The 'James Finley Assassination' made headlines around the world within three minutes of its occurrence.
Media from around the world speculated that it was Lancaster's doing, but the investigative authorities declined to answer, saying they had no clear evidence yet.
Dake wanted to put the blame on Lancaster as well, but things began taking a strange turn the next morning.
First, the media preached clever conspiracy theories, using the many unanswered angles about James Finley's death to their advantage. And before the British Royal Guild could come up with a defense, a bigger bomb exploded.
[A misaligned and twisted guard. Was James Finley's killer actually a mercenary hired by the British Royal Guild? The novice mercenary group they hired... They've only been in 20 missions throughout their five years of experience.]
The fact that he hired a mercenary group from the Violet Banquet leaked out. The media even knew its identity.
He initially suspected Fermin. However, when she insisted on her innocence, a terrifying thought occurred to him.
What if Lancaster was monitoring their entire organization, including his own office? If so, he most likely eavesdropped on his conversation with Fermin and leaked it to the press.
The Vice-captain's office.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Rachel yelled. Seeing her this enraged was so rare it wouldn't be strange not to witness it in an entire year.
"I'm sorry. It seems I had too many concerns before the Hall meeting."
In front of her, all he could do was keep his head down.
Now that the 'James Finley Assassination' incident was Xtra's work had been revealed, he had no choice but to confess everything he knew.
"I don't need excuses. Hurry, give it to me."
She stretched out her hand.
"I..." He hesitated.
"Hurry." Rachel swayed her hand, gesturing for him to surrender it immediately.
Dake reluctantly placed his smartwatch on her palm.
"Is Xtra here?"
"Yes. We communicate through a private line."
Rachel tapped away on its screen, dialing someone. After a few beeps, the call was answered.
Rachel pressed the watch against her ear.
"Are you Xtra?" She asked, but no answer came back. Her brows furrowed slightly.
"Answer me. I am the Vice-captain of the British Royal Guild."
Still no answer.
With her eyes narrowed, she glared at the smartwatch.
"There is no use in remaining silent."
Staring at her, Dake pondered whether to tell her or not.
"... Don't test my patience." Rachel's voice hardened.
Still no response. She inadvertently burst into laughter, stopped abruptly, then spoke again, colder this time.
"Talk."
“…”
"Who are you?"
"Um..."
"Answer me."
"... Vice-captain?"
"Are you— What?"
She gave Dake the cold shoulder, too. Hoping not to upset her even more, he chose his words carefully.
"You have to wear the watch or put it on speaker mode to hear the voice...."
“…”
Rachel cleared her throat, realizing her error, then muttered awkwardly.
"I'm not used to machines... Can you hear me now?"
-... I've been listening to you since I answered the call. It's you who couldn't hear me.
A heavy and damp voice finally answered.
Already expecting him to sound like that, Rachel changed the way she was holding the watch.
"There's no use hiding secrets now. Are—"
- I do not speak to anyone aside from my client.
"What?"
- I'm hanging up.
"Huh?"
Click.
The call ended.
Rachel stared at the smartwatch in silence, blinked, then looked at Dake. It was so ridiculous that she couldn't even be angry.
"Er... Vice-captain, why don't you check the files Xtra sent me first? They're evidence James Finley was a Lancaster's spy."
"... Files?"
She grew serious again. He showed her what he was talking about, but he excluded the most conclusive evidence: [Hacked Message History of James Finley and Lancaster(Top Secret)].
That was one of Xtra's weapons, after all. If Lancaster found out their line had been hacked, they would immediately destroy that communication route.
That wasn't to say he didn't trust Rachel. He just didn't trust their surroundings. Lancaster's eyes and ears could be monitoring them as they spoke.
"... Is this all?"
After checking all the files, Rachel seemed to have finally regained her composure.
"Yes."
"That mercenary thinks of these things as evidence?"
No, looking at her now, it was quite the opposite. She had become frozen cold.
Duke understood her to some extent. Aside from the strongest evidence, all that was left was a suspicious track record and vague security camera footage.
Rachel's dry voice continued.
"Back alleys, black markets, brothels, unreported dungeons... and clubs?"
Rachel let out a sigh.
"... James Finley might've just been playing with prostitutes in brothels, taking drugs in back alleys, and partying in clubs. He could've just been smuggling illegal goods in and out of the black market and the undeclared dungeons."
Heroes weren't required to live like monks. They enjoyed themselves as they saw fit.
"It doesn't suit the image of heroes, but if that were all he did, disqualification or imprisonment would have been enough. No one had the right to take his life."
Immoral acts could've just been condemned and crimes punished according to the law.
However, his supposed crimes wouldn't be enough to warrant his death.
"You might be right, but... Although we're still lacking evidence, I clearly saw something suspicious attached to his body."
Remaining cold, she looked at Dake and shook her head, her eyes filled with disappointment.
"... I'm going to cancel the mercenary contract."
* * *
[Was James Finley actually a terrorist?]
[James Finley's suspicious behavior is getting attention...]
[Renjie Blair, Speaker of the House of Representatives, released a statement today. "The evidence pointing to James Finley being a terrorist is scant. The British Royal Guild took the life of an innocent hero through excessive security. They should refrain from speculation or incitement and issue a proper apology instead."]
[Today's most controversial mercenary - Who is 'Xtra,' James Finley's killer?]
[Xtra is active on the Violet Banquet.]
[British government orders the pursuit of mercenary Xtra...]
Lying on the penthouse couch, I compared headlines from the British press.
Every hour or so, the tone and public opinion of the article changed abruptly.
At first, it was [James Finley shot by Lancaster], then [James Finley was shot by a mercenary hired by the British Royal Guild], [James Finley was a terrorist under Lancaster's orders], [Without enough evidence to prove accusations against James Finley, the mercenary Xtra and the British Royal Guild who hired him made a mistake]...
"We're all the same," I smirked.
For now, the public opinion focused on the fact that the British Royal Guild's negligence killed James Finley. As a result, not only the royal family but even Xtra was getting a lot of attention.
Additionally, they found nothing on the victim's body. That was most likely also Lancaster's work. Without my knowledge, he took root in the depths of England.
About 30 minutes ago, Rachel texted me.
[I'm canceling the mercenary contract.]
However, just 10 minutes later, a polite text message arrived from Dake.
[I tried to persuade her, but it didn't work. I'm sorry. The Vice-captain is stubborn, and there's nothing I can do about that. Still, we ask that you continue with this mission. As I said before, the client is me, not her. I'll double your payout...]
The situation in England right now was that complicated.
"... Wouldn't it be better to just tell Rachel that I killed him?"
- I don't recommend that!
Kim Hosup immediately exclaimed.
"Why?"
- There are a lot of spies and programs around Rachel! If you confess to her right now, you'll be revealing your identity to them too. Can you stop Lancaster by yourself, Hajin? According to rumors, he's on the same level as the Nine Evils.
"It will be hard. Wait, what? The Nine Evils?"
I jumped up. Did I just mishear his words? Sitting back down, I asked calmly, "How is he equal to them?"
Lancaster was nothing compared to the Nine Evils. That was how the setting was supposed to be, at least. He clung to them like a parasite, unable to do anything without their power...
- I actually looked it up. He had a huge force in the Pandemonium three years ago and sent multiple spies to each country. He's already brainwashed so many people, including James Finley.
"What..."
If I were being honest, I didn't pay much attention to Lancaster.
Baal disappeared along with the Tower of Secrets, and Monster King Orden had been obscured. The only force that could pose a threat to me was the Nine Evils.
... At least until Lancaster surfaced.
"What happened?" I asked, only to be interrupted by a sudden event.
[Fragments of the Miracle Tower: 'Shake' occurred!]
[You will now undergo awakening!]
[You have been granted Special Succession, the Secret Tower bonus!]
[Inherited one item stored in the player's warehouse!]
[Item Succession ▶「BIack Lotus Bow」]
[You have inherited one trait stored in the player's warehouse!]
[Trait Inheritance ▶ 「Young Dwarf's DexterityRRRSSSRRR]
[Inherited one skill stored in the player's warehouse!]
[Skill Inheritance ▶ 「Random DiceRRRSSSRRR]
For the first time in nearly four years, a system notification popped up.
But I had no time to think about them. An object the size of my upper body fell from the ceiling.
"Ugh!"
'A bow?'
Every part of it was black, including its string and the lotus flower engraved on it.
"What now..."
I blankly fiddled with it.
A serious question arose, but not about the sudden situation that ended up helping the enemy.
"Why now?"
What reason did the damn system have to appear now, breaking its nearly four years of silence?
I didn't know anything yet, but maybe I did something that triggered the story.
If so, what was the trigger?
Soon, a word flashed in my mind.
"Lancaster."
It was a no-brainer. All I did lately was snipe James Finley down. The system probably registered it as me getting involved in the story between Lancaster and Rachel...
Whoong-
The living room door opened.
"Ugh!"
I hastily dived behind the couch to take cover, then stuck my head out to determine the situation.
"... Haaaaooo~"
Evandel yawned as she rubbed her eyes. As always, she was with bodyguard Hayang.
She glanced at me behind the couch. Not bothering to question what I was doing, she took water from the refrigerator, drank it, then toddled back into her room.
"Ahem. Aheeem."
I stayed still for a while after watching her leave.
"... Shit."
That was damn embarrassing.
The 'James Finley Assassination' made headlines around the world within three minutes of its occurrence.
Media from around the world speculated that it was Lancaster's doing, but the investigative authorities declined to answer, saying they had no clear evidence yet.
Dake wanted to put the blame on Lancaster as well, but things began taking a strange turn the next morning.
First, the media preached clever conspiracy theories, using the many unanswered angles about James Finley's death to their advantage. And before the British Royal Guild could come up with a defense, a bigger bomb exploded.
[A misaligned and twisted guard. Was James Finley's killer actually a mercenary hired by the British Royal Guild? The novice mercenary group they hired... They've only been in 20 missions throughout their five years of experience.]
The fact that he hired a mercenary group from the Violet Banquet leaked out. The media even knew its identity.
He initially suspected Fermin. However, when she insisted on her innocence, a terrifying thought occurred to him.
What if Lancaster was monitoring their entire organization, including his own office? If so, he most likely eavesdropped on his conversation with Fermin and leaked it to the press.
The Vice-captain's office.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Rachel yelled. Seeing her this enraged was so rare it wouldn't be strange not to witness it in an entire year.
"I'm sorry. It seems I had too many concerns before the Hall meeting."
In front of her, all he could do was keep his head down.
Now that the 'James Finley Assassination' incident was Xtra's work had been revealed, he had no choice but to confess everything he knew.
"I don't need excuses. Hurry, give it to me."
She stretched out her hand.
"I..." He hesitated.
"Hurry." Rachel swayed her hand, gesturing for him to surrender it immediately.
Dake reluctantly placed his smartwatch on her palm.
"Is Xtra here?"
"Yes. We communicate through a private line."
Rachel tapped away on its screen, dialing someone. After a few beeps, the call was answered.
Rachel pressed the watch against her ear.
"Are you Xtra?" She asked, but no answer came back. Her brows furrowed slightly.
"Answer me. I am the Vice-captain of the British Royal Guild."
Still no answer.
With her eyes narrowed, she glared at the smartwatch.
"There is no use in remaining silent."
Staring at her, Dake pondered whether to tell her or not.
"... Don't test my patience." Rachel's voice hardened.
Still no response. She inadvertently burst into laughter, stopped abruptly, then spoke again, colder this time.
"Talk."
“…”
"Who are you?"
"Um..."
"Answer me."
"... Vice-captain?"
"Are you— What?"
She gave Dake the cold shoulder, too. Hoping not to upset her even more, he chose his words carefully.
"You have to wear the watch or put it on speaker mode to hear the voice...."
“…”
Rachel cleared her throat, realizing her error, then muttered awkwardly.
"I'm not used to machines... Can you hear me now?"
-... I've been listening to you since I answered the call. It's you who couldn't hear me.
A heavy and damp voice finally answered.
Already expecting him to sound like that, Rachel changed the way she was holding the watch.
"There's no use hiding secrets now. Are—"
- I do not speak to anyone aside from my client.
"What?"
- I'm hanging up.
"Huh?"
Click.
The call ended.
Rachel stared at the smartwatch in silence, blinked, then looked at Dake. It was so ridiculous that she couldn't even be angry.
"Er... Vice-captain, why don't you check the files Xtra sent me first? They're evidence James Finley was a Lancaster's spy."
"... Files?"
She grew serious again. He showed her what he was talking about, but he excluded the most conclusive evidence: [Hacked Message History of James Finley and Lancaster(Top Secret)].
That was one of Xtra's weapons, after all. If Lancaster found out their line had been hacked, they would immediately destroy that communication route.
That wasn't to say he didn't trust Rachel. He just didn't trust their surroundings. Lancaster's eyes and ears could be monitoring them as they spoke.
"... Is this all?"
After checking all the files, Rachel seemed to have finally regained her composure.
"Yes."
"That mercenary thinks of these things as evidence?"
No, looking at her now, it was quite the opposite. She had become frozen cold.
Duke understood her to some extent. Aside from the strongest evidence, all that was left was a suspicious track record and vague security camera footage.
Rachel's dry voice continued.
"Back alleys, black markets, brothels, unreported dungeons... and clubs?"
Rachel let out a sigh.
"... James Finley might've just been playing with prostitutes in brothels, taking drugs in back alleys, and partying in clubs. He could've just been smuggling illegal goods in and out of the black market and the undeclared dungeons."
Heroes weren't required to live like monks. They enjoyed themselves as they saw fit.
"It doesn't suit the image of heroes, but if that were all he did, disqualification or imprisonment would have been enough. No one had the right to take his life."
Immoral acts could've just been condemned and crimes punished according to the law.
However, his supposed crimes wouldn't be enough to warrant his death.
"You might be right, but... Although we're still lacking evidence, I clearly saw something suspicious attached to his body."
Remaining cold, she looked at Dake and shook her head, her eyes filled with disappointment.
"... I'm going to cancel the mercenary contract."
* * *
[Was James Finley actually a terrorist?]
[James Finley's suspicious behavior is getting attention...]
[Renjie Blair, Speaker of the House of Representatives, released a statement today. "The evidence pointing to James Finley being a terrorist is scant. The British Royal Guild took the life of an innocent hero through excessive security. They should refrain from speculation or incitement and issue a proper apology instead."]
[Today's most controversial mercenary - Who is 'Xtra,' James Finley's killer?]
[Xtra is active on the Violet Banquet.]
[British government orders the pursuit of mercenary Xtra...]
Lying on the penthouse couch, I compared headlines from the British press.
Every hour or so, the tone and public opinion of the article changed abruptly.
At first, it was [James Finley shot by Lancaster], then [James Finley was shot by a mercenary hired by the British Royal Guild], [James Finley was a terrorist under Lancaster's orders], [Without enough evidence to prove accusations against James Finley, the mercenary Xtra and the British Royal Guild who hired him made a mistake]...
"We're all the same," I smirked.
For now, the public opinion focused on the fact that the British Royal Guild's negligence killed James Finley. As a result, not only the royal family but even Xtra was getting a lot of attention.
Additionally, they found nothing on the victim's body. That was most likely also Lancaster's work. Without my knowledge, he took root in the depths of England.
About 30 minutes ago, Rachel texted me.
[I'm canceling the mercenary contract.]
However, just 10 minutes later, a polite text message arrived from Dake.
[I tried to persuade her, but it didn't work. I'm sorry. The Vice-captain is stubborn, and there's nothing I can do about that. Still, we ask that you continue with this mission. As I said before, the client is me, not her. I'll double your payout...]
The situation in England right now was that complicated.
"... Wouldn't it be better to just tell Rachel that I killed him?"
- I don't recommend that!
Kim Hosup immediately exclaimed.
"Why?"
- There are a lot of spies and programs around Rachel! If you confess to her right now, you'll be revealing your identity to them too. Can you stop Lancaster by yourself, Hajin? According to rumors, he's on the same level as the Nine Evils.
"It will be hard. Wait, what? The Nine Evils?"
I jumped up. Did I just mishear his words? Sitting back down, I asked calmly, "How is he equal to them?"
Lancaster was nothing compared to the Nine Evils. That was how the setting was supposed to be, at least. He clung to them like a parasite, unable to do anything without their power...
- I actually looked it up. He had a huge force in the Pandemonium three years ago and sent multiple spies to each country. He's already brainwashed so many people, including James Finley.
"What..."
If I were being honest, I didn't pay much attention to Lancaster.
Baal disappeared along with the Tower of Secrets, and Monster King Orden had been obscured. The only force that could pose a threat to me was the Nine Evils.
... At least until Lancaster surfaced.
"What happened?" I asked, only to be interrupted by a sudden event.
[Fragments of the Miracle Tower: 'Shake' occurred!]
[You will now undergo awakening!]
[You have been granted Special Succession, the Secret Tower bonus!]
[Inherited one item stored in the player's warehouse!]
[Item Succession ▶「BIack Lotus Bow」]
[You have inherited one trait stored in the player's warehouse!]
[Trait Inheritance ▶ 「Young Dwarf's DexterityRRRSSSRRR]
[Inherited one skill stored in the player's warehouse!]
[Skill Inheritance ▶ 「Random DiceRRRSSSRRR]
For the first time in nearly four years, a system notification popped up.
But I had no time to think about them. An object the size of my upper body fell from the ceiling.
"Ugh!"
'A bow?'
Every part of it was black, including its string and the lotus flower engraved on it.
"What now..."
I blankly fiddled with it.
A serious question arose, but not about the sudden situation that ended up helping the enemy.
"Why now?"
What reason did the damn system have to appear now, breaking its nearly four years of silence?
I didn't know anything yet, but maybe I did something that triggered the story.
If so, what was the trigger?
Soon, a word flashed in my mind.
"Lancaster."
It was a no-brainer. All I did lately was snipe James Finley down. The system probably registered it as me getting involved in the story between Lancaster and Rachel...
Whoong-
The living room door opened.
"Ugh!"
I hastily dived behind the couch to take cover, then stuck my head out to determine the situation.
"... Haaaaooo~"
Evandel yawned as she rubbed her eyes. As always, she was with bodyguard Hayang.
She glanced at me behind the couch. Not bothering to question what I was doing, she took water from the refrigerator, drank it, then toddled back into her room.
"Ahem. Aheeem."
I stayed still for a while after watching her leave.
"... Shit."
That was damn embarrassing.
