Chapter 324

Rufas and Eldric took their seats across from the group. Rufas wore the same polished diplomatic smile he always did, calm, pleasant, unreadable. Eldric attempted the same composure, sitting straight-backed and formal in his light armor, but the effort cracked every time he glanced sideways and caught Ludger’s cold, unblinking stare.

That glare hadn’t softened once. Varik cleared his throat, attempting to rein in the tension before it could ignite.

“Let’s begin. This meeting is highly irregular, and our goal is to clarify the accusations and evidence without escalating tensions between houses or guilds.”

Rufas inclined his head politely. “Yes, thank you, Master Varik. But before we begin, may I ask Vice Guildmaster Ludger to ease his glare just slightly?” His eyes shifted toward Ludger with diplomatic precision. “Your guild members are unharmed and being treated well. Given the Lionsguard’s standing, no one is assuming guilt.”

Ludger’s voice came out low, sharp. “So far, huh?”

Rufas nodded with disarming calm. “So far.” He laced his fingers together on the table. “They have not suffered mistreatment, nor coercion. They are simply detained for the duration of the inquiry.”

Kaela made a quiet scoffing sound. Maurien’s posture remained controlled, but he was observing everything carefully.

Rufas continued, always the professional. “To be frank, this kind of discussion would not occur under normal circumstances. Accusations of espionage, especially those involving cross-border concerns—are usually handled internally. The accused would remain locked up until an internal investigation concluded.” He paused meaningfully. “Which can take weeks.”

Ludger’s jaw tightened but he didn’t interrupt.

“This meeting,” Rufas added, gesturing lightly around the table, “is happening only because Master Varik insisted on transparency, and because Lady Viola personally petitioned for it. Without their intervention, your guild members would still be sitting in their cells without knowing why.”

Varik nodded in confirmation. Eldric finally spoke, his voice steady even though his eyes kept tracking Ludger as if expecting him to leap across the table. “My house agreed to present the evidence directly to avoid unnecessary delays. Given the circumstances, clarity benefits everyone.”

Ludger leaned forward, gaze sharpening. “Then present it.”

The room seemed to still, the weight of the moment settling across the table. Varik inhaled slowly, trying once again to ease the edges.

“Let’s proceed,” he said. “And please, let’s keep this civil. We’re here to uncover the truth, not ignite new conflict.”

Ludger didn’t offer a single verbal assurance. He didn’t have to. His eyes already promised that if anyone lied today, the consequences would be immediate and physical.

Eldric straightened in his seat, clearly trying to re-establish some kind of control over the conversation. His expression smoothed into something official, practiced—his noble training settling in.

“My family has always been responsible for guarding the eastern gate of the capital,” he began, voice steady. “It is one of the busiest entry points for travelers coming from the League. And in recent months, we’ve received pieces of information suggesting… potential complications between our borders.”

Maurien’s eyes narrowed slightly. Kaela twirled her dagger slower, paying attention.

Eldric continued, “With the Empire and the League maintaining unusually cordial relations lately, the risk increases. Times of peace and cooperation tend to invite certain… opportunists. Individuals who might attempt to exploit that good standing for personal gain.”

Ludger’s expression didn’t shift an inch. “Where did that information come from?”

There was a tense silence. Eldric blinked. Rufas glanced at Varik.

Varik rubbed his brow, already sensing where this was going. “Ludger… I was supposed to be the one asking questions.”

“I asked first,” Ludger replied flatly.

Kaela smirked. “He did.”

Varik exhaled heavily, the kind of exhale that suggested he regretted waking up today. “You’re making this more difficult.”

“Answer the question,” Ludger said, still not raising his voice. “Where did the intel come from?”

Eldric hesitated, then shifted uncomfortably. “It came through our family’s intelligence network. Agents and informants who monitor border conditions, merchant traffic, and cross-regional movements.”

Ludger’s eyebrow twitched. “Border conditions.”

“Yes,” Eldric said, regaining a bit of confidence. “We have reliable scouts between the eastern regions—”

“No,” Ludger cut in, tone sharp as flint. “If the concern is people abusing the relationship between the Empire and the League, you’d monitor the actual border, not just the capital gates.”

Varik placed both elbows on the table and rubbed his eyebrows in open frustration. “Ludger, please, let me handle the questions. That is literally why I am here.”

But Ludger didn’t look away from Eldric.

“Your intelligence warned about border threats,” he continued. “Yet you focused the investigation here, in the capital, instead of watching the actual frontier. That’s inefficient at best. Suspicious at worst.”

A muscle in Eldric’s jaw twitched.

The young noble straightened further, but the confidence behind his voice faltered. “The capital has… relevant traffic. Many merchants…”

“Merchants aren’t spies,” Ludger shot back. “And my squad came from the north, not the League. Your guards searched them because they wanted to. Not because of any ‘intel.’ They had been doing that for months.”

The room went silent again. Maurien leaned back slowly, observing. Viola crossed her arms, fully supporting Ludger’s line of questioning. Kaela grinned openly now. Rufas took a breath but didn’t intervene—he knew better.

And Varik… Varik just dropped his face into his hands with a long groan.

“Saints help me,” he muttered. “This is going to be a long morning.”

Eldric swallowed, visibly rattled. He hadn’t expected Ludger to dismantle the reasoning so quickly. But Ludger wasn’t done. He leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on the young noble.

“So tell me,” he said quietly, “why was my squad

really

stopped?”

Eldric cleared his throat, trying to regain the noble poise he’d walked in with. “There were… additional factors at play,” he began, voice steady but undeniably strained. “Your guild, specifically the Lionsguard, had been spending an unusual amount of time in Coria between commissions. People there began asking questions.”

Ludger didn’t react outwardly, but Maurien’s brow lifted by a fraction.

Eldric continued, “Some of the complaints mentioned a particularly loud northerner and a woman with… unconventional behavior in taverns.”

Kaela immediately burst into a fit of coughing so violent it would’ve convinced a healer she was dying.

Maurien quietly muttered, “Subtle.”

Ludger kept his tone calm, despite the tension tightening his jaw. “We stay in Coria longer because Dalan and Linne invited us as guests. They wanted to keep relations between the Lionsguard and their research circles healthy. That’s it.”

Kaela coughed again, softer this time, and tried to look innocent. She failed.

The room fell quiet for a moment until Varik leaned forward, fingers stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Let’s return to the core issue. The schematics, the golem designs found with your squad. Do they have any clear origin in the League? Any organization or creator tied to them?”

Eldric nodded slowly. “Yes… they belonged to one of Coria’s councilors.”

That drew a reaction from everyone. Maurien’s eyes narrowed. Viola’s grip tightened around the arm of her chair. Kaela stopped spinning her dagger. Ludger’s eyebrow twitched, but the rest of him stayed unnervingly still.

Eldric continued carefully, choosing each word like stepping stones across a river. “The same councilor who was attacked and disappeared five days ago. Coria took severe damage during the incident. Investigations are ongoing, but there were rumors your Lionsguard members left the city shortly before the event. And… some witnesses claim to have seen individuals resembling Maurien and Kaela near the area during the chaos.”

Maurien remained quiet, unbothered. Kaela smirked faintly, as if proud of being recognizable in a disaster zone. Ludger leaned back in his chair, his voice deceptively calm. “Interesting.”

Eldric swallowed.

“Especially,” Ludger continued, “since the trip to Coria and back takes

at least

eight days. Yet your Intel managed to gather witness statements, verify timelines, and use them as grounds for arrest… in barely half that time.”

A long pause followed. Eldric stiffened. His shoulders tensed. He stared forward with a noble’s practiced stoicism, but the cracks were forming. The implication in Ludger’s words wasn’t subtle, it was an accusation that someone had been waiting. Watching. Ready to act.

Ludger’s gaze sharpened further, though his voice stayed level.

“Your intelligence network works fast,” he said. “A little too fast.”

The silence that followed was thick, uncomfortable, accusing, and heavy enough to make even the Senate walls seem to hold their breath. Even Varik didn’t attempt to break it this time.

Rufas, who had remained politely quiet up to this point, finally raised a hand—a small gesture, but enough to command the room’s attention. His voice stayed calm, professional, but there was a certain sharpness behind it now. He’d clearly been waiting for the right moment to interject.

“If I may,” Rufas began, turning his gaze first toward Maurien. “There’s a matter I’d like clarified before we proceed further. Maurien—your reputation precedes you. You’ve made quite a name for yourself hunting bandits in the mountain ranges these last few years, correct?”

Maurien gave a composed nod. “That’s correct.”

Rufas continued, folding his hands neatly on the table. “And… I have also come across rumors of a female wind mage who has been dismantling kidnapping rings. Quite aggressively, I might add.”

Kaela’s grin stretched instantly, bright and completely shameless. “Yes, yes. I heard of her as well. The rumors also say she’s

gorgeous, frighteningly smart,

and very, very humble.”

Ludger dragged a hand down his face, massaging the bridge of his nose with a long, pained exhale.

Why is she like this? Right now of all times?

Even Varik closed his eyes for a moment, as if mentally preparing himself for the chaos Kaela always carried with her like perfume.

Rufas, to his credit, didn’t break composure. “Yes… quite. In any case, both of you have been seen in Coria multiple times over the past few months.”

He paused, watching their expressions with diplomatic neutrality.

“So I must ask, were you conducting some form of independent hunt there? Enforcement work? Anything that may have resembled unofficial operations within League territory? Without authorization?”

Maurien’s tone remained utterly calm, almost bored. “No. We were there on guild business, nothing more.”

Kaela leaned back, doodling invisible circles on the table with one finger. “We didn’t hunt anyone. The wind mage might hunt bad guys from time to time, but I am not her, so…”

Ludger shot her a warning glance.

Maurien straightened slightly, clarifying. “We accompanied the squad for logistical coordination, trade discussions, and negotiations with Velis researchers. Nothing that involved bandit hunting or dealing with criminals. Our presence there had nothing to do with vigilante actions.”

Rufas observed them for a deep moment, his gaze thoughtful and difficult to read. Then he nodded slowly.

“I appreciate the honesty. My questions aren’t meant as accusations, simply clarification. You understand why such activities could raise suspicion under current circumstances.”

Kaela rolled her eyes. “Suspicion is raised when someone breathes too loudly in the capital.”

Maurien muttered, “Not helping.”

Ludger said nothing, just watched Rufas with cold precision, waiting for the man’s next move. The air in the room tightened a little further.

Every answer, every question, was pushing them closer to the truth. Or closer to a confrontation that none of these polished Senate walls were prepared for.