Chapter 86: Five Deaths | 50 GT Bonus

’What...?’

Elias shifted his head toward the right and found Stella still sleeping peacefully beside him, seemingly completely unaffected by the repeated knocking that had echoed through the room.

’How did she not wake up from all that knocking?’ he wondered.

He carefully moved her hands away from his arm and gently lifted her leg from across his body before sitting upright. His gaze then shifted toward Natasha, who was also still asleep, her peaceful expression completely unchanged.

’Well, it is not like she can hear the commotion anyway.’

Elias quietly rose from the bed and changed into the proper clothes for the morning. Once he had finished, he brushed his unkempt hair backward with his fingers and walked toward the door.

Before he could reach it, Benjamin knocked once again.

"My lord!" the old butler called from outside.

"Coming," Elias answered as he opened the door.

The moment Benjamin saw him, the old butler breathed a sigh of relief before saying, "We have knights at the gates, and they are asking to meet you, my lord."

Elias furrowed his brows as he asked, "Are they from the Outer Night Watch?"

After returning from the church the previous day, Elias had commanded Benjamin to release Trons and Part, but only after ensuring that both men swore to keep everything that had happened inside the manor to themselves.

Benjamin had carried out the order with the efficiency expected from a butler trained to serve a direct heir of the Crimson Ducal Clan, but it appeared that Trons and Part had mouths far too loose for their own good.

"It does not seem like it," Benjamin answered.

"What?" Elias asked in confusion. "If they are not from the Outer Night Watch, then what are they doing here so early? Does the city guard have nothing better to do?"

Benjamin could hear the annoyance behind every word, and he let out an awkward cough before answering, "Well... we would know that after talking to them, my lord."

Elias nodded, and the two of them descended the stairs together.

As they moved through the hall, they noticed the two maids peeking toward the gates through the entrance door. The moment they saw Elias, both immediately straightened and bowed.

"Good morning, my lord," they said together.

Elias nodded briefly in acknowledgment before continuing toward the entrance.

He stepped outside, and the morning sunlight immediately fell across his face, although instead of making him look refreshed, it only seemed to emphasize the annoyance already written across his features.

Benjamin followed closely behind him.

The moment Elias reached the gates, his expression worsened.

Two knights were standing outside.

One of them was the familiar knight from the Draveon Marchional Clan, while the other was a towering man who stood well over seven feet tall.

The second knight was covered from neck to toe in steel armor, with a long sword sheathed at his waist, and although he remained perfectly still, the numerous scratches and dents across his armor revealed that he was no inexperienced warrior.

Elias’s gaze briefly lingered on him before returning to the knight from the Draveon Marchional Clan.

The man tapped the hippocampus insignia on his armor before introducing himself.

"I am Berman Terret, an Exalted knight under Lord Berlic Draveon, and I have been tasked with questioning Elias Crimson."

Berman then pointed toward Elias and asked, "Are you Elias Crimson?"

Elias frowned as he stared at the knight.

"Do you know anyone else in the city who has crimson hair?" he asked.

Berman’s brows furrowed, and his green eyes sharpened as he realized the nobleman standing before him was already irritated.

Even Benjamin and the tall knight beside Berman could feel the annoyance radiating from Elias.

"I am simply following the procedure," Berman said.

"Heh," Elias smirked before crossing his arms. "Does your procedure lack instructions on how to formally address a nobleman?"

Berman fell silent.

For several seconds, he stared at Elias before finally lowering his hand and giving a slight bow.

"I apologize for my lack of manners, Lord Elias," he said.

"You should," Elias replied before asking, "Why are you here at my gates?"

"We found five corpses across the city, and the City Lord ordered us to question all known swordsmen."

"What?" Elias asked, his expression becoming more serious. "Five corpses in the city?"

Benjamin stared at Berman in stunned disbelief.

Berman nodded.

"Yes. Fortunately, they were only commoners."

Elias’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"I know nothing about it," he said calmly.

"Do you have any proof to validate that statement?" Berman pressed.

Elias’s expression hardened.

"Do you have any proof to invalidate it?" he asked.

Berman remained silent for a moment before answering, "We are going through hard times, Lord Elias, so we do not have the luxury of that."

"I understand," Elias said.

There was no point arguing with the knight any further. Whatever Berlic was attempting to accomplish, Elias had no reason to make himself a target by arguing over an investigation that had nothing to do with him.

Instead, he looked directly at Berman and said, "You may question the neighbors and the citizens, and if you find anything against me, you may return."

Elias then turned around.

"For now, leave."

Benjamin immediately followed behind him.

Berman watched the two figures walk away, his expression remaining somewhat stern as he stood at the gate. The towering knight beside him glanced toward Elias’s retreating figure before asking, "What should we do, Sir Berman?"

Berman briefly looked toward the other streets where several guards were already moving between houses.

"We have many others to question," he answered. "Let’s go, Himber."

Himber nodded, and the two knights turned around before leaving the manor behind.

Meanwhile, Elias continued walking through the entrance hall with Benjamin following a few steps behind.

The moment they were far enough from the gates, Elias’s expression became thoughtful.

’Five deaths at such a time...’ he mumbled inwardly.

He was in no way connected to the deaths. Still, Berlic had already demonstrated that he was willing to make trouble for Elias whenever he found an opportunity.

Elias slowed his steps slightly as another thought entered his mind.

’There would not be any issue with us leaving the city, right?’