more thing. If you’re going to do it, go all the way. When you come back, show me how much you have learned.”
“Thank you, sir! I will!” Jasper grabbed his belongings from his desk and ran out of the office.