Edgar was out of breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Victor''s brows furrowed with concern as he asked, "What happened, Edgar?" Silas, sensing the tension, frowned and shifted his gaze between them.
"Sir, there are fake rumors spreading everywhere," Edgar blurted out.
Victor composed himself and gestured toward a chair. "Sit down and explain everything."
Edgar collapsed into the chair, gulping down the glass of water Silas handed him. Once he had steadied himself, he spoke hurriedly. "Someone is spreading false rumors about us. The entire city is blaming us for the ban on Bitsee coin and even the inflation."
Victor stroked his chin, deep in thought. "Who''s spreading these rumors? Do we have any leads?"
Edgar hesitated, his voice tinged with regret. "Apologies, sir, but we don''t know."
Silas crossed his arms, his mind racing. "Maybe it''s the same people who attacked you that day."
Victor nodded but remained puzzled. "I considered that, but if they want me dead, why would they focus on ruining my reputation first?"
Silas paced the room, frustration evident on his face. "What do we do now?"
Victor exhaled sharply. "I need to discuss this with King Grerad as soon as possible."
Silas frowned. "Isn''t it too late for that?"
Victor''s gaze was firm. "No. He holds absolute authority. With just one statement, he can put an end to this."
Silas nodded. "Makes sense."
"Have the rumors already spread throughout the city? Is there any way to stop them before they fully take root?" Victor asked, turning to Edgar.
"Not completely," Edgar admitted, "but they''re spreading fast. It''ll be difficult to contain them."
Victor sighed. "You''re right. We can''t silence the common people."
---
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Hours passed, and still, no solution presented itself. The rumors spread like wildfire. The entire city whispered about the Ashcrofts, cursing them, bad-mouthing them in every alley and marketplace.
A hooded figure stood in the shadows of an alley, listening to the chatter. His clenched fists trembled with frustration before he slammed one against the wall. "Why are they getting in my way?" he muttered darkly. This was the same man who had met with Mash earlier, the one who had taken a particular interest in the Ashcrofts—especially Silas. Without another word, he disappeared into the darkness.
---
Windmere Republic, King''s Palace
A grand palace of stone stood at the heart of Windmere, its gardens lush and vibrant, with cats roaming freely through the manicured hedges. To the left of the palace, a stable housed the continent''s finest horses—steeds fit to pull the king''s carriage. Inside, the grandeur was even more astonishing: ornate gas lamps illuminated corridors lined with luxurious furnishings. Ministers bustled about, deep in their work, while even the palace servants wore attire finer than the richest merchants in the city. The windows were draped in exquisite lawn cloth imported from distant lands.
Seated upon his throne, King Grerad swirled a glass in his hand, appearing indifferent. A man in a black and white suit approached swiftly and bowed. "My liege, someone is spreading false rumors about the Ashcrofts."
Grerad took a slow sip of his drink, showing little interest.
The man hesitated before repeating himself.
The king finally responded, his tone dismissive. "Victor is neither a child nor a commoner. He has enough power to handle this himself."
The man bowed his head. "As you wish, my liege."
Perhaps the king did not fully grasp the severity of the situation. Or perhaps he simply didn''t care.
---
Back at Ashcog Industries
It was nearing noon, and Victor, Silas, and Edgar were still at a loss. The situation worsened by the hour.
Silas glanced at the clock. "It''s almost five in the afternoon. I should go pick up Clara. Things aren''t looking good."
Victor nodded. "Take Edgar with you—"
Silas cut him off. "You need Edgar right now. We can''t leave you alone. I''ll be fine."
Edgar agreed. "Silas is right, sir. I should stay with you."
Victor considered it for a moment before relenting. "Alright. Be careful, Silas. Go straight home with Clara. Don''t make any stops."
Silas nodded and left.
As he rode through the city, he observed the bustling streets, the murmur of the people, and the graffiti-laden alleyways. He searched for any clue about the rumors'' source but found none.
"I spent the whole day with Victor, but none of his friends showed up. I thought I''d find a lead, but today was a complete waste," Silas muttered under his breath. "And now these rumors…"
A heavy fog of uncertainty clouded his thoughts. Who was behind this? What was their goal?
---
Silas arrived at the school just as the bell rang six times. He checked his pocket watch—it was precisely 6 PM. A crowd of students poured out of the building, their laughter and chatter filling the air.
His eyes scanned the mass of children until he spotted her. Raising his hand, he waved. Clara, walking beside her best friend Meg, beamed at the sight of him and ran up excitedly.
"You came to pick me up?" she asked, her voice filled with delight.
Her friend Meg, standing beside her, blushed slightly as she gazed at Silas, his striking features mesmerizing in the afternoon light.
Silas smiled. "Yes, I was at Victor''s office, and since I was heading home, I thought I''d pick you up."
Clara pouted. "Oh? So you didn''t come just for me? You were just passing by?"
Silas hesitated. "No… I planned to leave earlier, but I stayed at the office until your classes ended."
Clara huffed. "Fine… whatever."
A soft voice chimed in. "Is he Silas? Your brother?"
Both Silas and Clara turned to see Meg staring at him with wide, curious eyes.
Clara smirked. "Yeah, this is Silas. I wasn''t planning to introduce you, but you got lucky today."
Meg shot her an irritated look but quickly composed herself, focusing on Silas. "Hi, Silas. I''m Meg, Clara''s classmate and best friend. Nice to meet you."
Silas gave a polite nod. "Nice to meet you, Meg. Thanks for looking after my sister."
Meg''s cheeks turned pink. "Always."
Clara grinned. "Alright, we''re heading home now. Take care, Meg."
Silas added, "Take care of Clara at school."
Clara scoffed, pinching his arm playfully. "I''m not a child. I can take care of myself!"
Silas chuckled as he led her toward the carriage, but his mind was still occupied with the storm brewing in the city.