CHAPTER 557: HIJACKED

TL: Rui88

Zane led his militia brothers from Tata Village and quickly ran into the front hall of the Lord’s Manor. The main doors were now open.

The scene inside stunned them.

A burly man, who seemed to be that Director of Public Safety, had his arm, as thick as an ordinary man’s thigh, wrapped tightly around someone’s neck. And the person he had in his grip was none other than the police detachment commander who had brought them to the Lord’s Manor for security duty, Byleth McReynolds.

McReynolds was not in a good state. He was being held against Russ Hayden’s chest like a little chick, two heads shorter than his captor. His hands were desperately gripping the powerful arm around his neck, trying with all his might to pry it off. Yet, Russ Hayden’s arm did not move an inch, as if it were cast from steel. The veins on McReynolds’ temples bulged, clearly using every ounce of strength he had, and beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead.

The guards of the Lord’s Manor formed a tight circle around Russ Hayden and the other officials, nervously watching their surroundings. The policemen who had rushed in slightly before the militia stood dumbfounded, staring at the incredible scene.

If it were only Russ Hayden, he might have been the rebel hiding in the city, but… looking at the scene before them… he carefully observed Administrator Ford and the old butler of the Lord’s Manor, Philip. They stood right beside Russ Hayden, their faces showing no sign of panic. Instead, they looked at the others with resolute expressions.

Administrator Ford and Butler Philip… traitors? How was that possible!

Although Zane did not live in Lakeheart Town, he had heard of these two men. In every respect, they should have been the two people Count Grayman relied on and trusted the most. They could not possibly be traitors.

As for the other officials, their reactions were no better than those of the police and militia; they were just as shocked by what was happening around them.

“Let go of Lord McReynolds! This is rebellion.”

A few policemen shouted at their Director of Public Safety.

Hearing his comrades shout, Lucas, who stood among the police ranks, frowned deeply. He could tell that the few who had spoken out were the men McReynolds trusted most. But they were now confronting the head of all police, Lord Russ Hayden, not to mention the Administrator of the Administration Council and the lord’s butler, who seemed to be on Hayden’s side.

Russ Hayden’s eyes widened, round and large. The gaze of the former captain of the guard was quite intimidating.

“Everyone listen!” he roared. The great hall of the Lord’s Manor was designed to have an echo, and to everyone’s ears, Russ Hayden’s voice was like a clap of thunder.

“Burgan Warren and Byleth McReynolds are the real rebels.”

“Don’t listen to his nonsense!” Byleth McReynolds’ face was already red from the chokehold, but he still managed to shout with all his might, “Quickly, rescue me from this traitor’s hands.”

The militia was at a loss. Nearly half of the police, however, raised their guns and aimed them at Russ Hayden…they had also been issued firearms. But the guards of the Lord’s Manor protecting Russ Hayden immediately raised their own guns to face off against the police.

“All of you, put your guns down!”

Seeing this, Russ Hayden’s eyes blazed with fury. He tightened his arm around McReynolds’ neck. McReynolds winced in pain and quickly told the policemen under his command, “Put them down, put your guns down!”

The policemen who had raised their guns looked at each other and silently lowered their weapons.

“Administrator Ford? What is going on?”

The officials surrounded by the guards had also calmed down from their initial panic. Cecil, Hansel, Bernard, and the others all looked to old Ford, seeking an answer.

“Everyone, listen to me!” The Administrator of the Administration Council, old Ford, cleared his throat heavily before speaking.

Except for the guards on alert, everyone in the great hall turned their gaze towards him.

“We have just received a message from the lord…yes, that’s right, our lord, Count Paul Grayman, is still alive. He was indeed attacked by traitors, and among that band of traitors were the Warren and McReynolds families, from which Burgan and Byleth hail!”

“Hah…!”

A wave of astonished gasps filled the hall.

Cecil reacted, “So you mean, the rebels Burgan was talking about were themselves!”

“Yes!” Butler Philip confirmed.

The captured Byleth McReynolds was sweating profusely, his heart filled with shock and panic.

He could not figure out how old Ford and Philip had received the news. All channels of communication in and out of Lakeheart Town should have been cut off. Could they read minds?

He had been sent to watch over these “hostages,” but he had ended up becoming a hostage himself.

“Brothers of the militia! Brothers of the police!”

Russ Hayden shouted at them, “Wake up from the lies of these traitors. Burgan took advantage of the Lakeheart Town garrison’s absence, using his position to deceive the militia who came for training. Byleth also deceived his police subordinates. Perhaps they have their people in other departments as well. They spread the news of the lord’s assassination…though it wasn’t entirely false…to throw the entire city into chaos, seize control of the situation, and even put their own puppet lord in place!”

As he said the last sentence, he glared at Julio, who was still sitting in the lord’s seat.

The acting lord had lost his earlier composure. He was trembling like a leaf in the wind, with two guards holding him down by the shoulders.

“It has nothing to do with me! I… I really didn’t know Burgan was the rebel!”

The sweat-drenched Julio cried out tragically, his voice echoing through the great hall, but no one paid him any mind.

“Hahahaha!” Byleth McReynolds laughed out loud, though everyone could hear the bravado in his voice was a front.

“It’s too late! It’s too late! You know too little, too late. The tyrant Paul Grayman is finished! We have already effectively won more than half the battle. If you can see the situation for what it is, surrendering early is the right choice.”

Russ landed a heavy blow to his stomach, and Byleth wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant.

“Don’t listen to the traitor’s nonsense. Lord Grayman is safe and sound. The 8th Infantry Battalion has him under their protection.”

Old Ford sternly refuted him, though this was his own guess.

“Furthermore, Chief of Staff Schroeder identified the traitor’s plot in time and left the city overnight to find reinforcements. He is now leading an army back. Burgan’s hasty departure just now was because of this. But the militia under his command is no match for Schroeder’s regular army…I have great respect for the militia, but that is the reality. Your roles and training investments are different.”

Old Ford’s last sentence was directed at Zane and the other militiamen.