Chapter 583: Framing Hun Tong

“It's difficult,” the royal grand magician stated bluntly. “Your Majesty, you must be aware of the chaos within the Ten Millenia Ice Lake.”

“Even before our nation's founding, numerous alchemy laboratories, sacred temples within the lake, and even mage towers were constructed within its depths.”

“Due to the altered flow of time within the ice lake, the concentration of ice elements and the rampant presence of magic beasts make it exceedingly difficult for us to fully survey the lake's interior.”

“In truth, detecting this much information this time is already considered quite fortunate.”

The king sighed deeply. "The Ice Lake National Policy has brought us too many hidden dangers. As the ruler of a nation, I cannot even grasp the situation within my own capital. How utterly ridiculous! For so many years, this threat has remained unresolved, only growing more formidable with time."

“Teacher, what are we to do?”

The Royal Grand Magician's expression remained impassive: "Your Majesty, the Ice Lake National Policy is the very foundation of our nation. Without it, we would not possess the unrivaled alchemy prowess that sets us apart from the world."

“This is a strategy for national strength, a sound strategy indeed.”

"Every system has its merits and drawbacks. As rulers, we must weigh all the pros and cons."

“For now, this National Ceremony is paramount—it will determine our nation's future course.”

"Your grandfather considered resolving this threat during his reign. But after deep deliberation, he feared it might undermine our very foundations and abandoned the idea."

The Snow Elf King's grandfather was the previous Snow Elf King, a legendary figure of legend power.

“Ah!” Mentioning his grandfather, the Snow Elf King sighed deeply, his expression desolate, “Then let it remain as it is for now.”

“Teacher, upon your return, do your utmost to engage with this faction.”

The Royal Grand Magician nodded. “This old servant will spare no effort!”

Watching the grand magician's retreating figure, the Snow Elf King's gaze grew profoundly somber.

The reconnaissance had yielded results. The royal grand magician's response was as expected, yet it also left the Snow Elf King with a chill.

Altering the Ice Lake National Policy would face immense resistance!

It touched upon the interests of far too many, including the royal grand magician himself.

Though the grand magician was the Snow Elf King's teacher, he was also the head of the Han Yu Clan. The Han Yu Clan was the second-greatest noble house, surpassed only by the Ice Sculpture Royal Family.

According to incomplete records, they possessed as many as 280 alchemy laboratories within the Ten Millenia Ice Lake.

In the past, even the legend level magician who had been the previous Snow Elf King had failed to accomplish this task. Much less the current Snow Elf King, who possessed only saint level strength.

Changing the Ice Lake National Policy was utterly impossible!

Two Eyes Island.

"You think he can topple me? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Hun Tong bellowed before Tan Mo.

Hun Tong possessed the composure of a lord who remained unflappable even as mountains crumbled before him, yet now he displayed a rare loss of poise.

Understandably so.

For the current situation was exceptionally dire. Hun Tong was under imperial investigation when Tan Mo suddenly ordered his arrest, accusing him of treason and collaboration with the enemy.

This charge was monumental!

"Why would I collaborate with the enemy? How could I, Hun Tong, ever betray my country?" Hun Tong shouted.

Tan Mo sneered coldly, “For your own gain, of course.”

"Two Eyes Island's strategic location makes it a prime candidate for an imperial maritime transport hub. Yet you, Hun Tong, had previously signed contracts with numerous merchant alliances."

“Once it's converted into a military transport hub, you'll be in massive breach of contract and liable for enormous gold coin compensation.”

“But unwilling to pay a single coin, you seized the opportunity during your clash with the fishmen. You feigned possession by the Devil Gold Coins and slaughtered the merchants.”

"That wasn't enough. After the war, you harassed the merchants, accusing them of desertion for breaching our defenses during the offensive and forcing them to renegotiate their commercial contracts."

Hun Tong retorted, “This is a dispute between me and that merchant alliance. How does that equate to treason?”

Tan Mo laughed heartily, “Because you have connections with certain fishmen and secretly formed an alliance with them!”

“What?” Hun Tong's eyes widened. “This is pure slander!”

“I have a witness!” Tan Mo swept his arm dramatically across the interrogation room, shouting with righteous fervor, “Bring him in!”

The next moment, two expressionless naval soldiers escorted a silver level fishman into the chamber.

This was a silver-scaled fishman.

Slender in build, he bore fins along the outer edges of his forearms, the backs of his calves, his entire fish head, and his back. These fins glowed dark silver, their edges razor-sharp like blades.

He was the blade fin fishman, Dao Hen!

During the great battle at Two Eyes Island, he was invited by the Blue Green Coral Clan to join the fight, where he performed remarkably well.

Even when Ku Feng fought him in peak condition, he still suffered defeat.

Undoubtedly a formidable fighter among the fishmen, he ultimately fell on Two Eyes Island and was taken prisoner.

Hun Tong certainly knew about Dao Hen. In fact, he had nearly executed him publicly after the battle to boost morale. But upon reflection, he spared him, keeping him as evidence to withstand the Empire's investigation, while also using him to claim border defense merits for his application to become a ruling lord.

Just as Hun Tong was about to speak, Dao Hen cut him off, pointing a finger at him, “It's you! You traitor! You despicable, shameless scoundrel!”

“You pretended to cooperate with us, but it was all for your own gain! You even tried to double-cross us...”

This tirade was clearly rehearsed, logically coherent and delivered at breakneck speed, leaving Hun Tong no chance to interrupt.

Only when he finished did Hun Tong glare at him with bloodshot eyes, fixing his gaze on Dao Hen: “I truly regret not beheading you publicly back then!”

He then turned his furious stare to Tan Mo: “You didn't think that stealing my prisoner from my dungeon and persuading him to falsely testify for me would allow you to frame an actual ruling lord, did you?”

Tan Mo smiled. "Still playing dumb? Give it up. Besides the witness, I've gathered plenty of evidence."

“Open your eyes wide and take a good look!”

Tan Mo tossed a pile of documents at Hun Tong.

Hun Tong scooped them up and scanned them furiously. " Brilliant trick! These documents were originally letters I exchanged with Shadow to contact the Vinegar Jar Pirates. You altered them slightly, and now they're evidence to frame me!"

“How bold! Don't you fear the Empire's investigation?”

Just as Hun Tong was questioning, the interrogation room door burst open. Yan Yi barged in.

Tan Mo and Tu Ji immediately frowned deeply.

Yan Yi looked panicked, quickly scanning the interrogation room before forcing himself to calm down. He squeezed out a smile and said to Tan Mo, “Lord Tan Mo, you really shouldn't be doing this.”

“I am utterly loyal to the Empire. I hold you, and every member of this Imperial Investigation Team, in the highest regard and faith.”

“You cannot act recklessly. This evidence must not be tampered with...”

“Insolent!” Tan Mo snapped, his voice laced with thin anger, cutting off Yan Yi. “Shadow, watch your tongue!”

“I want you to be clear about what you just said.”

Hun Tong's eyes lit up. He thought: “Right! If these fabricated testimonies hold up under investigation, Yan Yi will be implicated as a party involved, he won't be able to shake it off!”

Hun Tong also spoke up: "Yan Yi, be mindful of your position. If Tan Mo takes me down, do you think you'll escape unscathed?"

Tan Mo addressed Yan Yi by his Imperial Secret Spy Agency codename, aiming to leverage the organization's authority to intimidate him.

Hun Tong, however, addressed him directly by name, reminding him they were both members of the Duo Mu Clan, blood kin.

Caught between them, Yan Yi soon broke into a sweat, panic etched deeper on his face.

His gaze darted between Hun Tong and Tan Mo. He opened his mouth to speak, but time and again, no words came out.

“Coward!” Hun Tong muttered under his breath at the sight.

Tan Mo offered a mix of reassurance and warning: “Shadow, look closely. None of this evidence implicates you.”

“So don't stir up trouble where there is none.”

“What do you think you can accomplish, mere bronze level?”

“You weren't involved before, but meddle now, and you will be!”

“Hmph! A bronze level? Weak and feeble? Who cares? Get lost.”

Yan Yi's body trembled. Beyond the panic on his face, a flicker of struggle and hope flickered.

Hun Tong observed the situation and felt something amiss, so he quickly voiced out and defended Yan Yi.

Tan Mo observed Yan Yi, engaging Hun Tong in a verbal duel. For a moment, neither gained the upper hand.

Fishman Dao Hen, watching from the sidelines, felt a surge of satisfaction.

Hun Tong was undoubtedly his sworn enemy. It was Hun Tong who had seized Two Eyes Island, forcing the Blue Green Coral Clan to later offer Dao Hen a hefty sum to join their fight.

Beyond Hun Tong, figures like Tan Mo and Tu Ji from the Sheng Ming Empire were certainly no better.

The Sheng Ming Empire boasted vast influence and formidable strength, firmly establishing itself as the dominant power of the main plane. For centuries, its external actions had been relentless. Along its coastlines, countless fishman clans had been exterminated or driven into exile. Numerous fishman warriors were targeted and suppressed; many vanished mysteriously or met inexplicable deaths.

The enmity between the two sides had long been deeply entrenched.

As a member of the fishman clan, Dao Hen's stance toward the Sheng Ming Empire was inherently hostile.

“Never imagined I'd witness such a spectacle before my death.”

“Dogs fighting among themselves, heh heh heh.”

"They even made me slander and frame Hun Tong. The Sheng Ming Empire is nothing special after all, rotten and corrupt from within. Good. Absolutely perfect!"

Weak and powerless, Dao Hen was tightly guarded by naval forces on both sides, yet his heart swelled with satisfaction.

The only flaw was that this was a human race's internal strife. If he could have been the one to strike down his enemy with his own hands, the thrill of vengeance would undoubtedly have been far more satisfying.

But witnessing this scene was enough to satisfy Dao Hen.

Therefore, even though he knew he had been used by Tan Mo, he accepted it willingly and welcomed the outcome.

Hun Tong glared at Tan Mo with savage intensity, his hatred and fury plain for all to see.

He had gone to great lengths to satisfy Tan Mo's greed. He never expected Tan Mo to suddenly turn on him with such ferocity, especially since they had been bargaining just moments before.

At most, tensions had been simmering between them.

Truthfully, Tan Mo’s sudden attack had caught Hun Tong off guard, leaving him on the defensive ever since.

“Lord Tu Ji, you alone are a trustworthy investigator.” Hun Tong turned to Tu Ji, seeking his support. “You personally conducted fieldwork and inquiries. Could you possibly believe that I, Hun Tong, would betray my country?”