Chapter 652 The Death Toll Rises
Shortly after the battle map was brought into the meeting room and laid out on the table, Duke Gamliel studied the positions of all the marked families and forces under Duke Zohar and compared them to his own.
Nothing seemed out of place, and everything was the same as when he reviewed the map last night.
The major families and forces in the imperial capital were mostly divided by the two ducal factions they supported. The major families and forces situated in the wealthy northern half of the imperial capital supported Duke Zohar, and the rest in the great southern half rallied under Duke Gamliel.
Only a few minor families and forces scattered across the imperial capital supported Duke Zaahir.
Nevertheless, any major movements from Duke Zohar's side near the central district, which divided the two factions, would be easily discovered by Duke Gamliel's people stationed nearby.
However, the opposite was also true for the other side.
But despite scouts reporting back every fifteen minutes, no large movements from Duke Zohar's side were discovered. Duke Zohar did not mobilize his forces for a decisive battle with Duke Gamliel.
"Was I mistaken?" Duke Gamliel frowned before pondering deeper into the matter.
Logically thinking, Duke Zohar wouldn't fight Duke Gamliel head-on as it would benefit no one. Even if Duke Zohar won against Duke Gamliel, it wouldn't just weaken his military power but also the empire's.
What was the point of sitting on the throne of a severely weakened empire?
"Just what are you planning to do, Zohar?" Duke Gamliel muttered as his frown deepened.
"My Lord, I've brought grave news!" Our chosen candidates for the Rising Dragon Division are all dead! They have all been poisoned to death, along with the rest of the diners at Redhot Wyvern Inn!"
"What?!"
Duke Gamliel and the other lords all stood up in disbelief and rage at the shocking news delivered by the messenger, who abruptly barged into the meeting room and forgo his manners.
However, no one had the heart and mind to criticize the messenger's action and only focused on the news he brought back.
"You're lying! Tell me it isn't true!" Lord Baldum of the Veldiku Clan grabbed the messenger's shoulders and glared at him with a fierce gaze, unable to accept the news.
"I-It's true, Lord Baldum! I wouldn't dare bring back false information! I saw it with my own eyes!" the messenger was frightened but still found the courage to confess in all honesty.
"Arghhh!" Lord Baldum immediately growled in pain of grief.
The chosen candidates in the Rising Dragon Division for the upcoming grand event were all heirs or talented offsprings the lords of Duke Gamliel's faction had nurtured over the years.
"My Lord, I want Duke Zohar and all of his people to accompany my son to the afterlife!" Lord Baldum cried as his heart bled and burned with vengeance.
Duke Gamliel closed his eyes with a painful expression, suppressing his great rage and sorrow.
The nephew of his late wife had also been among the list of candidates registered in the Rising Dragon Division. He had also doted on his nephew and treated him like one of his sons.
The atmosphere of the meeting room became especially heavy and thick with murderous auras once everyone realized Duke Zohar wanted to cut off their roots to cripple their development.
How dare that person try to eliminate all his competitors before the grand event!
"Duke Zohar has gone too far—No, he has gone mad! He has no regard for the stability of the empire! Argh, I can't live under the same sky as him, my Lord! Please command me to fetch his head!"
"Please give me the order, my Lord! I am willing to lead the troops to slay the tyrant!"
Multiple lords voiced their burning desire to kill their way into Duke Zohar's territory to collect Duke Zohar's head.
These lords had been angered several times in the past twelve hours and found it no longer possible to hold back their rage. Their thirst for vengeance could only be quenched by the blood of their enemies.
Duke Gamliel had taken a great deal of willpower to quell his rage and sorrow and clear his mind of irrational thoughts.
He knew nothing was more destructive than actions clouded by hatred.
"Do not be hasty! Calm your heart and clear your mind! Blindly charging into Duke Zohar's territory is most likely what he wants! You must be alive in order to exact your revenge! Otherwise, you will only die a meaningless death!" Duke Gamliel harshly rebuked his people.
At the same time, he used his oppressive aura to quell the lords' fury.
He couldn't help but frown at the limited effect, realizing it was difficult, even for him, to control his people once they were overwhelmed by grief and hatred.
At the same time, Duke Gamliel couldn't help but feel frightened by the invisible force guiding his faction and Duke Zohar's faction to slaughter each other. He felt powerless like he was only a chesspiece in someone else's grand scheme.
Nevertheless, Duke Gamliel at least managed to stop Lord Baldum and the others from charging out recklessly without a proper plan.
"Lord Baldum!" Duke Gamliel called.
"Yes, my Lord?" Lord Baldum answered, his heart thumped under the might of Duke Gamliel's calling.
No matter what, Duke Gamliel's majesty, power, and authority still affected his clouded mind.
"You will lead our men to investigate the deaths of Rising Dragons! The Redhot Wyvern Inn is our business, and yet all our talented candidates were poisoned to death within it! What a colossal joke that is!"
"Capture everyone working at Redhot Wyvern Inn and question them! Do not let a single person escape! You must get to the bottom of this matter and find out the source of the poisoning!"
"If it's a dog from Duke Zohar's faction, kill him! If it's a rat from a third party, torture him! No matter what, you must find the culprit, their intentions, and their background! I want the complete information on my desk within three days!"
"Y-Yes, my Lord!" Lord Baldum answered, dripping with cold sweats. His original fury was replaced by a gargantuan, mountain-like pressure from his lord.
In Duke Gamliel's heart, he hoped the poisoning incident was Duke Zohar's doing. That would simplify the situation.
Interference from an unknown power would only complicate the matter to a whole different level.
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