Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 615 - 363: The New Lord of the North
Chapter 615: Chapter 363: The New Lord of the North
Not long after, Lambert’s search knights returned, presenting several letters found from the nobility’s residence.
The letters clearly stated: Holmes, Klan, Bolton, Harlov, Ximan.
The letters detailed the seating arrangement, speaking order, knight deployment, and guiding public opinion on the Red Tide.
Finally, a note was attached: “If the Red Tide is attacked, it’s God’s will, seize power in the momentum.”
Everyone present fell into deeper shock.
The faces of the four nobles turned ashen, their legs went weak, almost collapsing to the ground.
“This isn’t my letter!” Holmes’s voice trembled, his lips twitching.
“That’s just a draft of the meeting!” Klan was so anxious that he almost shouted, veins bulging at his temples.
“Someone forged my seal!” Harlov was sweating profusely, his voice shaking.
“You are slandering us!”
As they spoke, they became increasingly muddled, even directly kneeling, trembling hands holding the letter, frantically explaining that they were wronged.
“We never intended betrayal!”
“The Sixth Prince was the initiator!”
A few panicked defenses echoed in the empty ruins, torn apart by the cold wind, appearing particularly powerless.
Harlov lowered his head, his palms clenched tightly, nails digging into flesh,
Ximan’s eyes dodged, glancing towards Louis yet not daring to look directly.
Their inner fear and regret spreading, wishing they hadn’t gotten so close to that mad Astha.
If found guilty of colluding with the Barbarian Race, their family, fiefdom, and surname might be erased after tonight.
Moreover, truly they were wronged, they never colluded with the Barbarian Race, only wanted to cause some trouble for the Red Tide.
Lambert replied coldly: “Every letter carries a seal and signature, if not personally written, how did it come about?”
Their breathing became rapid, almost pleading, quietly defending themselves: “Please investigate thoroughly… maybe someone framed us…”
Their voices grew increasingly low, finally turning into silence.
Other nobles looked at them with eyes full of disbelief, as evidence and the Barbarian Race all matched.
Now the evidence was becoming more complete, all pointing to Astha’s folly, which led to this bloody attack.
The air was filled with scorch and blood, the firelight illuminating everyone’s faces.
The accused nobles breathed rapidly, their lips pale, clearly wanting to defend themselves, yet unable to speak.
Surrounding nobles exchanged glances, expressions complex.
Some were angry, some relieved, others bowed their heads, fearful of being drawn into this judgment.
In the corner, the injured Sai Fu hadn’t spoken since the beginning.
He had understood what Astha did behind his back, sometimes executing territorial matters by himself, he knew Astha was consolidating the Barbarian Race, but never thought it would come to this extent.
His heart was like dead ashes, ready to take responsibility upon himself, believing he taught wrong.
Sai Fu’s gaze turned to the side, where Astha’s wife and two children shivered.
He knew, this burden shouldn’t fall on Astha, else the Prince’s reputation would be destroyed, and his descendants couldn’t survive.
Without child himself, he always raised Astha as his own…
Blood, honor, the Empire’s dignity, all mixed into a heavy weight on the heart at this moment.
After understanding everything, Sai Fu slowly stood, his voice hoarse yet resolute: “It was me! It was me acting behind the Prince’s back, colluding with Holmes, Klan, Bolton, Harlov, Ximan, unrelated to the Prince.”
Louis was slightly stunned, he knew through the Daily Intelligence System that all this was done by Astha behind his back.
He hadn’t expected this old man to go to such lengths for the Sixth Prince, even forsaking his afterlife name.
His heart passed a complex emotion, a bit of surprise, also a bit of indescribable admiration.
The surrounding nobles were also shocked, speechless.
Now that the evidence was complete to this extent, everyone understood, the one really able to mobilize the Barbarian Race, plotting this event was none other than Astha, yet this old general willingly took all the blame.
People whispered in amazement, some shook their heads in disbelief, more breathed a sigh of relief.
If it were really the Prince colluding with the Barbarian Race to attack the nobility, the matter would be too frightening, only stirring the already unstable Northern Territory’s political scene into further chaos.
And now an old general willing to take all the charges is not necessarily a bad thing for them.
Everyone turned their gaze to Louis.
After all, only Louis could make the next decision, which would determine who could survive.
After a moment of dead silence, Louis finally stood, calmly stating: “The Sixth Prince died for the country, is a martyr of the Empire, yet traitors and conspiracies must be settled.
He announced: “General Sai Fu, induced by the Barbarian Race, misjudging the situation, causing meeting turmoil, now confessed to his crimes, but because of contributions to the Empire, sent to the Imperial Capital for trial.
Astha’s wife and children are escorted back to the Imperial Capital for settlement.
Holmes, Klan, Harlov, Ximan, as instigators and collaborators, considered joint culpability, executed immediately.”
Sai Fu relaxed hearing Louis’s sentence.
Knowing Louis was being lenient, returning to the Imperial Capital, given his family’s influence, he had a chance to survive, while Astha’s wife and children in the Imperial Capital were also assured.
On the other side hearing the word “execution,” the four initially didn’t react, stupefied.
Holmes muttered: “Execution…?” his voice faint, as if still waiting for someone to plead for them.
Until the Red Tide Knights stepped forward pressing their shoulders, cold armor scraping sounds startled them awake.
