Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Chapter 97: Results of the Analysis

A few hours after the suspicious pouch was discovered on Pamela, the results of the tests were finally confirmed.

At this moment, Alaric was inside the baronʼs study together with the highest-ranking members of the household.

”Have you discovered the contents of the pouch?” Lucas asked the herbalist who conducted the analysis on the substance.

The herbalist, an old man in his seventies, nodded his head. ”Yes, my lord. I discovered an alarming amount of lobinuram in the substance. Itʼs the ashes of a poisonous plant called…”

Lucas suddenly raised his hand to stop the old man from talking.

”Stop. You donʼt need to tell me the specifics. Just tell me if itʼs poisonous if ingested by someone.”

Hearing this, the old herbalist cleared his throat and nodded. ”Yes, my lord. Although it wonʼt kill a person right away, it will cause a severe impact on the body. Even a powerful Knight would succumb if ingested repeatedly.”

Everyone frowned upon hearing the old manʼs words.

Lucas nodded and waved his hand. ”Thank you. You may leave now.”

The old man had already been rewarded for the task and he didnʼt dare ask for more. He left as soon as the baron gave him the cue to leave.

After the herbalist left, Lucas glanced at Alaric. ”Have you interrogated that woman?” He asked with a grim look.

Although he already knew that the person behind her was most likely his own brother, Lucas wanted to confirm it.

Alaric nodded. ”Yes, my lord. Sir Henry has also captured the person who gave her the poison. The both of them are currently being interrogated by my subordinates.”

”Well done. Bring me to them. I would like to know who is behind these two.” Lucas stood up from his seat with an unfathomable look on his face.

”Iʼll take you there, my lord.” Alaric stood up and made a ʼthis wayʼ gesture.

With the father and son in the lead, everyone else followed behind them.

The underground prison was located beneath the training ground.

In the training ground, there was a secret door that was constantly guarded by the warriors of the household and this door led to a tunnel where the underground prison was built.

The group passed by this secret door and headed down the tunnel illuminated by the torches inclined on the wall.

No one spoke as they headed deeper into the tunnel. Everyone was afraid to speak at this moment since they could sense the tenseness of the atmosphere.

They believed that there was something deeper about this attempted poisoning.

A few moments later, they finally arrived at the prison cells where all the criminals were held.

The prisoners were surprised to see a large group of people. Some of them cowered in the dark corners of their cells, while a few showed interest in the situation.

Soon, the group suddenly heard someone screaming like a pig being slaughtered.

”Weʼre here, my lord.” Alaric stopped in front of a cell.

”I apologize for the unsightly scene. I asked Sir Galanar not to hold back in his interrogation.” He uttered.

Lucas and the others peered inside the cell and they saw two people tied to a chair. Their bodies were covered in blood. It looked like they had been tortured based on the gruesome wounds on their bodies.

At this moment, Galanar who was holding what seemed to be a tooth extractor turned around.

He stepped out of the cell and greeted Alaric and the baron.

”How was the interrogation?” Alaric asked, looking completely unperturbed by the bloody scene.

He had seen much worse things so this didnʼt make him feel repulsed.

”They were stubborn at first, but they are answering me well now.” Galanarʼs words made everyone look at him with fear.

They thought that he was just an honorable Elite Knight. It turned out that he could be cruel too.

”They also disclosed the identity of their superior,” Galanar muttered.

Lucas tapped Alaricʼs shoulder and stared at Galanar as he asked. ”Who is it?”

Galanar didnʼt respond immediately and waited for Alaricʼs confirmation.

Seeing this, Alaric gave him the go signal.

”This may sound shocking so please be prepared…” Galanarʼs words made everyone tighten their gazes.

”It was Sir Charles. They were sent by Sir Charles and their main goal was to poison you, my lord.”

Lucasʼs eyes shook.

Meanwhile, the others were dumbfounded.

”What?!” Warrick exclaimed.

”Thereʼs no way!” Someone found it hard to believe. After all, Charles was Lucasʼs brother and he had never shown any signs of disobedience to the baron.

Lucas let out a deep sigh. ”So it was really him.” His voice was filled with complicated emotions.

”My lord, we need to bring Sir Charles here immediately!” Warrick remarked with an agitated voice.

”Thereʼs no need.” Lucas shook his head.

”Alaric already sent someone to get him.” The baron added.

Everyone raised their eyebrows.

Charles was not an average Elite Knight. Furthermore, he also had a bunch of loyal Knights and warriors serving under him. Capturing him would be difficult.

Galanar was here, so who did Alaric send to go after Charles?

”Thereʼs no need to panic, everyone. I sent someone trustworthy for the job.” Alaric said when he saw the looks on their faces.

”Iʼm sorry, my lord, but who might this person be?” Warrick asked with a frown.

Alaric smiled and muttered. ”Do you know the former commander of Valeʼs armed guards?”

Hearing this, the older warriors thought about one person, while the younger warriors looked confused.

”Didnʼt he retire after failing to advance to the Transcendent Knight realm?” Warrick hadnʼt seen this person, but he had heard a few things about him.

”Thatʼs true, but I helped him advance recently so I asked him for this favor.” Alaric calmly replied.

Everyone was stunned. They found it hard to believe, but when they recalled that he possessed a large number of Dragon Tail Ferns, they realized that it was indeed possible for him to have helped that person advance.