Amendo’s face was a mass of wrinkles that crowded together like the dried peel of an orange.
"What in the world is going on? Why are there so many bizarre theft cases? Furthermore, all the victims have offended you opponents. Do you know how many people have come to me to complain? Claiming that you’re colluding with Doomsday believers to retaliate against dissenters!"
An Elder exclaimed, "Such incidents have never happened in the Upper City. It’s the most central region of Trolian, the bright land everyone dreams of. How could such malign events occur here?"
Talinus and others were also here.
"Exactly! It must be this bastard’s doing!"
Talinus’s eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted with fury; the theft of his years of accumulation had filled him with rage, and the disruption of his secrecy had robbed him of his reason.
"Kill him! Do it now!"
Manolo Bana was beside him, his complexion ashen. The Iron Mask had long since vanished, revealing a long face that looked like a privy pit that hadn’t been washed in a hundred years—dark and foul.
Rod had never seen such an expression before; he almost burst into laughter inside, feeling much of the gloom in his heart dissipate.
"This is a targeted act of retaliation!"
Manolo Bana’s cold tone hid an unprecedented level of intense anger; his losses were much greater than Talinus’s, and there were many things that could not be made public.
But he still maintained a basic calm and was not as hysterical as Talinus.
"He, driven by hatred towards us, is using his official power to strike at us."
"This man is no different than a monster and must be executed immediately. The strength of Trolian lies in the overall structure and the stability of its order. One or two people cannot affect the overall situation, but he is undermining our stability!"
"This is a grave sin that cannot be tolerated, no amount of merit can make amends for it!"
The many victims standing by also raised their voices in unison, demanding that Rod be stripped of all honors and thrown into the underground prison.
When over a hundred people shouted together, their voices were quite alarming.
But Rod was not the least bit afraid and mocked, "Which of your eyes saw me stealing? What gives you the right to say it was me?"
Talinus roared with anger, "It must be you, definitely you. If not you, then who else could it be?"
Manolo Bana said coldly, "Search his mansion. With so many items gone, he can’t possibly hide them without a trace."
Rod scoffed, "By what right do you search my mansion?"
"Some things don’t need evidence; your refusal is the evidence."
"Oh? So by your words, when you refused my searches, does that prove that all of you are Doomsday believers?"
Someone shouted loudly, "Are these the same thing? Can they even be compared?"
Rod mocked, "Oh, so my attitude is evidence, but yours is not? May I ask, Your Excellency Manolo Bana, what makes you so different from the rest of us?"
Manolo Bana was enraged, his fists clenched, his entire face twisted.
Talinus was even more furious, wishing he could pounce on and viciously beat the man who disgusted him so intensely.
An Elder whose property had also been stolen chimed in, immediately changing the topic when he saw his logic blocked, shouting loudly.
"Rod! As the Captain of the King’s Hand, you are naturally responsible for the safety of the Upper City. Now that such a major case has occurred, do you dare say you bear no guilt?"
Rod replied with a sneer, "Elder, if you would please repeat the duties of the King’s Hand."
"Of course, it’s to guard the Royal City..."
"Wrong, the King’s Hand is part of the Royal Guard, charged with guarding the Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground and the Royal Palace, responsible for the protection of the King, and follows the King’s assignments to carry out his commands, ensuring the King’s authority is thoroughly enforced."
Rod paused, his voice growing harsher.
"How did you become an Elder when you can’t even clarify the duties of the King’s Hand? Are you a Doomsday believer?"
The Elder’s entire face turned green, and there was silence among the group of opponents.
The King’s supporters nearby, however, cast appreciative and admiring glances his way, and even the King looked at him with some surprise.
This youngster is much smarter than he appears.
Amendo’s murky eyes swept over Rod a few times, a flash of brightness in his expression, which was quickly buried again by murkiness.
"Enough with the arguments. The Royal City deals in evidence, and mere conjecture cannot convict anyone. The Internal Affairs Court will conduct a practical investigation to find the truth."
Talinus said urgently, "But, Your Excellency Amendo, isn’t it obvious? Only his enemies are victims; none of his allies have been robbed..."
The cold and murky gaze of Amendo swept over him.
"What do you think you are? You think we don’t know the little tricks you play day in, day out? If it weren’t for the fact that you’re somewhat useful, and for the sake of the bigger picture of the Royal City, you lot would have been thrown in the underground prison a long time ago."
Rod smiled faintly, "Your Excellency Amendo, indeed they can go in now."
Amendo’s murky gaze shifted over to him, surprise flickering in his dull eyes.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Rod’s thought flashed, and the Recording Crystal from the Dream Realm appeared in his palm and he handed it over.
"This is their evidence of guilt. It will prove that during the expedition to Star Town, these people communicated together multiple times, crossing the line, and struck a deadly blow against us—humans who were fighting and bleeding at the front lines, expanding into the Dark World."