Cipher Code {complete}

Chapter Five: Minster Of North •EDITED•

Corey's long day at work could have ended with news of dissatisfied rich folk, a riot among underpaid workers, or a funeral he was obligated to attend.

But no it had to be a summons from angry tower religionists—the worst thing to face when he was just about to get done with the twenty hour period that he definitely wasn't getting paid for.

What a day. Another stressed sigh slipped passed his lips when he glanced at the headlines that floated above his wrist in glittering cursive script: Minister Rejects The Order.

The Order of the Code, the largest religious organization on the planet and it's headquarters just happened to be in his Nation. And they happened to dislike—. . .

As though sensing his thoughts, the headlines switched to heavy block lettering spelling out the words: IS COREY ROYA THE REASON FOR THE MAJOR DISSENT AMONG RELIGIOUS MASSES?

Not dislike, they hate me. He bit back an annoyed groan and tried to control the emotion that threatened to spill out of him.

Keep calm. Keep breathing.

This lengthy week could have easily ended with a peaceful day, if it hadn't been for the food shortage that had ravaged the nation—or rather, the poorer parts of it. It was a disaster caused by a phenomenon he could not change and yet was still bothered with until the break of dawn as though he was the Code itself. And the media had no problems broadcasting the ire of the people.

I seriously need to get another job. . .

"This has to be a joke." Leaning back into his chair, Corey scowled, his blue eyes burning with fury as he glared into the holoscreen, watching it flicker with more distressing headlines. His gaze shifted at the three uniformed men kneeling in front of him.

He had almost forgotten that they were there.

His shoulders shook and his body tensed with rage as he flung the transparent screen down on his desk, watching it explode into tiny blue crystals. He shot out of his seat and slammed his hands down on the hardwood table beneath him, enjoying how the men before him trembled.

"Heretics, they're all damn heretics I tell you." He ground his teeth on each other then held onto his face with one hand, fighting off his frustration. "I refuse to believe this."

The Code, damn those fools. The Order is not supposed to tarnish my name. I'm the damn face of their organization.

Counting to ten and focusing his gaze on his fingers, Corey forced down the residual flares of anger. It was a bitter pill to swallow but he'd have to meet his father about this. . . again.

The thought almost made him hit his fist on the desk. Keep breathing.

"Sir!" The moment Corey just managed to regain his calm, a man rushed into the office.

He seemed flustered, but remained composed as he fell to one knee, the North's emblem pinned proudly on his chest. The insignia declared him a friend, not that he needed to show it. He was well known already, a rising captain in the army.

But when faced with Corey Roya, the youngest minister in the world, who could stay calm when the possibility of being suspected as the enemy loomed over their heads?