Khelben's stern face darkened, and his long black beard trembled. "What could I do? The reason they hate me... isn't just because of the crisis that might arise in the future. It's also because of what happened when the Habel Family borrowed the route.
Which of these wealthy merchants, great nobles, and foreign envoys didn't have a shop on Street of Swords?
Who could have known that a Dracolich capable of corroding magical shields would suddenly go mad? Several families went bankrupt because of it.
The dangers Waterdeep faced afterward, on the other hand, didn't harm much of their interests."
Alustriel said mildly, "It was still a mixed poison. More than one person was involved, and they had reached an understanding beforehand. The others were merely cover; the most poisonous part was the scent.
You should get rid of it quickly.
I have no interest in maintaining the barrier forever... They weren't even worried about the poisonous gas drifting down below. It seems they only wanted to warn you.
But if you failed to notice it, it would be even better if you died.
What... united Waterdeep citizens."
Even beneath his great beard, Khelben's expression turned visibly ugly. With a wave of his right hand, all the food on his table vanished.
Because he had promptly cast a sound-isolating spell over the platform, the audience below had not heard their conversation.
But everyone had heard what Simbul said.
Many people stood up and looked toward several well-known poison experts.
Those with well-informed sources also glanced toward where Edna and the others were seated... Apparently, they knew Nasr's identity.
However, the Wa Kingdom envoy received the most looks. Even the minor nobles and artisan merchants seated in the rows of high-backed chairs at the rear of the fan-shaped hall craned their