Chapter 398 They Are Ferrons But Not Albert
Once the drivers were secured, the soldiers went on to check the cargo on the wagon.
The captured drivers, now firmly restrained, looked at the soldiers with despair.
Under the pale glow of the moon, soldiers meticulously inspected each crate and sack on the captured wagon.
The air was thick with tension as they methodically went through the cargo, their lanterns casting dancing shadows on the crates' wooden surfaces.
The first crate was pried open with the creaking protest of nails against wood.
Inside, a myriad of items awaited inspection— fabrics, stationeries, and seemingly innocuous commodities.
The drivers weren't lying when they told about the cargo they transported.
However, the soldiers had no reason to take drivers' words at face value.
Their eyes keenly scanned for anything that might betray the hidden presence of contraband or, in this case, a concealed individual.
The second crate yielded a similar array of goods, its contents neatly arranged to create a facade of mundane merchandise.
But, in the dim light of the night, the soldiers remained cautious, knowing that appearances could be deceiving.
They probed deeper, running their hands over every item, checking for any hidden compartments or concealed spaces.
They were mindful of the possibility that the Ferrons or any other illicit cargo might be cunningly concealed.
A nearby sack, seemingly filled with grains, drew their attention. One soldier, armed with a sharp knife cut through the coarse fabric, revealing not only the grains but a human.
A gasp of surprise escaped the soldier's lips as he proclaimed, "Well, well, well, look what I found!"
Within the sack, Albert Ferron's wife, a woman adorned with lustrous black hair, emerged into the moonlit scene.
Her eyes, wide with a mixture of trepidation and defiance, locked onto the soldier who had exposed her.
The revelation of Albert Ferron's wife within the sack stirred a brief moment of surprise among the soldiers.
The expression of soldier who had unveiled her, however, remained unchanged.
He swiftly moved to secure Albert Ferron's wife. Immediately, he restrained her hands behind her back, mirroring the fate that had befallen the drivers.
"You have a lot of explanation to do, ma'am." He said to her.
Simultaneously, another soldier upended the sack nearby since a distinct sound came from it. The soldier unfolded the sack, revealing the young Ferron, Albert's son, within.
Unlike his mother's composed demeanour, the young Ferron's expression was a mixture of defiance and frustration.
His eyes, wide with a spark of rebellion, scanned the soldiers who now surrounded him.
"Unhand me, you filthy dogs!" he exclaimed. "I said unhand me!"
Unfazed by the verbal protest, the soldier holding him maintained a firm grip on the young Ferron's arms, preventing any attempt to escape.
The soldier does, however, have an urge to beat the shit out of the young man just so he would stop flailing.
Fortunately, the soldier didn't let his intrusive thoughts win.
While the drama of the Ferron family's attempt to evade capture unfolds, another discovery is made that intensifies the atmosphere there.
"Everyone, come see this!" one of the soldiers froze on the spot. His eyes widened and his voice carried a shock in its tone.
The call attracted the attention of his comrades.
A collective gasp echoed through the group as they uncovered a group of young children.
It was a heartbreaking scene.
The children's conditions inside their confined spaces were deplorable. The air, stale and suffocating, bore witness to the struggle these young souls endured.
Tear-streaked faces, reflecting fear and confusion, emerged into the moonlight.
In their cramped tiny gunny sack prisons, the children silently cried for help as they recognized the soldiers.
Soldiers meticulously proceeded to extract the trafficked children from their concealed confinement.
Each movement was deliberate, aiming to ensure the safety and well-being of these innocent souls.
Some were too stunned to react immediately, their eyes darting nervously between the soldiers and the unfamiliar surroundings.
Others, more aware of the danger they had narrowly escaped, trembled with a mixture of relief and lingering anxiety.
The discovery of trafficked children raised questions, whether the Ferron family's involved in these illegal activities or not.
Since these kids were discovered together with them, it will be hard for the Ferrons to rub this suspicion off their skin.
As each child was brought into the open, the soldiers looked at the Ferrons with contempt.
"The Ferrons are so done. Out of all the crimes you had to commit, this is just..." a soldier muttered, his voice laced with disdain.
Albert's wife, catching wind of the soldiers' suspicions, looked at the soldier in confusion.
Her expression quickly shifted, and she attempted to deflect the blame, desperation colouring her voice. "No, it's not us! It's the criminal organization that has been long here."
"Judging by your words, it appears that you have known about this heinous activity for a long time but kept silent about it. You're not escaping this one."
Albert's wife, recognizing the severity of the situation, tried to interject. "Wait! The Ferrons never had it hand on this. I guarantee you that."
"Ma'am, your words had no value to me. Your family should already know what the House of Ryntum's stance on this matter is and distance yourselves from it. You should only speak when you're ordered to. So, be patient until the integration process begins."
He turned away from Albert's wife, leaving her with her jumbled thoughts and a growing sense of despair.
Ferrons was in double deep trouble, facing the charges of treason and child trafficking.
The weight of the impending consequences pressed heavily on her shoulders.
Had nothing been done, they were at risk of being wiped out.
The king had done it before and could do it again.
While she was thinking about the future, the cargo was fully checked. Albert was not found, indicating that he safely escaped to the neighbouring country.
As they couldn't bust through other nation's territories, the soldiers decided to retreat and regroup with their commander.
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