Chapter 426: Colorful Line-Up

—Early evening, At the City Guard's barracks somewhere close to the western gate in the commoner's district of Higrove —

Inside a room lit by a series of bronze lanterns, several prominent figures of Higrove and even the kingdom could be seen sitting around a large wooden table.

At one side, chained down on the ground and the steel chair he was sitting on, a mysterious stranger, his hair, which was once pure matte black had several gray strains of hair woven in-between. This man, trotting through the middle years of life was now wearing a sack-like light grey, patched-up robe, his proud-looking set of armor, his weapon, even his coin purse was all taken into custody.

His face, whilst he mostly managed to retain a calm outlook, wasn't entirely thorough. The edges of his lips and facial muscles could be seen twitching as he tried to push back on his tumultuous anger. 

After all, someone of his stature was now treated as a common criminal and pushed around like trash! It was incredibly hard to swallow for a man of his position. His hands were in constant, tightly held fists, so hard in fact, that his skin long turned deathly pale due to the lack of blood circulation in them.

Next to him sat his capturer, the equally as puzzling long, black-haired, exotic golden-eyed youth. As his eyes wandered to the side and he glanced over at his seemingly harmless figure, the middle-aged captive just couldn't understand it at all. 

This boy, this enigmatic youth had made him question everything he knew about the world. After all, how could such a thin, frail-looking frame, carry such vast, endless and destructive power?!

He squinted his eyes as he gazed at the youngster's carefree, nonchalant smile. Just from a single look, it was clear that he didn't care for any of the gathered officials and high-ranking members of the kingdom.

Following the boy's gaze, he looked at the other side of the table, though he could only scoff in disdain as the silver beard of the famed Roaring Lion winked back at him. As soon as he heard the news of the capture of a potential officer of the Empire's concealed troops, he immediately left everything and rushed to the Guard Barracks to spearhead the interrogation.

Just like him, the rest of those in some form of power didn't want to miss this chance to obtain some achievements and hastily made their way to this very same room. 

To Sir Arthur's left a figure of similar shape and size, and for the matter: age, sat. He, nicknamed 'The General', this man that has been put through countless ordeals, was a literal walking, living legend of an already lost era. Just like him, the General was someone that many heard several stories about, but never understood the full story and full depth of his sorrows.

Now, carrying the badge of that fat snake, the sole survivor of the Leon Family Massacre, the General has eventually traded the last of his dignity for something he desperately wanted. Was it worth it? Only time will tell, Sir Arthur could only ignore his own thoughts and glance to the next person at his left.

Sitting at the second seat to the left, a young-looking, handsome face could be seen. Donning expensive-looking burgundy colored chiffon clothes, he was obviously someone from the highest ranks of the local nobility. He had middle-length blonde hair, combed and carefully oiled at the back of his head, his forest green eyes were curved into vicious, greed-filled crescents as he sized up the enemy officer at the other side of the table.

He loudly harrumphed with the arrogance of a noble that fit his stereotypical stature, showing that he was reaching the end of the ropes of his patience, and wanted this farce to come to an end. After all, he still had to go back and report to his father, the patriarch after this.

Ignoring the conceited young master, Sir Arthur took a look to his right, trying his best to mask his surprise at the sight of the elderly butler that walked in and took the seat without saying a single word.

Donned in the typical attire of the head servants of a noble household, Sir Arthur was surprised when he tried to scan this harmless-looking figure. Though he seemed weak, the power of a dormant, sleeping dragon resided in his wrinkled, aged frame. This butler that spoke nothing to anybody since his arrival, actually nodded courteously to the young Aiden Arthur himself had the chance to briefly get to know of. 

Do they have some sort of connection? Was he actually someone he should know? Arthur couldn't remember, though he had to admit that the man did feel somewhat familiar…

Regardless, Sir Arthur shook his head and took a look at the last of the 5 that was leading this investigation, one of the few officers that were known to be just and incorruptible, the one that was equally as feared and respected by his peers and even the public, Captain John Deere, a rising star, a captain of the City Guards, the person actually in charge of this supposed interrogation.

With many cases under his belt, and even more of his own peers put behind the same bars as the criminal dredges of the society, John was someone that the highest officials trusted to handle this ordeal. If anything, they could be certain that he couldn't be bought, threatened, or blackmailed. He would shed light on the mysteries no matter the consequences.

With this colorful line-up, Sir Arthur didn't know what to think or say. Even worse, he could feel a growing crowd waiting for his chance to make a stance lining up on the outside. Prominent nobles, wealthy merchants with their bodyguards… even some of the busybodies of the commoners.

Still, even beyond that, Sir Arthur could sense those hiding in the shadows. Hooded and robed figures, listening in with keen interest. The matter of this capture blew up to a surprising degree, even though that the matter should have been handled with care, almost every son and daughter of the city knew about it and even came in such a short time.

Actually, it was quite a surprising fact, almost commendable how fast important news could spread and reach the ears of thousands in just the span of minutes. 

'If nothing else, at the very least we are quite good in this aspect…' Sir Arthur lamented, as he took a large gasp of air, and exhaled slowly, shifting his focus back to the figure standing at his opposite.

Giving a light cough, he grabbed the attention of everyone inside the room and even those that were listening from the outside.

"Welcome everyone to this important and sudden event. I have to say my thanks that despite the abruptness of the situation, so many of you managed to make their way to this side of the town and offer your own inputs to this matter." He spoke, taking a meaningful glance at the blonde young noble at the side meanwhile. 

"I do not wish to waste too much time on introductions as there's a lot to cover and not so much time to get to it!"