King
Chapter 817 - 817 65 Continent War Breaks Out

817: Chapter 65, Continent War Breaks Out 817: Chapter 65, Continent War Breaks Out Jade Palace.

“No such thing was found!

What a claim, no such thing was found!

What is the Southeastern Province trying to do?”

Caesar IV nearly roared his question.

It was not big news that nobles hid magic crystal mines for their private exploitation.

Generally, those bold enough were major nobles, and it was always small mines they hid.

But to hide a large magic crystal mine was unheard of before, and it was an intermediate aristocracy that was implicated this time.

Normally, this type of case should face no obstacles and evidence would be quickly uncovered.

After all, an ordinary intermediate aristocracy had no capacity to hinder an investigation.

Yet the reality was embarrassingly contrary.

While the investigative team from the capital was still on its way, the Southeastern Province had preempted them by announcing the investigation results—no such thing was found.

By denying the existence of the magic crystal veins, they naturally negated any claims of hidden private exploitation.

Not even waiting for the Kingdom’s investigating team, they were so anxious to close the case, which clearly indicated their guilt.

An intermediate aristocracy being implicated is fundamentally different from implicating the nobility of the entire Southeastern Province.

Without concrete evidence, even the King does not have the power to simultaneously initiate an investigation against provincial nobility.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger!

This matter has not been thoroughly investigated, and it is premature to jump to conclusions.

According to the investigation results provided by the Southeastern Province, the last disturbance was caused by the cult activities of the Skeleton Society, which triggered an Elemental Tide.

The cause was: The Skeleton Holy Master and his followers had set up an altar in an attempt to summon extra-dimensional creatures, causing the invasion.

To cover up their sacrificial activities, including this sudden beast tide, was also orchestrated by the Skeleton Society.”

Chancellor Duke Newfoundland cautiously advised.

No matter how many loopholes the investigation report from the Southeastern Province contained and how much it covered up, logically, they had sealed the narrative.

This beast tide lowered the difficulty of the Black Forest Kingdom’s invasion.

As beneficiaries, they had the motive to do so.

As for why the Skeleton Society, which was originally mingling with the Clergy, would defect to the Black Forest Kingdom, that was of no importance.

A cult organization is prone to outrageous acts.

Merely changing partners is hardly significant.

“Humph!”

With a cold snort expressing his dissatisfaction, Caesar IV angrily said, “The Southeastern Province closed the case before the arrival of the investigation team, clearly they have a guilty conscience.

It’s very likely that the covert mining of the magic crystal mine was led by the Dalton Family.

Governor Piers himself is the biggest beneficiary, naturally, he would obstruct the investigation!”

Explanations were useless; the King often believed only his own judgments.

The Dalton Family had both the motive and the ability to plan this incident.

This is far more persuasive than the masterminds being an intermediate aristocracy.

Indeed, only a major noble could cover such a deed.

Even if discovered by the Kingdom, with certain sacrifices, they could still easily escape responsibility.

“Your Majesty, the name of Earl Hudson also appears in the closing report of the Southeastern Province.

If it indeed turns out to be ‘no such thing,’ then fine, but if there truly was illegal mining of magic crystals, it’s likely that the whole nobility of the Southeastern Province was involved.

A province cannot accommodate two great aristocratic families; the Koslow Family and the Dalton Family aren’t on good terms.

Unless they were involved before their rise, there was no need for Earl Hudson to back them up.

With so many implicated, it’s not wise to blow this matter up.

It’s better to conduct a secret investigation, find evidence, and then deal with it through private negotiations.”

Minister of Finance Marquis Delgado spoke.

Caution was necessary, not only was the Southeastern Province the biggest fiscal province of the Alpha Kingdom, but it was also a border province.

If the matter escalated, it would be difficult to manage thereafter.

If it was a centralized government, it would simply dismiss the Governor, Prefectural Governor, and a bunch of officials, and send a new batch of people there.

Unfortunately, the Alpha Kingdom was a joint-stock nation; the government could dismiss officials, but not shareholders.

The Southeastern Province, contributing the most to the Kingdom’s finances, had always been assertive.

Daring to engage in such activities, they surely had the confidence to back it up.

“If the nobles of the Southeastern Province conspire, do you think we can uncover anything?

It’s likely that the investigation team will be detained before they even reach there!”

Caesar IV said irritably.

This matter had been reported by a royal confidant, but that was limited to just providing the information; getting them to testify was out of the question.

It wasn’t easy being a traitor; betrayal meant death and the eradication of one’s family.

Offending the entire province’s nobility, accidents were bound to happen, and the King couldn’t protect them.

“Your Majesty, there’s no need to rush this matter.

The illegal mining of magic crystals isn’t something that can be finished in a day or two; we have time.

Now that the nobles in the Southeastern Province are on high alert, we should investigate again after some time and confront them once we have the evidence.

The beast tide has just settled.

The nobles of the Southeastern Province also urgently need to reinvigorate, so keeping the magic crystal mines in their hands for now isn’t a big deal.

Increasing their strength also benefits the defense consolidation.

With the continental war about to break out in full force, the Kingdom should prioritize stability,”

Grand Duke Aefero analytically suggested.

The meat won’t escape from the pot.

Even if there were accounts to settle, that would be a matter for later.