As the sun dipped in the horizon, the Royal Estate was filled with what could only be described as a mixed reaction.
The Royal Council, which had been deliberating on several affairs all day, was first of all interrupted by the news of slaves and the responsible slave traders mysteriously appearing in their front gate.
The reason they could recognize them as slaves was simply due to the tags that each person had on.
Those who didn't have tags were recognized as the lowlives of the underworld due to their Enchanted Items, or markings on their bodies that earlier investigations had deciphered to belong to a criminal mastermind known as Evals Redart.
What was most surprising was that this very Evals Redart was also among the unconscious ones that were presented at the Royal Estate's gate.
No one knew who brought them, or how they ended up there in the first place.
One moment, the entire passage was empty, and the next, it was filled with bodies.
The Royal Council was immediately alerted about this development by the Head Guard, considering how big a step towards progress this all was.
However, the mixed reactions that were given wasa—to put it very mildly—very unexpected.
Grandmaster Conrad and Lady Vida seemed immensely satisfied by the news, but the other three had somewhat cautious or even worried expressions.
Of course, no one suspected them of any malevolent intentions or thoughts, so their reactions were simply chalked down to intense surprise.
And so, while bright smiles decorated a few faces, dreary looks were plastered on the faces of others.
The Royal Council meeting didn't end yet, though. There were a bunch of issues to be addressed, after all.
They merely gave instructions to the guards and continued.
However, the second wave of news caused them to adjourn their gathering.
… And it was none other than the report of the return of the lost Otherworlders, along with the man who found them.
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"Ralyks…?" Conrad's brows twisted the moment he thought of the name once again.
He knew of the prominent Adventurers in the Adventurer City, but he had never heard of that name before.
'Is he perhaps a new face? But from what I just heard… he doesn't seem like an amateur.'
The very fact that he was the one responsible for capturing Evals Redart, and busting up the Capital's branch of Slave Trade, made him a force to be reckoned with.
Conrad felt it was absurd that he hadn't heard of the name before.
After all, the Royal Council meeting they were having prior to the interruption was centered around the most viable Adventurers.
Currently, he and one other member of the Royal Council were on their way to the guest quarters to see this mysterious benefactor of theirs.
Vida and the other two went off to see the Otherworlders who were currently receiving medical support.
The soldiers told them that their condition wasn't too dire—especially Alicia's—but they still had to see for themselves.
As a result, the Royal Council had to be split into groups.
Conrad and the man beside him—Knox—had contrasting expressions on their faces.
While the former had a relieved, but curious facade, Knox appeared more tense and worried than anything else.
"Are you alright, Knox? Ever since the first news, you've been a bit off."
"A-ah, really? Maybe. I'm not too sure myself." Knox, an older fellow with spectacles on his face and long white beards smiled.
Whenever he made expressions like this, he appeared like a wiry old man, but Conrad knew he was capable.
After all, other than Vida, Knox was the one he trusted most among the Royal Council members.
They had been close since before the United Human Alliance was formed.
In a way, this old man was like an uncle to Conrad, considering how close his father was to Knox.
'Maybe he's just stressed out. We've been having our meeting since morning, and it has gotten pretty late already…'
Knox wasn't getting any younger, so being active for so long must have taken a toll on his body.
Conrad felt for the old man, but this time their meeting couldn't be helped.
After all, it was one of utmost pertinence.
'We'll probably have to continue it later tonight or early tomorrow.'
That was how important it was.
'But first, we have to meet this Ralyks fellow. If he is indeed an Adventurer, then maybe… just maybe…!'
As Conrad had these thoughts, he couldn't see the dark expression that played on Knox's face.
It wasn't one of tiredness or weariness.
Instead, it was an expression of downright hostility.
'This man called Ralyks… how much does he know about us?!'
The Slave Trade was rendered illegal by the Royal Council, but Knox and two of his comrades had decided to support it from the shadows.
It brought them a considerable amount of revenue, and it was far more lucrative than most of the businesses one could get into in the entire Alliance.
However, with the capture of Evals Redart, one of their most best pawns within the Slave Trade industry, and the crippling of one sector of the market, Knox knew the loss that he and his colleagues would suffer.
Even with all of these negatives, none compared to what Knox and the others feared most.
'The interrogation will probably begin tomorrow. We can't allow it to happen!'
Most perpetrators of the Slave Trade didn't know too much, but Evals Redart knew too much.
'He has to be eliminated!'
Those were the thoughts on Knox's mind as he and Conrad swiftly proceeded to the Guest House.
As darkness crept into the sky, and the world was deprived of sunlight, the old man's crooked face made a deep frown.
The luxurious building stood a couple more meters from them, and some of the guards that served as their entourage had gone ahead to prepare the way for Knox and Conrad.
The former's eyes gleamed with even more apprehension as he bit his lip.
'It's possible that this Ralyks will also be a problematic one.'
If that was the case, Knox knew that he and his colleagues had to nip him in the bud—and fast.
The old man had resolved within himself a long time ago…
'No matter the cost… I must succeed!'
And even now, nothing had changed.
Nothing at all.
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Thanks for reading!
Who do you think are the perpetrators within the Royal Council?
