leonardwarren Chapter 241 : Listen to My Advice
Chapter 241 : Listen to My Advice
Celitia reached out to take the longsword, finding it quite heavy indeed.Seeing her struggling to hold it, Benita volunteered to help, carefully supporting the blade.
Working together, the two carefully wiped away the mud and dust stuck to the sword's surface.
Her fingertips brushed over the rust marks on the blade, then touched the crossguard and hilt. Celitia frowned slightly, showing an expression of "as I thought."
After a moment, Celitia raised her head:
"This sword isn't very old. The rust marks are still fresh, and the crossguard and hilt show almost no wear. It shouldn't be any relic treasure."
Olar's face flushed red: "This was just dug up from the ground—everyone saw it!"
"Don't forget, Monica just said she saw Mr. Jeff working in the field at midnight. So think about it—what exactly was he doing?"
Speaking to this point, Celitia's expression turned stern as she said coldly to Jeff: "Speak up. Did you deliberately hide this sword in the ground?"
Shanie was filled with righteous indignation, giving Jeff a hard kick: "Talk!"
The two girls' imposing manner was startling. Jeff gradually cowered, his lips trembling constantly, on the verge of confessing:
"I—"
"Stop turning things upside down here!"
Olar's sharp voice rang out, drowning out Jeff and interrupting his unfinished words.
"The evidence is right here now. You're just conspiring with Monica to frame us instead!"
"What a case of the pot calling the kettle black," Benita was furious. "The ones framing us are now saying we're framing you?"
Olar pointed at the sword in Benita's hands, his attitude firm:
"The evidence is right there, and all the onlookers are witnesses. When did we frame you?"
"Evidence? This thing deserves to be called evidence?"
Celitia glanced contemptuously at the rusty longsword. "Since you refuse to admit it and everyone doesn't quite understand, then let's use authentication magic to prove it."
"Authentication magic?" Olar panicked for a moment. "In this remote countryside, where would we find an authenticator?"
"You want to present treasures to the baron but won't even authenticate them?"
Celitia looked at him mockingly, a faint cold smile appearing at her lips. "Besides, I am an authenticator."
"You're an authenticator? Stop making things up!"
Olar completely disbelieved, thinking Celitia was just talking nonsense. "We've lived together for so many years—how would I not know you can use authentication magic?"
"There are many things you don't know."
Celitia smiled slightly, her gaze toward Olar full of contempt.
Olar had always thought highly of himself and never took this weak sister seriously. How could he stand such a look from her?
He immediately became excited, shouting: "Authenticate then! You think I'm afraid of you—"
Before Olar finished speaking, another commotion came from nearby.
An elder leading several people pushed through the watching villagers and hurried over.
Scanning the two opposing groups, the elder humbly nodded to Olar, then walked toward Celitia and the others.
"Shanie, and Shanie's friends," the elder pulled them with both hands. "Come here and listen to some advice from grandpa."
"Grandpa Miller?" Shanie was confused.
Celitia asked quietly: "Who is he?"
"He's the village chief of our Paril Village," Shanie answered. "The situation might have gotten a bit serious if even Village Chief Grandpa is involved."
Miller pulled Shanie and Celitia to a corner near the house, away from Olar and his group.
Making sure Olar couldn't hear, Miller lowered his voice:
"Shanie, and you two young ladies, please listen to grandpa's advice—don't make things too ugly with Baron Tucker. Regarding Lake's matter, we'll all think of ways to plead with the baron and try to get him released."
Judy immediately got excited upon hearing this: "Can that really be done, Village Chief Miller?"
Miller nodded at her, then looked at Celitia and Benita, sighing:
"Looking at you two girls' behavior and dress, you should be of noble birth and will return to Cassia sooner or later.
"But Baron Tucker is our direct lord, and we ordinary villagers must make our living under his rule. You two are fearless and can just leave when the time comes—the baron naturally can't find you. But what about Shanie's family?"
As soon as Miller spoke these words, several villagers led by Paul immediately began hesitating:
"The village chief is right—these two young ladies aren't from our village."
"They have family backgrounds and aren't afraid of offending the baron, but what about us?"
"When things get messy, they can hide in the city with family protection and naturally be safe."
"But if the baron's anger falls on us, what can we do?"
The villagers who had originally helped Shanie and confronted Olar's group now couldn't help but waver.
They looked at Celitia with disapproval in their eyes.
Seeing disagreements emerge among the people helping her, Judy was at a loss, her eyes reddening and nearly in tears.
She grasped Celitia and Benita's hands, choking up:
"Thank you for your righteous help, Celitia and Benita. But this is our family matter—we can't drag you, who have no connection to this, down with us."
"Mom!" Shanie called out disapprovingly.
Judy shook her head, wiping her red eyes, and asked Miller: "Village Chief, I want to meet with the baron. Can you help arrange an introduction?"
"Whatever gifts the baron needs, I'll prepare immediately. As long as Lake can come back, even giving up our land doesn't matter."
Speaking to this point, her voice became more choked: "Without land, we can still live; but if the person is gone, there's truly nothing left..."
Miller sighed and comfortingly patted Judy's shoulder:
"Judy, don't panic first. This matter still has room for discussion. As long as we properly plead with the baron, we'll definitely find a way out..."
"Yes, Village Chief Miller is right." Paul nodded along. "Lake has always been well-liked—let's gather more people to plead with the baron together!"
Celitia frowned deeply.
Facing wolves who robbed through cunning, constant retreat and hoping to move their sympathy through pleading would only make them more delicious prey.
But if not only the village chief and villagers, but even Judy held such opinions, how could she, an outsider, interfere?
She might even earn their resentment instead.
Just as everyone was discussing and nearly reaching a decision, Shanie's voice rose above them, ringing out clearly:
"I object!"