Chapter 14 Imprisoned
The Debus Family had invested a great deal to carry out the smuggling of water jade ore. Bernard had specifically assigned his third brother to handle the matter, and the Lancier brothers served as his third brother's right-hand men.
Lin Lei stood in the council hall in silence, with the shadow mouse Bei Bei perched on his shoulder.
The pair — one human and one magical beast — looked as if they were completely detached from everything, quietly watching the events unfold. Even when Bernard cast a pleading glance his way, Lin Lei showed no reaction whatsoever.
After a moment—
The clanking of shackles and chains echoed as two burly, blond men were led in under the custody of royal guards and brought into the council hall. Both men wore leg irons and heavy chains. Judging by the thickness of the shackles alone, they had to weigh at least a hundred pounds.
Such heavy restraints were designed to bind warriors of formidable strength.
"My Lord."
The two burly blond men stepped into the council hall, and when they saw Bernard kneeling on the ground, strange smiles appeared on their faces. Both of them actually bowed to Bernard and addressed him.
Standing off to the side, Lin Lei understood.
These Lancier brothers were most likely the masterminds behind the smuggling operation. And they clearly had a close connection to the Debus Family.
"The Debus Family is in trouble," Lin Lei thought, simply watching quietly from the sidelines.
Bernard looked at the two burly blond men and asked in bewilderment, "Huh? Lancier, Lanmier, how did the two of you brothers end up imprisoned by His Majesty? A few months ago, didn't I give you a hundred thousand gold coins so you could go live your lives properly?"
The two burly blond men were momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.
"My Lord, are you joking?" Lancier said with a grin.
Beside him, Lanmier let out a contemptuous snort. "My Lord, what's this? At a time like this, you still want to deny it? Forget it, just confess."
A look of anger appeared on Bernard's face. He shot to his feet and glared at the Lancier brothers. "Lancier, Lanmier — the two of you were raised by our Debus Family from childhood. How I've treated you over the years, you know that better than anyone."
"Yes, you treated us well enough. But our family has been risking our lives for your Debus Family for all these years," the elder brother Lancier said coldly.
Bernard grew even more furious, extending his right index finger to point trembling at the two brothers. "You two — you are truly ungrateful! Yes, you served my Debus Family for many years, but all that time you were embezzling, funneling family wealth into your own pockets. When it came to light half a year ago, I showed mercy because of your years of service — I spared your lives and even gave you a hundred thousand gold coins to go back and live well. And yet — and yet you… not only are you ungrateful, but now you've gotten involved in smuggling, been caught, and turn around and frame my Debus Family!"
Lancier and Lanmier stood there dumbfounded, staring blankly at Bernard.
"We… we embezzled? You… you gave us a hundred thousand gold coins?" the Lancier brothers said, completely confused.
Bernard, however, grew increasingly agitated. He spun around and fell to his knees before Clyde, weeping bitterly. "Your Majesty, these two are nothing but insatiable wolves! When they were young, I saw that they were lonely and pitiful, so I took them in. Later I even entrusted them with important responsibilities. Yet they siphoned the family's wealth into their own pockets. Even when their misdeeds were exposed, I ultimately spared their lives out of years of goodwill and gave them a hundred thousand gold coins to send them on their way — I did everything that could be asked of me! And now what have they done? They dare to slander my family, to destroy my Debus Family! Their hearts are too cruel, Your Majesty — I am heartbroken, truly heartbroken!!!"
At this moment, Bernard was weeping and wailing, which actually made the noble lords in the council hall wonder whether it was true that Lancier and Lanmier were slandering Bernard.
"Bernard, you — you…" The Lancier brothers turned beet red with rage, unable to form a single word.
The sacrifices the two brothers had made for the Debus Family…
They had even been willing to carry out the smuggling operation. The only reason they had agreed was because they feared nothing — and this time, had His Majesty Clyde not offered them truly extraordinary rewards, they never would have betrayed the Debus Family.
But what Bernard was saying now was completely fabricated!
"Oh? Is that so?" Clyde glanced at Bernard.
Clyde realized that this Bernard had probably come prepared; otherwise he wouldn't have fabricated such a lie so brazenly. Even if Clyde sent people to investigate, they probably wouldn't find any flaws.
"Hmph. Too bad Bernard's third brother jumped into the river — his body was never found. If they had captured his third brother, Bernard would have had nothing to say." Clyde felt a twinge of hatred in his heart.
Smuggling water jade ore.
The water jade ore vein was the property of the Fenlei Kingdom — it was his, Clyde's, property.
Smuggling water jade ore was stealing his wealth. Naturally, Clyde hated it.
But now Bernard's third brother had thrown himself into the raging river to his death, and as for Lancier and Lanmier's betrayal, it seemed the Debus Family had been prepared for it.
"Bernard, I will not wrong an innocent person," Clyde said solemnly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty." Tears still glistened on Bernard's face.
But then Clyde's voice abruptly turned cold: "However, I will not spare anyone who betrays the interests of the Kingdom. According to the information I've gathered, the person in charge of the smuggling this time appears to have been your third brother."
"My third brother?" Bernard looked at Clyde in confusion.
Clyde gazed at Bernard coldly. "What — do you have something to say?"
Bernard adopted a look of aggrieved injustice. "Of course I do, Your Majesty. I truly don't understand why you would say such a thing, but my third brother left the Fenlei Kingdom a full year ago to travel and adventure through various countries. Just a few days ago he even sent a letter back."
Clyde's eyes turned icy.
His own men had reported directly that when they moved to capture Bernard's third brother, the man, severely wounded, had hurled himself straight into the raging river. They hadn't found a trace of him.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty — you must uphold justice!"
Bernard turned to look furiously at Lancier and Lanmier. "You must not chill the heart of a family loyal to the Kingdom because of these two villains!"
"Bernard, you — you…" The brothers, seething with rage, were at a loss for words.
Clyde shot to his feet and fixed Bernard with a cold stare. "I said it before — I will not wrong an innocent person, and I will not spare anyone who betrays the interests of the Kingdom. According to the evidence I have uncovered, your Debus Family is at the very least suspected of betraying the Kingdom. Guards —"
Bernard's face changed. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am loyal to the Kingdom!"
At that moment, two royal guards rushed in from outside the council hall.