Belvan was dead.
His death was a premeditated suicide; he died amid a farewell banquet, and a pre-written suicide note was found by a servant, clearly stating that his death was unrelated to anyone else.
For a vast Kingdom, the death of a scholar was insignificant, akin to a stone thrown into a river, causing only a slight ripple while the river continued to flow.
Aler and others, although surprised by Belvan's death, were pleased to see him go. In their eyes, a scholar like Belvan was unimportant—he was not involved in politics, nor was he a craftsman with knowledge of steam technology; he was merely a minor character. They wanted to judge him merely to exile him from Kaelonde.
Now that Belvan had committed suicide, it had saved them some trouble.
Aler and his associates were now focusing their attacks on the craftsmen who utilized steam technology, and the clans that had prospered thanks to Kafu the Sixth's praise, with the Wood Stone Clan being the prime target.
