The incident in Chinosato finally ended. Thankfully, there wasn't any significant damage.
As soon as they returned to the Heartswaarth city, Cyan quickly got engrossed in his work, as he wanted to capture those behind the operation in Chinosato that targeted his children. The captured attackers were brought back to Capicastle for a thorough interrogation.
On a side note, the thieves that hindered Cyan and Rupert's journey back to the inn were found out by the patrolling officers and were arrested in the local prison. Cyan might have forgotten to report them altogether, but thankfully they were discovered in their bound state...
Let's not mention their condition after being bound for quite a long time...
"Hmmrghrrrghhhhrrrr!!"
The thieves loudly made the sound so that people would find them. Obviously, it alerted the patrolling officers.
"...what the hell is this?! Why are they tied up in vines?!"
"D-did someone beat them up? But we haven't received any report yet..."
While the patrolling officers were debating in their confusion, the thieves grew impatient and once again, they wriggled to make any sound--
"Nnnnnrrrghhh!!"
Yes, that's right.
The thieves all had one thing in their mind.
'Just arrest us already. Bring us to the prison.'
'It doesn't matter if we get arrested... Being in a prison seems like a better option than this...'
-
Meanwhile, the royal prison is quite busy with their huge catch, as well.
"Cyan-sama, please wait here until we are done investigating them."
"We'll call you in should the need arises."
After the interrogators finished their questioning, they finally came up with a single name.
Phillip Elandia.
The head of Elandia's branch family.
Cyan and the Royal Police were afraid that he would have escaped by the time they captured them, so they went to Evlia town via teleportation gate. Evlia town is a small town located near the green forest and hills in the East Territory of Riviera, so naturally Cyan recognized the Elandia family.
Though it didn't take any longer than a few days for them to arrive, Phillip has already gone missing from his house. Surprisingly, Cyan managed to meet the head of Elandia's main family, Raphael Elandia.
When they questioned him, Raphael showed no indication of lying—he clearly didn't know about what was going on with Phillip. He even cooperated in catching Phillip.
Cyan and the Royal Police went back to interrogate Phillip Elandia—and left a few officers stationed at the Elandia Residence in order to question all of them, and to make sure that nobody escaped. It was also a safety measure just in case Raphael was actually involved and that he was planning to escape during the time Cyan and the others interrogated Phillip.
-
During the interrogation, Phillip didn't cooperate at all and refused to disclose anything... anything except his motive.
Upon seeing Cyan entering the investigation room, his eyes turned hostile and he started to insult Cyan.
"You!! You impure-bred didn't deserve to hold the noble title of a duke!! If it weren't for you, the Elandia family would be appointed to take care of the East Territory—at least the main family would be bestowed the title of duke!!" He shouted while the officers restrained him, trying to make sure he didn't get any closer to Cyan.
Cyan only scowled at him.
"People who think that nobler blood means a superior being like you... really irked me."
Cyan knew what he was thinking.
After all, the Elandia family has shown their loyalty and contribution to Riviera from the olden times. If all the members of Hartmann duchy ceased to exist, surely their family would become the duke. At least the main family would assume the role of Hartmann Duke, and the branch family would be guaranteed the Evlia town's jurisdiction.
Phillip was a man who discriminated against commoners. Even when he didn't hold any kind of ambition of status, he would still oppose Cyan getting the rank of a duke.
"You're assuming the title of a duke with your contaminated blood?! Even the branch family of a mere baron is better from you, as long as they are of pure noble blood!! You being a duke with that kind of pedigree is an insult to every pure noble present!!"
"So, you're opposing the king?" Cyan calmly refuted Phillip's words.
After all, it was the king who pestered Cyan to take the position of a duke.
He was the one who went through all the trouble to convince Cyan, freeing Cyan of his 'guilt'.
"The king is blind! You tricked him!!" Phillip started to accuse Cyan of something ridiculous.
Cyan humphed and ignored Phillip's accusation.
"If you want a lesser punishment, then you'd better comply and spill everything out. Like who helped you? What's your other objective for aiming at my children? Speak!"
Instead of speaking, Phillip only growled at him back.
"Cyan-sama, let us take over," one of the officers who just entered the room calmly announced. He was one of the officers skilled in interrogation methods—as he was capable of manipulating others' minds, better than Rupert's method.
"Gah!" Phillip noticed what was about to happen and gasped.
"Ready to spill everything out?" Cyan smirked.
But the middle-aged man's eyes seemed to go unfocused, as he started to sweat bullets. His untidy beard started to get moist due to his own sweat.
"...what's wrong?" The officer asked.
He inched closer to the man when Phillip suddenly let out a very painful scream.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The irritating scream caused all men present to cover their ears.
As Phillip's scream subdued, they noticed that it was already too late.
His pupils were widening as if they were about to fall out from the sockets—and his mouth released a disgusting bubble foam. His heartbeat was not there anymore—and he was no longer breathing.
The man named Phillip Elandia was no longer a part of this world.
In addition, none of them could comprehend his unnatural and sudden death. They didn't find any trace of poison as they initially suspected.
With no more clue left, the case was marked as closed, though unsatisfactory.