Chapter 195: “Sorry, I Can’t.”
Truth be told, Bali wasn't really incorrect there.
There were indeed a number of suspicious points in this matter.
"Balon Murrow had just mentioned that the former Old Demon Faction member made contact with Shien originally because his powerful magic item drew her attention and made her consider mass producing it, but those magic items in question has already been proven to not exist. This is a contradiction in the adventurer Shien's explanation."
"Also, the Old Demon Faction infiltrated Lamdrion in order to search for that first one, but why did Jillian end up searching out this adventurer? Is it really pure coincidence?"
"And under the situation without the magic item in question, why did this adventurer bring up a plan to draw out the Old Demon Faction? Is it really that he had the confidence to deal with the Old Demon Faction after they've all been drawn out? But the result was that a great many still died, right?"
"In addition, I have a hard time imagining that a high level Old Demon Faction member like Jillian would so easily betray Baydr. There may very well be deeper reasons involved."
"Those are all points of suspicion."
Bali's words were recognized by many of the nobles.
"Those are indeed very suspicious."
"There's no reason for it."
"It feels like this adventurer is plotting something."
"Your majesty, it's best not to be too hasty on the matter of rewards."
Those nobles all spoke out one after another.
Ancil, Lucy, Liadella, and Joule were silent.
Megis, Balon, Alrith, and Leon seemed to want to say something, but stopped themselves.
Jacinta also raised an eyebrow and gave a deeply meaningful look toward Shien and Bali.
Shien ignored the wave of opposition facing him and instead also looked deeply toward Bali. However, Bali never looked back at all.
Bali had brought up his opposition without even looking at Shien at all.
That attitude and posture did indeed match his reputation of being coldblooded and emotionless.
However.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Duke Bali."
Vivian stepped forward and addressed Bali.
"Do you mean to say that there's an issue with my comrade?"
Now, Vivian had ceased her previous stance of staying silence and keeping a low profile. She was now fully on the offensive.
That's how Vivian is. She won't try to fight for advantage for herself, but as one who protects, she won't turn a blind eye toward someone who might try to slander her comrade.
"Protector God, huh?" Bali didn't ignore Vivian and instead looked at her as he coldly spoke, "You misunderstood. I've never said that. I only brought up points of suspicion in the belief that it's far too hasty to give out rewards without having cleared them up first."
Bali's argument is completely correct.
But his attitude and wording were obvious in their intent, letting everyone know that he's here to oppose Shien.
"Until the whole matter is cleared up, I won't agree to rewarding this adventurer." Bali raised his head and looked toward the three up on the dais. "Of course, if his majesty, his holiness, and his grace all believe that my words are unreasonable, then pretend I didn't say anything."
In response, Ancil and the others exchanged glances.
"Sir Shien." Ancil spoke toward Shien, "Can you help us clear up our questions then?"
The meaning behind those words is that he hopes that Shien could offer explanations for those issues in question.
However.
"Sorry, I can't."
Shien replied without hesitation.
"That-"
Ancil was stunned.
Never mind Ancil, everyone else present were also stunned, including even Bali.
After all, Bali had prepared his own rhetoric in preparation for counterattacking after Shien had made his explanation.
Who would have though though that Shien would just so readily give up on explaining altogether.
Was he not going to resist?
As everyone was stunned, Shien instead spread his hands and shrugged.
"Don't look at me like that. This is the truth."
Shien lied without so much as a blush.
"Why that Leisha person made contact with me? What are you asking me for? You should go ask her instead!"
"Why did Jillian come for me of all people? What are you asking me for? You should be asking him!"
"Also, although I brought up the idea of drawing out the Old Demon Faction, it was Sir Balon and guildmaster Leili who agreed you know? You sure you can place those that died on me?"
"What does it matter what reason I had? If everyone believes that this is suspicious, then go ahead and suspect. But if you want to accuse me of something, then go ahead and bring out the evidence. If you can pull it out, then I'll admit to it, but forgive me if I'm not going to cooperate with you convicting me of some strange crime out of nowhere."
Shien not only tossed all responsibilities, he also showed a completely uncaring attitude. It really did dumbfound pretty much everyone present.
But truth be told, Shien should have been the one dumbfounded.
Those guys didn't really think that he has the responsibility to explain everything, right?
It's already year 9102 after all, don't they know that all things require evidence?
No, this is already past year 9102 by now!
Anyways, Shien was clear. It doesn't matter if they try to talk until their lips fall off, they can't do a thing to him without any evidence, no?
As for suspicions?
To put it a bit crudely, if just suspicions were enough, then what's the point of detective work? Why not just go straight to the arrest and sentencing then.
Bali, who didn't know what Shien was thinking, coldly stated, "If you can't explain it, then this reward cannot be given to you."
"Yeah?" Shien blinked before smiling and then speaking to Bali, "Then don't give it to me. I don't need it."
Those words shocked everyone there.
That includes Bali too.
Only Lucy was on the verge of facepalming.
Those guys didn't have any ideas at all. Shien didn't care about any rewards or anything at all. Even if he was given a title and made a noble, he'd refuse it!
The royalty was originally planning to use a noble title to basically entrap Shien. Shien for his part couldn't wait to reject it, so now that he has an excuse, doesn't that mean instead that it's all going the exact way he wants?
To use that guys' words, your all a bunch of idiots!
Even Ancil's expression has changed at that.
He really did look quite well toward Shien.
There's no other way after all.
You know, he's someone of a similar age as Lucy who managed to tie with her. Even if Lucy didn't use her unique skill, nor did she unseal her Holy Sword, anyone of her age capable of fighting her to a draw is a prodigy among prodigies. Their future potential won't lose even to Aldia.
He'd wish for any talent on that level to help out the Kingdom as much as possible.
If a noble title isn't possible and he instead ran off to a different country, then wouldn't that be an utter shame?
This absolutely cannot be allowed!
At that moment though.
"However, I can share with everyone the reason why Jillian betrayed Baydr."
Shien acted like he suddenly thought of something and showed everyone there a brilliant smile.
"It's because I had viciously beaten him for over three hours. I had beaten him in places that are both normally allowed and not. The young masters of your various noble families should have deeply experienced that already, right?"
Shien's words gave everyone a deep shock as they remembered a certain matter.
And that was, a while back, Shien had dropped every young nobleman in the princess's apartments to the ground.
And the part he hit was somewhere very painful at that.
This made a lot of the nobles by Bali's side tightly cross their legs.
Bali too felt a chill in his heart.
He saw very clearly that Shien gave a glance at his lower half.
That meaning behind that glance was obviously that Shien was planning revenge.
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