CHAPTER 54: A FOOLISH ACT?

The explosion reverberated across the central region of the City, especially around the vicinity of the Palace.

The deafening sound immediately alerted many nearby guards, prompting them to rush toward the location. When they arrived, they discovered the Palace gate had been completely destroyed. However, upon closer inspection, they realized no intruders had breached the compound.

This gave them a much needed sense of relief because the Baron was unharmed. Since the enemies would have probably tried to directly target the Baron for the execution of many criminals which happened in the last days.

Meanwhile, the Red Serpents, responsible for orchestrating the explosion, had already made their escape. Using the narrow alleyways and winding paths they would use to approach the Palace, they quickly vanished from the scene.

Farther out in the central region, where the City Guard maintained a stronger presence, a patrol group was making its usual rounds. The sudden sound of destruction made them freeze in their tracks. They stood in stunned silence, unsure of what had just occurred.

"What in the world..." one of the guards muttered, staring toward the source of the rising smoke.

Another turned pale as he observed the direction. "Isn’t that where the Palace is?" he asked, wide-eyed.

"Someone attacked the Palace," a third guard whispered, both terrified and disbelieving.

"Hold on, don’t panic," said the captain. "We must stay in position and ensure there’s no invasion on our end since we’re near the outer are-"

He stopped mid sentence, eyes narrowing. One of their group was missing. It was the female guard, the only one among the ten of them. She had been standing at the far end when the explosion occurred. While everyone had turned to face the blast, she had been furthest from the center of their formation.

In that moment of distraction, the Red Serpents struck again. Silently and swiftly, they closed in on her from the shadows. These men were experts in abduction, especially targeting women for their vile operations.

They moved with practiced coordination. A member of the gang clamped a cloth doused in a paralytic agent over the female guard’s mouth and nose. She inhaled the toxic scent and accidentally ingested some of the liquid. Almost immediately, her limbs went limp, her body unresponsive, her voice muted.

She was helpless and the Serpents carried her away without making a sound, slipping between the cramped spaces of the urban dwellings.

"It worked," one of them hissed quietly, grinning.

Another chuckled. "The guards are always fools, no matter who’s in command."

Back at the patrol site, panic began to spread as the guards realised one of their own had vanished.

"She’s gone!" one shouted.

"Did someone kidnap her?" asked another, struggling to process the situation.

Shock and horror replaced their earlier confusion. Not only had there been an attack on the Palace, but now one of their comrades was missing. It was a serious crisis, especially considering how recently the City Guard had earned the trust and respect of the people by standing strong against crime.

And this wasn’t an isolated case. Across other districts, similar events were unfolding. Guards were disappearing during the chaos of the explosion, their comrades especially the women were silently snatched away.

"What happened here?" Frejlurd muttered grimly as he arrived at the Palace, surveying the damage. He stepped up to what was once the Palace gate, which was now reduced to charred debris.

"Looks like they used thunder barrels," said one of the examining guards.

Frejlurd’s eyes narrowed. "Thunder barrels? The gangs are getting bold, too bold. They’re challenging the Royal Government now." He glanced down at the rubble, eyes gleaming with a mixture of anger and opportunity.

"They’re fools," he said, kicking aside broken stones. "But their stupidity works in our favor. When we report this, the Royal Knights will surely get involved. That would give us the firepower we need to crush them once and for all."

He grinned slightly, his voice filled with rising confidence. In his mind, the damage was superficial but it was just a gate blown apart. But the implications were far more severe.

Thunder barrels were classified as military grade weaponry, strictly forbidden to civilians. Their use was a direct act of rebellion, potentially punishable as high treason.

It was the perfect justification for all-out retaliation and not just with local support. With the Royal Government’s blessing, they could declare open war against the criminal syndicates.

The Duke who attacked the criminals before didn’t have similar justification and was under the attack by Aristocrats who were extremely loyal to the Crown as due to being called a Tyrant, the Duke who didn’t want his name or his family name badmouthed decided to stop the attacks.

"Looks like fortune is finally on our side," Frejlurd muttered, pleased. "Send word immediately to the Royal Government. Tell them thunder barrels were used in an attack on Baron Estefan’s residence. That alone should warrant a royal decree."

One of the guards hesitated. "What about the Baron?"

Frejlurd gave a slight nod. "I’m certain the lord already anticipated this. He’s always ten steps ahead. I wouldn’t be surprised if preparations were already in motion."

Frejlurd had the utmost faith in Baron Estefan. He admired the man’s ruthless intellect and command over strategy. The Baron had given him clear instructions in the past, to never hesitate in using violence when necessary to uphold justice and maintain order.

This attack had lifted the restraints off him. Now, he could act freely and without limits. With potential support from the Government, and perhaps even assistance from the Angeras Knights and the Royal Knights combined, Frejlurd was prepared to go all in.

In his mind, this was an opportunity, one that could bring total victory over the underworld. He didn’t yet realize that the attack had inflicted unseen damage on his own forces since the reports of the missing case had yet to be reported there since everything happened at the same time.

Soon after, Galliard arrived at the Palace and joined Frejlurd at the wreckage.

"Who did this?" he asked, scanning the debris with a deep frown.

"Idiots," Frejlurd answered curtly. "Used thunder barrels."

Galliard’s face went pale. "They violated Royal Law just to blow up the gate...?"

Frejlurd let out a dark laugh. "They probably thought this was a show of defiance. But all they did was reveal they possessed illegal military weapons. That alone justifies calling in the Royal Army. Thunder barrels are for soldiers only."

Galliard stood there utterly shocked. "I can’t believe someone would do something so stupid." He said while not being able to believe this. "Such an action could lead to their entire family and anyone closely related to them executed without any second chance."

Frejlurd laughed at that, "yes and that makes it a perfect opportunity. All we have to do is put the blame on Zorthar or Lutis... We will not only get the support of the entire country but also maybe the support of the Army, Knights and even funds directly from the Government."

"You are indeed correct, Commander." Galliard nodded, "but I am here to tell you that the Baron is alright, he has asked you to report to him after you finish everything here."

Frejlurd was relieved, he was indeed afraid of the Baron’s well-being even though he was confident that nothing bad had happened to the Baron since he knew the existence of the bloodhounds albeit not clearly since he couldn’t see them properly.

"That is a relief." He said, "I was afraid that something bad had happened inside the Palace but it is good to know that the Baron is okay.."

Galliard tapped the shoulders of the Commander. "Rest assured, he is well guarded as you know."

"Yes, maybe the best guards a person could hope to achieve." Frejlurd commented on it, "it is sure nice to have a loving father who would create such a formidable secretive protection for his son."

None knew the indifference shown by the Duke to his sons, especially Estefan who gained nothing from the family excluding the sufferings. He lost his mother and after that was practically alone in the Estate where spies were sent as cleaners to check whether he was alive or not but mainly his day to day activities.

It was as if the Duke wanted to make sure that his eldest son never grows strong but remains weak and pathetic to ensure his second son was born from the Princess of the country who was his second wife.

But Estefan grew to be stronger, with the help of his mother who foresaw such a fate and prepared everything he would need for his survival, especially the strength necessary to face the world.

Bloodhounds were simply one of them, as Estefan truly felt that these were the blessings given to him by his mother and he was always thankful to her for it.

This was the reality none knew and something Estefan didn’t bother to explain since his past was irrelevant for him except for his revenge which was after all a strong goal to score.

[To be Continued]