The impact of that one word, "betrayal," was immense.
The surroundings fell into a thick silence, so deep that one could hear a pin drop. "...... Betrayal," Finch shook his head, not showing any special reaction, but rather appearing regretful.
He let out a long sigh.
"I have devoted twenty years of loyalty to the Old One family. That is longer than you have lived."
He looked down at Simon with cold eyes.
"You, who have only been an employee for three days, dare to question my loyalty?"
"The issue of betrayal," Simon retorted, refusing to back down.
"It cannot be brushed aside with emotional arguments about time and age. Only clear facts matter."
"So, what is this clear fact that dares to label me a traitor?"
"The pirates you conspired with have confessed."
A murmur spread among the servants, their faces filled with shock.
"The naval soldiers of Blue Harbor also heard the pirates confess."
"Confess, you say? If you are a necromancer, extracting the desired answers from a captive should be as simple as yawning."
"Then let’s go to the beach together," Simon said defiantly.
"There are more than a few captured pirates. It would be impossible for me to deal with all of them in such a short time. Let’s see the truth there."