“Y-Young Master, the Abyss demons are just too cunning. We simply couldn't find them.”
Under Tyr's gaze, Elys could only steel himself and speak. At this moment, he suddenly realized that the other party had not come with good intentions.
“As long as Abyss demons use their power, they leave behind Abyss power. Don't tell me you couldn't even detect that.”
The Abyss race and the Elan Continent were located on different planes. Any transcendent could perceive the lingering aura they left behind. Even though people here constantly referred to it as Abyss magic power, it was actually a completely different power system from magic power.
This was why Black Mages had such a difficult time hiding. Their power originated from the Abyss demons, and once they cast black magic, any searching knight order could easily distinguish it.
“Was it because you didn't go at all, allowing the Abyss power to dissipate? Or are you accomplices of the Abyss demons?”
Tyr's words pressed on relentlessly, causing cold sweat to break out on Elys's forehead, especially at the last phrase: accomplices of the Abyss demons. Once that accusation stuck, only the gallows would await him.
“Young Master, from the very day I began my cultivation, my family taught me about the dangers of the Abyss demons. I would absolutely never collude with them!”
“It was Hyde! That day, after someone reported the murder, I dispatched Hyde to lead a team to search. He was the one who failed to find anything!”
Seeing that he could not deflect the blame, Elys immediately shifted the scapegoat onto Hyde. This was also the primary purpose of commoner knights in the City Defense Knight Order: to take the fall.
Hyde's expression changed abruptly. He had never expected such a disaster to fall from the sky. After a citizen reported the incident that day, he had wanted to go investigate, but Elys had stopped him from going.
“My Lord, I...”
Just as Hyde was about to defend himself, he suddenly felt a cold gaze.
He whipped his head around and found Elys staring at him with a sinister, gloomy look. The meaning was crystal clear: if he dared to object, neither he nor his family would meet a good end.
“I...”
Hyde's voice was dry. He knew he had no choice but to take the blame.
This noble lord would eventually leave. Even if the lord truly dealt with Elys, once he departed, Hyde would still face Elys's retaliation. As a commoner, he could only passively accept his fate.
But no matter what, he could not accept the charge of colluding with the Abyss demons. Colluding with them meant hanging. Not just him, but even his family would not escape the purge.
Elys thought he was being very discreet, but Tyr saw through everything.
Thud!
Tyr retrieved his sword from his storage bracelet and placed it on the desk. The dull thud instantly drew everyone's attention.
“You, you, you... stay. The rest of you can leave. As of today, you are no longer the city defense knights of Caslant.”
Tyr pointed at the few people who had gone to the abandoned cathedral yesterday, telling them to stay, while telling the others to get lost.
“Young Master!”
Elys's face paled drastically, and the other noble knights also turned white.
To be stationed here as city defense knights meant their status within their respective families was mediocre at best. If they lost this position, their standard of living might not even match that of some wealthy commoners.
“Is my meaning so hard to understand?”
Tyr cut Elys off directly.
“As city defense knights of Caslant, you failed to confirm the news of the Abyss demons immediately. As a subordinate force under Grand Duke Callis, you refused to comply with Callis's mobilization order. Whichever it is, either is enough to expel you from the ranks of the City Defense Knight Order.”
Lacking strength and being fence-sitters, leaving such people around would only cause trouble.
“Young Master, it was Bishop Coos! On that day, Bishop Coos invited us to the temple.”
Upon hearing the second point, Elys instinctively assumed that the reason Tyr was making things difficult today was because they had not obeyed the mobilization order yesterday. Thinking of the status of the Aglaia family, Elys immediately brought up that figure from the temple.
“Bishop Coos, I know,” Tyr paused, then continued. “This afternoon, he, along with those Black Mages, will undergo purification by holy fire from the Temple Inquisition at Caslant's execution grounds. If you have anything to say to him, you can go to the execution grounds to watch.”
These words instantly made Elys's expression turn completely pale and lifeless. Bishop Coos was to undergo purification by holy fire from the Inquisition, which meant his backer had been thoroughly brought down.
“Alright, before I change my mind, you may leave.”
Elys and the other noble knights trembled. They knew very well that when a member of House Callis changed their mind, it didn't mean letting them stay, but executing them on the spot.
“Your name is Hyde, right? Starting today, you are the commander of Caslant's City Defense Knight Order.”
Just as Elys and the other noble knights were about to leave, Tyr's voice suddenly echoed.
“Huh? M-me?”
Hyde was completely dumbfounded. He had thought he would definitely have to take the fall for Elys today and that doom was inevitable, but he never expected such a sudden, pleasant surprise.
But soon, a troubled look appeared on his face. One had to know that Caslant was within the territory of Viscount Adri. Elys Adri was able to lord over everyone in Caslant because he was the nephew of Viscount Adri, and his father was also a baron.
With this noble lord here now, he could naturally assume the post with joy. But once this lord left, how was he supposed to face Viscount Adri's retaliation?
“Indeed, it's you. Hyde Beck, is it? I bestow upon you the title of Baron. Starting today, you are not only the commander of Caslant's City Defense Knight Order, but also Baron Beck. Caslant is now your fief.”
The competition among the candidates of House Callis was exceptionally brutal, but because of this, the power held by the candidates was also immense, to the point where they could directly bestow titles of nobility. Of course, they could only influence changes in noble titles below the rank of Count, and these matters had to be reported to the Grand Duke.
The Enforcement Squad would also verify the situation to ensure that the candidates did not abuse their power of bestowal.
Over the past few days, Tyr had not actually been idling; he had been reviewing the profiles of the people in Caslant. Based on Hyde's past performance, he was indeed a very responsible person, though he was often held back by Elys.
Tyr also knew that if he merely appointed Hyde as the commander of the City Defense Knight Order, Elys would definitely find a way to topple him once Tyr left. Therefore, he directly bestowed a noble title upon him and placed Caslant under his jurisdiction.
Rate on N.U.
