Parallel Vol. 4 [LEGACY EDITION]

Chapter 60.2: A Maggot's Rage

Leila folded her clasped her hands behind her back, gaze cold as she said, "We have heard enough of your intentions, Zitch-san. Now, please, lay out your accusations before the court so we may defend our honor and name, or do you wish to do so when Kashi is not here to defend himself?"

'This malicious viper!' Zitch inwardly cursed in rage. That statement had driven him into a corner. It didn't matter that he always intended to lay out the accusations here. Leila's charge came at too right a timing, sowing discord in the hearts of the neutral parties. Right now, defending himself would only appear weak, and he would remain passive.

As a result, Zitch finally decided to stop playing games with this woman. He had lost the preamble, but the game was far from over. "As you wish, Ms. Lightwood. I will lay down the facts as well. I pray that you let me finish without unnecessary interruption, a courtesy I showed you."

'Hoh. He's a spicy ginger all right.' Leila understood this was Zitch's method of eliminating one of her most significant advantages; her ability to steal the spotlight whenever she wanted effectively. However, in order not to come off as insensitive, she had no choice but to agree to his request. "Of course. I shall not interrupt your spiel."

Zitch grinned as he cupped his hands toward the wisben. "Thank you for understanding." Following this statement, he turned to address King Parissius. "Your Highness, I am a loyal subject of Rosendun and have been so since the day I was born. I would not lay these accusations before the crown if I did not have sufficient proof that they were true." Although he was addressing King Parrisius, Zitch was paying particular attention to the neutral ministers behind him.

When he noticed he had their full attention, Zitch stated, "As promised, I shall begin laying out the facts of this case. Fact number one: Despite claiming to be a vassal of Rosendun, Kashi has amassed power behind everyone's back." Zitch's eyes narrowed as he glared at the daeben and stated, "In fact, less than a day ago, Kashi secretly added the centaur race to his army, over five thousand strong cavalries. He neither reported this news to the capital nor did he deign to supplement Rosendun's forces with this enormous force."

Kashi's brow rose, shock appearing on his face for the first time. How did Zitch already know about the centaurs? Kashi finished up just over a day ago! It made no sense that this politician's information network was that goo. The only explanation was that someone had been following him. And that someone leaked information to Zitch in preparation for this ambush.

"Kashi!" Zitch shouted, pulling the daeben from his thoughts. With a malicious grin, the politician demanded, "Before the crown and court, answer me this: Did you or did you not subjugate the centaurs?"

Caught off-guard, Kashi accidentally replied, "Well, yes, but not exa—"

"And did you or did you not report to the court?"

"There wasn't enough time to—"

"Not enough time?" Zitch exclaimed with an exaggerated scoff. "But you had time to induct them into your secret world, didn't you?" Zitch grinned as the court let out loud gasps of disbelief. "Yes, my fellow ministers. You did not hear wrong. This man here, Kashi, has a secret world which he aims to populate with Rosendun's men and women, our wildlife, our crops. He aims to cannibalize it all to build up an independent force of his own that does not answer to Rosendun or anyone else."

Kashi's eyes narrowed as he stared at Zitch. If he wasn't sure before, now he was. Someone was definitely leaking information to the minister. The only question was: how much was leaked, and for how long?

"And if all that wasn't enough," said Zitch as he pointed at the daeben. "This traitor also conspires with the daeben to return them to power." Spreading his arms, Zitch proclaimed to his fellow ministers, "I am sure news of the Battle of Aygorzi has reached your ears. You might have heard of the many exploits wrought by Kashi to achieve victory, but what you do not know is that thousands of daebens also surrendered. Of these surrendered daebens, most were asked to work in Aygorzi, while Kashi had the rest carted off to the Maggots' headquarters to work in their runecrafting divisions."