The God of Jesters
Chapter 70 - 2.19.2 In custody

Chapter 70: 2.19.2 In custody

Part of a dream, but also part of reality. Gleaning knowledge from a dream is the role of mystics and even some mages were capable of achieving such a feat. But this is uncontrollable, and hard to understand. Those born with it innately are desired everywhere.

And from the sergeant’s words, this soldier of theirs was just that, someone who broke the spell in his own way and learned some of their enemies’ secrets.

What specifically happened, the sergeant didn’t seem to say so. The word of meeting that soldier never even came up. Which showed how much importance he was given at the moment, even showing that the soldier’s future might not be as simple as he would have ever assumed.

Though, none of it mattered to Maisel at the moment, he understood why the sergeant brought him here and chose to expose him to such information.

He was meant as a scapegoat, someone to put the blame on. As, at the end of the day, it was at Maisel’s request that his son’s body was stored here, not to mention, the military was in complete darkness over what was going on in the city.

At least, on the surface. Because there was no way the military outside the city would be oblivious to the events that were happening just a dozen of kilometers away from them.

It was why Maisel, who was listening one-sidedly till now, questioned one thing. "You mean to say, your men placed my son’s body in a chamber with a rat hole, without even checking?" Maisel caught the weakness here. A rat’s hole doesn’t appear out of nowhere, nor do rats would make a hole in Farhad’s corpse locker out in less than a month.

Which meant only one thing. The hole existed before Farhad was brought here.

"A coincidence I presume, there is no way of finding why it happened."

"Were there any other rat holes in other lockers?"

"..."

Maisel got his answer, it didn’t seem the sergeant wished to hide it. If the sergeant wished to hide it, he would have kept the only witness to the incident a secret. But he didn’t.

What was the reason for it?

"I know what you are wondering, Marshall, and we can continue this talk whence we reach the morgue."

Maisel didn’t ask much after it, going down, he saw another blood splatter on the ground, this one smaller than the one before. There were not even pieces of small flesh sticking to the ground.

"This is where the first victim appeared. The only murder that was ever witnessed by someone."

Then the two walked, ignoring the soldiers that were guarding the area, they entered the morgue where a few doctors were operating on one of the bodies.

In truth, there was only a single body that remained intact. The other in the body bag, Maisel can see the one body whos’s flesh had been flayed from his skin leaving a bloody bone exposing the organs under all of it, while the sealed bags next to it contained the lost pieces of flesh and muscles.

While the other, it was impossible to even tell, as there were only bags of flesh and pieces of bones that one doctor was setting up to recreate the whole skeletal structure.

"Both of them were killed with curses. One of which had been identified." As the sergeant spoke, a small fly flew out one of the bags with the corpse with no flesh on him.

"Ghoulification??"

"A failed one, which is great considering the damage it would have caused as most of us were sleeping at that point."

Then the sergeant looked at the other doctors and ordered them to leave. While Maisel turned to look at the only intact body, which didn’t seem to suffer from any curse.

And when the doctors left, the sergeant also came in and looked at the body, whose only visible injury was on the neck.

"His throat was ripped out in front of that special guard of ours. The shock of which caused him to lose consciousness, and probably save his life."

Maisel was used to such brutality, so he was not terrified from the events that happened in the barracks at all. He was just curious over one thing.

"Ripped out? By who or what?"

"Of course, it’s your son who did this deed." Hearing this, Maisel felt some pain in his heart, but he controlled his emotions soon after. He was already somewhat in the know of what had happened here the moment he heard what the two curse masters from the floor above spoke off.

Hence Maisel clarified. "That’s not my son, not anymore at least."

"Then who is it?" The sergeant asked, before continuing. "Marshall, I will tell you beforehand. This whole incident was a stain on our honor and we will make the person or the being, whatever it is, pay the price for what they did here."

"So Marshall Maisel, please speak of the name. I know you are in the know of who did this, we are even aware of your involvement with the Radiance Society."

Hearing such words, Maisel understood things would reach such a point eventually. The military never forgets and the moment their men were harmed, they would act. Even the mages council won’t be able to stop them when the military moves.

But things were a lot more complicated than they appeared on the surface. Maisel understood what kind of precedence would be set if the military moved to Durum.

Durum is a free city of mages, with lots of vested interest, money and power. Even the political power it held in the court of the prince was enough to suppress the military. It was a city which acted as its own government, using the military as servants and forced to give their life up for the security of such a city.

A place where the Radiant Society had to act with care and secrecy;

The military has always wanted to take over the city of Durum for their own, utilizing the resources that are being turned to mud in the hands of the Wizards. And forcefully recruit them for the war effort, teach these wizards what honor means.

Because the biggest resource in the city of Durum was none other than the Wizards.

And they needed a reason. The death of three soldiers was not a big enough reason, but the massive curse that dragged the whole barracks into sleep, now that was something horrific. And if used on an active battlefield, this would bring them death.

Causing the higher ups in the military to turn to panic, making them wonder who would be capable of using such a massive scale spell out of nowhere and without anyone’s notice.

But then, the details of the event arrived and they finally found a way to salvage the situation and use it to their advantage.

So if Maisel’s story and reasons suited their own, they would use that reason to enter the city freely, completely ignoring the prior agreement between the military and council of mages.

Because this was a matter of national security and going against them at that point would be the same as going against the Wortham Principality.

But Maisel was not worried about it, not at all.

The reason was pretty simple as well.

"The Blue Lotus cult is behind this and there are many in the city who I believe are working with them." Maisel was a military man, he wanted more mages in the army, he wanted the snobbish mages that sit in the tower all day to experience what war is like.

If the resources in Durum were utilized properly, then anything was possible.

But more than anything, the one main reason why Maisel chose to support what the Military wished currently was simple.

’I will make them regret it.’ Maisel said while looking toward the locker where his son’s corpse was kept.

Maisel blamed the Council of mages for his son’s death. Specifically all those that protected Kairut and let the Blue Lotus to grow to such a point.

Because no way in hell he believed that the Council was oblivious of their existence.

So they will suffer for their offense. And this would also give Maisel a chance to act in an open manner, without the need for any documents or hiding from the public eyes.

He will now utilize the army, to raze the whole city to the ground.

*****

Remira got tired and weak after the incident this morning, but she didn’t dare to close her eyes. Not so early that is.

She has been awake for the last four days straight and the last fight also took a toll on her psyche as well as body.

In a process where she lost her hand and broke countless bones. But even then, she can’t close her eyes, not so early that is.

After her operation was over, the police hadn’t left her side. She can feel sharp gazes towards her from time to time, which were unlike before, which were mostly filled with wonder and curiosity.

Which made Remira understand that something was not right. So she waited for Maisel’s arrival, or at least one of his mens.

When the sun was setting down and the day was over, someone finally did come to her room.

But it was ot Maisel.

It was a man in black police uniform surrounded by two curse uses.

Which caused Remira to put up her guard.

"Knight of Radiance, Remira Wyrmwood, you are being charged with the destruction of property, causing an explosion in the sewers which caused the death of 7 individuals, unlawful stalking... etc."

"What...?" Remira was surprised over what was happening.

But the officer clad in all black just gave her a light look, before continuing.

"On account of such heinous cries, you will be apprehended and put in prison, until a mediator from the Radiance Society arrives."