Poisoning

The dark elves were prepared to draw blood and kill Mallory and the city lord for their involvement in harming their own kind even knowing that war would be the result.

It showed how offended and angry they had become upon seeing the brother and sister arriving as they were.

There were many underlying problems within Visa City and most of them surrounded or came to Mallory if she walked towards of them or if they came to her own their own.

Her misfortunes came one after another and the city was just a place for those things to gather around and be attracted towards her.

When she was in the tribe and was weaker, she had to endure less misfortune and it did not always happen that often so there seemed to be a limit to how she had been gathering the bad luck and causing the others to have protection from their bad fate but upon growing stronger and entering a large city full of many people which was on the verge of destruction was a far greater location for bad luck to be gathered.

Within the protection of the walls and being around her goddess, the divine protection kept her safe but as Mallory grew in strength so did the misfortune she had to endure and encounter just like the more she grew, the tougher and more frequent the misfortunes would become for her which made her like a magnet for trouble.

Some could be suppressed slightly by charms and amulets because the good luck helped to decrease or ward off her bad luck but those could only do so much to protect her and her body did not stop absorbing the bad luck from her surroundings since she had no control over it.

Mallory still needed to be prepared for any type of natural or man made disaster which came her way or towards those around her so she always packed a variety of different talismans with her.

Mallory looked on the ground and reassured the dark elves. "They have been poisoned but my talisman had cured them in time to prevent their death. There may be some after effects from the poison so I recommend sending a trusted healer or doctor here right away to check them over."

Goddess Seshat agreed. "What you have just done has really saved the situation so I think that the representatives of the dark elves should apologise for their rash actions. The situation seems suspicious on its own and the goal seems to be aimed towards causing animosity in this meeting. Possibly the aim may be the city lord's life too."

A subordinate was handling the situation like they had seemed to be carrying out their master's orders and were perhaps prepared to repent for their actions with death but their words before their death would only cause the dark elves to believe that the city lord had intended to hand over the brother and sister after being poisoned and being close to death.

The city lord would receive the blame for the state of the brother and sister which would prove his previous words to be untrue, the trust he had tried to gain would be lost in an instant and the animosity of the dark elves would be gained.

Depending on the severity of their animosity, the city lord could be attacked then and there or the representatives would leave the city but return with an army.

The only way to prevent a war would be to change leaders or give in to the demands of the dark elves who were seeking vengeance so anyone believed to be involved would be handed over to them to punish them.

Either way, the fate of the city lord was very bad and he was destined to die very soon as Mallory had seen.

The poisoning of the brother and sister to the subordinate killing himself was not so simple as it seemed, there was definitely someone behind the scenes controlling things.

Their true aim would either to provoke a war or make it so that the city lord could no longer remain in his current position.

While the city lord called for someone to look over and treat the brother and sister, Mallory spoke up. "This is not the first time that someone has been found poisoned in this city. There have been many which have undergone cleansing of their bodies since the mandatory health inspection had begun."

The city lord frowned. "You mean?"

Mallory continued while the dark elves quietly listened in. "I have my suspicions about a place but they have a lot of power and influence so accusing them before would fall on deaf ears. If there was a source for people to acquire a poison then we should start there. While there would be some found in the underworld, most supplies have been cut off so the person behind this either has a supply of their own left over or they still have a supplier which has been missed."

Seshat raised an eyebrow and then said. "I think I know who you are suspecting. It would be difficult to send out a team to investigate their business."

The city lord looked clueless as he asked. "Who?"

Mallory let out a sigh. "The only place that handles everything related to medicines, herbs and potions of course.. when I visited their store in the past, there was an ominous aura surrounding the building and the workers there. I suspect they have been developing dangerous drugs and poisons illegally."

Certain businesses, guilds or associations had become far too big and influential that they were needed too much to remain within a city or other places around the world.

Offending them would result in treatments and other things being cut off so many did not wish to cross them and those in power did not wish to accuse them of things they had suspected without having proof.

Nobody wanted to be handed medicine or be treated by someone that they had offended for fear that they may be harmed.

One slight slip of the hand or a miscalculation with the dosage or ingredients would result in injury, illness or in worst cases.. death.

The business could easily be moved to another city since they had enough wealth and power to do so which made them even more untouchable because many relied on and needed them to be around in case something went wrong.

Due to those conditions and the situation within the city that granted them more freedom to do as they pleased and become more arrogant, they could act as they pleased while producing and selling things as they liked.

It did not matter if what they created was going to be used to harm others or if the person they were selling it to was going to use it for some vicious plan, they were gaining more wealth and power by doing so.

Such an organisation had strayed from its original path and all Mallory saw with her eyes when she was there was corruption and all the lingering attachments to them from those that had been harmed through their own actions or the transactions they had made working there.

The city lord went silent for a while then raised an eyebrow. "Maybe this is an opportunity. Excuse me esteemed guests but I request that I can use this event to be able to look into something."

The head representative showed a cunning look. "You plan to use us as an excuse so you can look into their business yes? Go ahead. I want to find the culprit behind this too but you must bring back results."

Seshat spoke up. "If that is the case.. the Seshat familia will aid the city lord in this investigation if you will allow the familia to take action once again."

So far the actions of the familia had been approved by those in charge of the city to solve many problems but there were always limits to how much they could do.

They could not act as they pleased and go around causing problems everywhere otherwise they would lose the support of the people up top and on the bottom.

Even if they had played a major part in the founding of the city, they could still be pushed out if a big enough crowd gathered against them.

The city lord nodded. "I approve."

Mallory smiled them took out some talismans and passed them over to the representatives and the city lord. "Keep these on you all just in case. They may prove useful in the future and will help protect you from harm."

The city lord was still in danger so she could not leave him without a means of protection and it was a good idea to give some out to the representatives to earn their favour.

It was still unknown how things could change during their stay within the city and if they would encounter any form of misfortune on the road home.

Mallory could see a little of it in their aura but their fates were not yet set in stone.

Even the slightest change could result in a large change in the surroundings.

It was still unknown how the investigation would go and how those connected would respond once they knew that others were close to discovering their crimes and catching them.