Chapter 873: Sixty-six. New Conspiracy
The music stopped, and the nobles in the dance floor halted their dance, puzzled as they looked at this group of unexpected guests and the information they brought.
“Impersonation? Mr. Yenada Mathews, what are you talking about?” Thur Lange discretely cast a glance at Lu Li, furrowing his brows.
“The answer lies within the mystery itself.” Yenada Mathews looked regretfully at Lu Li: “It was quite pleasant interacting with you, except for the fact that you’re not fond of speaking. I suppose you use silence to hide yourself because you’re afraid of being exposed?”
Whispers arose all around.
Lu Li’s indifference left a strong impression on them.
“I don’t know who you are, nor your purpose in impersonating a disappeared Exorcist. But now, the conspiracy is revealed, and everything is over.”
Yenada Mathews prepared to have the Knights Order beside him take him away.
“Are you really human?” Lu Li suddenly spoke at that moment.
His expression remained calm, so calm that it appeared eerie to those around.
“What are you talking about?” Yenada Mathews slightly raised his eyebrow.
“The handshake at the City Hall gathering.” His dark eyes that seemed to draw one in stared at Yenada Mathews. “For some reasons, my left hand can harm anomalies.”
Yenada Mathews remained silent for a moment and then waved his hand: “Alright, don’t use such tricks that would make us look down on you. Rationalizing won’t work here. Knights, take—”
Thur Lange coldly spoke: “Mr. Yenada Mathews, despite your noble status, is it not too dismissive of the Lange Family to attempt to slander my guest and directly take him away?”
This indeed seemed to require a step down. The appearance of the Ring City Knights likely indicated that Yenada Mathews was correct.
However, letting the City Hall people intrude into the Lange Family gathering and take away their guest would severely damage their prestige.
Thur Lange could not allow them to simply take Lu Li away, even if he was right.
“No offense, but I believe these Ring City Knights are sufficient to prove my identity. You know, those people on the giant tree have always been neutral.” Yenada Mathews did not intend to give him a step down, his tone turned indifferent as he directed: “Take him away.”
“Clan Leader…” the steward whispered to Thur Lange.
Thur Lange shook his head gently, gloomily watching everything unfold.
Knights wearing dark golden armor approached Lu Li.
Until they got right in front of him, Lu Li did nothing.
The enhanced physical ability was not enough for Lu Li to resist over a dozen fully armed knights, and they seemed to have other secrets on them.
The knights treated Lu Li without roughness, only putting handcuffs engraved with runes on him, draping a canvas also imprinted with runes, taking him away from the dead silence of the gathering hall.
“City Hall doesn’t want this matter to stir too many ripples, hopefully you all remain silent about the capture of the impersonator, not spreading it.”
Yenada Mathews swept his gaze around before starting to retreat.
He did not forget to wave goodbye to Thur Lange.
“Sorry for the disturbance, little Thur, continue your gathering.”
The Ring City Knights gradually withdrew from the gathering hall, the tense atmosphere they suppressed eased but remained limited.
Thur Lange watched the figures disappearing outside the door, his expression so gloomy it was nearly as if water would drip out.
…
Deprived of freedom and senses, Lu Li only felt being put onto a carriage.
He didn’t get the chance to see Yenada Mathews, who may have boarded another carriage.
Taken to an unknown destination, Lu Li quietly thought in the gloom.
A conspiracy? Framed?
The conclusion currently posed: Yenada Mathews reacted to Lu Li’s left hand touch, possibly his consciousness was contaminated by anomalies, leaning towards Aliens. He realized Lu Li’s existence would disrupt their plan, so he smeared Lu Li as an impersonator.
Evidently, he, who had a status and connections, had more power than Lu Li.
Yet the Ring City Knights only serve the Klein Manifested University on the giant tree, not the same faction as City Hall—
Internal conflict within the giant tree?
Or an alignment between the giant tree and City Hall.
Moreover, why did they take him away at the gathering?
Lu Li recalled the events happening last night upon returning to Klein Manifested University.
“Did you meet Yenada Mathews, is he like the rumors say!” Puxiu looked up, excitedly jumping at Lu Li’s feet.
“What rumors.” Lu Li took off his coat and hung it on the rack.
“Uh, it’s… brave, cheerful, friendly, approachable…”
“Mostly right.”
Regarding Yenada Mathews, the description missed on chatty.
Soon, Dean Lawrence arrived, conversing with Lu Li about the invitation from the Lange Family.
“Decline it for me.”
Lu Li did not want to waste time on meaningless gatherings anymore.
He only wanted to find out Anna’s whereabouts and the businessman’s.
Yet Dean Lawrence informed him about the political climate in Midnight City: The opposition between City Hall and the nobles led by the Lange Family, where the church and the giant tree remain neutral.
“You attended the City Hall gathering, if you refuse the Lange Family’s gathering, they’ll misinterpret you as part of the City Hall faction, leading to some troubles. Attending signifies your continued neutrality, bringing some benefits.”
“What benefits.”
“One more friend, one less enemy.” Dean Lawrence said, and noticing Lu Li’s lack of interest, he added: “The Lange Family’s intelligence is equally keen, being on good terms could surely help find the answers you seek faster.”
…
The carriage came to a halt.
Lu Li was taken off the carriage.
He was lifted by two knights, feet hanging in the air, making it difficult to discern direction with his body, only hearing dull footsteps around.
Lu Li maintained his train of thought.
Dean Lawrence posed no problems, fearing most others that Lu Li may be fake.
Used by City Hall as a weapon against the Lange Family?
Would they go so far as to sacrifice an Exorcist to eliminate enemies?
A show by the Lange Family to discredit City Hall? Being nobles, such actions seemed not unexpected, but the church and the giant tree would not condone them.
Upon searching around, it remained Yenada Mathews closest to the answer being problematic.
Yet that signifies a huge mystery.
How could Yenada Mathews with dubious identity persuade City Hall and the giant tree that Lu Li is fake, directly ordering his capture?
Lu Li’s feet suddenly touched the ground.
He was put down.
Detached from his thoughts, heavy sounds of stone friction echoed before he was led into space behind the stone.
The sound of the stone door friction closing resounded behind him.
As the closure finalized, all sounds vanished.
Silence enveloped Lu Li, making it seem he was the only one around.
After waiting a few minutes, Lu Li removed the canvas shrouding him.
What greeted his eyes was a windowless, stone-walled study.
He was imprisoned within this chamber, uncertain if above ground or underground, within or outside the city.