Published at 23rd of September 2024 7:02 pm

Chapter 2237 Betrayal

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Barry Croft and his entourage left the Terra palace and returned to the Golden City with smiles of satisfaction. As he thought over the situation, he realized this was the best possible outcome. He had managed to retrieve the Nephilim noble without any casualties or the need to kill anyone. Feeling a sense of victory, he mentally celebrated his successful plan.

However, his celebratory mood was abruptly interrupted. Just minutes after exiting the portal gates, he and his group were halted by a large number of enforcers. Leading them was Barty Grouch, the stern and imposing Magus Alliance minister.

A flicker of anxiety crossed Barry Croft's face as he stepped forward, trying to mask his concern with a confident tone. "Minister Grouch! What brings you here? Did that Terra brat report that we were causing trouble? I assure you, we have done no such thing." His voice carried a mix of surprise and a hint of defensiveness, as he tried to gauge the minister's intentions.

Barty Grouch's piercing gaze swept over the Croft entourage, landing on the weakened figure of Ishtar. His expression remained unreadable as he spoke, "Lord Barry, is that Lady Ishtar you are escorting? I need you to let her go… she will be coming with us."

.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the enforcers, including two grand magus, raised their guards, ready to take action. The whole situation caught the attention of hundreds of Golden City civilians, their curiosity piqued by the unfolding tension.

Barry Croft's confusion was evident as he demanded, "What is this? What is going on?" His voice wavered slightly, betraying his growing anxiety. Ishtar, equally baffled, looked around, seeking answers.

The minister's tone remained firm and authoritative. "I am afraid there is something else." He produced a piece of paper and held it up for all to see. It was an official arrest for two individuals among the entourage: the Nephilim emissary and Vinsier Croft. The minister said "You are both charged with colluding with the pirates and causing great harm to the Golden City forces and the Magus alliance" The words brought murmur of shock rippled through the crowd.

Hearing this, the Croft patriarch turned enraged, his face contorting with fury. He was especially angry because this was done in public, in front of so many people. "This is a LIE!! How dare you accuse us of such horrible things!!"

The minister continued with an air of unyielding authority. "Lord Barry, unfortunately, you are also suspected of trying to silence our main witness." He then turned to Ishtar and said, "Lady Ishtar, we received a request from your faction to keep you safe…"

Seeing Ishtar's hesitation, both Croft father and son turned pale. "Lady Ishtar, this is a lie... We would never harm you!" Barry Croft's voice was desperate, and the Nephilim emissary stood speechless, his face a mask of shock.

By this time, Ishtar had heard about the loss of the pirate campaign.

The truth was, not only was Barty Grouch a high-ranking official who would not dare to lie in public, but the minister was also one of the people under the Nephilim's influence. Quickly, she assumed that her faction must have ordered her to stay away from the Golden City matters.

"Lord Barry, please do not hinder the investigation. We will know the truth soon enough." The minister's voice remained unyielding. The crowd around them murmured, the tension palpable. The enforcers stepped closer, ready to take the accused into custody. Vinsier Croft, his face pale with panic, cried out, "No, Father… don't let them take me! They will… I…"

With more onlookers gathering in the area, the Croft patriarch struggled to contain his irritation. He knew the extent of his son's involvement in their plan, but he also recognized that the Karat had suffered a significant loss. This must be the last desperate move by the fat Hassa for revenge. To maintain the trust of the people, Barry understood he needed to avoid making a scene and follow the law.

He turned to his son with a determined expression. "Don't worry, son. I will get you out as soon as possible and see that this corrupted minister is dealt with!"

Barry Croft's rage was palpable as he quickly summoned his elders and reached out to his allies. He expected immediate support, but to his surprise and dismay, both the Qin and the Hauten factions remained silent. No replies came, and soon, his entire estate was placed under lockdown by the Magus Alliance. An official decree mandated that the patriarch and his forces remain confined until the investigation concluded.

Rumors spread rapidly throughout the Golden City, suggesting that Croft had collaborated with pirates, leading to a disastrous battle outcome. Whispers and accusations filled the air, tarnishing his reputation.

"Who is it!! who is it that betrays me?!!" His fury was palpable. Amid his frantic attempts to uncover the traitor, he received a message from the Hauten fauction. They, too, were under lockdown and pointed fingers at the Qin. The message claimed that the Qin, with their growing public support, were the likely culprits behind this betrayal. These words struck a chord with Barry, amplifying his existing annoyance and suspicion towards the Qin.

Despite the Hauten's claims, Barry wasn't fully convinced. The situation grew more dire when he learned about the trial of his son, Vinsier. The main witness against him was none other than Lady Ishtar of the Nephilim, who testified that she had been approached by Vinsier with an offer of benefits, which she had refused. Her testimony was damning, painting Vinsier as a manipulator and colluder.

What struck Barry the most was the glaring omission in Ishtar's testimony: there was no mention of the Qin family. Not a single word implicating them in the alleged conspiracy.

The revelation struck Barry like a bolt of lightning. Learning that the Qin family had orchestrated a calculated deal with the Nephilim was a heavy blow. It became clear that the Qin had reaped all the rewards while the Croft family was left to bear the blame for the disastrous incident.

"That damn bitch!!"

This situation shattered the relationship between the three families to such an extent that Croft retaliated by deploying all his resources to expose the Qin family's crimes. This move caused irreparable damage to both factions' standing among the citizens, further deepening the rift.

As the two factions persisted in their bitter conflict, news arrived the following day that the fleet had returned with surprising revelations. Contrary to earlier reports, the fleet had not suffered as many losses as claimed. In fact, they had succeeded in defeating and capturing the pirate king himself, Gaira D. Reiz.

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