The Hidden King

Chapter 25

The subordinate, startled, did not resist, cowering in a corner. Kenny knelt on the floor, watching the old man anxiously. He shouted, "My Lord, wake up, what's happening to you?" He checked the old man's breath, realizing it was weak.

Panicked, he lifted the old man's arms to his shoulders, attempting to lift him. At that moment, Ethan, who had followed, burst in, demanding, "What are you trying to do?"

Realizing the urgency, Kenny, impatiently said, "No time to explain now, help me move him. Take the Lord, take this old man to the temple for treatment, we'll sort out the rest later."

Indeed, saving the old man's life was paramount. Ethan immediately assisted, helping Kenny carry the old man out, while he dragged the subordinate out behind them.

The temple exuded a solemn atmosphere. Liam, Gabriel, and other elders stood outside the closed main hall, their faces grim and silent. After a tense wait, the main doors swung open, revealing High Priest Osha. His already pale face was now devoid of color, his eyes empty, as though he had long been dead.

Osha surveyed the assembly, his expression unreadable. Yet, each person he glanced at felt an instinctual urge to step back. "The ancient god Nykathus is no more. I must immediately go to the realm of the gods to plead for forgiveness. The medical priests will continue to investigate his cause of death. Until my return, Lawrence City is to be sealed. No one may enter or leave without Liam's consent."

With these words, Osha slowly retreated into the main hall, closing the doors behind him. In the last fleeting moment through the crack, his long, narrow face seemed to portend an ominous future.

Rumors spread rapidly throughout the city, with people in the streets and alleys discussing the potential consequences. Would the gods be wrathful and punish the entire city? No one could say for certain if the sun would rise as usual the next day. The city's closure prevented people from hunting or gathering outside, leading to crowded taverns. Fueled by stress and anger, conflicts erupted, often escalating into violence. Milya's clinic was overrun with patients, and Ethan lent a hand.

In the afternoon, two guards arrived on horseback looking for Ethan, as Liam required his presence urgently. Milya couldn't help but feel that they had fully accepted Ethan's role at her clinic. Whether the city needed extra hands or the barracks required assistance, they would come to him. Ethan grabbed a coat and hurried out, telling them not to wait for him for dinner; he would return later.

At the barracks, Liam, accompanied by Ethan and several other guards, interrogated Annia's captured subordinate. Heidi had already brought the results of the priests' investigation, confirming that Nykathus had indeed died from the poisoned soup found in the kitchen and the bowl.

Seated in the interrogation room, the subordinate appeared older than his years, his face weathered, skin wrinkled, eyes filled with sorrow. Clad in rough servant garb, he looked no different from Annia's other ordinary servants.

Ethan scrutinized him, trying to recall if he had seen him in the river domain, but to no avail. Even if they had crossed paths on the street, he wouldn't have recognized him. He was just an unremarkable individual. Regardless of the questions posed to him, his responses remained consistent and vague, leading one to wonder if his actions were influenced by Annia, exploiting his apparent lack of intelligence.

"So, you confess to the murder?" Liam inquired, his tone unwavering, his gaze piercing, capturing every subtle shift in the subordinate's demeanor.

"Yes, sir," he replied, his gaze distant.

"Who ordered you to do this?"

"No one, sir. I acted on my own. After all, he wasn't going to live much longer, was he?"