Chapter 387: Smuggling

Two staff members immediately cuffed Royce with anti-magic shackles; he dared not resist, knowing it would worsen his situation.

He pleaded, “Sir, please let me go. I won’t transport this cargo anymore. Just let me return; I won’t do this business again.”

Aiden shook his head, “No, this cargo has entered Seranthiel territory. I have the authority and duty to inspect it.”

Seeing no chance of escape, Royce felt hopeless, thinking he was doomed.

He hadn’t expected Silver Beach’s official to be so unyielding, refusing any bribes.

Royce hadn’t done much business in Silver Beach before; Sam specifically sent him to handle the dragon bones.

Originally, there was no issue, but the hidden person caught Royce off guard.

Royce silently blamed Sam; if only he’d been informed about the person, he could have prepared.

Being told after landing felt like a setup.

Royce abandoned hope, resigned to spending his life in a Seranthiel prison.

He handed over the key, a black crystal plate, to unlock the crates’ seals.

Fifteen large crates were opened one by one in the plaza.

With each opening, Royce’s heart sank further, until only three crates remained.

Suddenly, noise came from the last crate.

One side opened, and a young man emerged.

“Who are you!”

Two staff members quickly surrounded him, magic at the ready.

Helag smiled, raising his hands, explaining, “I’m Helag Merlin, a Seranthiel member under Lord Parker. I was accidentally teleported to the polluted zone by Abyssal cultists and barely escaped.”

He quickly explained his identity and situation.

The staff, recognizing his name from recent alerts sent to Seranthiel cities, hesitated but remained cautious.

Aiden, frowning, approached Helag, asking, “Where’s your communication stone? Show me.”

“Due to circumstances, it was destroyed in the polluted zone. Without it, I had no choice but to return this way,” Helag said helplessly.

“No stone?” Aiden looked skeptical.

“Even without it, you didn’t need to smuggle. You could have contacted Eye of the Storm for help,” Aiden questioned.

Helag explained, “I don’t trust them. In the polluted zone, their explorers attacked me. I barely escaped. Once in their territory, I couldn’t risk seeking their help.”

Aiden, half-believing, waved his hand, “Detain him. We’ll verify his identity later.”

“Contact Silvermoon City’s Mr. Pruis, or let me use your stone to prove my identity,” Helag suggested.

Aiden replied, “We’ll verify your identity, but regardless, you’ve smuggled, so we must detain you. Smuggling and identity are separate issues.”

Helag was speechless. Wasn’t Seranthiel his home?

He smuggled out of necessity, not choice.

But Aiden seemed intent on charging him with smuggling.

Returning home counted as smuggling?

Aiden instructed, “Detain him in the interrogation room.”

The staff cuffed Helag with anti-magic shackles.

Helag didn’t resist, knowing the truth would soon come out. Fighting would complicate matters.

Royce, hearing Helag’s identity, was surprised, realizing he was transporting a Seranthiel member.

He hadn’t known Sam had such deep ties with Seranthiel.

Royce believed Helag and Sam were close; otherwise, Sam wouldn’t risk smuggling Helag.

Seeing Helag as a lifeline, Royce pleaded, “Lord Helag, help me. I’m Sam’s subordinate. I don’t want to rot in prison. Sir, Helag is one of yours, so it’s not smuggling, right?”

“Smuggling is illegal border crossing, unrelated to identity. You’ll be judged accordingly,” Aiden said flatly.

Helag glanced at Royce, helpless; he was cuffed and couldn’t help Royce until he was free.

Helag was taken to the city hall’s interrogation room.

His identity meant he wasn’t jailed immediately.

Left alone, Helag assumed they were verifying his identity.

Three hours later, a middle-aged man entered, smiling warmly, holding a communication stone, “Mr. Helag, here’s your replacement stone. If you’re truly Helag, you can use it to prove your identity.”

“May I ask your name?” Helag inquired.

“I’m Brad, Silver Beach’s Security Defense Minister, and I know Pruis well,” Brad smiled.

Helag nodded, raising his cuffed hands, “Mr. Brad, could you remove these? I need magic to use the stone.”

Brad slapped his forehead, “Oh, I forgot. I’ve been busy with communications. One moment.”

He returned shortly with a key, personally unlocking Helag’s cuffs.