Upon seeing the token in Brandley's hand, Woodrow's face turned pale instantly, and he staggered back two steps, his eyes filled with fear.
The guards stopped abruptly upon hearing this, staring at Brandley and the token in his hand with awe.
A level seven mage—such power was more than enough to easily wipe out everyone present.
What terrified them even more was the token in his hand and his claim of a Level 4 incident. A Level 4 incident was considered high level within the Gray Temple's incident hierarchy, once classified, even the City Lord's Mansion couldn't easily intervene, let alone the Inspector Office.
They had lost their eligibility to participate, all they could do was await judgment.
The miners' families looked at Brandley with hopeful eyes.
Mai Ge looked at Brandley and smiled, his efforts hadn't been in vain.
"Lord Brandley, you can't do this! This is against the rules! You're violating regulations by classifying the incident!" Woodrow cried out indignantly. If the Gray Temple classified this incident as a Level 4 incident, it would definitely be thoroughly investigated, and he would have no chance of turning things around.
"Woodrow, please do not interfere with the Gray Temple's investigation. The determination of the incident level is based on the Gray Temple's rules. Now, please have your guards from the Inspector Office withdraw. As you may be involved in a Level 4 incident, your movements and area of activity are restricted. Please remain where you are and cooperate with the investigation." Brandley looked at Woodrow with a serious expression and spoke. Two patrol guards from the Gray Temple stepped forward and stood on either side of Woodrow.
"I am an official of the City Lord's Mansion, a Lord Inspector. You have no right to restrict my freedom. I want to go to the City Lord's Mansion! I want to see the City Lord!" Woodrow turned to leave.
"Please cooperate with the investigation, otherwise we will take coercive measures against you in accordance with regulations." Two patrol guards placed their hands on his shoulders and said with serious expressions.
"You're framing me! I refuse to accept this! I want to see the City Lord! I want to..." Woodrow struggled, trying to break free from the two patrol guards.
"You don't need to go to the City Lord's Mansion. The City Lord has ordered that this matter be fully investigated by the Gray Temple, with the entire Inspectorate cooperating in the investigation. There must be absolutely no negligence or leniency regarding the families of the deceased miners!" Just then, the sound of hooves accompanied by a majestic voice rang out. Dix rode in from outside the crowd, looking down at Woodrow and saying, "Woodrow, the Lord City Lord is very disappointed in you."
Upon hearing this, Woodrow collapsed to the ground, cold sweat pouring down his face. His lips trembled as he shook his head, saying, "No, Lord Dix, no, please speak to the City Lord for me. I am his most loyal dog, I only serve him..."
"The City Lord never keeps dogs." Dix interrupted him abruptly, dismounted, and looked at Brandley, saying, "Lord Brandley, I have come on the City Lord's orders to assist the Gray Temple in its investigation."
"Alright, thank you for the City Lord's understanding." Brandley nodded, glanced at Woodrow who was slumped on the ground, and then looked at the miners' families, saying, "The Gray Temple handles cases with absolute impartiality. We are now going to take your statements. Every word you say will be used as evidence in court, so you must be responsible for what you say. We will never wrong an innocent person, nor will we let a guilty person go free. Please trust us."
The miners' families looked at Brandley with hesitation.
"I am Ebenezer, thirteen years old. Four years ago, my father and mother died in a mining accident, leaving me and my two years old sister..." the boy stepped forward first, looking at Brandley.
The scene was very quiet, with only the boy's somewhat immature voice being interrupted several times by sobs.
The expressions on everyone's faces began to turn angry. Their gazes were full of pity as they looked at the boy, but when their eyes fell on the people standing behind him, a hint of reluctance and fear appeared.
"I feel like she's still watching me, asking me to take her to catch butterflies…" The boy looked up at a small butterfly fluttering above his head, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out his hand.
The butterfly fluttered around him a few times, paused on his fingertip for a moment, then fluttered away, soaring into the sky, flying and flying...
"Child, don't worry, your sister won't have died in vain." Brandley clenched his fist, trying to keep his voice calm, and nodded slightly. "Next."
"I am Harold, sixty five years old. Four years ago, my son…" An old man stepped forward and began to tell his story.
The stories they told, each one more lamenting and infuriating, were like heavy punches to the hearts of the crowd, leaving them breathless and suffocated.
"They're lying! They're…" Woodrow's face grew paler and paler as he struggled to stand up.
"Shut up!" Brandley snapped, his expression stern. "Take him and all the guards from the Inspectorate back to Basti Prison, clean up the scene, properly settle the miners' families, then summon them one by one, review all their criminal records, and give them justice!"
"Yes!"
The members of the Gray Temple responded in unison, pulling out ropes to tie Woodrow up. The soldiers from the Inspector Office were also disarmed, their heads bowed as they huddled together.
"This is outrageous!" Dix clenched his fists in anger.
"He killed my nephew, and he killed many others. Didn't your Gray Temple say you wouldn't let any bad guy go? Then arrest him too!" Woodrow, bound and unable to move, roared at Mai Ge.
"Whether Mr. Mai Ge killed your nephew is still under investigation. However, if such a vicious villain really died at Mr. Mai Ge's hands, then he is a hero who fought against injustice and protected the innocent. He deserves commendation and applause, just like you were sent to prison." Brandley said earnestly to Woodrow.
"Mr. Mai Ge, what are you doing here?" Dix asked in surprise, only then noticing Mai Ge.
"Lord Dix, I didn't expect to see you again so soon." Mai Ge was also a little surprised and helpless. "I originally brought Amy to invite her friend to the party, but we ran into some bullies who were harassing them and trying to take advantage of the little girl. That's how this happened."
"The City Lord's Mansion regrets this matter and thanks Mr. Mai Ge for protecting the safety of the civilians and exposing this darkness. We will definitely investigate thoroughly and not let any bad guy get away with it." Dix said solemnly to Mai Ge.
"I hope so. The City Lord's Mansion should reflect on this. If the law is entrusted to individuals, its existence is meaningless." Mai Ge looked into Dix's eyes, speaking with equal seriousness.
"I will convey this to the City Lord." Dix nodded.
"This… how is this possible… isn't he just a restaurant owner?" Woodrow slumped in the arms of two Gray Temple guards and was then carried away.