Chapter 8

Sybil Park

This was just a part of our so-called Fuji tactic. Only the three of us knew about the Fuji tactic. The tactic was effective especially when it’s snowing or perhaps it’s fall season. The trap was invisible because it was covered with snow.

The guards immediately arrived. All of them were breathless and were drenched in sweat. One of them groaned. “That thief is so fast!”

“Sir, the thief you are after fell in this pit. We can help you lift him up to punish him,” I said.

They were relieved after hearing what I said. Of course, the three of us helped the guards to lift up the culprit because the guards were obviously tired. Few minutes later, the culprit was finally in the hands of the guards and the eunuch finally arrived.

I glanced at Cladius and saw that he was getting himself ready. Vishton, on the other hand, was just calm.

Vishton and I tried to be good to the public even if we were only at the lowest level of civilization. People’s eyes were on us whenever we were outside with Cladius. It’s uncomfortable yet I understand since he’s a nobleman and the son of the general. I once thought why he kept hanging out with us, commoners, when he can hang out with his fellow noblemen in his age too.

Society in Normous kept bothering me so I wanted to live somewhere hidden. Perhaps near the mountains or near the river. I just wanted peace.

I told Father the reasons why I wanted to live there but he became angry at me. From then on, I didn't waste any more time telling him what I wanted because I was afraid he might get angry again.

The culprit was trembling in fear as soon as he saw the eunuch and the guards.

Vishton approached the culprit and observed him. He forcibly confiscated the equipment stolen by the perpetrator. “The artefacts you stole have no value nor any worth. Not even one of the people here would want to steal such cheap artefacts! So tell me—What is your reason for stealing it?”

My eyes widened when Vishton did that. Goodness! The eunuch was looking at him, shocked. Vishton had no right to judge this culprit—what is he even thinking?! Has he gone crazy?

“I just stole it because I wanted to! It’s my hobby!” the culprit cried.

“Everything has a reason. So it’s very impossible you just wanted to steal that. And one more thing, the ones you stole are the cheapest and we can’t use them but that’s important to the owner. Just answer my question. It's that simple, sir. ”

“I already told you! I just want to steal! I just want to!” He lowered his gaze.

“Guards! Whip him fifty times and punish his family as well.” I-is he serious ?! He can't punish his family especially since they didn't do anything to him!

I looked at Cladius but he just shrugged at me.

The guards approached him and held him by both arms but the culprit kneeled and cried.

“S-someone ordered me! I stole worthless equipment to fulfill our plan! ” The culprit got the attention of all of us even more. Especially the eunuch and Vishton. Cladius acts as if nothing’s happening. Maybe he’s looking for something to eat. "We plan to steal the holy artefacts from the museum and so that we can’t be caught, we need to find something to replace those and decorate it excessively! That way, the artefacts we stole and the fake replacements will look the same."

Vishton gravely glared at the culprit. "Tell me, who is your mastermind?"

“Him!” He pointed at the eunuch beside us. “It’s Eunuch Kye who ordered me to do it! He also threatened me, sir!” He trembled like a leaf in the air while still kneeling in front of Vishton. “Please don’t hurt my family! They did nothing and they aren’t involved in this! Punish me instead!”

He shifted his stare to look at Eunuch Kye. "Punish the eunuch by whipping him a hundred times and discard him as a eunuch. We don’t need a criminal to serve the empire." Everyone was surprised, especially the eunuch.

"What right do you have to punish me like that?!” Eunuch Kye yelled at him.

Well, Vishton was just helping Cladius because he will be one of the generals in Normous, if ever. Cladius didn’t have such courage to face culprits or even a noble to mock, frame, and scold them. So basically, Vishton was doing all of his job and Cladius was the one who took the credits of the works that Vishton did.

I once disagreed on what they were doing but Vishton was such a good friend so he was doing all of his best to help Cladius.

The eunuch chuckled sharply. “What evidence do you even have? The culprit himself isn’t enough to declare me as guilty of this crime. Who knows that he’s just lying and wanted me to fall down with him.”

A guard interrupted, “I saw the eunuch threatening the culprit. I’m not sure if they’re the ones I saw.”

“R-right! That day, he gave me a letter! H-here is the letter the eunuch gave me!” said the culprit. “In that letter, the eunuch gave me a large sum of money if I did what he wants. He also threatened me in that letter and dared to hurt my family.”

The eunuch grabbed it and grinned. “This isn’t my handwriting.” He showed the letter to the guards. “Sir, do you think this is my handwriting? A dirty and messy penmanship?”

The guards answered simultaneously, “no.”

I saw Vishton clench his fists.

Cladius shouted, “don’t deny it, Eunuch Kye! Y-you . . .” He groaned. He didn’t know how to backfire.

“Don't be crestfallen, Lord Cladius. I have already resolved this case. I have the evidence with me.” Lord Julio suddenly appeared.

“First of all, I have a spy for this crime. And he saw the culprit,” he said.

He flipped his hair and continued to frame the eunuch in his crime, “second, what this guard says is true. They met on the north side of Xania Palace. Where Prince Riyo lives. . . . And that northern part is abandoned. There were no people but the guard happened to pass by because the prince's dog ran north. Third, this letter is not the handwriting of the eunuch but the handwriting of a servant. It is obvious from this calligraphy that the writer did not know how to write. My point is, the eunuch used the servant to write everything down. If something happened and this culprit failed, he could just easily blame the servant for being the mastermind. Even if the servant says the truth, no one will believe him because first of all, the eunuch is the one who sits in power.”

“That is not true! How can a eunuch like me do that?!” Eunuch Kye raised his voice against the lord.

"Can't eunuchs lie and sin?" Zhu Julio retorted, "and no matter what else you do, I have solid evidence and witnesses!"

Lord Julio gazed at Cladius. “I’m giving you the right to punish this man. What do you think is the best for him?”

Cladius trembled a bit. “Y-you have sinned so you must be punished! You will be removed from your position as eunuch. . . ” He started to take deep breaths. “. . . This empire doesn’t need a wicked eunuch like you! You’re so immoral so y-you deserve to fall! From now on . . . you’ll be a slave.” The eunuch was grabbed by the guards while it was crying and shouting miserably. The culprit was imprisoned for 4 days.

Vishton gazed at us. “Sybil Shima, Cladius Won. Come and—”

To be continued . . .