'So there really is!' Anser thought in secret, startled.
He had merely felt that the matter was shrouded in mystery, more like someone deliberately stirring up trouble, with the Iron Crown possibly serving as a scapegoat. He had not expected that a casual guess would actually hit the mark.
If that was a newly born Mind Flayer, the situation might be even worse—it would mean that the Iron Crown had already been infiltrated seven days ago.
'It's also possible that after discovering the host, they locked him in a secret chamber.'
Everything had happened too hastily just now, and he had not seen anything clearly. That room could also be a hidden prison.
Thinking of this, Anser immediately used the mark of the Spatial Paradise to notify Finn. Once he was ready, he teleported him out together with Grey Eagle and Nornoth.
"Keep watch on this building and the courtyard behind it. If any suspicious person leaves, inform me immediately—especially anyone hiding their face or concealing themselves. And be careful not to get too close."
A newly born Mind Flayer had limited spellcasting ability and most likely did not possess spells for magical disguise.
"Mm." Finn responded and quickly left the alley.
Meanwhile, at the guild headquarters, Kaleno noticed the mark of the Spatial Paradise on his chest begin to flicker. He shot to his feet with a whoosh. "There's a discovery. Let's go."
With a whoosh, Iris vanished from the spot and disappeared from the group's sight in the blink of an eye.
Quentin shook his head, called out to Giant Tail, and set off at a run with a squad of guards.
Through the Rod of Security, Anser sensed the mark beginning to move. He nodded to himself, then mounted Nornoth, dismissed his disguise, and took out a Chromatic Orb, tossing it casually. A point of rainbow light circled around him as it spun in the air.
Since there was now solid evidence, he could simply block the door. There was no need to hesitate.
Nornoth stepped forward, rushed out of the alley, and trotted to the front of the Iron Crown building, stopping motionless at the entrance.
The first floor was an open shop to the public, mainly selling various weapons and equipment. People were constantly coming and going, and Anser's appearance immediately attracted a great deal of attention.
When the guard at the door saw the man and the horse, he felt they looked somewhat familiar, yet he could not remember where he had seen them before.
"Sir, if you wish to purchase goods, please come inside and browse. Don't block the entr—"
Before the guard could finish speaking, a middle-aged man hurried out, pushed the guard aside, and bowed with a flattering smile.
"Welcome, President Holrewen. Please come inside."
"You're the one in charge?" Anser immediately activated the True Sight Ring, and a circle of magical radiance appeared around his eyes.
His gaze shifted as he swept over everyone one by one. Even the customers and the surrounding crowd were not spared, yet he did not discover anything unusual.
The middle-aged man's heart skipped a beat at the sight, and he immediately felt that something was wrong. Carefully probing, he said, "I'm the shop supervisor. If you need anything, just tell me, and I'll handle it at once."
Anser pointed toward the room in the northwest corner of the first floor. "What is that room in the northwest corner used for?"
"A storeroom, for keeping some odds and ends…"
"And what's beneath the storeroom?" Anser interrupted him.
"Huh?" The middle-aged man's expression stiffened, and he gave a dry laugh. "Beneath it… isn't it just the floor?"
"Do I look like a fool to you?" Anser shot him a cold glance.
By now, the street was packed with people, with many adventurers among them. Quite a few were whispering to each other and asking around everywhere.
The Dragon Slayer President had just taken office and was already moving against a councillor with real power. It might even be related to that rumor. The gossip was simply too explosive.
A hundred meters above, a flying carpet hovered in circles. Iris had arrived, but she did not descend. She merely observed quietly, leaving all of this for Anser to handle.
"Beneath it is a secret vault." A tall, slender, handsome man with a short beard pushed through the crowd and came to the shop entrance.
He wore a black velvet tailcoat embroidered with golden patterns, with a white waistcoat underneath, and held a long staff in his hand. He looked like a noble rather than a merchant.
"Councillor Graham, may I ask what is inside the secret vault?" Anser remained calm. Though only half a day had passed, of course he had not forgotten this graceful councillor.
"President, why not come inside and talk?" Graham bowed slightly in invitation, his posture composed and elegant.
"I'd be very willing to trust you, unfortunately…" Anser had met Graham several times, and his impression of him had been quite good.
He turned his head toward the street corner. Squad after squad of guards were parting the crowd and hurrying over.
With a wave of Quentin's large hand, more than a hundred guards completely surrounded the Iron Crown.
Graham straightened up. Expressionless, he looked at Anser with a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Mr. President, in all things, one must think again and again, not rely on feelings alone."
The crowd buzzed with discussion, and that rumor spread even faster. Many people who had originally known nothing about it had now heard of it as well.
However, the situation was better than expected. Almost no one believed that he would assassinate the former President.
Because this new President was not only a Dragon Slayer, but also a Paladin. In just a few days since arriving, he had already done many things for Durlag's Tower.
Besides, with the two of them standing there at the entrance, people always unconsciously found themselves taking Anser's side.
No matter how graceful Graham was, he was still within the bounds of an ordinary person. How could he possibly compare to Anser's mysterious charm and unmatched affinity?
Perhaps for a Sorcerer, dispelling rumors was just this plain and unadorned.
Of course, there were pros and cons. Almost everyone believed that he was having an affair with the mistress of Fort Jacqueline.
Seeing how calm Graham was, Anser almost began to suspect that he had misseen things just now.
Finn quietly came over and gave him a slight shake of the head. "No one left."
Anser understood. He raised a hand and pointed toward the courtyard. "Councillor Graham, please help me with two things. First, have everyone line up and come out. Second, open the secret vault immediately. Do not delay."
The middle-aged supervisor's expression changed drastically. He shouted, "On what grounds can you do this? We are a legitimate merchant association, paying taxes according to the law—"
"Silence!" Graham shot him a glance. "Do it immediately."
After saying this, he walked to the side of the entrance, leaned on his staff, and closed his eyes to rest.
The middle-aged supervisor's expression shifted. He moved closer to Graham and tried to say something in a low voice, but Graham ignored him.
With a sigh, he returned to the shop.
Giant Tail also led the guards into the wooden building, blocking the entrance to that storeroom.
A moment later, chaotic footsteps sounded. One by one, the merchant association staff walked out from the doorway onto the street. They stood shoulder to shoulder in a line, their expressions dejected.
Anser swept his gaze over them one by one, his brows slightly furrowing. Everyone looked normal, which instead felt somewhat abnormal.
"Is everyone here?" he asked, looking at the middle-aged supervisor.
"Everyone's here, everyone's here," the supervisor nodded quickly.
Graham opened his eyes. After sweeping his gaze around once, he struck the ground with his staff with a thud and said coldly, "Two people are missing."
"They took leave, sir," the supervisor immediately lowered his head and replied.
"Lies!" Graham's expression turned grave as he shouted sharply, "Call them out! Where is Devon?"
"Young lord…" The supervisor's body went limp with fright. With a thump, he collapsed to the ground, his voice trembling. "In the secret vault."
Graham kicked him over and said through clenched teeth, "Open the door."
"Young lord changed the lock. I can't open it." The supervisor's face had gone pale from knocking his head on the ground, yet he did not dare wipe it. Lying half-prone on the floor, he trembled violently.
He knew he was finished. The moment the other party mentioned the secret vault, he knew the young lord had caused a great disaster. He had tried several times to cover it up, but all had failed.
One side showed no mercy, while the other believed itself upright and blameless, and yet it had produced this situation.
Graham hurried inside with quick steps.
'That Mind Flayer wouldn't happen to be his son, would it? The timing doesn't match…' Anser felt that Graham did not seem to be pretending.
He swung down from his horse and walked inside, at the same time casting Fire Shield on himself. Wisps of flame surrounded him like a veil of light gauze.
Quentin drew his longsword and walked beside him, asking in a low voice, "What did you discover?"
"A Mind Flayer."
"What?" Quentin's eyes widened, and the veins on the arm gripping his sword bulged.
"Disperse the crowd. The ordinary guards withdraw as well."
"Oh. Right."
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