Chapter 335 The End of the Baroness

The carriage carrying Baron Hopmann took a long detour and passed by the southeast corner of the city. Baron Hopman kept a gloomy face and looked out the window without saying a word. It wasn't until the carriage rounded the foot of a mountain that he was suddenly blocked by traffic ahead and couldn't move. He then raised his gaze and glanced to the right from the window:

"What's going on? Why is it blocked like this?"

"Ah, this is the new infectious disease hospital." The magician who was ordered to "invite" him answered without even looking. While answering, he pointed to the temple emblems on the carriages outside the left window:

"With the traffic jam like this, I'm afraid the priests who came to the hospital to help with treatment have finished their work and are preparing to return."

Baron Hopman looked in the direction he pointed, his eyelids twitching rapidly. The magician seemed to have disappeared and continued:

"All the victims of this plague are being treated inside. So far, 1,352 people have been hospitalized and died - when I set out, they said it was 79 people. Now, it should be more."

The baron was silent. More than a thousand patients, 79 lives - if it were in his territory, it would not be impossible to die, but it would just be a bit painful. However, the place where the accident happened was the city of Nevis, and the people who died were all free people, which is another story:

Every free citizen is the property of the city ruler!

Damn old woman, you can cause trouble for me! The baron said bitterly in his heart. The carriage waited for a while, passed the oncoming carriage and horses, and continued to move forward. Turning around the foot of another hill, leaving the building of the Infectious Diseases Hospital far behind, the magician suddenly leaned to the right and looked past the baron to look out the window on the right:

"Ah, this is the new mage tower..." He couldn't help but admire: "I am only a third-level mage, but I can have a high-level mage tower. I am so envious. I can have my own tower anytime. An ordinary one." That’s fine too…”

Only level three? Baron Hopman's heart skipped a beat. He tried to be as relaxed as possible and asked in a pretend chat:

"Oh? Which mage is so powerful? The biological son of the legendary mage?"

"If that's the case, I'd give up." The companion lamented:

"But that's not the case. He just relies on his own ability. Not long after arriving in Nevis City, he has already published several "Magic" and "Arcane" articles. He was also the first to identify this plague and presided over the treatment - —Oh, by the way, his name is Gretel Nordmark, have you heard of it?”

"..."

Baron Hopman secretly grinded his teeth, turned his head away, and refused to speak again. The two of them were silent all the way, got off the carriage in front of the White Tower, and walked into the Emergency Management Department. Johnny Colin personally received the Baron. After the courtesy greetings, he placed a large stack of confessions and two magic crystals in front of the Baron.

"...What does this mean?" Baron Hopman turned over the confessions of the servants one after another. While reading, he listened to the confessions of his wife and sister-in-law, and finally sneered:

"What does a necromancer spreading plague have to do with my wife? When can the words of a few servants be used to testify against a noble?!"

"The servant's confession is indeed less effective." Johnny Colin looked at him calmly:

"However, the servant's testimony, Master Slimin's confession, and the previous actions of the Madam are enough to cause the Department of Emergency Management to have reasonable doubts. In view of the serious nature of the plague incident, we are considering applying to the review committee and using magical means to find the truth. "

Baron Hopman's eyes flashed. After decades of marriage, he knows better than anyone what kind of temper his wife is. Looking for her sister to cast the plague in revenge is really something she can do - in the past few decades, when husband and wife quarreled, she threatened more than once to "let my sister come over and curse you to death"...

And the truth, as long as it is there, cannot be hidden under magic.

"I don't agree." He replied coldly. "We are nobles. There is no reason to use magic on my wife just because of the testimony of a few servants!"

"Are you sure you disagree?"

"Sure."

"Okay, please sign here." Johnny Colin touched the pile of documents on the right and pushed over a form, along with a quill dipped in ink. The movements were familiar, as if he had been prepared for a long time:

"Since you insist on not allowing it, we will hold a hearing at the city hall to apply for a compulsory license for magical interrogation."

Baron Hopman's hand froze in the air. Once the hearing is held, regardless of whether it is possible to pass, what his wife did will spread throughout the aristocratic circle on the spot. Those nobles don't care what the truth is. They can convict their family in their hearts on the spot!

"Would the judges agree?" He quickly turned his thoughts and looked for a counterargument angle that was favorable to him:

"If a hearing is held and the truth of the matter is made public, the reputation of the Parliament will also be damaged. Neither the review committee nor the Black Crow Swamp will be willing to let the public know that it was a necromancer who poisoned it, right? "

"That's not the case," Johnny Colin replied confidently. "The reputation of the Parliament comes from fair trials and from bringing criminals to justice in a timely manner. By the way, Master Slimin's punishment has been determined - death penalty."

The Baron breathed rapidly. If Parliament doesn't care about publicity, he has nothing to blackmail - wait -

"You can't apply!" His voice suddenly rose: "No noble would agree to use magic to interrogate a baroness for such a trivial matter!"

"Oh, that's not necessarily the case." Johnny Colin shrugged. "For example, Viscount Cadren, the epidemic broke out in the building he rented. He suffered great losses and was very angry. If he knew that the plague might be man-made, he would definitely try his best to get the application approved."

Baron Hopman's breath hitched. The Cardron family took root in the city of Nevis before the Magic Council was established. The trees here are big and the roots are deep, but their family's territory is 200 miles away. No matter how hard you fight for power or connections, you can't win...wait...loss?

What does the Department of Emergency Management really want? Take it over quietly, rather than holding a public hearing, what are their demands?

A bright light flashed quickly in his mind. The next moment, His Excellency the Baron's voice quietly lowered:

"Is there any other solution to this matter?" He said quickly and softly:

"After all, if the commotion has alarmed the jury and the entire city, both of us will lose..."

Minister Colin chuckled to himself. He relaxed his fingers on the form, leaned back, and softened his attitude:

"How would you like to resolve this?"

That night, the Magic Council's carriage carried the baron and his wife and drove them back to their territory at high speed. Three days later, the baroness died of illness in the territorial castle. According to her last wish, the baron donated the knighthood that was her dowry to the Magic Council and put it into city charity.

****

Please subscribe, ask for monthly tickets, ask for recommendation votes, ask for book reviews, ask for all kinds of...

Yesterday, I hugged Lily's big thighs and received a chapter recommendation. I added 300 favorites in one go, and my subscriptions skyrocketed... I'm so happy...

"The Mythical Version of the Three Kingdoms" is a good book!

Thanks to x-on:鍍小影, x-on:绉饕 for the 1500 starting coins

Thanks to x-on:Leng Jiutou for the 100 starting coins