Chapter 182: A Big Catch(1)
Chapter 182: A Big Catch(1)
What is the most important body part for a novelist? Without a doubt, the answer is the hands.
Even if their legs or back are in pain, a writer can still compose stories while lying down as long as they have their hands. Even if their eyesight fails, as long as they aren't completely blind, they can continue their work.
However, if their hands are injured or crippled, they face immense difficulties not only in writing but in their daily lives. While it is possible to write with the other hand, it is a slow and, above all, awkward process.
Because of this, readers generally feel deep sympathy and wish for a speedy recovery when an author reveals a hand injury. Such an injury is a significant loss for the author as well, making it a misfortune for everyone involved.
The same applied to Xenon (Isaac), the author of the Xenon Biography. Since Xenon’s fame extended beyond any single nation to the entire world, countless readers prayed for his safety.
If something were to happen to him, it wouldn't just mean a delay in the publication of the Xenon Biography; it would mean no one would know when the next volume might ever appear.
Typically, it took an average of one to two months to release a single book, but new volumes of the Xenon Biography were released much faster than that. The publication cycle was so rapid that some wondered if the author was overexerting himself.
Moreover, the publisher had once mentioned that there were bloodstains on the manuscripts, which had already caused a surge of concern. There hadn't been a major issue so far because the books were released consistently, but then...
[Xenon, Author of Xenon Biography, Attacked by Unknown Assailants... Serious Injury to Right Hand...]
[Fortunately, His Life Is Not in Danger and the Assailants Have Fled. However, the Xenon Biography...]
[Forced Hiatus Against His Will Due to Right Hand Injury...]
The news that Xenon had been attacked by unknown assailants and suffered an injury to his right hand sent shockwaves through the readership, moving beyond mere surprise into pure horror. Of all places, it had to be his right hand.
Furthermore, the reports indicated that it wasn't just a simple injury; his fingers had been twisted into grotesque, deformed shapes, signaling a very grave situation.
The publisher initially doubted the news because the latest manuscript was written by a scribe, but they accepted it as truth after seeing a jagged, handwritten signature.
For a novelist, their hands are their greatest asset. An injury of that magnitude meant that, in the worst-case scenario, the series could enter an "indefinite hiatus."
[Rage of Xenon Biography Readers. Crowds Gather at the Publisher Demanding Answers.]
[Key Figures from Various Nations Are Working to Find the Assailants. However, Finding Them Is Virtually Impossible Since Even Xenon’s Identity Remains Unknown.]
[The Holy Nation of Savior. Massive Offerings Made to Lord Luminous Pleading for Divine Punishment, but the Only Response Is: 'Wait. Time Will Resolve Everything.']
[Where Will the Blade of Fury Strike?]
The readers were livid. Xenon hadn't been in an accident; he had been targeted and attacked, resulting in a mangled right hand.
Public security in this world was decent in the capitals, but the outskirts were a different story. There were regions where bandit groups frequently appeared to pillage, and even in the capitals, the nights weren't entirely safe.
Since news of people being seriously injured or killed by thugs was common enough, Xenon was no exception. Most ruffians wandering at night attacked with a specific purpose.
While it wasn't impossible for Xenon to have been a random victim, the fact that his right hand was specifically targeted caused the readers' fury to grow to immeasurable proportions.
[Operations to Locate Xenon Have Commenced. Since He Has a Severe Right Hand Injury, He May Be Found with Luck.]
[A Person with a Right Hand Injury Was Found in the Duchy of Bellua Around the Same Time, but It Was Not Xenon. Just an Ordinary Knight.]
While the readers fumed, the number of people trying to find Xenon increased. There were many people in the world with injured right hands, but the scope narrowed significantly when limited to those attacked by assailants around the same time.
It was like looking for a needle in a sandbox rather than a needle in a desert, but even that was a welcome improvement.
Some criticized the search, asking if people only wanted to find Xenon now because of the injury, but others argued it was the only way to find him.
[Was Only Xenon’s Right Hand Injured? Or Did the Assailants Know Who Xenon Was?]
[The Right Hand Is Used Frequently and Can Be Easily Injured, but There Is a High Probability the Assailants Knew Xenon’s Identity and Acted Accordingly.]
[Was the Assailants' Goal Truly Xenon’s Right Hand? Or Was It Merely a Coincidence?]
In the vortex of rage, there were those who tried to think rationally. Of course, if the assailants had intentionally targeted Xenon’s right hand, that was an even bigger problem.
As the incident grew more mysterious and the readers' anger reached a boiling point, something unexpected happened.
[Queen Arwen of Albenheim: There Is a Fact the People Must Know.]
[What Fact Could Queen Arwen Reveal at a Time Like This? Citizens of Albenheim and Neighboring Nations Look On with Confusion...]
[The Second National Address Since the Half-blood Incident. What Truth Is She About to Reveal?]
Out of the blue, Queen Arwen of Albenheim officially announced that she was preparing another national address, her first since the Half-blood Incident. It was a somewhat incomprehensible move given that the Xenon Biography was currently on an indefinite hiatus.
However, Arwen currently enjoyed fervent support from the people of Albenheim. After a brief moment of confusion, citizens and foreign dignitaries alike gathered, curious about what she would reveal.
She had quelled the socially explosive Half-blood Incident with her brilliant oratory skills and had even unified the Elves. Neighboring nations were naturally on guard.
No matter how much Xenon’s right hand had been ruined by an attack, the affairs of state had to continue. Just as they had during the Half-blood Incident, numerous dignitaries headed to Albenheim, deciding to see what Queen Arwen had to say.
None of them could have predicted what was about to happen.
*
Arwen’s speech was held at the Grand Plaza of Yggdrasil, just like the last time. Members of the Elder Council and noble families were positioned at the front of the platform for a better view, while foreign VIPs sat in chairs behind them.
The rest of the citizens and tourists gathered in a surrounding crowd, as directed by the Elf Rangers. Since it wasn't just an ordinary speech but a national address delivered by Arwen herself, a massive crowd had assembled.
"What on earth is she planning to say that requires a national address?"
"Hmm... I don't know either."
Piren, the head of the Elder Council, stroked his chin, unable to hide his confusion at his aide's question. Giving a national address at a time like this felt incredibly awkward.
Even if the speech had been prepared in advance, the timing was poor in many ways. The half-blood issue had been resolved wonderfully, so it couldn't be related to that.
Furthermore, given the current climate, a speech at this time wouldn't have much political impact. It would only be a temporary distraction before everyone's attention inevitably shifted back to Xenon.
What could it be? It's not like she's going to complain about being depressed because her lover was injured... and there's no way that guy would have told the Queen...
Piren thought deeply while stroking his chin as the preparations for the speech continued. He had already internally confirmed that Xenon was Arwen’s former lover.
Moreover, the possibility of Xenon telling her who the culprit was was near zero. That was what the Blood Pact stipulated. Even the letter sent to the publisher only mentioned being attacked by unknown assailants; it didn't reveal their identities.
One could say he had used the loopholes in the pact well, but it wasn't decisive evidence. Therefore, it was highly likely that Arwen’s speech was purely a coincidence.
Speeches were usually performed for significant political gain, but Piren couldn't see it this time. He wondered if she was being tactless or if she was about to reveal another fact entirely.
What is this? This feeling of unease...
While keeping a close eye on Arwen, he had learned many things about her. First and foremost, Arwen possessed not only unique oratory skills but also exceptional political ability.
In politics, it is easier to gain allies if you have a clear "enemy." Arwen had cast the Elder Council as her enemy and was steadily recruiting noble families to her side.
Since the Race War, the Elder Council had been evaluated as a setting sun, a toothless tiger, but they could not be ignored. It was impossible for Arwen to face them alone.
This unease made him wonder if she had a hidden ace up her sleeve. However, the Blood Pact Kalas had brought a few days ago was definitely real.
His intuition, honed by centuries in politics, was screaming, but he couldn't identify the cause.
As Piren pondered while stroking his chin, he suddenly realized that the seat next to him was empty. He had personally left the seat vacant for Kalas, who had played a major role in this affair, but the man himself had not appeared.
"Where is Kalas? Where did he go?"
"He said he couldn't attend because of family matters."
"Family matters... Well, it can't be helped then."
The Elder Council was important, but if something had happened in his family, there was nothing to be done. However, Piren’s unease only intensified.
Was Kalas really absent because of family matters? If so, what was this anxiety?
This intuition was the reason Piren had been able to stay in the Elder Council for centuries, but he never acted recklessly without knowing the cause. The world did not run on emotions, even if he trusted his gut.
In the end, he was forced to remain in his seat, unable to shake the unease until the very moment the speech began.
[Silence, everyone! Her Majesty the Queen is arriving!]
Just before the speech began, an announcer used Voice Amplification Magic to herald Arwen’s arrival. Unlike last time, the announcer raised his voice before Arwen even stepped onto the platform.
The murmuring that had filled the plaza died down instantly, and a subtle atmosphere settled over the area. The onlookers waited in silence for Arwen to ascend the platform.
Click— click— click—
The sound of heels echoed through the quiet plaza. The people instinctively knew that Arwen was stepping onto the platform.
Piren also crossed his arms in a somewhat arrogant posture, quietly watching her ascend. The inexplicable unease still lingered in his chest.
Click—
Finally, Queen Arwen of Albenheim stood proudly on the platform built before the Great Tree and faced the crowd. The crowd closely observed Arwen’s appearance.
Her silver-gray hair and eyes looked like a flowing galaxy. She had delicate, girl-like features and a petite frame. However, the curves of her hips beneath her slender waist exuded a mature charm.
Instead of the silver-gray dress she wore during the Half-blood Incident, Arwen appeared in a fresh green dress. She slowly scanned the crowd before locking eyes with Piren, who sat in the very front.
Despite making eye contact, Piren didn't even offer a greeting, simply watching her. He couldn't guess what thoughts were held within those captivating silver-gray eyes.
"...You have all come. Some of you have traveled a long way to be here."
Arwen broke eye contact with Piren and spoke quietly while looking forward. Her voice, like jade beads rolling on a silver tray, blanketed the entire plaza through Voice Amplification Magic.
"You are likely very curious. Why I have called you here to prepare a speech during such a critical time. You may be puzzled, or perhaps even bewildered. However, what I am about to tell you will be very important to you, and perhaps to this entire world."
As she spoke calmly, Arwen suddenly turned around and waved her hand as if beckoning someone to come. This action planted seeds of doubt in the eyes of the onlookers.
Calling someone in the middle of a speech was considered improper. Yet, Arwen had gestured for someone to come from the very beginning.
While everyone waited with questions in their hearts, someone began to slowly ascend the platform.
They weren't walking up of their own accord, but were being dragged up, held by warriors on either side.
Thud— thud— thud—
"...Ka, Kalas?!"
"Ma, Mael and Lena too... What on earth...?"
The people dragged onto the platform by the warriors were none other than Kalas and his subordinates. Naturally, Piren and his aides were struck with bewilderment.
Though they looked physically unharmed, their expressions—a mix of despair and resignation—made it clear that something had happened. Only then did Piren realize the true nature of his unease.
Something had gone wrong—terribly wrong. And it was serious.
As a seasoned politician with centuries of experience, he racked his brain to figure out what was happening, but he came up with nothing. There was no way Kalas would have betrayed him, and the Blood Pact was certainly real.
There was no evidence to be found, so he couldn't understand how this had happened.
"Who are those people?"
"I don't know. They look like criminals..."
"Why bring criminals onto the platform? Did they do something terrible?"
"Probably."
The crowd, ignorant of the details, simply assumed they were criminals. They had no idea how great a sin these people had committed.
As soon as Kalas and his group were on the platform, Arwen glanced at Piren amidst the buzzing plaza. Piren’s pale complexion betrayed his inner turmoil.
At this, she allowed a sharp smile to touch her lips and shouted with power in her voice.
"You are all aware of the news that Xenon’s right hand was ruined by unidentified assailants! Look upon the faces of these criminals! Their names are Kalas, Mael, and Lena!"
The crowd’s murmuring died down instantly at Arwen’s shout.
Finally, using her deeply persuasive voice, she cried out to the crowd.
"These are the criminals who attacked Xenon under the orders of Piren Gerrit Stormwalker, Head of the Elder Council!"
The fuse had burned out, and the bomb exploded.