The odds were high it was a guest sent secretly by the Finance Minister. If I'd given in to my temper, I would have mobilized every soldier I had, surrounded Schafen, and dragged Count Heinlein out, but that was impossible.
Without a solid justification, in noble society that would be no different from tying my own noose. Unless I secured hard evidence, I couldn't easily touch Count Heinlein.
I could only hope my vassal nobles would come back with something good.
Anton read my mood and cautiously asked my intentions.
"Shall I prepare the men to move out?"
"No, it's too soon. We need more solid evidence."
"I-Is testimony alone not enough?"
"Without hard evidence, the eastern princes will side with Heinlein."
Blood is thicker than water, after all.
And entangled with the slum as the eastern princes are, they're all connected in one way or another.
"Are there other lackeys of the count's house besides you?"
"I know of a few, but I have no direct dealings with them."
