At this ti, the entire city where the Valian family’s manor was located was in an uproar as information spread among the populace. The devils had been hiding among them all this ti, and they were actually in places that no one would ever expect.
There were devil hideouts not far outside the city, and even so within the city disguised as business properties. The information spread from an unknown source, but because it concerned the devils, many took it seriously and ca to check for themselves.
What they found truly shocked them, as everything turned out to be true. Although they did not find any devils, they discovered many traces of them—artifacts and even more shocking evidence showing that they had dealings with noble families.
Because there were so many places scattered across the city, many people managed to inspect them before the Valian family’s cultivators could block access. By the ti they acted, it was already too late for the Valian family, as many had already seen what was inside those places and the evidence that pointed toward them.
The devils were actually able to live in this city and operate freely because the Valian family covered for them. There had been several strange, unsolvable cases in the past related to the devils, which made many wonder if the devils were hiding in the city. The most notable was the kidnapping case, where even until this mont, the victims have still not been found.
However, with the situation now, they could finally connect the dots, and everything began to make sense. It was no wonder those cases were never solved, since the noble family here had also been covering for the devils.
The worst part was that today, many figures from outside the empire had co to visit with the intent to et Grand Duke Freindor. They wanted to build a good relationship, sensing that the grand duke had great potential to replace Empress Vilena because of his growing popularity and the support of other noble families.
Because of their presence, the headquarters of their powers also heard about this news and had to reconsider whether to build a relationship with the Valian family.
Although it was still too early to conclude that the Valian family was connected to the devils, the evidence strongly pointed against them. It was safer not to form any ties for now. They needed to look deeper into the matter and see how it would unfold.
At one place in the city, three robed figures gathered. One of them was Vars, and the other two were his subordinates from the Dark Saber group. They had just regrouped after spreading out to different locations.
"Done. We can leave now," reported one of the figures, a woman from the Dark Saber group, through voice transmission.
"I’m also done. Mission complete," another subordinate reported. Vars nodded.
"Alright, let’s get out of here and move to the next place. There’s still work to do," he said before walking away, followed closely by the other two.
Who else could it be, if not them, who caused the uproar at this mont? They were the ones who spread the information about the devils and released the evidence for everyone to see.
Where did they get all of it? Of course, it ca from the materials they had swept from the devils’ hideouts that had yet to be inspected by anyone in the capital. Their master’s information was precise, and even the hideouts located in the most hidden corners of the capital were known to him. They only needed to check those places, take everything inside, and copy items such as scrolls so that others could find them.
Just as Aldrian’s avatar had said, if there was no solid proof to show the people, then let them see it for themselves. Create the evidence and let others form their own conclusions.
The avatar gave details about several hideouts within the Valian grand duchy and made Vars and his subordinates morize them. They needed to reach those places before sunrise and carry out what Aldrian had already planned—to spread the evidence.
It was true that so of the hideouts had already been destroyed by the Valian family, but they could simply rebuild them and place bits of evidence here and there to make it believable. They recreated the destroyed caves using earth laws.
How did they know the shape of the cave interiors?
Well, they just shaped whatever ca to mind, as long as it looked convincing. That was why anyone who had ever entered the cave in the past would now be utterly confused. They would find the cave paths different. If soone inspected them closely, they would also notice that the caves had been recently constructed.
However, Vars and the others did not care. Even if the Valian family discovered that this was the case, their mission here was already complete. They only needed to draw people’s attention to these places and let chaos unfold. The people themselves would handle the next course of action.
At this mont, they intended to move on to the next locations. They needed to carry out the sa plan against other noble families who were in cahoots with the devils. Today was truly a busy day for them, and they intended to follow the avatar’s orders until the very end.
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Just as Vars and the others expected, at this mont, the grand duke who was inspecting the cave that once served as the devils’ hideout wore a fuming expression. He had visited this place in the past, and of course, he knew the cave’s path. But the mont he stepped inside, he realized that the entire layout was different.
The reconstruction was done well enough to fool many into thinking that the cave had always been like this.
But none of that mattered anymore, as evidence of his involvent with the devils, evidence that appeared out of nowhere had already been discovered. He also heard that the devils’ forr hideouts within the city had been found by many people, and he assud those places must also contain similar evidence.
Because of this, he beca even more certain that soone already knew about his connection with the devils and had even gotten hold of their belongings. Whoever it was, they were now toying with him. The damage from today’s events would be devastating for him, and the only perpetrator he could think of was the imperial family.
But then he grew confused. If this was the work of the imperial family, why would they wait until now? Why strike at this mont, when they themselves were being criticized by so many people?
If they had known about his connection with the devils for a long ti and even possessed the evidence, they would likely have acted against him long before last night’s assassination attempt.
He did not believe that they could have planned all of this overnight after what happened last night. This kind of sche must have been prepared for a long ti, calculated precisely to inflict the greatest damage on his reputation.
There was no way out for him now, as many would begin to question his integrity and credibility.
He gritted his teeth in frustration. Whether it was the imperial family or so unknown force behind this, he no longer cared. The only thing that mattered now was finding a way to repair his reputation and dispel the growing doubt among the people.
With news like this likely spreading to other territories, he might find himself standing on the execution platform before gaining anything at all.
"My lord, I think it’s better if you make an announcent and clearly deny everything to reduce the damage. Although the scroll in Leader Regnor’s hand contains the truth about our connection to the devils, we can find an excuse and even put the bla on soone else. Perhaps we could say that this is part of the imperial family’s plan to destroy your reputation," the grand duke’s butler said from behind him.
Grand Duke Freindor thought for a mont, then walked outside.
"That is also what I have in mind and the only thing that cos to mind right now. We must calm the uproar first," he said, his expression filled with anger.
Later, while the city was still in turmoil over the revelations about the devils’ hideouts and the suspected connection between the grand duke and the devils, the grand duke himself finally made an official statent.
He denied any connection with the devils and claid that everything the people had heard about him and the devils was a lie or a fabricated story ant to sar his na. He told the populace that this might be the work of soone who wanted his downfall, or perhaps part of a larger conspiracy ant to conceal sothing far greater.
Those who heard the grand duke’s words understood that he was referring to the imperial family. It was true that the ones who would benefit most from this situation were them.
After all, the grand duke, who had the highest chance of becoming the next ruler with strong support from many, would instantly fall. No matter how popular soone was, once they were linked to the devils, they were finished.
However, not everyone imdiately believed what Grand Duke Freindor said. Many chose to wait and observe how the situation developed. With the information spreading and uncertainty rising, no one wanted to stand on the wrong side.
Then, only a few hours later, another piece of information released, causing yet another uproar—one that would ignite fury across the empire and direct it toward Grand Duke Freindor and the opposition faction.
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