Chapter 264 Interlude
After a few seconds, Helena finally hardened her heart and said, "I'm sorry, but I simply cannot accept to this. I make every piece of embroidery with my heart and soul, so I can ensure that it satisfies the customer. I am sorry if this sounds rude, but I don't know if what you make will reach that standard I set for myself. It is even OK if I am in debt, but I cannot sell a sub-standard product to my customer with my name on it. I am really sorry, and I hope you understand."
After saying the last words, Helena actually looked down with fear. After all, this was the first time she was speaking to such a large crowd. Although she was addressing only the old woman who had walked forward, the eyes and ears of everyone in the group were on her.
After a few seconds of silence, she finally looked up, wondering why there wasn't any reaction.
As she did so, she saw tears glistening in the eyes of the old woman.
At first, she thought they were tears of sadness with the frustration of having lost their last hope. Yet, after observing a little bit more, she realized that there was actually a smile on her face.
Not just her, even most of the people in the group were only smiling, with some looking at each other and nodding.
Unable to understand what was going on, Helena was about to ask when something shocking happened.
THUD
Each and every one in the group fell to the ground at the same moment, startling both Helena and Dalia and making them take a step back.
Meanwhile, the old woman walked forward and said, "You are everything we hoped for. If you had accepted that deal from before, all hope would have been lost. I don't know who your parents are, dear, but I wish I could find and thank them for raising you with such a staunch heart. We are saved. WE ARE SAVED!"
The last sentence was said to the whole crowd, who hugged each other and wept without abandon.
What…was going on?
The mother and daughter could make no sense of the scene.
Finally, the old woman started to explain.
"Dear, this isn't the first time such an effort was made. There have been other talented embroiderers from other Kingdoms who came to some of our shops to give the same offer. The market is flooded with cheap products right now, so many of us accepted without thinking too much. All of those who did went bankrupt, as the people who gave the offer had no care in the world about anything else but money. They eventually ended up besmirching themselves, plunging the value of all goods made with their name to 0. When your daughter came to me, I thought long and hard before deciding to proceed in this way. We need someone who values their work above money. We need someone like you, dear."
So…this was a test?
Although Helena had many questions about the explanation, one thing bothered her the most.
"I'm sorry, but I still cannot accept. You said it yourself. What is different now?"
Laughing to herself, the old woman replied, "You! You are different! You can make sure that everything that is sold reaches the quality you wish! You can bring back the prosperity that was once ours! Tell me, if you can make much more money by checking what we make and guiding us, would you still have to work by yourself?"
Finally, Helena understood the true proposal.
Indeed, by closely checking each of the goods that were being made, she could ensure that the quality was still up to the mark. By doing so, she could indeed earn more, while also guiding the others.
Helena had no idea if it would work, but the expressions of all those in front of her had truly affected her. She knew how they felt, as she had been in their position personally.
Hence, seeing that there was a chance where she wouldn't have to forfeit her ideals, she took it.
"Please come in. Let's discuss further."
....
Meanwhile, in the Palace of Lanthanor.
[Development resumed. New data is being analyzed. Ephemeral bond found. Analyzing bond with respect to elementary particles…..]
Daneel's head was overwhelmed by this barrage of information as he hid in the room near which Faxul had just begun to practice.
The speed itself was so high that he couldn't make sense of one notification before the next arrived. Hence, he asked the system to mute itself for now.
Finally having a silent head, he took a deep breath and waited.
Sadly, although the development did resume, it seemed that it would still take a little time before it would be complete. This was quite clear when he saw the progress bar for the development of the "Human-Beast Link" move slowly as the system continued to assess Faxul's movements.
Taking out the bowl of blood, Daneel resumed training while allowing the system to continue the analysis and development.
...
In the Throne Room of the Black Raven Kingdom
SPLASH.SPLASH. SPLASH.
This sound reverberated in the room as the old man kept pacing back and forth.
It was made by his boots repeatedly stepping on the blood which had seeped down from the two bodies which were pinned to the wall.
From the angle at which the Black Raven King was witnessing the scene from the Throne, he could fully see the gruesome sight as to how they were pinned in the first place.
The backs of their bodies had actually melted and fused into the walls, while the front was lacerated in multiple locations to cause a river of blood to flow from it.
Words couldn't clearly describe this image which was now imprinted into the Black Raven King's mind.
It had all started when the old man strode into the throne room and heard the news of what had happened. At that time, these two servants had been serving him wine.
Fury had erupted across the old man's face, making him wave his hand.
The two waiters had immediately flown to the wall with a scream, and the Black Raven King had only been able to watch on with horror as flames appeared on their back for a few seconds before they were pushed onto the walls again.
The flames seemed to have even melted the rock of the Throne Room, as otherwise, he couldn't imagine how the bodies stuck on like so.
After this, the old man had conjured a whip made of something that looked like fluid metal. Using this, he had repeatedly whipped the two with the rage on his face only increasing on hearing the screams of the two men who were still alive through all this torture.
Finally, after a few minutes, both the screams and the whipping ceased. Since then, silence had reigned.
Even though their bodies were unmoving, it felt to the King as if the screams were still reverberating in his ears.
He had been able to do nothing, and if he were really honest with himself, he had even been scared that he would be subjected to the same fate.
In fact, it almost looked like a warning that he would be the one in their place.
Madman. This powerful mage was clearly a madman.
After walking for a little more time, the old man finally spoke.
"What was the delay? Why didn't you go over there immediately?"
"The-commanders said the situation was under control. I was standing by, ready to go if anything changed. I even chased them discreetly until they vanished in the-"
"IN THE DAMN VALLEY! I KNOW!"
The scream shut the King up.
"The people's trust has been shaken. This is clearly a ploy to accomplish just that. Do you suspect anyone? And who is the traitor?"
The reports showed clearly that the second man had been controlling a Raven. Besides, even that trinket had been stolen.
The first thing that all the facts presented was that there was a Black Raven Fighter who had gone over to the other side and done all this to steal the trinket. What could be their motive? What use could they have for that trinket without having Ravens to connect with?
The King himself was frustrated due to having so many questions, so he could imagine how the old man felt.
Finally, after a few more minutes of splashing, the old man left an order and exited the Throne Room.
"I'm going to investigate everything myself. Inquire about all the strongest figures in the Central Continent. Find which ones weren't accounted for during this entire incident. It was clearly planned, so check for those who didn't appear for at least a day. And put even more money into the search for the Ker Gems."
Hearing this, Tenebrol actually felt happy as he knew that the old man would definitely find the truth with his power.
Yet, looking around the Throne Room, he came up with another question which baffled him.
What was he supposed to say to those who came to clean up this sight?
Wouldn't the trust go down even more if it became known that the King was now killing innocent servants?
Seeing no other option, Tenebrol himself got up from the Throne and walked towards the mop to begin cleaning.
It felt like being back in the army all over again, which actually brought a smile to his face.