80 Chapter 81: New mysteries(3)

The men escorted the villager inside, his figure hunched and weathered, a testament to a life of toil and hardship. He appeared short and somewhat old, with red cheeks that hinted at recent indulgence in drink before his arrival. His eyes darted nervously around the room, clearly unsettled by the unfamiliar surroundings and the presence of armed men.

As soon as he entered five guards approached me with three of them standing beside the man and two at my side, hand on their sword as they looked at the peasant somewhat disdainfully

I gestured for him to approach, my gaze assessing him carefully as he shuffled forward. His ragged clothes hung loosely on his thin frame and his eyes darted nervously around the room, as if expecting to be punished at any moment.

''My lord,'' He said with a bow so deep it bordered on mockery. The guard behind him slapped him on the back, causing him to straighten up in surprise. ''It is me-lord, your highness,'' the man corrected himself, casting a wary glance at me.

''What's your name?'' I asked, pointing at the guard.

''It's Adam, young master,'' He replied with a tremble in his voice as he straightened his back

''Well Adam, next time you speak out of turn, I am going to rip your tongue out. Understood?'' My words were sharp and laced with an underlying threat that made the guard flinch and nod fearfully.

Ignoring his discomfort, I turned my attention back to the old man who had come before me seeking an audience. 

''Apology for that,'' the old man mumbled, wringing his hands together. ''My guards informed me that you have information about something suspicious that happened here...''

''Yes, your highness,'' the old man replied with a slight tremor in his voice. ''At least, I believe it can be retained as such.''

''Well go on,'' I encouraged, leaning forward in my seat.

The old man took a deep breath before continuing. ''Yesterday night, when I was walking through these streets, I noticed three people leaving this house. Their figures were hidden by cloaks, but one of them had long brown hair. I believe she was one of the people living here.''

A thrill ran through me at this new piece of information. It seemed like yesterday night, Lucas' parents had left this house following someone - most likely the person responsible for the little gift that had been left for us.

''Where did they go?'' I asked, stroking my chin thoughtfully.

''They went towards the forest, your highness,'' the old man replied, pointing to his right. ''That direction.''

''Just one more question and we will be done here. Did you happen to notice any other characteristics of these individuals? Anything that could help me identify them?'' I held my breath, hoping for another hint.

The old man furrowed his brow in concentration before speaking again. ''I don't know how useful this may be, but the person at the front was limping...I hope I have been of some use, your highness.'' He trailed off, fear lacing his words.

Oh, my dear drunkard. You have no idea just how useful you have been.

Without saying another word, I reached into the pouch of coins on my belt and tossed it towards the old man. He caught it with surprising agility, his eyes widening as he opened it to reveal its contents.

''You can go,'' I said curtly, watching as the old man dropped to his knees in gratitude before scurrying out of the room. 

As soon as he was gone, I turned to my guards who were eyeing him greedily. ''If any of you dare lay a hand on that man, I will have your eyes and those of your family on my dinner table before the end of the day. Now leave.'' My voice was cold and commanding as I dismissed them from the room.

Once again, I was alone in the quiet room, my mind racing with new information and possibilities. With a satisfied smile, I began planning my next move. Now I finally had something to work with...

Thinking about the directions pointed by the old men I realised they were attempting to flee towards the Marquisate of Valenoir, a neighboring territory beyond the northern border.

The way was filled of forests and rugged terrain, offering ample opportunities for concealment and evasion. If the culprits sought refuge there, it would complicate our pursuit significantly.

Well at least I now got something —a direction to follow, a path to pursue.

With a decisive nod, I exited the room,The urgency of the situation demanded swift action as the more time we wasted the more they would get away , and I wasted no time in issuing orders to my men.

"Half of you return to the mansion," I commanded, my voice firm and unwavering. "Inform my father of the situation and request that word be sent to the Marquis about the escapees. We need to ensure that all avenues are covered also inform him that I request more scouts be sent near the northern border, before that make sure to get a descritpions of the two peasants "

After that I turned my attention to the villagers gathered outside, their faces a mixture of curiosity and concern. Stepping forward, I addressed them, my tone commanding attention.

"I need your cooperation," I announced, my voice projecting with authority. "We are in pursuit of three individuals who fled towards the northern border. Two of them are peasants their surnames are Grey, and we need descriptions to aid in our search. Anyone with information must come forward immediately."

The villagers murmured amongst themselves, exchanging glances and nods of understanding. As they began to step forward, offering details and descriptions, I listened intently, committing each piece of information to memory.

Once satisfied with the gathered intelligence, I motioned for the remaining guards to accompany me into the forest while the other half rode toward my father . "The rest of you, follow me," I commanded, my resolve unyielding. "If we are fortunate, we may uncover something that will lead us to our quarry."

With that I led the way into the dense foliage of the forest, my senses alert and focused on the task ahead. The chase was on, and I was determined to bring those bastard my steel.

With that I turned to Baalkaroth, my expression a mix of frustration and desperation. "Do you have any abilities that could aid us in this search?" I inquired, hoping for some semblance of assistance.

Baalkaroth's response was swift and dismissive. "I don't ," he replied, his voice lacking any trace of concern. "It's too late if you ask me , they are already too far away for you to reach in one day, it's like searching for a tear on a cup of water..."

A frustrated sigh escaped my lips as I muttered under my breath, "Useless as always." It seemed that once again, I would have to rely solely on my own resources to track down the escapees.

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