It was not just corruption.
It was a slow and careful drain of the city's lifeblood, leaving behind an empty shell that could collapse at any time.
Ben's expression darkened as he understood the full extent of the betrayal.
Malvek had not just failed the city.
He had gutted it, profited from its decay, and then abandoned it the moment it stopped serving his interests.
Ben let the report fall onto the table with a dull thud.
'What was Kharvek thinking, keeping a reagent like this around?
Was this part of a trade?'
There was only one likely answer.
The Malvek family had probably been the ones offering the relic to the old city lord.
To be sure, he would need to search the old archives.
He would have to check for records about Kharvek's combat abilities.
It would be even better if Zarnak knew something.
'I can ask him about how the city changed before and after Malvek arrived.'
Ben stored that thought away and treated Malvek as a task for later.
