"A plan?" Spencer was startled by Seth's words. He never anticipated the prisoners being transferred to their palace to be of use other than to interrogate to find more information.
Seeing his reaction, Seth exhaled softly. "I've told you to learn more politics but you just refused. The Crown Prince intercepting the capital guards and disregarding the protocol to capture these prisoners over meant he wanted to do something to them. If you interrogated and tortured them to death, then what will the Crown Prince be left with?"
Stunned, Spencer's face turned pale. He stumbled a few steps back and pondered over the situation.
Indeed, it wouldn't have made any sense for the Crown Prince to capture them just to interrogate them.
After all, the matter could have been done by the capital guards through the Capital Justice Court.
Spencer highly doubted anyone could be powerful enough to manipulate or destroy any evidence under the Capital Justice Court. The Capital Justice Court was one of the jurisdictions under the Royal Court, responsible for overseeing and trialing any crimes committed in the capital.
"Then what should I do?" Frustrated, Spencer clenched his fist. He felt like imploding for having no way to express his anger. The Crown Prince was delayed and hindered by someone, but all he could do was wait at the palace.
If possible, Spencer hoped to leave the palace and rush over to Leonard's side. Unfortunately, he was forbidden to do so by Leonard.
"What you should do is just show your face occasionally in the capital. Let the others know you're still here." Seth calmly said.
"You need not to worry about the Crown Prince's safety. I've already used my code name to make numerous arrangements."
"You're actually using your Inkveil code name?" Spencer became alarmed. It had been many years since the code name, Inkveil had gone into hiding in the public eye.
"Why not?" Seth mused. "The capital is paying a lot of attention to the Crown Prince, so a diversion is required. Now that Inkveil is making an appearance, I wonder how many of my old enemies are going to appear."
Spencer was rendered speechless. The code name Inkveil was synonymous with the word death. Anyone who encountered or clashed against Inkveil either ended up dead or beyond recognition.
Only a few people knew the true identity of Inkveil, and Spencer was one of them. This was also why Spencer considered an ordinary librarian an equal.
It was because both of them were collectively known as the light and dark.
The light was Spencer who took action in public, and the dark was Seth who operated things behind the scenes. The two of them combined had caused a sensation and nightmare within the capital.
"Aren't you afraid the emperor might figure out who you are?" Spencer asked cautiously.
"Back then, the emperor failed to find me. What makes you think he can do so today?" Seth snickered and released some of his magic aura.
Despite the overwhelming pressure, the surrounding scene didn't get disturbed whatsoever.
Nevertheless, Spencer sensed a dreadful power that could easily consume a person whole.
"Anyway, just consider this a small vacation and small trial for the Crown Prince. He has grown up, and it's our duty to let him grow." Seth retracted his magic aura and said softly. His demeanor and composure appeared no different than a regular librarian, a far cry from his earlier display of power.
"Very well." Spencer nodded and exited the library.
While the commotion at Leonard's palace gradually came to a peaceful curtain, there was an intense fight elsewhere.
27th Street, 9th Avenue
Curtis' clothes were slightly ripped as he clashed and confronted the werewolf slave.
The nearby guards were also assisting him in capturing the escaped werewolf.
"Sir, this werewolf seemed to be in berserk mode. He feels no injuries and only knows how to attack aggressively." One of the guards exclaimed loudly.
"The werewolf must have taken some drugs. We can't afford to delay it any longer." Curtis responded and continued, "Form a phalanx battle formation. I'll defend you all with my barriers."
The guards were about to say that such a formation wouldn't be any help until Curtis retrieved a vial containing some liquid.
"Lace this detoxification potion in your spears and stab the werewolf with it. Once the spear penetrates its flesh, the drug effect would be nullified." Curtis commanded.
"Yes, Sir." The capital guards moved swiftly, uncorking the vials and carefully coating the steel tips of their spears with the shimmering detoxification liquid. The potion sizzled faintly, its alchemical composition reacting to the forged steel with a soft hiss and pale glow.
A pungent herbal scent passed into the air, causing some of their nostrils to burn slightly.
In response to the pungent scent, the werewolf's eyes narrowed. It was drenched in sweat and roared as it lunged forward again. Veins bulge beneath its fur-covered skin, pulsing violently from whatever drug drove it into berserker madness.
"Now, maintain the formation and stab it whenever an opportunity arises!"
While Curtis devised a plan to apprehend the werewolf slave, back at 23rd Street where Leonard was staying, another commotion broke out.
The distant sound of clashing steel and roaring flames echoed faintly over the tiled rooftops. Following the sound was a Crimson Guard being hurled over from the rooftops, attacked, and chased by a few capital guards.
"What are you capital guards doing?" One member from the Crimson Guards stationed close to the carriage shouted in alarm.
In the next instance, the members realized the capital guards seemed to have gone rogue. Without hesitation, most of the members started to confront the capital guards, with a few remaining by the carriage to safeguard Leonard.
"Looks like the climax is happening." Amidst the chaotic situation, Leonard chuckled in amusement.
"You… anticipated an ambush from the capital's own guards?" Mirelle's eyebrows were raised. She was confused as to whether Leonard knew about the ambush in advance or was just playing along with the flow.