Chapter 630: Unexpected Variable


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    "Hasn''t the pandemic in Corvid already been taken care of?" Ives asked with a scoff. "Why bother now?"


    Brigham argued, "But don''t you find it strange for a small-time gang such as the Red Fists to gain notoriety in such a short span of time? What''s more, I''ve even heard rumors that this criminal gang was the one to help cure the people of that district."


    "That''s all the more reason why we shouldn''t be bothered with them," said Taron. "If it is as you''ve said and the Red Fists are indeed the ones to solve the issue with the pandemic, I don''t see why you''re trying to go after them."


    Hammond McLeod and Sabrina Benton nodded their heads, agreeing with the elf''s reasoning.


    Brigham''s expression turned solemn and he asked, "But what if the Red Fists were the ones behind the pandemic in the first ce?"


    Hearing that im, everyone''s expression turned serious. Sabrina couldn''t help but ask, "Lord Flynn, do you have proof?"


    "...No." Brigham shook his head. "At the moment, it is just spection."


    Of course, he couldn''t disclose the fact that the Red Fists might have something to do with the Cult of Bones. If he did, he wouldn''t be able toplete the Twilight Brotherhood''s objective.


    But at the same time, it was also bing 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 nt 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 nced 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 nced 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 couldn''t help but sigh, "Lord Flynn, the Corvid Quarter is economically unproductive. Shifting our attention there offers little benefit to the city''s overall prosperity."


    Sabrina nodded. "The district doesn''t hold any strategic importance, unlike the other districts." She paused for a moment before adding, "And it''s not like we haven''t 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 government''s 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 doesn''t sit right with me. I''m afraid, if we don''t deal with them now, they might turn into a bigger problem than the Umbra Thieves."


    Hammond was taken aback, and even Nylian''s expression turned serious.@@novelbin@@


    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 they''d 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 Bard, 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 nced at the final member of the Council of Seven, Daniel Ranzenberg. This Mana Vortex Magus, despite his old age, was a muscr 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 rted 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 rting to the Red Fists as well. So he turned his attention to the three people who had given a ''nay'' vote.


    His n 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 rted to the Corvid Quarter. That left Brigham with only onest option.


    He gazed at the only woman councilor and thought to himself, I have to somehow convince Sabrina. Given her nature, I''m sure she''ll 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 nced at Hammond and tly muttered, "Nay."


    Needless to say, everyone was visibly taken aback, most of all Brigham. All of his ns ended up bing 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 intoughter. "Would you look at that? Even Lord Ranzenberg can see the folly of your ims."


    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 rted to the uing Grand Magus Tournament.


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


    He gazed at Daniel Ranzenberg''s 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 oue he had hoped for, he had certainly found something worth probing.