Chapter 240: The Truth About the Evening Party Riot (1)
A significant incident that began at a certain evening party plunged the royal capital into chaos for a while. It was only after ten days that calm was finally restored. Whether this duration is seen as lengthy or swift would vary from person to person.
Personally, I think the resolution was quite fast. There was a hostage situation at the counts mansion, followed by a dramatic escape involving smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails by bandits. Then, the refugee camp outside the capital caught fire. Any one of these would be considered a major incident, but to have all three happen at the same time was not ordinary. If everything was brought under control in just ten days, it was not just swift; it could be considered exceedingly so.
However, the officially announced conclusion of the events was not satisfactory to us. It was declared that a radical group that was hiding in the section where the children lived was behind everything that happened. And that they all supposedly died in an accidental fire.
In reality, the alleged culprits were never caught. Instead, among the ashes, clothes, and weapons belonging to those who had taken over the evening party were found. There were many charred bodies, but the damage was so severe that it was impossible to tell which were the perpetrators and which were refugees caught in the crossfire. Just the thought that Chirik and the others might have been mixed in with them made me shudder.
The two bandits I had captured and placed in the sand cage should have been a crucial lead but things didnt go smoothly. While I was away rescuing Chirik and the others, they consumed poison and ended their own lives.
I wasnt planning to make excuses, as it was true that if I hadnt gone to the rescue, I might have been able to capture someone alive and extract valuable information. Indeed, there were those who complained about this fact.
However, Robert silenced all those remarks. Although he was unrelated to the royal capitals finances, protection, or the investigation of the incident, his lineage and achievements gave him undeniable authority. He spoke out, first explaining how I had incidentally met and saved the refugee children, and then he brought up the fire at the refugee camp.
He pointed out that the fire broke out after the soldiers had swarmed the camp, suggesting that there might have been issues with the soldiers inability to prevent it. He also raised the possibility of arson, given the suspiciously perfect timing. He passionately argued that if it was arson, an investigation into why it was set was necessary. He protested vehemently, abandoning his usual gentlemanly demeanor.
Naturally, those in charge of the knights and guards objected. However, this time, Leo and the others who were employed by none other than Robert had distinguished themselves back in the incident. Thanks to Leo and Lieselottes quick thinking, no casualties occurred at the evening party, although there were injuries. This fact seemed to have restrained the officials from pushing back too hard.
The commander of the royal guards was the one who took control of the meeting, which turned into a blame game. He had attended the evening party but only made a brief appearance for greetings. By the time the situation was under control, he had already left the mansion and was not present during the incident.
This lucky man seemed to be a favorite of the king and he had attended meetings with ministers and other dignitaries as a representative of the royal guards. He had argued that the focus should not be on assigning blame but rather on conducting an investigation and announcing a public conclusion.
Moreover, he had inquired of Robert about the economic losses that would be incurred if the investigation took time. Robert reluctantly answered honestly, prompting the stingy king to order that resolving the situation be prioritized over a detailed investigation.
In the end, it was decided that while the detailed investigation would continue, the general outline of the incident would be announced as initially stated. The investigation was to be conducted not to uncover facts but to reinforce a pre-determined conclusion.
These details were undoubtedly accurate, having come directly from Robert himself. He must have been quite upset, as he called me every night to drink and vent his frustrations. Although the alcohol was weaker than that used in the Molotov cocktails, the hours spent in its odor were exhausting.
However, I wasnt just a sounding board for his complaints. At Roberts request, I had visited the refugee camp to eavesdrop on rumors and gather information, which I reported back to him.
Of course, I also relayed the conversations that Decius and I had overheard. After compiling all the gathered information, we arrived at a hypothesis. It was all circumstantial evidence without any physical proof, but we concluded that it was likely the truth.
With that in mind, we decided to keep these facts to ourselves. Publicizing them would only tarnish the narrative that was spread in the name of the king And above all, loudly declaring the truth wouldnt bring anyone back or make anyone happier.
With that, our departure will be tomorrow. Please make sure to prepare diligently.
Movement in and out of the royal capital had been restricted due to the investigation of the incident, and obtaining permission to leave was not easy. But as calm returned to the capital, we finally gained the ability to leave the country. This would allow us to head south towards the Shumie Mountain Range, which was our goal.
However, this also meant that today would be our last chance to visit the refugee camp. It was the last day we could meet with Chirik and the others, so we had to get their response today.
When I heard that tomorrow was the day of departure, I decided to head straight to the refugee camp. Naturally, Chris was accompanying me.
While I couldnt help but wonder if it was alright for Lieselotte to be without her guard, she herself wasnt planning to leave the mansion this day and had encouraged Chris to come along. In the meantime, she seemed to be content playing with Lappy.
Lappy being there instead of Chris wouldnt cause any problems Right? Hilda didnt seem to have any objections, so it was probably fine. It was something I pondered every day but never voiced aloud.
During these ten days, the others also spent their time freely. Tigar and his son Leo apparently walked around the town. As they walked, they bought gifts for Tigars wife and Leos mother, Sharl, and their daughter and sister, Reese, with their own money. It was a relief to see their family harmoniously happy.
On the other hand, Decius was busy gathering information about the Empire and collecting various useful tools inscribed with spiritual circuits. At this time, he even accumulated items that no longer functioned. These were practically junk and thus available for a very low price, but there was a reason he gathered even the unusable items.
This wasnt due to Deciuss intellectual curiosity, but rather at the request of Marcellus. Despite having lost both legs, Marcellus who was the most educated among us had taken on the role of a teacher and various different tasks. However, he felt his disability was a significant handicap and believed he was being a burden on the team.
The solution was for him to engage in tasks that could be done with his hands. That meant analyzing and learning to inscribe spiritual circuits. I only learned about this when Decius brought home the junk that night. I had no idea he felt this way, so I apologized for bothering them both.
In response to my apology, Decius laughed, assured me there was no need to worry, and continued. He explained that when part of the demons went berserk due to that strange sound, both of them were prepared for death. He thanked me for saving them and taking them into the team.
Marcellus and Decius were grateful, and it seemed they were searching for tasks they could manage on their own. Marcellus, who had lost both legs, felt strongly about this. And so, Decius requested that I shouldnt fuss over them unnecessarily and simply observe from a distance.
Bolts preferred to act alone and maintained a routine of leaving in the morning and returning in the evening. He showed no intention of sharing where he went or what he did, and I refrained from prying too much.
However, I couldnt help but notice the sweet scent he carried with him each time he returned. This scent was not from sweet-smelling incense but from something like sugar as detected by my keen sense of smell. Sugar confections were a luxury and werent something one could indulge in daily.but any attempts to inquire about it were deftly evaded.
Since there were no signs of him engaging in criminal activities, all I could do was watch over him. I had offered help if needed, but he seemed unlikely to ask for it.
Oh, Antares, youre here today too?
Crane, huh?
While I was walking through the refugee camp, troubled by thoughts of Bolts, someone approached me to talk. It was Crane the leader of the refugee camps vigilante group.
He apparently worked tirelessly to evacuate and rescue refugees during the fire that engulfed the refugee camp. Thanks to their quick actions, the damage to the refugee camp was kept to a minimum. As a result of this achievement, the vigilante group was officially recognized and began to coordinate with the garrison.
Just perfect. I have something Id like to discuss with you. Chris, can you go ahead?
Sure. Ill wait for you.
Then, lets head to the headquarters of the vigilante group. This way, please.
While Chris went ahead to the location where the surviving children had taken refuge, I accompanied Crane to the headquarters of the vigilante group.
The place we were brought to wasnt the tent I had been shown before, but a large single-story building erected near a section that had been burned down in the fire. Although the building was crudely made from scrap materials, it was definitely much sturdier than the previous tent.
The interior of the single-story building was not divided by walls, and the large desk in the center of the room and the chairs surrounding it were the same ones that had been used before. I entered with Crane after being invited in.
Please take a seat. So, what is it you wanted to talk about?
Well, actually, we are leaving the royal capital tomorrow to return to the Harlasia Kingdom. I thought I should bid you farewell before that.
Only Crane and I were present in the single-story building. It seemed that the members of his vigilante group were waiting outside. The building was spacious enough that our conversation wouldnt be overheard unless we raised our voices or someone outside intentionally eavesdropped on us. After confirming that no such thing was happening, I slowly began to speak.
And the other thing is why did you allow the refugee camp to be set on fire? I want to know your true intentions.
As soon as I asked the question, the smile that had been on Cranes face seemed to freeze and he grew motionless. Ah, so Roberts deduction was correct after all. Filled with a sense of helplessness, I waited for Cranes answer.
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