"What exactly is Lord Belut trying to do?" Lin Lei wondered inwardly. Whether there was a traitor in the family, whether it was Fuharn — there was no evidence to begin with. So what was Lord Belut after by asking so many questions?
Just as Lin Lei was puzzling over this, Belut, seated at the head of the grand hall, slammed his wine cup heavily onto the long table before him. The harsh clatter drew the gazes of all four clan leaders and Pusiro toward him.
"Hmph!" Belut let out a cold snort.
Instantly, the entire grand hall fell silent. Everyone understood that the Prefecture Lord of the Azure Prefecture seemed displeased. Offending others was one thing, but one absolutely could not offend the pillar upon which their family's very existence depended. Gasleison chuckled and said, "Prefecture Lord, may I ask what has you concerned?"
Belut glanced at him, then swept his gaze around the hall, his eyes cold and sharp.
"Lin Lei's group was ambushed by eight enemy elders. He killed several of them — a meritorious deed that deserves reward. I commend your family's handling of that matter… But did the Four Divine Beast Families not think to investigate how eight elders could launch a simultaneous attack?!"
Belut snorted coldly. "As I understand it, in that single assault by eight enemy elders, three of them wielded the power of a Highgod. It was clearly intended to kill Lin Lei! Moreover, during the battle, even my grandson Bei Bei was caught in the crossfire. Fortunately, I had previously forged a soul defense divine artifact for him, which enabled him to withstand those green light points — otherwise he would have ended up just like Dilia!"
"Such a grave matter, and your family does not even investigate. Hmph!" Belut gave an angry snort and said nothing more.
The moment these words left his lips, the many elders throughout the grand hall began quietly communicating via divine sense. Even the four clan leaders seated at the top of the hall exchanged whispered messages among themselves. In their view…
Belut was likely this furious because Bei Bei had been caught up in the matter as well.
Though Bei Bei had been unharmed, Belut was clearly still enraged. This, the four clan leaders could fully understand.
"Prefecture Lord," the Scarlet Feather Clan leader said apologetically. "We know the ambush by those eight elders was absolutely premeditated. Otherwise, how could eight elders have appeared right after Lin Lei's group left the city? But this matter — there's simply nothing to investigate!"
"Nothing to investigate?" Belut replied flatly. "Simple. There is a traitor in your family."
"A traitor!"
These words threw the entire hall into an uproar.
Fuharn's hair stood on end and his heart clenched violently. But he calmed himself instantly. "It's fine. There's absolutely nothing to worry about. Besides me, no one knows that I contacted the Eight Great Families. I haven't told anyone — who could possibly know? Even if that Lin Lei suspects something, who has any proof?"
In an instant, Fuharn's resolve hardened — no matter what, he was not the traitor!
But guilty conscience gnawed at him. Even though he knew no one was aware, a thread of unease still lingered in his heart.
"Father, do you think there really is a traitor?" Emmanuel also communicated via divine sense to Fuharn.
"Perhaps," Fuharn replied, feigning calm. "Perhaps there is a traitor. Or perhaps the Eight Great Families truly did find some way to track Lin Lei's movements."
The grand hall buzzed with commotion, the elders all shaken.
Meanwhile, Lin Lei was thinking to himself, "Lord Belut is rather… extreme…" He didn't even know what to say — there was no evidence, yet Belut had the audacity to do this. Still, in Lin Lei's mind, Belut had always acted in unconventional ways.
"Lin Lei, is there really a traitor?" Dilia, seated beside him, asked via divine sense.
"There probably is," Lin Lei replied.
"Who? That Fuharn?" Dilia also glanced toward Fuharn. When it came to thinking of a traitor, Fuharn was the first person to come to mind.
"If there is a traitor, it's most likely him," Lin Lei answered.
At this moment, Gasleison stepped forward and said, "Prefecture Lord, you say there is a traitor — do you have evidence?"
"Of course I do," Belut replied with a faint smile.
The entire hall erupted in uproar. Even Lin Lei was startled.
"Evidence?" Lin Lei himself had no idea where any evidence could come from.
"Evidence?" Fuharn below was shaken. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible. My divine clone transmitted the message after altering its appearance. No one could possibly know about this."
"Where is the evidence?" Gasleison pressed. "If there truly is a traitor who has betrayed the family… Prefecture Lord, rest assured — no matter who this person is, our Four Divine Beast Families will execute every last one of their clones. Not a single one will be spared!"
Gasleison's words rang with iron resolve.
"Indeed. They must be executed!" the White Tiger Clan leader added coldly.
"Prefecture Lord, may we see the evidence?" the Scarlet Feather Clan leader spoke up. Every person in the grand hall fixed their gaze on Belut. Lin Lei and Fuharn both stared at him intently. They had no idea…
What evidence could there possibly be!
"Can't say. Can't say," Belut replied with a faint smile.
Everyone froze.
"Prefecture Lord, what do you mean?" Gasleison and the others were dumbfounded, and Lin Lei furrowed his brow in confusion.
Belut smiled faintly. "Even if I told you, it wouldn't help. Only two beings know about this matter. One is me. The other is the great Highgod. Do you really think a Highgod would testify over such a trivial matter? As for the various details — they involve certain information regarding a Highgod, which I dare not disclose."
Everyone was struck speechless.
Lin Lei was also stunned. How had this gotten entangled with a Highgod?
"Prefecture Lord, you mean there is no evidence that can be presented?" The Grand Elder's voice echoed through the hall.
"That's right. There is no evidence that can be presented," Belut confirmed with a nod.
The Grand Elder replied respectfully, "If the Prefecture Lord cannot produce evidence, then the matter remains undetermined. Whether a traitor exists or not is still uncertain! Without evidence, perhaps it would be best not to sow panic among the ranks."
"Ridiculous!" Belut sneered.