230: Chapter 135, Closing the Net_2 230: Chapter 135, Closing the Net_2 The only criterion was—no noble should die on site.

After-effects and whatnot, they did not care.

Especially the indigenous nobles who collaborated in the past, they were out to take revenge, their atrocious behaviour was simply indescribable.

Oddly enough, at this moment, Baron West, the mainstay of the Northern nobility, unexpectedly announced he is not receiving visitors.

“Young Master, are you sure you won’t see them?”

Steward Faren hesitated to ask.

Baron West had withdrawn early, before evidence could be found against him, so making a strategic withdrawal now was indeed a wise move.

But now, there were too many Northern nobles involved.

Apart from a few lucky ones who escaped the Memory Stone’s record, most participants were unfortunately caught.

“It’s pointless.

The evidence has fallen into the hands of the enemy.

We can’t stop the Governor’s Mansion if they want to seize the chance to make a fuss.

If we get involved, it would just invite more trouble – we wouldn’t be able to help anyone.

In any case, I’ve sounded the warning to who I needed to beforehand.

The nobles close to us mostly escaped unscathed.

Why should I worry about the others?

Our own cleanup actions weren’t so neat either.

It’s fine if no one investigates deeply.

But if they do, it might result in a mess too hard to clean up.

If we mess around too much and enrage the Governor’s Mansion, there’s every possibility that they’ll take us down with them.”

Baron West said calmly.

What’s feared the most is a serious investigation.

The prestige one has matters little here.

The fact that no one is investigated is due to an unspoken rule amongst the major nobles.

After all, every family has its misbehaving descendants.

Wouldn’t it be miserable for all noble children if every little issue is taken too seriously and is not let go off?

People not investigating doesn’t mean he can go about behaving recklessly.

If he brings trouble onto himself and others seize the occasion to deal with him, even the Grand Duke Cavadia couldn’t say much.

Steward Faren looked at his young master, holding back from speaking.

They weren’t exactly righteous in their actions this time.

Publicly, they merely stood by and watched everyone dig their own graves, yet behind the scenes, they took the opportunity to eliminate their past rivals.

…

In Maple Domain, Baron Katelai was receiving the interrogation of the investigation squad with an unbothered look on his face.

He had no issues with them arresting people, he’d cooperate fully, but only if they produced evidence.

But when they cross-referenced the Memory Stone over and over again, they embarrassingly found that none of the soldiers in his domain matched any of the soldiers involved in the robbery.

If it weren’t for someone witnessing the convoy carrying the stolen goods entering the Maple Domain after the successful robbery, they would have been fooled.

“Baron Katelai, please tell us truthfully, where have your remaining soldiers and stolen items gone?”

Baron McNamara asked sternly.

Many a hardliner have been tripped up by him.

But this time proved an exception.

The main forces of the Maple Domain were simply not there.

The only ones left in the domain were serf soldiers dressed in armor.

Surely, the robbers couldn’t be the serf soldiers.

The merchant convoys these days aren’t pushovers.

If you tried to rob them without some real combat capabilities, you were simply asking to get killed!

“Sir, what exactly are you saying?

All my soldiers from the Maple Domain are here.

There are no other soldiers anywhere.

You all must be mistaken.

Maybe some bad-minded noble sent people to disguise themselves.

You should go investigate elsewhere, lest the real culprit escapes.”

Katelai’s insulting words thoroughly enraged Baron McNamara, who was leading the apprehension mission.

If it weren’t for the fact that they hadn’t caught any key suspects and couldn’t firmly hold onto Katelai, he would’ve let this man learn a lesson about not messing with law enforcement.

“Really?

Since you are saying that, then don’t regret it.

The Governor is kind now and wants to let you go lightly, but it won’t be so simple next time.”

He left a threatening remark and then Baron McNamara left with his team.

With no culprit apprehended and no ill-gotten gains found, there was naturally no case to prosecute.

Remaining there to squabble would only add to the ridicule, and serve no purpose.

However, he made a note of the account, and if an opportunity arose in the future, he would come to settle the score.

…

After barely escaping the predicament, Baron Katelai’s face showed no joy.

He sensed that the situation wasn’t right.

He let his subordinates, disguised as labourers, transport the loot to the Northland before the Governor’s Mansion could react.

They might evade capture for now by secretly leaving the army, but they could not avoid it forever.

Once they returned to the Southeastern Province, old scores would be raked up again.

“West, if you did this, we have all underestimated you!”

The suspicion grew, and once it did, he couldn’t shake it off.

Not long after Baron West gave his warning, the Memory Stone recording the robbery incident appeared.

His confidants managed to escape, but those who suffered the most were the ones who didn’t heed his advice in the past.

As old rivals, Katelai had never taken Baron West, the second-generation noble, seriously.

But the current situation forced him to reevaluate his opponent.

After this incident, while many of the Northern Noble children suffered huge losses, this shattered Alliance appeared to have a single dominant power.

The losers were disgraced and ruined; not only did their future prospects suffer, but even their survival was in question.

Their power largely eroded and their families too far away to help.

If they wanted to keep what they had, their only choice was to seek a powerful guardian to lean on.

They couldn’t integrate into local nobilities, not even with the intention to defect.

As such, Baron West naturally became everyone’s only choice.