The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'-Chapter 393 - A Father Now Knows, That One ’Knows Best’, And One...

Chapter 393: Chapter 393 - A Father Now Knows, That One ’Knows Best’, And One...

Lirades eventually settled into the chair across from him, her expression growing grim. Thinking about those two women finding happiness could only sustain her heart for so long.

"The real breakthrough came when I was tapped in by Qatrand. Placing more people on it and discovering the scope. This isn’t just about you, Ondua. They’re targeting your land holdings, yes, but to do so they are even starting to plant things about your wife’s military commendations from the last Descent."

The blood drained from the man’s face for about four seconds before returning bright red in anger.

"Yatrel? What are they saying about-"

"Nothing yet. But we found drafted documents preparing accusations during her tenure in a squad of cultivators. Forged requisitions for medical supplies that supposedly went missing."

Ondua’s hands clenched into fists and the Crystal whip-sword around his waist began to vibrate in his essence field. Resonating with his spirit that sung with barely contained fury. He could take a lot of things that people said about his wife.

Because usually those things - like her being violent, likely crazy, controlling, and so much more... were essentially true. Arguing against them would be a fools errand and he only ever spoke up if they questioned whether he was choosing to stay or being forced to.

"More than that, I’ve discovered a lot of the actors have ties to people I’ve been watching."

The old woman added this quietly. She wasn’t sure she would tell him when she came today - they’d only ever met and talked in private a dozen times, after all. But seeing how he had prepared his defense and all of his reactions so far, she was sure he wouldn’t overreact.

"Some unfriendly interrogations of one of them told me they intend to have Anper er Yecine appointed as temporary steward of Goltbred assets ’pending investigation’."

"...What?"

For a while, the brunette couldn’t understand why his name was brought up.

"With Elua missing and you under suspicion, he’d claim stewardship through Qatrand. An heir who should be busy in the aftermath of the invasion because of what is pretty obvious to everyone now. That young man is our region’s hero."

’Wouldn’t surprise me if the area they were just sent to doesn’t demand it, if they succeed in the reinforcement like everyone expects.’

Lirades let her mind drift toward that while things sunk in for the former friend of her distant relative. She still didn’t understand entirely what went wrong with her family, though she knew it wasn’t an overnight matter. But blaming herself for taking a break from policing children solved nothing.

Realizing that she was implying that Anper was in on it... Ondua began to curse loudly before he his Guild discipline kicked in. His balled fist was stuck between his mouth and nose as he breathed in heavily.

"He’s the one that has been planning this, isn’t he?"

"We believe so. The sophistication of the forgeries and the coordination of calling in favors across multiple organizations. This represents at least months of hasty work from scratch."

"Or years of slow preparation, waiting for the right moment to strike."

"Exactly. But here’s what they didn’t anticipate."

The woman opened a leather portfolio filled with documents and started to spread them out on the table.

"Your daughter’s servant. Klaytei didn’t just spot the forgeries - she has a collection of some of the original documents before they could be altered or destroyed. And like you, she had been marking everything she had access to for years."

She spread several papers across the small table between them while holding a small, strange device. To Ondua, it looked like the sort of tool the Void Defense Society might have in their collection. Essence rich and carved with tight sigils that made it seem like an artifact of a bygone age.

When she ran a bit of essence through it, a crystal at the tip glowed and shined on the papers. Showing off the presence of an invisible stamp that had been applied on the same corner of every document.

"Master copies of Guild agreements that young Elua smartly kept under lock and key. Even personal correspondence from your office that contradicts the forged timelines in some cases."

Ondua stared at the papers closer, recognizing his own handwriting alongside official seals using his special ink. This second verification was surprising - and he was certain his daughter had taught the woman to do it - but he wasn’t sure it would have any more effect on public opinion than his own method.

"This... will be helpful. But she’ll have to testify and be put to questions. Which may be intense, since she works for my family." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"She’s aware, don’t worry. We’ve also been staying one step ahead of their evidence planting by removing whatever they hid for officials to find while documenting our retrievals."

"...How many people are involved in this counter-operation?"

"More than you’d expect."

Lirades chuckled and tapped on the table. She wished she’d thought to bring a tea set. But she’d been in a rush and too excited about all the intrigue to think like her age.

"The Talcres family was reached out to and has been providing a secure storage area for us to separate items and catalog them. Several random Guild members who respect Elua’s work in the city have been quietly documenting irregularities. Even some Continental Army quartermasters who served with you have been forwarding anything suspicious to my people."

Hearing all of that was assuring, though it didn’t take the sting out of the apparent betrayal. The Goltbred Patriarch wanted to hold his judgement and not *only* take her word for it. However...

"And Qatrand? Does my son-in law know about what his father was up to?"

"No. We’ve been keeping that detail to our chests. In the end, this is as much of a problem for our family as yours if things get out. But word has been sent that an immediate return when available would be... advisable."

Understanding the delicate balance, Ondua nodded while thinking that the heavy blade swordsman needed to focus on survival during dangerous combat operations. Getting into political battlefields immediately after that was not what the father would want for his daughter’s spouse.

Even if those were the sorts of battles that tended to sneak up on some people before they knew it.

⟠ ⟠ ⟠

The giant outdoor pavilion had been erected in a matter of hours by excited Continental Army engineers. Canvas walls billowed gently in the evening breeze that carried the scent of roasted meat and victory across the encampment outside of the fortress that had been successfully defended.

Essence lanterns were strung between the support poles to cast warm, steady light over the assembled crowd. Regional commanders, Guild representatives, and cultivator families who had been stuffed inside considerable distances to attend this impromptu celebration.

The bulk of mortals were not in attendance, simply because the risk of fighting breaking out again was not eliminated... just unlikely. The strike force’s latest operation had been their most significant yet: now that another two leader class Voidlings - and seven Intermediates - had been vanquished thanks to the Cynosure Formation.

Eliminating three of the cultivator-like beings on their initial burst through the lines had drawn cheers from the wall. The accompanying swarms had been terrorizing the fortress for days. Forming themselves into strange ladders and catapults with surprising power, slinging their kindred to try and infiltrate over the top.

More importantly, they had accomplished the overall success without losing a single team member and with minimal casualties in the Army members who sallied out to assist. For that achievement, Qatrand er Yecine sat at the head table.

She still wore her black Yecine attire from earlier in the day rather than a clean set of the formal clothes - a conscious choice that emphasized her role. She adjusted the gold metal and blue stoned brooch on her lapel. Before she lifted her hand in salute to another toast from another regional official.

’I know it’s not alcoholic because of wartime rules, but if I consumed that much liquid I’d surely drown.’

Leysah sat three seats down from her commander, nursing her sweet drink while observing the political maneuvering all around. The curved-blade wielder maintained her professional demeanor despite the growing crowd of admirers and opportunists - but she had grown increasingly protective since learning certain secrets... and hearing that Elua’s family was being targeted.

Other members of Qat’s team were scattered throughout the pavilion, some enjoying the rare luxury of slightly abundant food and drink. Others, like the Empath, were clearly uncomfortable with the level of attention their recent successes had drawn.

The Ironclad fighters mingled with other martial Guild colleagues. Void Defense Society representatives talked with the trap specialist, sharing technical details about the modified formations they had been developing for use with their relatively smaller team.

Representatives from important families clustered in small groups near the pavilion’s edges, with the perimeter outside surrounded by more ’on guard’ soldiers. Conversations among them were a mix of genuine interest in the military achievements and plenty of transparent political calculation.

A distinguished-looking patriarch stood up in the rich blue clothes, styled and worn by the people of one of the more important port regions of the southern coast. Gesturing for his daughter’s hand, a young woman of seventeen years reached out and was helped to her feet.

Elaborately braided reddish-blonde hair and the careful posture of someone trained in courtly behaviors from childhood. The pair made their way through the crowd with his daughter following a ’respectful’ half-step behind. He paused to exchange pleasantries with others only twice, clearly working his way steadily toward the head table where the Yecine heir sat.

Where Qatrand - whose Primalist spirit was as effective as anyone there... waited for whatever social nonsense was on her way. That she wished her wife was there to stop.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by f(r)eew𝒆bn(o)vel.com