novelraw Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Chapter 28. Dispute
“Have you thought it through yet?” Kyle said impatiently. “If you keep dragging this out, the Duke’s Mansion might really start fighting.”
“I support it!”
This crisp and decisive declaration startled everyone present. No one had expected the first to take a side would be the previously silent Gann·Cole.
However, it was not too surprising. After all, no matter how this city developed, the status of the Adventurers’ Guild would never change.
As the largest and loosest force on this continent—and even across other continents—although it possessed no authority in decision-making or governance, its branches spread everywhere and its vast network of connections made it a presence no power dared to underestimate.
Gann·Cole was a pure adventurer. Only because he had grown older did he come to Coral Thorn City to settle down and retire.
Normally he lived like the elderly men strolling along the streets—relaxed and carefree—occasionally telling children stories of adventures or giving novice adventurers some guidance.
Among those present, his attitude toward Kyle was the best. As an adventurer who had traveled far and wide, he had encountered countless non-human beings and had cooperated with many of them. Thus he could view the matter more rationally.
Having come from the very bottom of society himself, he had little fondness for these decaying nobles and bandits. If Kyle could push forward reforms in Coral Thorn City and free it from corruption and chaos, he was naturally willing to support it.
Robert Zorn, however, was now completely at a loss…
Although Kyle’s words never once mentioned their Shadow Guild, every sentence seemed to stab straight at them!
What did the Shadow Guild do?
Assassination! Theft! All kinds of underground intelligence and shady dealings! They were also the true leaders behind numerous gangs!
Just listen to what he was saying?!
Ending the rotten, foul-smelling chains of interests?
And those words were spoken by a dark creature everyone shouted to kill?
Without people like them doing the “dirty work,” where would all you dark creatures even come from?
He simply could not understand how such words could come from the mouth of a vampire! It was as absurd as a holy paladin declaring they would embrace darkness!
Yet he truly did not know how to express his stance. As someone who had walked in the shadows for years, not taking sides had become an instinct. Even if he was extremely unwilling in his heart, he could still forcibly suppress the impulse.
Now he could only wait and see how the other three representatives—those who truly held decision-making power in Coral Thorn City—would respond.
Among Sarkhad Blackthorn and the other two, differences of opinion had already appeared regarding Kyle’s proposal.
Sarkhad and Claudi, who both valued the future of their families, leaned toward agreement. The former believed they could accept it, while the latter did not oppose it but required time to adjust the structure of his family’s industries.
Bartos, however, was completely unwilling.
Asking him to push his capable subordinates to their deaths? Impossible.
As the argument grew more intense, the three men’s spiritual powers clashed violently. An invisible energy field collided and surged between them. The aura around their bodies could no longer remain perfectly restrained—like suppressed volcanoes finally finding an outlet, they erupted!
Boom—!
Three completely different yet equally immense Intent-level pressures shot into the sky! Their colliding momentum quickly spread across more than half the city, even dispersing the chaotic energy currents above the Duke’s Mansion.
Kyle was briefly startled by the sudden burst of their auras. Then a strong curiosity surged up.
‘Oh? What exactly did those three talk about? Arguing this fiercely? They’ve started fighting among themselves already?’
***
Inside the Duke’s Mansion, the tense and anxious atmosphere eased slightly because of the sudden change. Everyone turned their gaze toward the tallest tower in the city center.
The violent aura had blasted a huge hole through the cloud-covered sky. Dazzling sunlight poured straight down through the opening, illuminating the center of the city like a pillar of light reaching the heavens.
“Hoo…”
Duke Edmund Tide let out a long breath. Although he was also a Master-level knight, the pressure from so many Grandmaster-level auras had made him extremely uncomfortable.
If those big shots pulling the strings behind the scenes had not intervened soon, he feared he might have embarrassed himself on the spot.
Edmund’s mood was extremely foul. If this blasted title of duke had not been forcibly granted by the Empire, he truly would not have come to this cursed place!
The duchies along the Silver Sand Coast attracted far too many powerful individuals due to their enormous trade networks. For the sake of the benefits here, those people were even willing to sit down together and jointly develop the region.
The result was that dukes like him had basically become puppets—rulers in name only.
Yet all the dirty and troublesome work still fell on them! They even had to “clean up the messes” for these local tyrants! In the end, they gained nothing!
Just like today! These matters had little to do with him in the first place, but because he was the nominal ruler, he had been blocked inside the council hall by angry merchant groups from various races and treated like a punching bag!
Worst of all, he did not even dare to sell out those big shots. He could only grit his teeth and stall for time.
Fortunately, those people had finally stepped in—though their method of intervention was somewhat baffling.
“The masterminds behind the scenes have finally appeared!”
The elven elder gazed at the golden pillar of light piercing through the clouds, a trace of confusion flashing across her blue eyes.
Just from the revealed aura alone, there were three sources—and all were clearly high-level Intent.
According to the intelligence she had gathered, however, the ruling powers of this city were far more than just three families.
Intent-level figures were absolute upper-tier powers anywhere. Even among the elves, who controlled several continents, their numbers were limited. It was rare for a single top-tier metropolis to have several Intent-level beings appear simultaneously.
It seemed they had encountered some disagreement. The only question was whether this dispute concerned the merchant caravans of various races demanding an explanation—or if it stemmed from some other issue.
The elders of the other races also stared solemnly at the distant tower. Although the aura was clearly not directed at them, if Intent-level beings fought at such close range, it would be difficult for them to protect the younger members they had brought along.
***
“So you two are really determined to follow that vampire down a dark path to the end?!” Bartos abruptly cut off the spiritual link and spoke aloud.
“Everyone here is intelligent. There’s no need to emphasize such a question again and again,” Sarkhad replied with clear dissatisfaction.
That bastard Bartos had actually called the two of them spineless traitors who would sell out their own meritorious subordinates!
“Enjoying the best resources the family can offer, yet accomplishing nothing. Now that the family needs them to step forward and take responsibility, it is their honor—and the only value useless people have!”
“Or perhaps the fearsome reputation of the Blood Shark Predator was earned through the kindness of a soft heart? Now you’re pretending to care about your subordinates?”
For the families of Sarkhad and Claudi, pushing out a few direct descendants who wasted resources to take the blame was hardly a problem.
Sacrificing several useless family members to calm public anger, in exchange for long-term benefits and the future Kyle had promised—this was a worthwhile trade.
In this world where the strong devoured the weak, even nobles had to be prepared to sacrifice themselves for the family at any time.
Not to mention those direct descendants who squandered family resources while contributing nothing. Either take nothing and venture out on your own—or if you accepted the family’s benefits, be prepared to be sacrificed.
As for finding outsiders to serve as scapegoats…
That trick did not work well in this transcendent world.
No one was stupid. Fooling ordinary people might work—but fooling the elders of the various races, who were also transcendents?
If that happened, it would no longer be merchant caravan elders coming to demand answers.
Powerhouses from all races would come personally to “seek” an explanation.
And at that point, the matter could no longer be settled by killing a few useless people.
A real explanation would have to be given.