This incident reached the king and even the last words of the man was reported. The king did not expect that bandits would suddenly appear in the city. This was the reason there were so many soldiers assigned in every corner of the city to prevent this kind of thing from happening. He couldn't believe that they were still able to sneak inside the city.
During that whole night the city was covered in fear and not many were able to sleep. They were too afraid to close their eyes because the bandits might return and target them next. The owners of the shops came running as soon as they heard what happened.
It was a horrible scene and all of their products were gone. What made it even more horrifying was the death of all the guards that were patrolling the area. No one even noticed that the shops were being robbed because according to the witnesses, they didn't hear any sound.
When they woke up, it was already when the bandits were breaking the glass and windows after they took everything. The whole commotion became messy when fire started to eat away at the shops. The soldiers who were sent to investigate the incident concluded that these bandits were not ordinary.
Entering the city without being noticed by the guards and killing the patrols without making any sound made them more like assassins than a group of bandits. If not for the stolen goods, the soldiers would really think that they were assassins. All of these suspicious points were sent to the king.
King Orpheus stared at the report before he took a piece of paper and wrote something. He added some other points that should be included in the investigation. He didn't believe that they could have done it by themselves. An accomplice, there should be a person in the capital who would have helped them but to know more about it they'll need to capture the bandits.
He could create a list of people who had the ability to use bandits as their means of growing power but even if he did there was no other way of narrowing the list down. In the end they would still need the cooperation of those bandits. He leaned on his seat and looked at his secretary.
"Call President Acasia for me and also General Ishmael. Have the Minister of Affairs come to me as well," the king commanded and the secretary left.
He'll need to capture those bandits to ease the worries of the people. This has become a big deal because the merchants that lost their business and goods would surely be petitioning him to make more efforts in capturing those bandits. They'll surely talk about justice and would use their support as a threat to the king.
It did not take long for Acasia, Ishmael and the Minister of Affairs to arrive at the king's study. They were already informed of the status of the incident and the basic details about it before they arrived. They already knew what the king would talk about.
"As you have already been informed, I believe, we are facing a circumstance right now that needs attention. Bandits attacked last night and killed several of our guards and burned some businesses." He started which earned him nods from the three of them. "I'll be assigning you tasks related to this event."
He briefed them of what they should do. Acasia was requested to dispatch some of the heroes to help with the security of the capital and to help the soldiers under General Ishmael to scout the surrounding area outside of the city. The Minister of Affairs was to work in making sure that the people were pacified and assured that they were safe.
"How about the mages?" Acasia asked because he couldn't let all of the heroes do the work since most of them were already on a mission.
"I've already assigned them to help in the investigation. The tower hasn't settled yet and the strong mages that they once had are gone. Their ranks are still not finalized but they still offered their help. I'll be assigning some to help in patrolling and scouting." Since they were the first on the scene together with the soldiers, they immediately offered their help so their work was assigned.
They were dismissed after some more details were finalized and the three of them left the king's study. He then looked at his secretary and extended his hand. The man who had been silently standing on the side stepped forward and handed the king some other documents that he should be looking through right now.
"Are there any unusual movements from the nobility?" He placed the documents on the table and started to browse through them.
"None as of the moment. All of them seemed to have been genuinely shocked at what happened last night," the secretary answered. Before he called for the three leaders, he met with the spies first to hear their report before he went to pass the king's message.
"Continue to watch them and take note of all of their movements. Some of them might be faking it." The king did not look up from the paper he was reading but his words carry seriousness that couldn't be ignored.
"Yes, your majesty." The secretary bowed his head and left the king's study to give him the peace and time to go over the documents that needed his attention.
Cygnus, Linius and Ulysses were currently dining outside when they heard the whispers of the servants that were passing by. The incident that night has become a hot topic that it immediately reached even the duke's manor. The servants couldn't stop talking about it because they feared that the bandits might target the manor too.
"What a raucous," Ulysses sighed. It was supposed to be a peaceful morning for him before he leaves for Ginehart but the news ruined it all.
"For those bandits to be able to enter the city, something fishy is happening behind the scenes." Cygnus slowly sliced the meat on his plate as he commented on the issue at hand.
"I heard that they were able to kill all the guards without anyone noticing. If I must say, their coordination and skills are way above average," Ulysses also commented.
Cygnus nodded in acknowledgement. "Indeed, and it is very impressive. I wonder what the king would do? He hasn't called for brother to help in the investigation? I'm sure that his Mage Brigade would be able to help them track down the bandits."
"The king won't call me. I've just recently finished the expedition and he didn't want me on the spotlight once again. Even with my resources he would avoid me as much as he could." Linius placed down his fork and spoon on the side of his plate and wiped his mouth. "That works for me too besides he already had the Magic Tower, Hero Association and General Ishmael helping him."
Cygnus hummed while looking at his remaining food. "Oh, then he really wouldn't need you." He couldn't help but laugh at the end. "The king promoted you as a general and yet he refuses to use your services. Ah what an irony."
"The king has been afraid of the four duchies because of the power they hold. That is why the king has been limiting the activities of each duchy. I will not be surprised if he is plotting something against the four dukes," Ulysses leaned on his chair.
"Understandably so since your influence isn't a joke. If you ever choose to work together to bring down the royal family, they will not have the ability to fight back." Cygnus grinned at the duke because for some reason this wouldn't even happen.
"Even if the king fret or be worried about it, there's no way that the four duchies would unite. It never happened before and it would not happen now. Only Blackwell will unite with Ginehart as for the other duchy, they are too arrogant for unification." Ulysses has never seen the four duchies in good terms.
