"This is..." Julius said in shock as he saw the bodies of Hexarion's slaves.
He recognized the lady as the person who followed Hexarion to the auction and he knew the
other slave since he was bought from the auction. However, he wasn't sure how they got to his house.
"Is this a trap set up by the rulers? If Sir Rio finds out they are here then..."
He panicked within himself as he looked around him frantically. He quickly shut the door of his house and crashed his butt on the floor as he sighed. Why these events were happening to him, he had no idea. Suddenly something sparked in his mind.
"What am I so afraid of? It's not like I plan to stick around for longer" He thought aloud.
"Even the money he gave me to keep, I've taken them all haven't I? I've gone past the point of turning back."
"I only need to make my clean escape and I'll be home free" He said with a smile.
Yes, he wasn't done yet! But he was going to be...
"Mr Julius Bodenhim" A loud voice emerged from outside his house.
Julius's heart nearly skipped a beat when he heard the commanding tone suddenly. Who was it this time?
"Who is it? What do you want?" He yelled from within his house.
"I am an emissary from the royal household, representative of His Majesty and enforcer of his will. Julius Bodenheim, come out of your abode immediately!" The man ordered.
"The royal family? What do they have to do with...?" Julius wondered.
He was even more confused as to why an emissary could be in his house, especially at such a time as this. He quickly peeped through a window blind to see just who the royal family decided to send to his house so suddenly. His eyes widened and his face immediately darkened at the sight he saw. What he saw that was outside his house shook his entire body.
"H-How can they...? How is this possible?" He asked himself in shock.
Surrounding his front entrance was an army. Soldiers belonging to the military of the kingdom. From the looks of their numbers alone, he estimated they were at least a hundred.
"Why are there so many? And on such short notice? How can this be happening to me?" Julius muttered to himself.
"Julius Bodenheim, I repeat, come out of your abode immediately," the general commanded
Beads of sweat fell from Julius who was shaking in panic. Maybe they found out his involvement and trade with the black market and refusal to pay the tax on the ancient coins to them. If that was the case, then he was indeed in a big mess, bigger than the slaves of Hexarion in his house.
"What would happen if they see them here though? They could get the wrong idea" Julius panicked.
If he got roped in this mess as well, Hexarion, his most powerful benefactor was definitely going to turn his back on him.
"So you were the one with my slaves after all. Look at all these wounds they have on them. You treated them this way even though I've been so kind to you? Why did you do it? Why?" He pictured Hexarion ask.
"But I'm innocent. I've done nothing wrong! I just met them in my house. It's all the rulers' fault. They must have set me up.
But what of the ancient coins he stole?
"T-There's no way they can pin that on me. With my relic, there is no trace of the item within it unless I unseal them," he reasoned to himself.
"What business does the royal family have with me? I am merely a manager of the prestigious Imperius Auction House. I have done nothing to trespass the laws of the land or the will of the royal household" Julius said aloud to the people outside, hoping he convinced them.
"Do not even try to lie. Sufficient proof has been rendered against you. Should you desire to further defend yourself after these allegations have been rendered against you, then you will do so at the royal capital where you will be taken to for judgement." The general responded.
"Proof? Who?" Julius' thoughts were scrambled now.
"Till now I've made sure to always maintain good relations with everyone I encounter, especially if they have connections and authority. With my ring which charms most of the people I converse with, I'm always in their good grace. Who would go against me that has ties to the royal family?" He thought within himself as he gritted his teeth.
"What have I done to deserve this treatment? I haven't done anything wro-" Julius cried, trying to defend himself.
"Enough of your nonsense. Come out immediately. You have been accused of treason against the state, trading in the black market, embezzlement of company funds, illegal possession of both human and material property. Come forth from your house and face your punishment." The general spoke impatiently.
They were going to storm his house.
"I have another secret exit in my house. If I just go through there, then maybe, just maybe I could..." He said to himself.
Pulling himself together and smiling, he ran quickly toward his room which has the secret exit installed within. Bangs were heard from his door, indicating forceful entry by the army.
"I have to hurry" He said to himself.
"Just as in my office I designed a structure underground that leads to a different exit from my house, just in case I needed to make a quick break from robbers or assailants. I never thought I would be using it due to circumstances like this" He huffed.
He removed a carpet beside his study and a secret door was there. He removed the key to the hidden door which he had made as a necklace and tied around his neck. Without wasting a single second, he unlocked the door and entered the hidden passageway.
"This leads to an exit in a place some distance from my house. If I escape through there, with all attention focused on my house, then I'm free" He grinned widely.