Supreme Magus

Chapter 4468: Deep Roots (Part 2)

’Fuck me sideways!’ Lith’s eyes widened in realization. ’Business and all forms of travel inside the region would suffer. My gift will make a few people happy in the short term but sow discord that can only get worse with time.’

’Yep.’ Solus chuckled. ’See? The old you would have never taken his paranoia hat off, even to help a friend.’

’What about the other regions?’ Lith’s wallet found itself covered in his cold sweat. ’Do I have to help them as well?’

’It would be nice of you, but no.’ Solus shook her head telepathically. ’Everybody knows and expects you to treat Distar differently because it’s your birthplace. You are also a personal friend of the Larks and Brinja.

’Envy and resentment have been there since you became an Archmage. This will just add a drop in the sea of what’s already there.’

’Thanks, Solus. I needed a piece of good news.’ He sighed in relief.

’Don’t twist my words like that!’ She pouted. ’I’m just telling you that you can avoid helping the people of the other regions, not that you should! You’re an insensitive jerk and...’

She was still nagging at him when he Warped away. Solus too had to take part in the deliveries to stabilize Ghishal quickly, so she swallowed the rest of her speech and Warped to her next village.

She wasn’t as famous as Lith, but the welcoming she received wasn’t much different. Solus always said a few good words as she treated the villagers and cleared their houses of the accumulated snow before leaving.

Yet the gratitude and the praise she received from the people of Ghishal were the only good things she heard.

"I’ve bad news, and I’ve horrible news." Jirni held a conference call with the Royals, Lith, and all the Regional Lords of the Kingdom. "The bad news is that after revising the reports of my fellow Archons and Constables, I’m certain that Distar isn’t the only region where foreign forces plotted to overthrow the county nobles.

"The same happened in all regions of the Kingdom except for Valeron. I can only assume the Isharas preferred to stay away from the capital of the Kingdom and the Royals because of the massive forces stationed there."

"All of them? Even the Ernas region?" Gunyin Ernas asked after raising his hand and receiving permission to speak.

"Yes, even yours, Archduke Ernas." Jirni spoke to her son like she would to a stranger, something that even the most seasoned politicians found unsettling at best. "If it’s of any consolation, you’re in good company.

"Not even the proud Essagor avoided this plague, nor did the six great academies themselves. We are all in the same boat, and there is no time for recriminations."

Vastor, Marth, and many other influential figures of the Kingdom took those words as a personal failure. Their lands were an extension of their being, and the idea that someone had infiltrated their territories made them feel violated.

"Yet that’s not all. The horrible news is that we are well past the point of no return." Jirni delivered the next blow without caring that the nobles were still recoiling from the previous. "The Isharas had the entire winter to set up shop and start cleaning their traces.

"After being exposed by Magus Verhen, they’ll lay low and focus on tying up any loose ends left. We only have so long before the luck of a constable matters more than their effort and competence in uncovering a lead.

"Based on what we got so far, I have little hope to replicate the success of Ghishal anywhere else. I recommend the Royals not to demote or promote anyone, but that’s just palliative care.

"This cancer has already spread across the Kingdom and taken root. We can’t be sure of anyone’s loyalty, and many nerve centers of power might work against us without us ever knowing."

"What are your recommendations, Archon Ernas?" Queen Sylpha asked, her eyes flaring with mana and fury.

"To continue the investigation and examine every document to build dossiers about our suspects. Once we’re done with that, I suggest keeping an eye on them to limit their movements.

"We can’t arrest or detain them, but letting the corrupt nobles profit from their crimes would be a slap in the face of their victims." Jirni sighed. "We can only hope that with time and pressure they will make a mistake that allows us to expose their crimes."

"This is preposterous!" Duke Tanash trembled in fury. "Why don’t we just order the Council to clean its own mess? All of this happened because the Isharas received the Council’s permission to do whatever they wanted!"

"Careful with your words, Tanash." A glare from the King silenced the duke. "How do you plan to order a bunch of old monsters to do anything without violating the treaty between the Council and the Kingdom?"

"They broke it first." Tanash stuttered. "They should pay the price."

"The Council didn’t authorize the Isharas to commit crimes, you fool." Meron snorted. "It just authorized them to make money in Garlen. It would be like blaming a local lord because a peddler turns out to be a robber.

"If the Council follows your logic, then it could blame the Crown for everything that’s wrong with their lives. After all, we gave the corrupt nobles their titles and lands. We failed to keep them in check just like the Council did with the Isharas. Did we not?"

The duke was about to say that it wasn’t the same thing, but it sounded foolish even to him. That and the King’s scowl sealed his mouth.

"Rest assured that we’ll inform the Council of what happened and will demand they take the appropriate measures." Queen Sylpha said. "Yet there is only so much the Council can do.

"No one expected an entire Divine Beast bloodline to move to Garlen. Everyone underestimated the ambition and goals of the Isharas and paid the price for it. We need to tread carefully, or we’ll have another war in our hands.

"After Thrud and with the Dead King sniffing at our doorstep, the Griffon Kingdom ill-needs one more force threatening our national security. Anything else, Archon Ernas?"

"Only one minor request, Your Majesty." Jirni replied. "I’d like to start my assignment by cleaning my own home. I’ll continue helping and supporting the other Archons, but I want to focus on purging the Isharas’ influence from the Ernas Region and protecting my loyal subjects."

"Granted." King Meron nodded. "The Crown will pursue every lead, but I order all the Regional Lords to establish their own special forces and investigate locally. The Crown lacks the manpower to sift through every small village and city, but you don’t.

"Use the riches you’ve accrued so far, or you might not make more in the near future. King Meron and Queen Sylpha out."

A similar, but much less polite and cordial conversation between the Royals and the Council Representatives took place a few minutes later.

"This is unacceptable!" Sylpha snarled, slamming her delicate fist on the armrest of her throne while glaring at Raagu. "How could you have been so blind and foolish? Don’t you Awakened know how to protect your own interests?