Chapter 377: Questions Unanswered
Eldora city was destined to be restless tonight.
When Ragner arrived with the military token at the Left and Right Guards’ headquarters, the army immediately mobilized. Soldiers held torches as they poured into the streets and alleys of Eldora.
"Keep up! Search everyone! The Emperor’s order is clear: turn Eldora upside down if needed to catch the assassin!"
The streets looked deep and dark in the night. Ragner’s gaze was cold and sharp.
He had followed Alaric for a long time, so he knew well the status of Prince Simon in Alaric’s eyes. Especially after Simon took Snake Pass, Alaric had been talking about Simon almost every day lately.
It was Prince Simon’s repeated military victories that slowly erased the Eldorian Empire’s disgrace of the past years. The rise of a strong royal prince made the other feudal lords tone down their arrogance one by one.
"Yes, sir!"
At the order, fierce soldiers flooded into every street and alley of Eldora. This time, whether commoners or nobles, no one could stop the Left and Right Guards from searching. This showed how furious Alaric was.
While Ragner was commanding the search, suddenly the gate of a mansion opened. A man came out while putting on his clothes.
When he saw Ragner, he couldn’t help but ask. "General Ragner, what is going on? Why such a big mobilization?"
"It’s Hughes," Ragner said.
Seeing him, Ragner lowered his guard and said. "Hughes, you don’t know. Prince Simon was attacked when returning from a family dinner. I have orders to search the whole city."
"Someone attacked Prince Simon!" Hughes was shocked and quickly asked. "Is the Prince safe now?"
"His Highness is safe, but many of his guards were killed or injured. The Emperor is furious about this."
"To be so reckless under the Emperor’s nose is lawlessness." Hughes was furious. Simon was his future son-in-law. Naturally, he was very angry.
While they talked, some soldiers tried to rush into the Baker’s mansion to search. Ragner shouted. "Don’t search Hughes’s house now; don’t disturb Miss Elin."
Hughes said. "General Ragner, since it’s the Emperor’s order, the search must happen. I don’t want people talking badly about me."
Hearing this, Ragner said. "If so, then I must offend you."
Hughes nodded and went inside with Ragner.
The outside noise also woke up Elin. She and Kobe came out of their rooms. Seeing Hughes, they asked. "Father, what’s wrong?"
Hughes sighed and told them about the assassination attempt on Simon.
Elin and Kobe turned pale with fright, but when they learned Simon was safe, Elin breathed a sigh of relief. She said. "To dare assassinate the Prince on his first day in the city, Father, who would be so bold?"
"Who benefits most if Prince Simon dies?" Hughes wondered aloud.
Such a reckless move showed the force behind it was desperate.
"Of course, the Crown Prince. Prince Simon is favored and has military achievements. Isn’t this exactly like the Emperor years ago? And the Emperor plans to move the capital to Brighton. The castle would then be right under Prince Simon’s watch." Elin said, frowning.
Hughes paced back and forth, thinking hard. "If you understand this, others will too. Though the Crown Prince is foolish, he is not surrounded by fools. Well, before things are clear, let’s not guess wildly."
Elin nodded slightly, her bright eyes full of worry.
---
The next morning.
Simon got up early. Last night, Lady Isolde was so scared after hearing about the assassination that she cried. Only after his comfort did she calm down.
He had not slept all night, thinking about who wanted to kill him. After much thought, it seemed many people had reasons.
His only clue now was the vague words from the Third Prince when he left.
But he knew if he confronted the Third Prince now, he would deny everything, and those words meant little.
After a simple meal, he went straight to the Imperial Hospital. The injured guards from last night were there being treated. Hearing that more than twenty guards could not be saved, Simon’s heart tightened.
"Your Highness, the Imperial Doctors say William can survive." Thomas, who had stayed up all night caring for the soldiers, said.
"That’s good, that’s good." Simon patted Thomas on the shoulder. They had been together for a long time; there was naturally some feeling between them.
Thomas sighed and said. "Such a pity for those twenty soldiers. They did not die fighting reavers but died at the hands of their own people."
"That’s wrong. These assassins are reavers, not our people."
While they talked, a voice came from a corner. An old man in a black night robe with a long beard stepped out.
"Doctor Stiles!" Simon recognized the doctor. In his previous life, Doctor Stiles always treated him when he was ill. In the Imperial Hospital, Doctor Stiles was famous for his excellent medical skills.
"Your Highness." Stiles bowed to Simon. "The assassins’ bodies are in the morgue. I have examined them. Although they look like people from the Eldorian Empire, careful inspection shows they are mostly descendants of reavers and Eldorian Empire slaves."
"Bastards!" Thomas cursed.
Though rude, Thomas’s words were true. If Doctor Stiles was right, these people were likely children of reavers and slaves.
"Is it reavers who want to kill me?" Simon asked uncertainly.
Thomas thought for a moment. "It’s possible. The reavers trained a group of mixed-blood soldiers to infiltrate the Eldorian Empire and carry out assassinations. When Snake Pass was captured, this mixed-blood army played a big role. They infiltrated and assassinated the general guarding the pass, causing the defenders to lose leadership."
Simon nodded. Without the Third Prince’s warning, he would have believed it was the reavers.
But now, he had doubts.
"Doctor Stiles, can you be sure?" Simon asked again.
"Yes. Reavers have curly hair. These men’s hair is loose, but eight or nine out of ten have the same trait. Generally, children of reaver men and Eldorian women have this feature." Doctor Stiles explained.
"Your Highness, I must report this to the Emperor. Excuse me."
Simon nodded. "I am going to meet Father in the front hall. Let’s go together."
Then the two of them went to the front hall.