Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 630: Unexpected Variable

”Hasnʼt the pandemic in Corvid already been taken care of?” Ives asked with a scoff. ”Why bother now?”

Brigham argued, ”But donʼt you find it strange for a small-time gang such as the Red Fists to gain notoriety in such a short span of time? Whatʼs more, Iʼve even heard rumors that this criminal gang was the one to help cure the people of that district.”

”Thatʼs all the more reason why we shouldnʼt be bothered with them,” said Taron. ”If it is as youʼve said and the Red Fists are indeed the ones to solve the issue with the pandemic, I donʼt see why youʼre trying to go after them.”

Hammond McLeod and Sabrina Benton nodded their heads, agreeing with the elfʼs reasoning.

Brighamʼs expression turned solemn and he asked, ”But what if the Red Fists were the ones behind the pandemic in the first place?”

Hearing that claim, everyoneʼs expression turned serious. Sabrina couldnʼt help but ask, ”Lord Flynn, do you have proof?”

”…No.” Brigham shook his head. ”At the moment, it is just speculation.”

Of course, he couldnʼt disclose the fact that the Red Fists might have something to do with the Cult of Bones. If he did, he wouldnʼt be able to complete the Twilight Brotherhoodʼs objective.

But at the same time, it was also becoming very difficult for the Flynn Patriarch to steer things in favor of the Brotherhood if there were so many things he needed to keep under wraps.

At most, he could help plant a seed of doubt in the minds of the councilors. If he tried to be too adamant about the subject, the others might notice something strange.

Nylian glanced at Brigham and asked with an inquisitive look, ”Lord Flynn, do you suspect the Red Fists of plotting something evil?”

Brigham nodded. ”My instincts tell me that they cannot be overlooked.” He then glanced at everyone sitting at the round table and added, ”My Lords, My Lady, I urge you to look into this matter.”

Listening to him, Hammond couldnʼt help but sigh, ”Lord Flynn, the Corvid Quarter is economically unproductive. Shifting our attention there offers little benefit to the cityʼs overall prosperity.”

Sabrina nodded. ”The district doesnʼt hold any strategic importance, unlike the other districts.” She paused for a moment before adding, ”And itʼs not like we havenʼt tried to help them in the past. All our efforts had failed, I doubt we should invest further.”

”They should improve their own situation without relying on the governmentʼs help,” Ives added with a sneer.

”Why the sudden interest in the Red Fists, Lord Brigham?” Hammond asked out of curiosity. After all, Brigham had never been one to pay attention to the matters of Corvid Quarter in the past.

Brigham replied with slight unease. ”Something doesnʼt sit right with me. Iʼm afraid, if we donʼt deal with them now, they might turn into a bigger problem than the Umbra Thieves.”

Hammond was taken aback, and even Nylianʼs expression turned serious.

The slums of the Corvid Quarter had been ignored for generations, creating a precedent of neglect. Moreover, the district inhabitants were viewed as criminals and morally inferior by the rest of the people of the city.

In the eyes of the councilors, it was only justified that theyʼd be inactive when it came to matters regarding the Corvid Quarter.

”Lord Flynn, you are giving them far too much credit.” Ives dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

Seeing that the discussion was going nowehere, Hammond chimed in, ”Shall we put it to a vote then?” Everyone at the table nodded.

”Very well,” Hammond began. ”All in favor of investigating the Red Fists, say aye.”

”Aye.” Brigham was naturally the first one to respond.

”Aye.” Followed by Nylian Feno.

”Nay.” Ives Ballard, Taron Norwood, and Sabrina Benton declined.

”Aye,” said Hammond as he gave a nod to Brigham.

Great! The Flynn Patriarch thought inwardly. Now, the tie-breaker vote depends on…

He glanced at the final member of the Council of Seven, Daniel Ranzenberg. This Mana Vortex Magus, despite his old age, was a muscular man with a stocky build. He always had a stoic expression on his face.

Amongst the councilors at the table, he was known to be a fence-sitter, almost always giving a neutral vote in most matters related to the city. Unless, of course, it was something involving the safety of Ravenfell.

Like all other councilors, Daniel was born and raised in Ravenfell. Needless to say, he was fiercely loyal to the city.

Brigham had already expected the man to remain neutral in this matter relating to the Red Fists as well. So he turned his attention to the three people who had given a ʼnayʼ vote.

His plan was to convince one of them to change their minds when he called for a vote the next time the council was convened since this vote would result in a tie-breaker.

Brigham knew that Ives and Taron were too haughty and prejudiced to even consider anything remotely related to the Corvid Quarter. That left Brigham with only one last option.

He gazed at the only woman councilor and thought to himself, I have to somehow convince Sabrina. Given her nature, Iʼm sure sheʼll be able to be reasoned with.

But something that Brigham had never expected ended up happening.

Daniel silently looked at the three people who were against the investigation of the Red Fists. Then, he glanced at Hammond and flatly muttered, ”Nay.”

Needless to say, everyone was visibly taken aback, most of all Brigham. All of his plans ended up becoming useless because of this unexpected variable. For a moment, all he could do was stare at Daniel with a stupefied expression.

Seeing Brigham turn speechless, Ives burst into laughter. ”Would you look at that? Even Lord Ranzenberg can see the folly of your claims.”

After a brief pause, Hammond impartially stated, ”The council has dismissed the motion to investigate the Red Fists.”

The meeting continued for another half an hour as other pressing matters were brought up, most of them related to the upcoming Grand Magus Tournament.

After the conclusion of the council meeting, everyone got up from their seats and began to leave. Brigham was the last one to depart, the frown on his face visible for all to see.

He gazed at Daniel Ranzenbergʼs departing back and thought with a solemn expression, I truly did not expect that…

The Twilight Brotherhood suspected someone from the high nobility of Ravenfell to be secretly cooperating with the Red Fists and, by association, the Cult of Bones.

Now, although Brigham was not able to achieve the outcome he had hoped for, he had certainly found something worth probing.