Chapter 112 Chaotic Reese 1

The confidant's voice was barely above a whisper, his expression so tense that his facial muscles twitched slightly.

"Sir, the situation is worse than we imagined," he murmured. "In the council, the prisoner brought by the messenger has exposed everything. He told them you hired the Faceless Men to assassinate Gavin. The truth is out."

He swallowed hard before continuing.

"The councilors are furious. They believe it was your actions that dragged Reese into this war. The situation is spiraling out of control—you must act quickly!"

Byron Heywood staggered as if struck, barely managing to stay on his feet. His fingers clutched the armrests of his chair in a white-knuckled grip. Panic swirled in his chest, but he forced himself to remain composed.

"Damn it all..." His voice was hoarse. "Fetch my Unsullied Guard immediately. Have them surround the council chamber—no one leaves without my order. I will deal with this myself."

He strode out, his steps quick and heavy, his face a mask of barely contained fury.

As Byron Heywood shoved open the heavy council chamber doors, the room fell deathly silent. Every eye turned to him, some filled with anger, others with distrust. The normally crowded chamber now felt eerily empty—nearly half its members lost with the destroyed fleet.

Pushing past those in his way, Byron marched to the center of the room, his voice booming across the hall.

"Members of the council, listen to me! This is nothing but a vile conspiracy crafted by Gavin Beleris. He seeks to invade free Reese, to plunder our wealth. That prisoner's testimony? A fabrication designed to give him justification for his aggression! We must not fall for his trickery—we must stand united against the Dragon King!"

His voice rang with forced conviction as he pressed on.

"Even without our fleet, Reese is not defenseless! We still have two thousand standing soldiers and more than three thousand seasoned mercenaries. There are countless sell-swords within the city, ready to be hired. Gavin's forces are stretched thin—he cannot breach our walls! Furthermore, I have already sent envoys to Tyrosh and Myr. Once their fleets arrive, Gavin Beleris will be finished, and we shall reclaim the Stepstones!"

Murmurs spread through the chamber, uncertainty flickering in the councilors' expressions. But one man—an older councilor—stood abruptly, his voice laced with fury.

"Byron Heywood, we are not discussing war strategy—we are discussing you! Enough with your empty justifications!" He pointed a trembling finger at Byron. "It was your reckless ambition that dragged Reese into this bloodshed. It was your orders that sent countless navy men to their deaths! And now you dare shift the blame?"

His accusation was like a lit match to dry kindling.

The chamber erupted into chaos. Furious voices clashed—some condemning Byron, others defending him. The council split into two factions, their shouting growing more heated by the second.

A sharp, cold voice cut through the din.

"Enough."

All eyes turned to Senator Alek, who had stepped forward. He regarded Byron with a scornful smirk, his arms folded across his chest.

"Governor Heywood, your crimes are undeniable. You provoked the Dragon King and led Reese into ruin. The people demand justice." His gaze swept the chamber before he declared, "I propose that, in light of Governor Byron's gross incompetence, we remove him from power immediately and hand him over to Gavin Beleris as an act of goodwill."

Byron's face contorted with rage.

"Alek, you treacherous cur!" he bellowed. "You dare convene a council without my permission? You've plotted against me from the start! I should have known—you've always coveted my position! This is your doing, isn't it?"

His furious gaze swept the chamber, landing on Alek.

"Your trade dealings with the Stepstones—your glass and paper business—it was all a front! You've been colluding with the invaders all along!" His voice rose to a roar. "You are the true traitor to Reese! I strip you of your position as councilor—effective immediately!"

An elderly councilor, his face lined with age and indignation, stood shakily.

"Byron Heywood, you do not have the authority to remove a council member. That power lies with the Governor's Council, not you. Your blatant disregard for our laws is yet another mark against you."

His words only fueled the storm. Councilors who had once stood with Byron now turned against him, their voices rising in condemnation.

Just when the chamber seemed on the brink of chaos, Gavin's envoy stepped forward, dragging a battered man into the center of the room. His face was bruised and bloodied, but he was unmistakable.

The envoy's voice was ice-cold.

"Governor Byron, do you recognize this man?"

Byron's breath hitched.

"This... this is a trick," he stammered. "I sent this man to Braavos, but he vanished! You kidnapped him—forced a confession from him! This is a setup!"

Alek's smirk widened.

"Still clinging to your lies?" He turned to the council. "The evidence is undeniable. I call for a vote—those in favor of removing Byron Heywood as governor, raise your hands."

A heavy silence fell over the chamber.

Then, one by one, hands rose.

First a few, then dozens, until a vast majority had their hands lifted high. The verdict was clear.

Byron Heywood, the once-powerful Governor of Reese, had been cast down.