The Ingenious Blackmailer

by Ambrose Bierce · from Fantastic Fables

fable cautionary tale dark Ages all ages 175 words 1 min read
Cover: The Ingenious Blackmailer

Adapted Version

CEFR A1 Age 5 290 words 2 min Canon 100/100

A clever Inventor met the King. The King let him come. The Inventor felt happy. He was excited to see the King.

The Inventor has a special gun. It was a new invention. It shoots bright lightning. This gun is magic. It is very strong. The Inventor tells the King this. He showed the King his gun.

The King is wise. He hears the Inventor. The King knows the Inventor wants money. He wants to sell his secret. The King understood this.

The Inventor says, "Your army will win." "Your army will be strong." "No one can stop you." Inventor wants King to buy it. He wants power for the King. He wants the King to rule.

The King asks, "Money for your gun?" "Money for my soldiers?" "They need this gun." The King thinks about costs. He was a careful King.

Inventor says, "Secret costs much money." "It costs very, very much." "My gun is special." "Your soldiers need much money too." This is a big price.

The King thought. He did not want war. He did not want to fight. Why buy a war gun? He was a peaceful King. He did not want to rule others. This gun was not for him.

"If you do not buy it," "I will sell it." "I will sell to another King." "That King will be strong." The Inventor said this. He looked at the King. He tried to scare him.

The King saw this. The Inventor was bad. He was not kind. The King called his helper. "Take him away!" "He cannot invent here." "Never again!" The helper took Inventor. Inventor left the kingdom. He lost his chance. The King was wise. He was fair. Bad choices have bad ends.

Original Story 175 words · 1 min read

The Ingenious Blackmailer

An Inventor went to a King and was granted an audience, when the following conversation ensued:

Inventor.—“May it please your Majesty, I have invented a rifle that discharges lightning.”

King.—“Ah, you wish to sell me the secret.”

Inventor.—“Yes; it will enable your army to overrun any nation that is accessible.”

King.—“In order to get any good of my outlay for your invention, I must make a war, and do so as soon as I can arm my troops—before your secret is discovered by foreign nations.  How much do you want?”

Inventor.—“One million dollars.”

King.—“And how much will it cost to make the change of arms?”

Inventor.—“Fifty millions.”

King.—“And the war will Cost—?”

Inventor.—“But consider the glory and the spoils!”

King.—“Exactly.  But if I am not seeking these advantages?  What if I decline to purchase?”

Inventor.—“There is no economy in that.  Though a patriot, I am poor; if my own country will not patronise me, I must seek a market elsewhere.”

King (to Prime Minister).—“Take this blackmailer and cut off his head.”


Story DNA fable · dark

Moral

Attempting to profit from threats, even veiled ones, can lead to severe and unexpected consequences.

Plot Summary

An Inventor presents a King with a lightning-discharging rifle, attempting to sell the secret. The King, seeing through the Inventor's appeals to glory and spoils, realizes the Inventor is blackmailing him by threatening to sell the weapon to rival nations. Recognizing the danger, the King swiftly orders the Inventor's execution for his audacious attempt at extortion.

Themes

greedpowerconsequencesextortion

Emotional Arc

ambition to demise

Writing Style

Voice: third person omniscient
Pacing: brisk
Descriptive: sparse
Techniques: direct dialogue, irony

Narrative Elements

Conflict: person vs person
Ending: tragic
Magic: rifle that discharges lightning
the lightning rifle (symbol of destructive power and temptation)

Cultural Context

Origin: American
Era: timeless fairy tale

Ambrose Bierce was known for his cynical and often dark short stories, frequently exploring themes of war, human nature, and the absurdities of power.

Plot Beats (9)

  1. An Inventor gains an audience with a King.
  2. The Inventor claims to have invented a rifle that discharges lightning.
  3. The King understands the Inventor wants to sell the secret.
  4. The Inventor confirms it would allow the King's army to conquer other nations.
  5. The King asks the price for the secret and the cost to re-arm his troops.
  6. The Inventor states the secret costs one million dollars and re-arming costs fifty millions.
  7. The King questions the necessity of war if he's not seeking conquest.
  8. The Inventor, revealing his true intent, threatens to sell the invention to another country if the King doesn't buy it.
  9. The King recognizes this as blackmail and orders his Prime Minister to behead the Inventor.

Characters 3 characters

The Inventor ★ protagonist

human adult male

Of average height and build, perhaps a bit gaunt from long hours of work and modest living. His hands might show calluses or stains from his mechanical pursuits. His posture is likely earnest, perhaps a little stooped from leaning over inventions, but he carries himself with a certain self-importance when presenting his work.

Attire: Practical, somewhat worn, but respectable attire befitting a man of intellect but limited means in the late 19th or early 20th century. Perhaps a dark, slightly threadbare wool suit, a plain white shirt, and a loosely tied cravat. His shoes would be sturdy but scuffed.

Wants: To sell his invention for a substantial sum of money and gain recognition for his genius. He desires wealth and patronage.

Flaw: His overconfidence in the value of his invention and his lack of political acumen. He misjudges the King's character and the consequences of his veiled threat.

He begins as a hopeful entrepreneur seeking patronage and ends as a condemned man, having overplayed his hand and underestimated the ruthlessness of power.

His sharp, intelligent eyes, perhaps with a glint of ambition, contrasting with his slightly disheveled appearance.

Ingenious, opportunistic, pragmatic, self-serving, and somewhat naive about the political implications of his invention. He is driven by financial gain and recognition.

Image Prompt & Upload
A lean adult man standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a sharp, intelligent face with keen, dark eyes and a pale complexion. His dark, medium-length hair is slightly unkempt. He wears a dark, slightly worn wool suit jacket, a plain white shirt, and a loosely tied dark cravat. His posture is earnest but with a hint of self-importance. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.

The King ⚔ antagonist

human adult male

A man of imposing presence, likely of robust build, reflecting a life of authority and perhaps indulgence. He would carry himself with an air of absolute power and unshakeable confidence. His height would be average to tall, and his movements deliberate and commanding.

Attire: Rich, formal attire befitting a European monarch of the late 19th or early 20th century. This would include a dark, impeccably tailored military-style uniform adorned with numerous medals and gold braid, or a formal court coat of dark velvet with silk lining, a crisp white shirt, and a jeweled cravat. He would wear polished leather boots.

Wants: To maintain his kingdom's stability and power without unnecessary expenditure or risk. He is driven by the practicalities of governance and self-preservation.

Flaw: His ruthlessness and lack of mercy, which, while effective in maintaining power, make him a feared rather than beloved ruler.

He remains unchanged, demonstrating his established character as a pragmatic and ruthless ruler who swiftly deals with perceived threats.

His stern, calculating eyes and the authoritative set of his jaw, framed by his regal attire.

Shrewd, pragmatic, ruthless, calculating, and decisive. He values stability and economy over glory and conquest, but is quick to eliminate threats to his authority.

Image Prompt & Upload
A robust adult man standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a stern, shrewd face with dark, calculating eyes and a neatly trimmed dark beard. His complexion is healthy. He wears a dark, impeccably tailored military-style uniform adorned with numerous gold braids and medals, a crisp white shirt, and a jeweled cravat. His posture is regal and authoritative. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.

The Prime Minister ○ minor

human adult male

Likely a man of dignified appearance, perhaps slightly older than the King, with a lean or average build. He would carry himself with the quiet authority of someone close to power, always deferential to the monarch but capable of executing orders efficiently.

Attire: Formal, conservative court attire of the late 19th or early 20th century. This would include a dark, well-tailored frock coat, a waistcoat, striped trousers, a starched white shirt, and a dark cravat. He might wear a small, discreet medal or order on his lapel.

Wants: To serve the King and maintain the order of the kingdom.

Flaw: His unquestioning obedience to the King, even when faced with ruthless commands.

Remains unchanged, serving as a steadfast instrument of the King's will.

His discreet, observant eyes and his formal, dark attire, signifying his role as a powerful but silent enforcer.

Loyal, efficient, discreet, and obedient. He is a man of action when commanded, without questioning the King's decisions.

Image Prompt & Upload
A dignified adult man standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a serious, observant face with fair skin and neatly combed gray hair. He wears a dark, well-tailored frock coat, a waistcoat, striped trousers, a starched white shirt, and a dark cravat. His posture is respectful and attentive. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations 1 locations
No image yet

The King's Audience Chamber

indoor morning mild, indoor climate

A formal, opulent chamber within a European-style palace, likely of the late 19th or early 20th century, where the King receives visitors. It would feature rich tapestries, heavy velvet drapes, and polished wooden or marble floors, reflecting a sense of power and tradition.

Mood: formal, tense, authoritative

The Inventor presents his 'lightning rifle' invention to the King, attempting to sell it.

ornate throne on a dais heavy velvet curtains polished marble floor large, arched windows tapestries depicting historical scenes long, formal table or desk
Image Prompt & Upload
A grand, high-ceilinged audience chamber in a late 19th-century European palace. Sunlight streams through tall, arched windows, illuminating dust motes in the air and casting long shadows across a polished marble floor. Heavy crimson velvet drapes are pulled back from the windows, revealing intricate gold embroidery. A large, ornate wooden throne sits on a raised dais at one end, flanked by tapestries depicting medieval battles. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.