Black Hearted Mage
Chapter 176 Conspiracy 2
Caesar left the bustling square, each step heavy and cautious. The city guards followed closely behind him, their sharp eyes warily observing Caesar's every move, as if afraid he might suddenly disappear. Thus, under the city guards' close surveillance, Caesar finally arrived at the solemn and dignified City Guard House.
Upon entering the City Guard House, Caesars was led directly to a hall used for interrogating prisoners. The moment he entered, a chilling, eerie atmosphere washed over him, making him feel extremely uncomfortable. A corpse, covered in gray linen, lay in the center of the hall.
Not long after, the sound of hurried footsteps approached from afar. Three figures, dressed in ornate official robes and with solemn expressions, appeared in the hall. With them came thirty fully armed city guards. Each of these soldiers was burly, wielding sharp weapons, and exuded a terrifying aura. As the heavy door slowly closed with a dull thud, the once bright light in the hall dimmed, adding a sense of oppression to the entire scene.
The official, who looked to be in his sixties, was the first to break the silence. With a stern face, he asked in a cold voice, "Caesars Cavell, you dared to publicly beat a viscount to death today. Do you plead guilty to this heinous act?"
Upon hearing this, Caesars' heart tightened. He took a deep breath and, with forced composure, replied, "Is this the normal procedure for the City Guards to conduct an investigation? According to common sense, shouldn't they first inquire about my background and the reasons for the murder before judging my guilt?"
At this moment, another city guard officer spoke up. He said in a firm and unquestionable tone, "Humph, we already have testimonies from more than 30 witnesses. The facts of this case are clear, and there's no need to waste time on interrogation. All you have to do is plead guilty!" From his words, one could clearly feel an eagerness to close the case as soon as possible, as if he had already made up his mind about everything.
Faced with such a situation, Caesars became more and more convinced that there was a huge conspiracy hidden behind this seemingly simple case, and this conspiracy was most likely aimed at him.
"I am a magician. You need the Royal Mage Corps to interrogate me. I also have another identity. You city guards have no right to interfere in my affairs!"
As Caesar spoke, he took out a silver token. The light in the hall was a little dim, but the emblem engraved on it could still be seen.
"Fake, this token must be fake!"
The old official stood up and shouted in horror.
Before Caesars could reply, the heavy, tightly closed door was violently flung open, slamming violently against the wall. The hall trembled as a pair of pitch-black leather boots stepped in, revealing a figure wearing pitch-black leather armor and a black mask.
"Boy from the Portman family, you're the most courageous person in Fire Maple City. You actually dared to arrest our Hawkeye's deputy commander!"
The spy chief's outfit was well-known throughout Fire Maple City. The elderly city guard commander, standing there, shuddered at the sight of Carlos. Finally, his legs trembled so violently that he could no longer support himself, and he sat down on the ground.
"All the city guards get out, you three stay!"
Carlos looked at the three of them and spoke a few words calmly, seemingly emitting immense pressure. The armored city guards trotted out of the hall one by one, the pressure from the spy chief being too great.
"Listen carefully, you three. I'm only going to ask you this once. You don't have to answer. The executioner in Black Prison will let you speak. Who is the mastermind behind this? How many people are involved?"
The spy chief sat on a chair to the side, waiting quietly. Several men in leather armor hurried in from outside the hall. They lifted the linen covering the body and carefully examined it.
"The Duke of Barton's former brother-in-law - Sandro Delta, Tru of the Lawrence family, and Sig of the Portman family!" the city guard replied.
"They are all magicians and members of the Magic Guild. Sandro was bitten by vipers more than a dozen times in the highlands, so it's quite normal for him to want revenge on Caesars. As for Sig and Tru, do they have any grudges against Caesars?"
"Lord Carlos, they want Caesar's magic equipment!"
"Johnny, as the commander of the city guards, what benefits can you get from this? Joanna is a great magician, and you dare to take such a big risk to do this. You'd better tell the truth, otherwise the Portman family will be expelled because of this and will become penniless!" The spy chief said coldly.
"Strong Life Potion!"
"That's a ridiculous answer. The Magic Guild itself is short of powerful life potions!"
"Master Carlos, they promised to give me a powerful life potion. I really don't know anything else!"
"Looks like we have to interrogate the mastermind!"
After several eagle-eyed men examined the body, they reported to the spy chief in a low voice.
The spy chief pondered for a moment, then spoke coldly. He had a bad feeling. He was well aware that the Magic Guild lacked a potent life-saving potion. Interrogating the mastermind wasn't easy either. Sandro, Tru, and Sig hadn't killed the nobles or the magicians, and the noble's corpse on the ground was a fake.
"Take these three men back to the Black Prison and inform Duke Solomon and His Majesty!" the spy chief ordered. He then asked Caesar, "Caesar, are you coming back with me to Hawkeye or to the Cavill family?"
"Go home and let Lord Carlos handle this matter. Maybe we can catch a bigger fish!" said Caesars.
"Catching a bigger fish isn't necessarily a good thing!"
Carlos waved his hand at his men, and the three City Guards were tied up and gagged. They were then stuffed into a carriage, and none of them attempted to resist. They knew exactly what the consequences of resistance would be.
Half an hour later, Caesars returned to the Cavill family. Solomon, who had just returned to the Duke's Mansion, rushed to Hawkeye. The old emperor's special envoy, the Speaker of the House of Nobles, also arrived.
On the top floor of the old castle of Hawkeye, there is a very elegant little room. This is Carlos’ private residence and is not usually used to receive guests.
"Someone's actually trying to take over Kaisas. I'm afraid their real goal is the golden ginseng! The Magic Guild is already short of ingredients for a powerful life potion, and this time they've actually promised Johnny a bottle."
After hearing the details of the case, Duke Solomon immediately gave his opinion.
"Quinn interrogated them using the Power Word, and they told us everything they knew. Now we only have to find the three masterminds, but I suspect there's someone else behind them, most likely Keynes, and even more likely the Grand Alchemist Portman!"
Fire Maple City had many nobles, and their relationships were complex. The three magicians harboring ill intentions towards Caesars were connected to a Grand Duke, three powerful earls, and two great magicians from the Magic Guild, further complicating matters.
"Let's summon these three people for questioning first. The reason is that they intend to attack Hawkeye's deputy commander. This is the only reason they have to come!"
The spy chief came up with an idea. Without real evidence and since it was not wartime, Hawkeye could not go to the Magic Guild and arrest people directly.
"This is a good idea. In the name of the House of Nobles, I will send a letter of accountability to the Magic Guild, and Keynes and Portman will not dare to interfere!" The Speaker of the House of Nobles is a member of the royal family, and he now represents the old emperor.
"Let's do this. If the Magic Guild doesn't cooperate, we'll use the Royal Mage Corps and gold coins to put pressure on them!"
Duke Solomon outlined the final solution. The Royal Mage Corps was originally intended to counterbalance the Magic Guild. Without the abundant gold provided by the Roland Empire, the Magic Guild couldn't afford to support so many mages. If the Roland Empire controlled the supply of magic crystals, the Magic Guild's size would shrink by at least 60-70%.
When Caesars was having dinner at the Cavill family, the Magic Guild had already received accusations from the two major forces, and they were very formal written letters of accountability.
All the guild's leaders were present in the Magic Guild's meeting room. The two accountability documents were read out word for word, which frightened Keynes.
"What the hell did you three do?" Keynes roared, slamming the table.
"Teacher, we just want to catch Caesar. He threw me into a group of snakes last time and made me lie down for more than ten days!" said the elderly Sandro.
"Sandro, you'd better tell the truth. I can't even get the powerful life potion, but you can promise it to the city guards. This matter can be big or small. If you treat it as a big deal, your family will be kicked out of the aristocracy and will be left with nothing!" Keynes said sternly.
"No way? He's just a magician in the North Tower and has no background at all!" Sandro didn't believe what Keynes said.
"Kaesas has no background? Even an idiot like you can find out? He is no longer from the North Tower, but from the Thorn Flower Trading Company. He is also the deputy commander of Hawkeye. The Empire can hold you three accountable for treason!" Keynes said angrily.
Whether it was the Thorn Flower Trading Company or the Imperial Eagle Eye, both of them frightened Sandro and the other two. Treason was a serious crime; losing everything was not the worst consequence; the most serious consequence was hanging.
"I heard that Kaisas sold a golden ginseng. I told Lord Portman about it, and he ordered us to capture Kaisas. The powerful life potion was his condition!"
Sandro was scared. If it was linked to treason, he would be skinned alive if not dead.
Cairns glared at Portman fiercely, then turned to look at Sandro and asked, "Where did you hear about the golden ginseng?"
The power word fell on Sandro. Golden ginseng is extremely precious and all the old guys in the magic guild need it.
"The remote communication device in Violet City is the one that Hawkeye is in charge of. The person responsible for maintaining the communication device is my friend. He is from the Magic Guild, and he told me this news!"
Sandro spilled the beans, telling the whole story in detail.
"Boman, it's all your fault! Your Johnny is in jail now. Are you satisfied now?"
"Black Prison!" Great Alchemist Bowman exclaimed.
"Do you think Carlos will be merciful? If you dare to touch his golden ginseng, he will dare to take your life. What can three earls and a duke do? Can you stand up to this iron triangle of power?"
Keynes said angrily that if this matter was not handled properly, the entire magic guild would be in trouble.
"Portman, you go to Hawkeye with the three of them. This is the request made by the Empire. Fortunately, the problem lies within Hawkeye, and Carlos should not pursue it too much." Keynes thought for a while and said.
"I also need to go?"
"You're one of the masterminds, so of course you have to go. Get this resolved quickly, or the Emperor will be unhappy. Fortunately, this hasn't gotten out of hand, so there's still room for improvement!"
"It's a bit embarrassing!"
"Boman, it's better to lose face than to lose your life. If the Roland Empire doesn't investigate this matter thoroughly, the consequences will be very serious. The South is already at odds with the Saint Laurent Empire. If Hawkeye doesn't investigate it thoroughly, it's not impossible that he will treat you as a Saint Laurent spy and eliminate you!"
Keynes's threats really frightened Portman. He was not alone; he had a family behind him.
The old Portman finally nodded in agreement. No one in the entire Roland Empire could stop what the power triangle was going to do.
In the darkness of night, several luxurious carriages left the Magic Guild and headed towards the inner city.
After dinner, the Cavill family gathered in the living room and asked about what happened during the day, but Caesars brushed it off lightly.
"Rom, I want to order 10,000 kilograms of snacks, or 20,000 kilograms. I will be staying in Fire Maple City for a while this time, so there is no need to rush to prepare it."
Caesars had originally only wanted 10,000 kilograms of snacks, but after careful consideration, he decided to buy more. He needed to visit Uncle Jack, so it made sense to bring some snacks as a gift. Setting up the stall would take some time, and there was also the ogre with a voracious appetite.
"Kaisas, you want so many snacks!"
Rom's daughter, low-level magician Avril, said a little loudly.
"Avril, you have to pass by the big square when you go to the magic academy. You're bound to see an ogre there!"
"I have seen him. From late spring to early autumn, I can see the ogre almost every day. Caesar, you don't know him, do you? He has a bad temper. Many people in Huofeng City have been beaten by him, and people from our academy have also been beaten by him once!" Avril talked incessantly about the ogre.
"I'm a little familiar with him, but not too familiar. He's a shaman. Shaman skills aren't very strong, but his power is greater than that of a paladin!"
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