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Chapter 649 - 649 161 The End of an Era_1

649: Chapter 161, The End of an Era_1 649: Chapter 161, The End of an Era_1 “Good!”

“Very good!”

You all, hahaha…”

The desperate laughter emanated from Duke Cavadia sends chills down everyone’s spine.

Reality was too cruel, and from everyone’s reactions, it was obvious that an agreement had been reached beforehand.

Peace talks had begun and it was only a matter of time before the large armies withdrew.

The case of war supplies trafficking was nearing its end as well.

The evidence held by the Union Investigation Team was enough to implicate the Five Great Dukes.

If one were to continue digging deeper along the chain of evidence, more and more Kingdom Aristocrats are bound to be implicated.

Investigation was never about implicating as many people as possible.

Just the issues at hand were enough for the Alliance to negotiate with.

To save oneself at the expense of others.

The guilty Kingdom aristocrats, not wanting to be in a state of uncertainty, wished to wrap up the case quickly, even if it meant severing all ties with the Orc Prairie.

Under the joint intention of all parties, the case of war supplies trafficking was pinned on the Five Great Dukes.

It was time to wrap up the case.

Conveniently, their status was high enough.

Using them as an example would be enough to provide an explanation to the public.

These were merely the visible reasons for the misfortune of the Nobles of the North.

What truly drove Duke Cavadia to despair was the warning issued by Grand Duke Aefero.

The implication was very clear: either they voluntarily shouldered the blame for the trafficking of military supplies and took full responsibility for it, or the blame was forcefully pinned on them and they were convicted based on that.

Whether passive or active, the crime on their heads would not lessen in the slightest.

The only difference was: confessing proactively would save face for everyone else, which could allow them some dignity.

After laughing, Duke Cavadia bitterly asked, “Grand Duke, regarding the case of selling military supplies, we have nothing more to say.

The evidence is right here, there’s no need for us to explain further.

Seeing as we have contributed greatly to the Kingdom and the Human Race, could you allow us some time to arrange our affairs?”

Witnessing the downfall of the Five Great Dukes of the North, Hudson was torn.

Clearly, being a Major Noble didn’t guarantee absolute safety.

Although he was the instigator behind the scenes, the actual downfall of the Five Great Dukes was due to their failure to adjust their mindset in time and grasp their own positions.

The crime of trafficking military supplies has always been a vague existence.

When one wants to deal with it, it’s a huge deal.

When one doesn’t, it can be completely ignored.

It boiled down to the decline of the Orc Empire, the disappearance of the defensive pressure at the Northern Border, and the special status of the Nobles of the Northland no longer existing.

If the five clans had adjusted their attitude in time, they should have joined the rush to buy supplies when other nobles were filling in their deficits.

Offending others wouldn’t be a problem, as a Major Noble there’s no shortage of aliases.

Simply changing their identity and making purchases would be enough.

After all, who would care to inquire about the origins of buyers in a business?

Joining in the rush to buy materials, if not completely covering the gap, would at least fill most of the holes.

More than that, the entry of their houses into the scramble causing a shortage of strategic supplies would probably make it difficult for most nobles to plug their holes, and the number of unfortunate people implicated in the war supplies trafficking case would greatly increase.

If everyone participated and left deficits, then it would be equivalent to normal transport losses.

If everyone worked together to cover it up, even the Union Investigation Team would have a hard time finding anything.

At least no one would continuously provide clues to the other party, nor guide the Investigation Team to find evidence.

Unfortunately, these five unfortunates clearly didn’t realize the severity of the problem beforehand.

Or, they reacted a step too slow.

By the time they realized the issue, they had already landed themselves in deep waters.

Indeed, the Nobles of the North were a large group.

The Kingdom had always looked after them, and even within the Human Alliance, they had quite a reputation.

But that was based on their usefulness to the Kingdom and the Human Race.

Now that they had lost their most important value, trying to maintain their previous privileges was clearly a path to destruction.

“Duke, please do as you wish!”

Grand Duke Aefero declared in mock generosity.

Although there was some deviation from the initial plan, seeing the Five Great Dukes’ downfall and the serious blow to the Nobles of the North made Aefero very happy.

The biggest hidden threat to the kingdom was thus eliminated.

Watching the five dukes set up their wills and arrange for their successors to take over, Hudson immediately understood what they were going to do next.

Deciding on their own manner of death and announcing that they contracted a plague to the outside world, they could retain their last bit of dignity.

If executed by the Alliance or the Kingdom for the crime of trafficking in war supplies, there would be no remaining dignity at all.

To be frank, the Kingdom’s action was still quite humane.

The blame was solely on them and didn’t involve their families.

Their death was to provide an explanation to everyone else.

Descendants and younger generations could still inherit their titles and fiefdoms.

Major Nobles remained Major Nobles, albeit temporarily facing a small setback.

West, who had been following Duke Cavadia all along, was utterly devastated at this moment.

Being an illegitimate child, he had no right to inheritance.

Despite being extremely pampered by his father, at times like these, there was no other option but to step back.

His teardrops hit the ground, and even from dozens of meters away, Hudson could feel his inner sorrow.