261 ARREST OF ASERAN
Several wagons were brought forward, carrying the remnants of the original cursed fountain.
"This is the cursed fountain Hagglis supplied to us, knowing full well its water was poisoned. The governor discovered the plot earlier and removed the cursed fountain," Minister Alum explained to the crowd.
"The fountain you see here is new, and its water is clean," Governor Zeru added.
The crowd murmured, their anger giving way to uncertainty. "Then how did the poison reach our people?" someone asked.
Minister Alem nodded. "It was part of Hagglis' plot, aided by outside forces seeking to destabilize our city. They aimed to turn you against the governor by spreading lies. We have uncovered their scheme and arrested the Toledo family for their treason."
"The truth is out. Now disperse", General Nahum ordered the crowd.
The crowd, now realizing the truth, began to disperse, their anger replaced by fear and urgency. They returned to their homes, the cause of their protest revealed to be a hoax.
Meanwhile, soldiers and city guards sealed the properties of the Toledo family, arresting its members and dismantling their conspiracy.
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[The Deghad Residence]
"This deceitful governor," Lord Aseran seethed, his voice trembling with anger. "He already knew about our plot and waited for us to act before checkmating us."
Lady Dassa, standing nearby, clenched her fists, her fury palpable.
"This has something to do with that Lilleo Gullee," she muttered, her voice low and venomous.
"Lilleo Gullee?" Lord Aseran asked, his brow furrowed. "Didn't you personally go to infest him with demons? He's been missing for days—I thought it was the demons' doing."
"If my demons had possessed him, he should have come here to report to me and offer his obedience," Dassa snapped. "But he didn't. Instead, he sent his pharmacist to help the governor explain the poison situation. Something's gone wrong."
Lord Aseran's face paled. "This isn't good. If the governor has already rounded up the Toledo family, will he come after me next?"
Before Dassa could respond, a servant burst into the room, his face flushed with panic. "Master, the city guards are here! They have a warrant for your arrest."
"What?" Lord Aseran exclaimed, rushing out to confront the guards.
Dassa stayed behind, her mind racing. "This isn't working. We've been screwed. This is bad," she muttered to herself.
Without hesitation, she put on an invisibility cloak and slipped out the backdoor, disappearing into the shadows.
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Outside, Lord Aseran faced General Nahum, who came personally to carry out his arrest.
"Lord Aseran, you and your family are under arrest for treason against the governor and for poisoning the people of this city," Nahum announced, his voice firm and unyielding.
Lord Aseran's eyes widened in shock. "This is too fast. How did they know about my involvement so quickly?" he murmured under his breath.
Defiantly, he shouted, "Lies! These are all lies!"
"Lies or not, we can discuss it in the dungeon," General Nahum replied coolly.
Cornered, Lord Aseran knew he had no choice but to fight back.
With a wave of his hand, his private army emerged, ready to oppose the city guards. The Deghad family was renowned for its military strength, and their forces were no weaker than the city's own guards.
"Arrest me, fools!!! Your guards can't defeat us!" Lord Aseran screamed at Nahum, his voice filled with desperation.
But General Nahum remained calm, his troops forming a tight perimeter around the residence.
"Should we attack and fight our way out?" one of Lord Aseran's captains asked.
Lord Aseran hesitated. He knew an all-out confrontation would be risky, but he also believed help was on the way.
"We wait," he decided. "The city guards will soon have bigger problems to deal with than us."
Suddenly, one of the Deghad soldiers collapsed on the floor.
His body convulsed, dangerous veins sprouting across his skin. His strength grew uncontrollably, but his mind descended into madness. He began attacking his comrades, his movements wild and erratic.
"What the hell is happening to them?" Lord Aseran demanded, his voice filled with panic.
General Nahum's reply was cold and calculated. "It's the poison from Hagglis' fountain with some modifications. It's starting to take effect."
"When were we poisoned?" Lord Aseran asked, his voice trembling.
"Soon after your people poisoned those men in the inn, we knew you were finally making a move," Nahum explained. "Meanwhile we contaminated your family's drinking well with a similar poison."
The governor was monitoring Lord Aseran for some time and got wind of their plan. When they discovered they finally put their devious plan into action, they swiftly countered it, by poisoning the Deghad family's water supply with a similar poison.
Chaos erupted within the Deghad camp as more soldiers succumbed to the poison, attacking each other in their madness.
"Without the city guards lifting a finger, the Deghad forces are tearing themselves apart", Leo murmured hidden behind the general.
He was the one activating the curse on the Deghad soldiers' bodies.
More soldiers fell to the curse. It was only a matter of time before the Deghad army was completely routed.
"How can this be happening?" Aseran asked himself worriedly as his men fell before him.
Realizing all was lost, Lord Aseran turned and ran, leaping over the city guards in a desperate attempt to escape.
Suddenly, thick, writhing tentacles erupted from the ground, coiling around Lord Aseran with a vice-like grip. He struggled against their hold, his eyes wide with shock and fury.
"What the hell is this?" he shouted, his voice strained.
"It's the Band of Mahari," Petunia replied coolly, stepping out from the shadows where she had been lying in wait.
She spotted Lord Aseran fleeing and seizing the moment to trap him with her artifact.
"These tentacles won't stop me! I'm a peak-tier mage!" Aseran roared, his pride flaring even as he thrashed against the magical bindings.
"Yeah, so am I. Go on, keep crying," Petunia shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm.