Chapter 167.1

Chapter 167.1 \n<h1>Chapter 167 StranGrief Meeting </h1>\n\n　It may not be possible anymore.

　I had never acted maliciously towards anyone, even though I had acted rashly and randomly, but I was in a situation where there was nothing that I could have done.　Everything was due to my incompetence’s fault. Maybe…… The only way out was to throw away everything we have built up and flee the Imperial Capital.

　After a hellish night, I was checking every corner of the major newspapers in the Imperial Capital that Eva had brought with her.　Despite the fact that there was an intruder at the 『White Sword Gathering』 (Liz) and that the food was poisoned (by Sytry), there was no mention of them anywhere. 

　With a tired expression on her face and dark circles under her eyes, Eva said.

“It seemed that a gag order had been placed. But you can’t shut people’s mouths…… Rumors are already spreading.” (Eva)

　Of course, they are. There were many top-class people from the country at the 『White Sword Gathering』.　No matter how much prestige the Emperor had, there was no way he could completely prevent information from being leaked.

　In the end, the culprit wasn’t found last night. Even now, the Imperial Castle must be in a huge uproar, like a beehive being pecked at.\n

　The reason why I, the most suspicious person in the world, have been released and am here in the Clan Master office was thanks to none other than the Relic that existed in the Imperial Castle’s treasury ――『True Tears (Tears of Truth)』 which has proven my innocence.

　『True Tears (Tears of Truth)』 was a crystal ball-shaped Relic with the power to expose any falsehood.

　It was one of the Empire’s treasures and one of the factors behind Zebrudia’s development.　This Relic exposes all the lies of those who are exposed to it. It was impervious to any forms of mental alterations, including brainwashing and memory wiping, and no one has ever fooled this crystal ball before.

　It was an extremely reliable tool when you are searching for a culprit, but it rarely appears on stage. This was because its use was severely restricted by the laws of the Empire.　In order to use it, a number of applications, permissions, and most importantly, proof were required, and even the Emperor, the one with the highest authority, cannot use it so easily. It was the former Emperor himself who decided that.

　After all, its power was too strong. A person in power didn’t always have their hands clean. Everyone has a secret or two.　If such Relic was allowed to be used so easily, everyone would leave Zebuldia.

　When you are exposed to the Relic, it was already the sign that you were being heavily suspected. Even if the person is innocent, no one would be happy to have their inners probed even if it didn’t hurt.

　Originally, it was only used against criminals who had committed the Ten sins (The ten most serious crimes in the Empire) for which all the evidence was almost perfectly pointing at them. \n　There was no way they would have been allowed to use it on the very same day of the incident, moreover, I didn’t meet the requirements to receive it in the first place, but there was only one way to use it without having to apply for most of the permissions.

　Yes, and it is if the person himself suggested it.　I personally volunteered to use it and was subjected to the power of that beautiful Relic of my own volition.

 

　Originally, being subjected to the 『True Tears (Tears of Truth)』 was considered the greatest disgrace in the Empire, but I had already been subjected to the 『True Tears (Tears of Truth)』 and had my inner painlessly probe many times before, so who cares if I had to do it one more time.

　And the 『True Tears (Tears of Truth)』 proved my complete and utter innocence before the eyes of countless Imperial nobles, as it always has.　It wouldn’t have worked at that time if I knew that Sytry was the one who mixed the poison, but at that point in time, I was just a good guest.　I will probably never forget the stunned looks of the noblemen when my innocence was proven.

　However, that made the situation even more troublesome.

　I proved my innocence in a way that would have been unthinkable with Zebrudia’s common sense, but if Sytry was the one who mixed the poison, the story would then change a lot.

\n　I rubbed my index finger over the polished “Safe Ring (Barrier Ring)” and sighed heavily.