Back in Sunpeak Town, a deathly calmness filled the streets during the busy day. All the townsfolk started their day as if everything was normal.
However, everyone knew this was only the calm before the great storm enveloped Sunpeak Town. Something big would soon happen.
Earlier in the day, an announcement was posted on the town's bulletin board.
It mentioned an assassination attempt on the acting lord's life had occurred during the night, resulting in the death of one assistant.
The acting lord demanded the town work together to find out the culprit behind the assassination attempt and bring them forward for punishment.
If no one were brought forward within twenty-four hours, the acting lord would summon reinforcements from the capital to deliver justice and order in Sunpeak Town.
After receiving such an announcement, it was impossible for the various forces gathered in Sunpeak Town to remain still.
…
On the top floor of a newly renovated three-story building located on the outer edges of Sunpeak Town, a group of merchants was prostrated on the ground in fear.
In front of them sat a beautiful lady with long hair white like snow, blue eyes sharp like hawks, pointy ears like elves, and a curvaceous fair body hidden under a loose-fitted blue-white dress and grey fur cloak.
Much of the lady's beauty waned from her deadpan expression and an icy gaze so cold it could chill the hearts of Peak-stage Senior Witches.
Evidently, this beautiful lady possessed superior power and authority compared to the merchants before her.
She was the Lord of Wolfwater City, Silvaria Winter, an Early-stage High Witch like High Witch Beth, who had also visited Sunpeak Town.
"So, you're all telling me none of you were involved in last night's assassination attempt on the acting lord of Sunpeak Town?" Silvaria interrogated the group of merchants.
"Y-Yes, that's correct, Lord Silvaria!" the merchants all answered quickly as if their life depended on it. "I-I don't think it was any of the other merchants from our kingdom either."
They might have some status in the kingdom as Peak-stage Senior Witches. However, none of them held any real authority or were given rights to manage Her Majesty's land.
They wouldn't dare attempt an assassination on the acting lord's life and risk the wrath of Her Majesty.
Furthermore, Lady Solana wasn't an easy opponent individually, either. So they wouldn't be able to do a clean job unless they band together and concoct a fool-proof plan.
"Are you saying merchants from other witch kingdoms or some other forces were behind it? Or are you suggesting that Lady Solana made up the whole incident to avoid accepting my invitation?" Silvaria pressed her questions.
"I… I… Um, I… think… Yes—" the merchants stuttered, failing to form complete sentences. The pressure of a High Witch was no joke.
"I-I think, what? Speak coherently! I don't have all day!" Silvaria interrupted snappishly, having lost her patience. "So stop wasting my time."
"Y-Yes, Lord Silvaria…!" the group of merchants answered out of fear before one of them continued, "I think Lady Solana might have made up the whole assassination incident."
"Elaborate," Silvaria demanded with a frown.
She had her own thoughts on the matter, but she also wanted to hear the perspectives of others.
"While Sunpeak Town isn't an important city, it's still located in the centremost region of the kingdom. It's unlikely for outsiders to infiltrate so far into our kingdom to cause trouble," one of the merchants believed before stating, "Thus, Lady Solana making up the assassination incident is the more likely conclusion."
"If that were true, Lady Solana would be a ruthless and dangerous person for killing her own people to make the incident seem more legitimate, not to mention the use of poison," Silvaria mentioned with a frown.
"Regardless of the case, there's no way all the greedy and more ruthless opportunists gathered in Sunpeak Town will sit still after Lady Solana made such a claim."
Silvaria suspected there would be an attack on the lord's estate tonight.
p
…
Meanwhile, a group of people gathered in the dense forest a few miles off the east side of Sunpeak Town.
Most of their features were hidden under their black cloaks, and even their face and limbs were all covered up in black cloths, not exposing a single piece of their flesh.
However, judging by their weapons, equipment, and intense aura, they were all individually strong warriors.
At that moment, more than sixty people in such hidden attires had gathered to share information and discuss their plans.
"I've brought the latest news from Sunpeak Town. The acting lord made the assassination attempt public to the whole town, and a search for the culprits was issued. The acting lord will contact the capital with a communication magic tool if the culprits aren't captured within twenty-four hours."
"Contact the capital?" The whole group showed visible confusion in their eyes after hearing the news. They wondered, "With what communication magic tool? Didn't we already take it? The acting lord has another one?"
"The chances of that are unlikely. Only a single communication magic tool is issued to each regional lord. Therefore, the acting lord must be bluffing to manipulate the situation in the town."
"That might be the case. However, we can't risk our entire operation on that tiny possibility of the acting lord possessing another communication magic tool. It will be difficult to exact our revenge if this region attracts the capital's attention."
"Then, what do you propose we do, Infamous Enigma?"
"The second group will arrive in this region tonight. If we joined forces, we would have a higher chance of silencing the acting lord cleanly."
"Kekeke, great. My sword has been rusting from the lack of action these days."
"Be serious. We can't afford a single mistake and expose our traces. Once others become aware of our presence, it will become more difficult to sow chaos in this kingdom."
"Alright, alright. You're the leader, Infamous Enigma."
The group consulted.
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