Chapter 323 Chapter 323 Andy's Return
"You just might have stumbled on the truth. The dark mage couldn't have been so strong. Otherwise, he would have just trampled on the Hunter family a long time ago. From what I know, they had been pestering him for a long time and even dared to kidnap his wife to get him to submit. But that only pissed him off and the result was the meteor shower we saw."
"I am sure this is it. No wonder he waited for such a long time before making his move. He even had to destroy the base he established in order to bury the Hunter family with it. If he really was strong enough to cast that kind of SSS rank spell on a whim, then why couldn't he keep his stronghold from being destroyed?"
More and more confident voices of support rose among the patrons as if they were finally reaching a consensus regarding the true strength of the dark mage. They even managed to build a theory regarding the events that led to the meteor shower which devastated Greenland.
Although most of the people in the bar already supported the former idea, there were still a few voices of dissent.
These people were those who had suffered at the hands of the Hunter family in the past and had been unable to do anything in the wake of their filthy schemes and blackmailing tactics. As a result, they found Zach's actions to be pretty satisfying and hence developed a need to defend his actions even if they were a little extravagant.
"I don't care how the dark mage did it. I am just happy that he did. Who knows how many more lives would have been ruined if he hadn't taken action? You all say it was excessive, I say it was necessary. The Hunter family only got what was coming for them. It was their karma that brought about their destruction. The dark mage was only the means to an end and thus the reason as to why he was unable to do it before."
Although this turned out to be a not so popular opinion, the man supporting Zach's actions got himself another supporter a few seconds of silence later.
"I don't understand how you people can sit here discussing whether or not he is capable of doing it. The fact that he managed to bring down the tyrant that had been weighing down on this city is praiseworthy enough. That bastard and his lascivious son ruined the lives of so many in the city. The dark mage gave them an apt death and I am more than thankful for it. I just hope that we aren't trading one monster for another by letting the Smith family take over. If they turn out to be just as unsufferable as their predecessors, where would we common folk go."
"Oi oi...don't go sugarcoating the whole incident. The dark mage is a cruel murderer no matter what his intentions were. He carried out a massacre and whether you give it the name of vengeance, karma or exacting righteous justice, the facts are not going to change. The man is guilty in the eyes of the law, and I can only hope that our judicial system is fair enough to be able to see that. If our government can't even distinguish between murderous psychopaths and us common folk, then I don't know where this city is headed."
A fierce debate ensued immediately after with one side acting all righteous as they condemned Zach's actions as extremely overboard and reason enough to be punished by the law. The other side though believed that Zach had done a favor to the population at large who had been suffering under the tyrannical rule of the Hunter family and as long as Zach didn't replace the original tyrant to continue his deeds, they were willing to stand with him and were willing to raise their voice against the law for him if need be.
Andy enjoyed all the popular and unpopular opinions about Zach as he continued sipping on his drink that his colleagues had forced upon him. The sound of the people bickering amongst themselves against or in support of Zach was the only joy he found in the company of his fellow officers.
Even though he was quite enjoying the back and forth between the various patrons, he refrained from making any kind of comment as he was currently in his uniform and was representing one of the pillars of the judicial system. If he took a side amongst the patrons, only chaos and anarchy would follow.
Andy was not just acting aloof with those debating patrons but also with the officers who had invited him out for a drink. He was taciturn and stiff as the fellows came up to him one by one and offered him a toast.
Andy knew what the toast meant. It was a subtle indication that these people wanted him to take care of them in the future as he had successfully managed to climb the social ladder using the opportunity extended to him by the Windsor and the Smith family. Some of them even hoped that Andy might pull them along with him so that they would be able to enjoy riding on his coattails without risking anything and without putting in any real efforts to get the opportunity.
Andy knew all this because he had been the same in the past. Though no one had ever extended their support to him. He had finally found a reason as to why he was given the cold shoulder every time he tried to earn the favor of the higher ups. It was because he wanted to get everything without putting in any of the work.
The distinction between those who risked their lives and those who offered a toast had to be maintained or there would be no one left who would be willing to take risks and put in efforts to excel. All of them would rather choose the option of hugging a fat thigh to embark on the path of success.
So, Andy gave every last one of his colleagues the cold shoulder and not a single one of them dared to point it out knowing that Andy had the backing of the Windsor family that was a close ally of the Smith family.
Before the procession of toasts had come to a meaningless end, a shout from the outside garnered the attention of everyone in the tavern.
"...a royal messenger...someone from the royal messenger was seen at the Windsor family home..."
The loud announcement started out loud but eventually faded into oblivion as if the announcer was running around the city trying to gain the attention of the masses.
Andy heard a part of the announcement and guessed that it might have been the truth as it was about time that the royal family made their move. The prowess that the dark mage had shown was far from ordinary and the royal family was nothing if not adept at seeking geniuses with potential and gaining their favor.
A few of the patrons rushed outside to hear the rest of the announcement with red faces as if the announcement was regarding their own life and death. Of course, in reality these drunk patrons cared about nothing more than to prove their own opinions to their drinking buddies. They wanted to settle their earlier debate with proof.
As soon as they stepped out into the street, they heard the information that was being spread like wildfire raging through a dry forest. Some of the patrons returned with a ruddy expression while the others looked downtrodden.
Obviously not all of them could have turned out happy. One group's win was bound to end in the defeat of the other.
When these scouts returned, they immediately spilled the beans to the rest of the drunkards in the tavern. Even the police were interested in the newest gossip in the streets as they listened carefully about the announcement earlier.
"As you all heard previously, the royal messenger arrived at the manor of the Windsor family and made an announcement in front of the audience."
"Did they condemn their actions of supporting and hiding the dark mage? I knew that the government would not take it lying down as that dark mage wreaked havoc and murdered as he pleased." one of the anti-Zach faction members spoke up in delight after hearing just one half of the story. People like him were meant to be face-slapping material. They were cannon fodder to make their enemies look better.
The anti-Zach faction was in high spirits following his comment but unlike him they refrained from passing on any comment before they received confirmation of the fact.
"Well, sorry to disappoint you all. The royal messenger announced that the leader of the Smtih family had been raised to the status of Viscount following his deed of ridding the city of the pestilence that had been plaguing it for decades. They even praised his act of keeping the common folk out of the crossfire between the two families."
Every individual in the tavern froze like a block of ice. Time stood still as neither the anti-Zach faction nor the pro-Zach faction could take in the information all at once. Even the police officers were flabbergasted despite having anticipated the result.
Only Andy appeared to be indifferent to the announcement as he had already heard the news beforehand. After all, he had become one of the inner members of the Windsor and Smith family based on his timely help in the past.
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