In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities-Chapter 280: Brewing Conspiracies

While Michael toured his estate, sharing joy with his subjects, a sense of unease loomed over the royal capital of Lania.

The sky was shrouded in ashen clouds, and an unseasonable gale howled through the streets, carrying with it a foreboding tension.

Deep beneath the royal castle, the underground prison housed the chieftains and members of the five great tribes. The air was thick with an oppressive silence.

The damp walls exuded cold moisture, and the dim glow of ordinary torches, untouched by magic, barely illuminated the dark, musty confines. The metallic stench of rust mingled with the rank odor of straw, saturating the space.

In the deepest recess of this infamous prison sat Yandor, the chieftain of the Stone Bear Tribe, and his son, Karato.

The Stone Bear Tribe had been identified as the instigators behind the attack on Michael's estate. Known for their belligerence and personal grievances against Michael, the tribe had become an easy scapegoat.

Though Yandor and Karato remained imprisoned in the capital's dungeons, cut off from their tribe, they privately wondered if their people had truly committed the attack. Despite their suspicions, they found it deeply unjust to have their entire tribe accused without proof.

Compared to the ordinary tribesmen, Yandor and Karato fared slightly better, receiving some degree of respect due to their status as chieftain and direct kin. But even this privilege offered little solace.

The other Stone Bear warriors, accustomed to a life of arrogance and authority as elite fighters of their tribe, found their treatment insufferable. Though provided three meals a day and straw beds to sleep on, the humiliation of their situation eroded their unity and morale.

In a dark corner of the prison, a group of Stone Bear warriors huddled together, their backs against the cold stone walls.

The flickering torchlight revealed their weary, angered faces. Drops of moisture fell from the ceiling, the dampness clinging to the air and intensifying the stench.

Their situation was worse than that of the other tribes, a deliberate disparity meant to exacerbate their discomfort.

The warriors spoke in hushed tones, careful not to alert the patrolling guards or members of other tribes.

"Damn it, are we just going to sit here and rot? If we keep trusting the chieftain and his useless son, we'll never see the sun again," one warrior muttered, scuffing the floor with his boot. His voice dripped with despair.

"Exactly. I managed to pry some information from a guard—other tribes are being treated better than us," another chimed in, stroking his beard with irritation.

The conversation grew more heated as the warriors vented their frustrations.

"Is that true? Damn it, what did the chieftain do to bring us to this point? How did it come to this?"

One warrior leaned forward, lowering his voice further. His bloodshot eyes and clenched jaw betrayed his inner turmoil.

"It's not just the chieftain's fault. Word has it that those left behind in the tribe attacked the enemy commander's estate to demand the release of the chieftain and his son," someone whispered grimly.

The revelation sent a wave of shock and confusion through the group, plunging them into silence.

"Well, damn it, if it's not the chieftain's fault, then whose is it? Do you think they'd do such a thing without reason?" one warrior growled, his hands trembling as he clenched his fists.

"So what do we do? We can't move a muscle in here. Are you suggesting we replace the chieftain?" another warrior asked with a sigh, his voice heavy with exhaustion but grounded in reality.

Instead of answering, a warrior glanced around cautiously and spoke.

"Perhaps it's not about replacing him but advising him to act more wisely. Look at the Black Hawk Tribe—they signed an agreement early on and now get to walk outside twice a day."

The suggestion gave the group pause, prompting thoughtful silence. After a moment, one of the warriors nodded slowly.

"That's a fair point. I'll take it upon myself to bring this to the chieftain."

"Do you even have a way to contact him?" asked another warrior, his voice laced with skepticism.

The self-assured warrior smirked. "Of course. All it takes is a bribe for the guards. Thankfully, some merchants under my command are handling things outside."

The others nodded in agreement, finding hope in the plan. It was almost baffling that none of them had thought of this earlier.

"Good. Please, ask the chieftain to make a smarter move. At this rate, we'll starve to death," another added, his tone laced with desperation. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

With the support of his comrades, the warrior waited for the next meal delivery to summon a guard.

"Guard, I have a request for you," he said, offering a sly smile.

The guard, already familiar with receiving bribes and instructed by his superiors to entertain reasonable requests, perked up.

Who knew? Perhaps these prisoners might offer information that could elevate his position.

After glancing to ensure no one else was paying attention, the guard approached. The Stone Bear warrior handed him a folded letter.

"Could you deliver this message to our chieftain?"

The guard, knowing the warrior had contacts outside the prison supplying goods, accepted the letter without hesitation. He glanced at the knight stationed nearby for approval, then nodded.

"Fine, it's not a problem. But…" the guard trailed off, hinting at his expectation for compensation.

Such exchanges were standard in the underground prison, where guards often leveraged their position for personal gain.

Yandor, the chieftain of the Stone Bear Tribe, sighed heavily as he read the letter delivered by the guard.

From the adjacent cell, his son Karato watched his father's expression darken and asked cautiously, "Father, what does the letter say? Why do you look so troubled?"

"It's nothing," Yandor replied, though his tone betrayed his inner turmoil. "It seems my leadership is being put to the test."

Yandor stroked his snow-white beard as he gazed at the moonlight filtering through the cracks in the prison walls. Though his shackles prevented him from channeling the ancestral power of his tribe, the sight of the moonlight brought him a rare sense of calm.