The Conquerors Path Chapter 974 - 972-What’s The Issue?

A heavy silence descended, stretching as far as the ear could hear. Those observing from the shadows and those watching in the light could only stare with dropped jaws. I could perceive it all—every ripple of emotion. It was a chaotic blend of reverence, thrill, shock, and dread. A kaleidoscope of sentiments converged, but it was the dark, negative energy swirling beneath the surface that I felt most clearly as it began to seep out. I could practically taste the bitterness on the air.

Averting my eyes, I shifted my focus to Eldon, who was struggling to his feet. His expression mirrored the others: a cocktail of awe and terror, rooted in the utter disbelief of what was unfolding before him. From any logical perspective, the scene appeared to be a fever dream, a fantasy that had no place in reality. Yet, it was undeniably happening.

I paused to reflect. This path hadn't been chosen lightly; it was a calculated move designed to resolve not just the immediate crisis, but several tangled complications. I previously mentioned the need to strip away the ‘spells’ and ‘surveillances’ tracking my every move, didn't I? This was the ideal moment to settle that debt as well.

My elevated power state still had a few minutes remaining, though one had already ticked away. With a sudden flash of movement, I reappeared outside. The guards and the high-ranking members of the war council had been unceremoniously ejected from the tower. They lay sprawled at the base of my tower’s steps, looking battered and exhausted. I had been careful not to inflict permanent physical trauma, but there was no doubt they were in an immense amount of pain.

"You all look good."

I flashed a grin as the Imperials began to steady themselves. When I had struck them, I deliberately utilized my aura and mana to seal their internal powers. Such a feat was only possible because of my current Cultivation level; under normal circumstances, their foundations would be untouchable. For the time being, they were effectively powerless.

Of course, men of their stature possessed healing resources. Before long, the four of them had regained their composure and physical health. However, their eyes were bloodshot, burning with a mixture of rage and profound shame as they glared at me. I merely smirked in response. Maintaining my intimidating posture, I hovered several inches above the earth with my arms crossed, looking down at them.

"What? Want more beatings or what?"

The three subordinate Imperials flinched at my bluntness. Their leader, the elf, remained remarkably composed. He didn't show a hint of panic as he straightened his robes and addressed me.

"There will be grave consequences for these actions. You may have triumphed in a brawl and cast us out, but what does that achieve? Eventually, this borrowed strength will fade, and the weight of your defiance will crush you."

His assessment was entirely accurate. While I had defended the prestige of the tower association by thrashing them, I couldn't simply execute them, nor was the underlying conflict resolved. I was merely buying time. The repercussions of this violence would inevitably return to haunt me.

Pondering this, I surveyed the four men and the scattered war council members who were slowly recovering. The massive ships still loomed in the sky above. Taking in the full scope of the theater, I spoke up.

"I recall hearing that my archery tower was being subjected to a sudden probe due to allegations of corruption. There was a claim that a corrupted element had manifested within these walls, was there not?"

I projected my voice so it resonated for miles. This was a performance, and I intended to direct every scene to ensure I maintained total control. I wanted to make sure that every word uttered by this elf and the others would be broadcast to the world.

The elven leader frowned, sensing the trap I was laying. The deliberate nature of my words signaled to him that the situation was slipping from his grasp.

"The details of our investigation are a private matter for the war council to handle as they see fit."

Ignoring his dismissal, I called out to Eldon, who was standing nearby.

"Eldon, what justification did they give for this intrusion? Surely that loud-mouthed fellow explained their reasoning."

Though caught off guard by the sudden prompt, Eldon kept his composure and answered clearly.

"They arrived with the claim that QuiverLord Draxton had fallen to corruption. They accused an entire tower under our jurisdiction of serving the enemy."

The declaration echoed through the area, prompting audible gasps from the crowd. The faces of many onlookers turned grim, while the reporters present scrambled to record every detail of the scandal. Normally, Eldon would have been more discreet, but my earlier reassurances gave him the confidence to speak freely.

"I see. A grave accusation indeed. However, I have personally spoken with QuiverLord Draxton, and he appeared perfectly sane and untainted. This interference by the war council is a blatant breach of our established treaties."

With those words, I snapped my fingers. The sound cracked through the air like a whip, causing space itself to fracture. A figure tumbled out of the rift. Before the eyes of the gathered masses, Draxton appeared. He was in a pitiful state, collapsing onto the pavement, covered in bruises and grime. He was bound in heavy chains and bore the unmistakable marks of severe interrogation.

Draxton offered no resistance; he simply lay there trembling, his spirit clearly broken by pain and fear.

"I must endure a minor setback here to secure a greater victory later. But I won't forget this."

"Young Master!"

Draxton cried out, his voice thick with terror.

"QuiverLord Draxton, the war council believes you have been corrupted and that we are shielding you. Is there any truth to these claims?"

Draxton looked genuinely bewildered, as if the very concept was alien to him. Shaking violently on the ground, he let out a desperate plea.

"Young Master, I beg for your mercy! Just end it, kill me now!"

His frantic begging only served to deepen the confusion of the crowd. I noticed some of my own followers turning pale, unable to grasp the narrative I was spinning. Remaining calm, I turned my gaze back to the elven leader.

"Go ahead. Inspect him for any trace of corruption. If you find nothing, the war council will owe us a massive restitution."

The elf narrowed his eyes in thought before finally giving a curt nod. A subordinate, visibly nervous, stepped forward with a detection device and began a thorough scan. Seconds later, the results were clear.

No Corruption Detected...

The news rippled through the onlookers instantly. The foundation of the council's argument had crumbled.

"We still need to—"

"If you intend to suggest a search of every other member, don't bother. I have already performed the inspection myself. Surely my word carries weight?"

My tone was mocking, and I could see the elf bristling. After all, they were the ones who had built up my reputation as a legendary hero destined to lead the world against corruption. At my current level of power, my authority on the matter was absolute.

"Due to my unique blessing and current state, no corruption can remain hidden from my sight. No amount of concealment can bypass me right now. If I say he is untainted, then he is clean."

I wasn't finished. I reached down and grabbed Draxton by the hair, pulling him up sharply.

"And don't claim I used healing to mask the taint. Even then, a residual mark would remain. I am perfectly willing to submit him to a truth serum or a soul-search to prove he was never corrupted."

My challenge silenced the elf's protests. He looked back and forth between the battered Draxton and my defiant form, his arguments dying in his throat.

"As for why QuiverLord Draxton is in this condition, that is strictly an internal disciplinary matter of our tower. Since there is no corruption involved, our private affairs are none of your concern."