Alex spent some time walking around Blue gem city to create his alibi. After that, he returned to Thira.
While Alex was away, the mob formed by the agitated citizens went to the headquarters of the Noble Trader Association to ask for an explanation. However, they were only received by a charred and broken building. Other than some guards, no one from the higher up was present there. This left the mob hanging with many unanswered questions. They began to turn violent after that.
As a result, their focus shifted towards the residences of the association members, with their footsteps directed towards the homes of Penthe and other members.
Penthe, who realised this began to panic. He was just a rich weakling with hired strength. Without the help from the black robes, he wouldn't have even become the head of the Noble Trader Association. He almost pissed his pants in fear once he realised that he could die at the hands of the angry mob. So, he silently planned to escape before they could reach his home.
The mob arrived at the homes of the other association members, the affluent part of the city, their voices raised as they stood in front of the mansions, expressing their grievances.
"Thira's vile scum, the Noble Trader Association! Why are you hiding?"
"Where did your heroic nature and courage vanish? After making deals with the devil, you have the audacity to proclaim yourselves as Thira's saviours. How shameless can you be?"
"You are the cause of my parent's demise. Yet, I naively sold my hard-earned land to you. It is time for you to pay for your sins."
"You conspired with the black robes. Today, you shall face the consequences of your actions in death."
The voices continued to echo, one after another, as the enraged mob remained steadfast before the imposing security surrounding the mansion. At a moment's notice, they were prepared to engage in a deadly confrontation with the guards tasked with protecting the members of the Noble Trader Association. Their anger had overridden any concerns about the guards' superior strength; their sheer numbers emboldened them to exchange blows.
Even Tier 4 warriors were not invincible. Fatigue would inevitably take its toll when faced with the onslaught of hundreds of people united against them.
In the end, the association members in hiding had no choice but to reveal themselves. They were, after all, merchants of Thira, and they understood that they could not remain hidden indefinitely. The consequences of prolonged seclusion would inevitably lead to a tarnished reputation and a decline in their business ventures.
Thus, a significant number of association members emerged from their mansions, accompanied by a formidable security detail. Surrounded by a hundred guards shielding them from all directions, they felt a sense of safety as they approached the seething mob, aiming to engage in a dialogue. They hoped to reason with them.
One of the senior members of the Noble Trader Association stepped forwards and began to speak.
"My dear brother and sisters, I implore you to lend me your ears. What you heard was nothing but lies. Noble Trader Association has nothing to do with the Black robes. We have been unjustly targeted as scapegoats in someone's sinister plot. I can promise you that." The senior said while bowing to the crowd.
His presence managed to temporarily calm the fury within the crowd, yet their scepticism lingered. Despite his status as a respected senior among the city's merchants, they understood that his words alone could not be taken as gospel of truth. Without conclusive evidence, they lacked a compelling reason to wholeheartedly believe his assertions.
"What do you mean by saying that? We saw the metal cards engraved with the message from the white-robed man. He was sure that your Association was in cahoots with the Black robes. It was the reason why he attacked your headquarters." One man from the crowd asked.
The weighty question posed by the crowd silenced the senior member of the association momentarily. He glanced at the other members, engaging in a hushed conversation with them, their heads nodding in agreement. Subsequently, the senior member faced the crowd once more, his face reflecting a deep sense of melancholy.
"I once again promise you that the Noble Trader Association had nothing to do with the Black robes. But, the same could not be said for one of our members." As if he was about to reveal a big secret, he paused. His voice trembled slightly in the end, revealing his sadness while informing the crowd about it.
"We, the members of the Association doubt our previous leader. Penthe, the son of our founder Chira. We believe that he colluded with the evil organisation." The senior member said with a sigh. He skillfully acted to show his disappointment and sadness while revealing this fact.
Even the senior members weren't certain that Penthe interacted with the black robes. But, they were willing to cut off their tail to survive. The crowd needs an explanation and it needs to be reasonable. They needed a person to hate. Rather than it being the entire Noble Trader Association, they decided to sacrifice Penthe. Self-preservation mattered more to them than a wimpy leader.
"Penthe?" The name echoed through the minds of the individuals in the crowd, stirring a sense of familiarity. Could he be the underlying reason behind the white-robed man's assault on the Noble Trader Association?
The revelation made by the association members had further clouded the waters, plunging the crowd into a state of uncertainty and doubt. freew(e)bnovel
Successfully, the senior member directed the anger of the crowd towards Penthe. He stepped forward to say more–
"I understand your scepticism, and we can put these doubts to rest by visiting Penthe's residence. We cannot allow a traitor like him to escape after tarnishing our reputation. We will stand alongside you to confront and subdue Penthe," the senior member proclaimed. Nods of agreement rippled through their ranks.
The crowd, swayed by the persuasive tactics of the senior member, became susceptible to his carefully crafted manipulation. They made the collective decision to heed his words and embarked on a march towards Penthe's house.
At that very moment, Alex arrived at Penthe's house, observing the crowd trailing closely behind him. Clad in his white robes, he circled around the perimeter of the mansion, taking in the surroundings. His attention was drawn to Kalina, who, like him, appeared to be searching for something. With a sense of purpose, she swiftly entered the building.
Curiosity piqued, Alex decided to follow suit, determined to uncover the truth of the situation.
Simultaneously, the enraged mob arrived at the front gate of the mansion and met with some resistance from the guards. However, their anger propelled them forward, and they forcefully broke through the gate, storming into the premises.
They called out to Penthe, asking him to appear before them. However, no one came from the building. After waiting for a while and realising that no one would come out, the angry mob ran towards the building. They were ready to break into the mansion to find Penthe.
Hundred of people swarmed into the mansion, filling every corner. They ran around trying to find any presence of Penthe. However, it was of no avail. They realised that Penthe had somehow escaped without them knowing. fr(e)ewebn(o)vel
Consumed by frustration, the angry mob unleashed their wrath upon the mansion, venting their anger through acts of destruction. The senior members of the Association stood by, silently observing the chaos with a sense of satisfaction. In this tumultuous turn of events, the troublesome figure of Penthe had been eradicated from their lives, simultaneously creating an opportunity for them to seize control of the Noble Trader Association. Furthermore, their calculated manoeuvre had successfully diverted the intense hatred of the crowd away from their own organisation and towards Penthe. Their quick thinking had saved them for now.
Or else, they would have had to abandon the ship to save themselves. And no one wanted that. The hard work they put into establishing the Noble Trader Association would have been all for nought in that situation.
—
Meanwhile, Alex followed Kalina. She was swiftly moving through an underground passage below the mansion. Fortunately for them, no one discovered the passage yet. So, they were the only ones present inside it.
As Penthe vanished from her sight, Kalina meticulously scoured the surroundings in search of any trace of him. However, her efforts proved fruitless. It was at this critical moment that she caught sight of the approaching mob, heading towards the mansion. Realising the urgency of the situation and fueled by her determination to track down Penthe and confront the black-robed men, she made the daring decision to infiltrate the mansion.
With a bone to pick and unwavering resolve, Kalina spared no effort in her quest. It was during her meticulous exploration that she stumbled upon a concealed underground passage, hidden from plain sight. Intuitively, she surmised that Penthe might have made his escape through this clandestine route, and without hesitation, she swiftly plunged into its depths.
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