Chapter 98 Slandering The Hero Association.
Following a brief discussion with Silvia, Ares decided to call an ambulance to treat Aretrus, and as well as media personnel so that they could report Aretrus\' survival and prove Silvia\'s innocence.
Soon after, an ambulance arrived outside the warehouse and began checking on Aretrus\'s condition.
While reporters were covering the news that Aretrus was alive.
And after covering the news on Aretrus for a few moments, the reporters approached Ares and Silvia to learn more about the incident.
"Prince Ares, Who do you believe to be responsible for this scheme? And do you suspect they planned this to specifically target you?" One of the reporters inquired.
"First and foremost, I am no longer a Prince, and as everyone is aware that the Hero Association is targeting me for some unknown reasons, so when I saw some of their members appear as soon as I arrived at the hospital to visit my brother, I knew something wasn\'t right.
They were so intent on arresting me that they failed to investigate the supposed corpse of my allegedly deceased brother.
And It was entirely due to the Dean of our academy that I avoided being arrested on false charges," Ares clarified the situation.
"Does that mean you believe the Hero Association is behind this?" One of the reporters inquired with interest.
"I\'m not totally sure they were to blame for this. But I discovered this from the people who were behind it."
As he displayed the Hero Association\'s chief officers badge to the camera, Ares said.
When the reporters noticed the Hero Associations badge, there was a fuss.
Naturally, they can determine the legitimacy of the badge Ares showed them.
This is because the Hero Associations badge is unique and made of materials that are only available to them, making it impossible to forge.
"Could you please explain to us how you discovered that your brother was still alive?" One of the reporters suddenly inquired.
"To tell the truth, I had no idea my brother was still alive.
I suspected that the members of the Hero association had murdered him and wanted to blame me for it.
However, because of some difficulties, they were unable to arrest me, so they chose to arrest Silvia instead and blame her since she was also present there," Ares replied.
"Can you tell us what you were doing at the academy at the time, Miss Silvia?" One of the reporters inquired of Silvia.
"I was there to meet my new fiancee, but when I arrived, I found Aretrus covered in blood laying on the bed, so I rushed over to check on him.
And that\'s also when the officers arrived and seeing my bloodied hands, they saw an opportunity to blame his murder on me because they couldn\'t arrest Ares at the time," Silvia elaborated.
"How did you find out that they weren\'t going to take Miss Silvia to the association, Prince Ares—I mean Sir Ares? And how did you find out where Miss Silvia is being retained?" The reporters were intrigued.
"Silvia requested my assistance and used her covert device to send me her SoS message, allowing me to track her down.
And, because I already suspected the Hero association was up to no good, I believed Silvia would not commit murder.
As a result, I chose to assist her after she requested my assistance and sent me her SoS message," Ares explained.
"So did you discover your brother was still alive when you got to the place to save Miss Silvia?" A reporter made a query.
"...Yes, Silvia informed me that my brother was still alive after I dealt with everyone and saved her. However my brother is now—," Ares stated but suddenly stopped in his sentence with a sad expression.
!?
"However? Did something happen to Prince Aretrus?" The reporters questioned Ares as they saw his sad expression.
And when the reporters noticed Ares remained silent, they turned to Silvia.
"Could you kindly explain, Miss Silvia, did something happen to prince Aretrus?" Silvia was questioned by the reporters.
"...Well, the hero association members who arrested me severely beat and tortured Aretrus as to know some information about Ares.
But Aretrus steadfastly declined to provide any information regarding Ares.
He was therefore severely beaten until he became permanently disabled, and as a result, he will never be able to engage in sexual activity with a woman," Silvia replied, her eyes filled with tears.
"...."
"M-Miss Silvia, What exactly do you mean by that?" puzzled reporters asked.
"That is what happened, and I\'m not sure what you don\'t understand.
But even though we can\'t be together anymore, I\'m nevertheless relieved that he\'s still alive," While wiping away her tears, Silvia stated.
"...Yes, that\'s right; fortunately, my dear brother is still with us.
Even though we didn\'t always get along and frequently fought, fighting among brothers is normal, right? He\'s still my brother, and that won\'t change.
And I want to pursue justice for my brother and request that the hero association provides a suitable justification," Ares made a sad-looking remark.
The reporters were taken aback when they heard us and fell silent for a brief moment.
"...."
"...Y-Yeah, so all of this occurred because the Hero Association had a grudge against Sir Ares," one of the reporters stated.
"Yes, and there\'s something else I learned from one of the officers that surprised me," Ares said unexpectedly.
After hearing Ares, Silvia and the other reporters focused their attention on him.
"...He disclosed that one of the demon lords has already been unsealed.
But it appears that the hero association is keeping it a secret from everyone in an effort to prevent a public panic... or I\'m not sure if they have any other motives.
Since the Hero Association, in my opinion, can no longer be trusted and I also believe that there may be some demon cultist in the association\'s higher echelons who wanted to keep this information a secret," Ares declared.
"...."
Upon hearing Ares\'s statement, the reporters were all in shock and disbelief.
But even before they could react, Ares left abruptly, and Silvia followed after him as soon as she saw him turn around and leave.
!?
"W-What do you mean, Sir Ares? Is this factual?—" The reporters made an effort to speak with Ares and Silvia to learn more, but they were unable to do so.
***
"Fuck! I thought I was going to die from cringe there," Ares exclaimed.
"Ares, is what you said accurate? Do you genuinely believe that Hero association was also responsible for this trap?" Silvia asked with interest.
"Who cares if the Hero Association was also involved in this or not? Someone has to be held responsible for it, and since it would be useless to hold my stepmother accountable in the absence of any evidence, I decided to place the entire blame on the hero association.
As I also have some nit to pick with them." Ares clarified.
"...."
"I-I see. And what about the details regarding the demon lords? Was it also just completely false information?" Silvia asked.
"No, it\'s accurate; one of the demon lords has already been released," Ares retorted.
"...So you publicly revealed the unsealed demon lord\'s existence while the hero association was attempting to keep it a secret?
This implies that in addition to holding the Hero Association accountable for all of your accusations, you are now openly contesting them," Declared Silvia.
"Hmm, you could put it that way as well," Ares replied casually.
"...Do you honestly think people will easily believe you and side with you instead of the well-known Hero association?" Silvia questioned perplexed.
"I know it wouldn\'t be that simple; but to give my lies any credibility, I have to tack on a little bit of truth.
So once the public realizes that my information about the demon lords is genuine, the hero association will be in a difficult position because many will believe even my lies to be true," Ares remarked.
"...."
"Wow, so, in any case, the hero association has a lot of explaining to do now," Silvia said as she giggled.
"...They\'d made a huge mistake by messing with this devil incarnate, and I can now just hope for the best for that Ayla girl," Irethiel remarked.
***