CHAPTER 808: LIKE A VERDICT

Later that afternoon, information about other noble families’ relationships with the devils was also confirmed by some people who came to check for themselves. All of them discovered several hideouts and connections that could be proven, which caused turmoil in some of the noble territories.

All of that was further intensified by an announcement, adding fuel to the hatred toward the opposition faction.

The imperial family finally revealed the results of their investigation following the assassination attempt. With a platform built in the city square of the capital under the shadow of the World Tree, the Empress herself, accompanied by Empress Sylphia, stood side by side to announce it to the world.

Empress Vilena stated that, with the help of Empress Sylphia, the imperial family had uncovered the truth behind the assassination attempt the previous night. They even brought the perpetrator himself, Baron Stargis, to give his testimony, which pointed toward the opposition faction as the mastermind the assassination attempt.

On this occasion, Empress Vilena also stated that she had received information regarding the involvement of several noble families with the devils. The imperial family declared that they would investigate the matter to the end and punish anyone proven to have worked with the devils.

This caused many to be shocked and thrown into an uproar. The only reason they did not immediately dismiss the announcement as nonsense or as an excuse for the imperial family to shift blame was because Empress Sylphia herself supported the results of the investigation.

As the one who had almost become the victim the previous night, she had the most right to speak on the matter. If she agreed with the results, then it must mean she also believed the findings were true. When they brought Baron Stargis before everyone and he explained what had happened to him and his family, the people grew truly furious.

Furious that the blame had been directed the wrong way. Furious that they had been made to look like fools. Furious that someone had betrayed their expectations and trust. Furious that the Grand Duke, who had seemed like a breath of fresh air for change in the empire, was in fact a rotten being responsible for it all.

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Grand Duke Freindor, who heard the report about the imperial family’s announcement from his manor, was truly enraged. To think that Empress Sylphia was still alive, and, moreover, that Baron Stargis was still breathing and well!

Worse, he had given testimony against him, which made his already difficult position even more pressured. He truly couldn’t understand how the imperial family had done it, and now he believed that the spies inside the imperial palace had betrayed the opposition faction.

’How dare he go against me when I still have his wife and daughter,’ Grand Duke Freindor thought as he gritted his teeth before walking out of the main building of the manor.

On his way, he met his son, Brein, who approached him with a panicked expression.

"Father, what is this about? Why are we suddenly the ones at a disadvantage? How could they know about—" Brein stopped talking the moment he saw his father’s fierce eyes turn toward him.

He knew his father was truly enraged at that moment and had no intention of listening to any of his complaints.

However, how could he not panic when the entire city now seemed hostile toward their family? Their connection with the devils had suddenly been revealed with undeniable evidence. He knew this was like a death sentence for their entire family.

Even if they didn’t end up dead, their lives would never be the same.

The image of traitors would always be embedded in them, and it would remain that way for the rest of their lives.

He stayed silent as he watched his father walk farther away, seeming to be in a hurry.

Grand Duke Freindor said nothing as he continued walking until he finally arrived at the dungeon where he kept his prisoners. Like any proper dungeon, the place was heavily guarded to ensure nothing went wrong.

As he entered, he was followed by the commander of the guards, who was responsible for everything that happened within the dungeon.

They eventually arrived in front of a door, a special cell guarded by two guards.

"Open the door," Grand Duke Freindor ordered. The guards immediately obeyed, and the Grand Duke stepped inside at once.

The moment he entered, he froze. In fact, not only him, the guard commander who followed was also stunned. What they were supposed to see was not there.

Inside this cell were supposed to be Baron Stargis’s wife and daughter, who had been held here. However, the moment they entered, what they saw was—nothing. There was no one inside the cell.

The Grand Duke’s stunned expression darkened as he turned to the commander behind him.

"Where are they?"

The commander, still shocked and confused, quickly answered.

"I don’t know, my lord. I’m certain this cell hasn’t been opened since the day they were brought in. I swear upon—Uokh!"

Before he could finish, Grand Duke Freindor suddenly grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground.

The two guards outside, hearing the disturbance, looked into the cell and froze when they saw that it was empty. The two prisoners were gone.

"Are you telling me they just disappeared without you knowing? They escaped from someone at the pseudo immortal stage?!" Grand Duke Freindor roared in fury. He turned toward the guards standing at the door, who were trembling as his gaze fell on them.

"Where are they?!" he shouted.

"We don’t know, I swear, my lord! We never opened this door after the prisoners were placed inside. We didn’t even take a peek or communicate with them," one of the guards answered in fear.

Grand Duke Freindor’s eyes remained cold, his expression darkening as he turned his gaze back to the commander. He released his grip from the man’s throat and looked around the cell once more.

From the looks of it, these people were telling the truth, which only fueled his anger. If they truly didn’t know how the prisoners had disappeared, then it meant the two had escaped through some means that even a pseudo-immortal stage cultivator could not detect.

He neither saw nor sensed any sign of change inside the cell. It was as if the two prisoners had vanished into thin air.

’Someone must have saved them, but who could do it?This place was secured deep underground and surrounded by numerous detection and trap formations. Any movement without authorization would be detected instantly. Not even someone at the pseudo-immortal stage could completely evade these formations, especially since another pseudo-immortal was stationed here.’ Grand Duke Freindor’s thoughts churned.

’Whoever it was, they must have been working for the imperial family. No wonder Stargis wasn’t afraid to reveal everything without thinking of the consequences. He must have already known that his wife and daughter had been saved.’ He gritted his teeth in frustration.

He had wanted to get rid of Baron Stargis’s wife and daughter for daring to defy him. He no longer saw any purpose in keeping them alive anyway.

But to think he had been outplayed and left a step behind, he didn’t even know how they had escaped.

Without saying anything, he decided to walk outside. He needed to think of another way to turn the situation around. He knew that with each passing second, his head was getting closer to the execution platform. The situation was so grim that he still couldn’t find any way to escape from it.

And things became even worse a few hours later. The event that turned everyone completely hostile toward the opposition faction, especially Grand Duke Freindor.

Aldrian the Great himself made an announcement. His voice echoed across the entire continent of the elves.

"Based on the investigation conducted throughout the continent of elves and after verifying every piece of information, I support the Silvarin Imperial Family in judging the crimes committed by the opposition faction against the people of the Verdyn Empire and against my fiancée. For them to work with the devils and even attempt to kill my fiancée."

"Although I would prefer to deliver punishment myself, I believe the Silvarin Imperial Family will give the appropriate judgment to the perpetrators."

This announcement was like the strike of a hammer delivering a verdict. The moment many people heard it, they knew it was over. The opposition faction and Grand Duke Freindor were finished. Whether they lost their status or their lives.

His announcement was all people needed to set aside their doubts and decide to act against the opposition faction. The populace and other powers moved to aid the imperial family in rooting out traitors, as they began gathering around the manors of several noble families to deliver judgment.

The imperial family had dispatched their troops to apprehend many noble houses almost simultaneously. Some families tried to resist, but they were no match for the combined strength of the imperial forces and the people who rose to support them.

Some realized resistance was futile and surrendered. Scenes of nobles being arrested and marched away in chains could be seen across the empire.

The Valian family, too, had their manor surrounded by the imperial army and many people.

"Grand Duke Freindor, we have come under Her Majesty’s order to arrest you. Surrender to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed!"