Chapter 53
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53
“……”
The guards' expressions soured at my arrogant tone.
I shifted my gaze from them to the eyes of the gargoyle statue perched above the headquarters' main gate. Its eyes glittered like rubies. Those eyes were a magical surveillance array; if I caused enough of a commotion here, someone inside was bound to react.
Having confirmed the gargoyle was watching, I threw another barb at the guards, who were currently gritting their teeth in silent fury.
“Go. Tell your master I’ve brought exactly what he needs.”
“Hmph, bullshit.”
As I continued to press them, one of the guards finally snapped.
Whoosh—!
They swung their massive halberds in unison, leveling the blades at my mask in a blatant threat.
“Back off. We won’t tolerate any more disrespect.”
Two halberds were aimed directly at my throat. The sharply honed blades caught the light of the braziers, glinting with a cold, menacing edge. I looked down at the steel through the eyeholes of my mask and swallowed hard.
‘…This is actually a little terrifying.’
It was my first time seeing such massive weapons up close. Where would a modern man like me ever encounter something so lethal? Even knowing Aegis would protect me, I couldn’t entirely shake the primal fear of cold steel.
Forcing my nerves into submission, I gently pushed the halberds aside with my hand and spoke.
“If words won’t work, then I have no choice. I’ll have to use force.”
Flutter—.
As I swept my cape aside and dropped into a fighting stance, the guards moved as one.
“Get him!”
Swish—!
The guards spun their halberds, striking at me not with the axe-heads, but with the blunt ends of the shafts. It seemed they intended to subdue me without killing me, but even so, a blow from those heavy shafts would easily shatter a rib or two.
Or it would have, if they could hit me.
Clang—!
“!”
“What the—?”
Their thrusts stopped dead in mid-air, never reaching my body. The two guards stood frozen, stunned as their weapons were halted by an invisible force.
I seized the opening, driving my palms into both guards' solar plexuses.
WHAM—!
[Trait [Alchemy]'s bonus effect allows you to partially penetrate the opponent's defense.]
Along with the system notification, a powerful shockwave bypassed their armor and struck them squarely in the chest. My natural physical strength was pathetic, but with a few choice potions circulating in my system, handling mere guards was child's play.
“Keuk!”
Caught by the surprise counter, the two guards clutched their stomachs, gasping for air as they collapsed to the cobblestones.
Clank—.
I picked up the halberds they had dropped. A heavy, cold sensation filled my hands. I gauged their weight, then slowly brought the blade to the neck of one of the fallen men.
“Ugh…”
The guards flinched, eyes wide with terror as the menacing blade drew near. I smirked behind my mask, then flipped the halberds, striking each of them once in the side with the shafts.
Thwack—!
“Gah!”
The blow to the ribs sent them into unconsciousness. Subdued.
Clank—.
I tossed the halberds aside and looked up at the gargoyle statue by the gate, as if to ask: Is this proof enough of my skill?
The gargoyle’s eyes continued to glow a steady, blood-red.
“……”
I was locked in a strange staredown with the statue when it finally happened.
Creeak—.
The heavy, reinforced main gate swung open, revealing the path inside. Whatever the method, I had succeeded in gaining entry to the Panopticon headquarters.
I looked toward the light spilling from the doorway.
Click-clack—.
I walked past the fallen guards and stepped through the threshold.
“I’m so sorry! Truly sorry!”
Lize, who had been cowering behind me, bowed repeatedly to the unconscious guards before scurrying to catch up. Once she reached my side, she whispered urgently in my ear.
“Are you an incredibly strong mage, Sir Roen? Or perhaps someone of very high status?”
I simply hummed in response to her wide-eyed question.
“Hmm.”
She likely assumed as much after seeing me overpower the guards and barge into the Panopticon’s western branch, but contrary to her expectations, I was neither a high-ranking noble nor a grand mage. My bloodline might belong to the Devalis family, but that name held little weight in the underworld.
After a moment’s thought, I gave her an answer that suited us both.
“Not yet. But I will be soon.”
“?”
“There’s no need to understand.”
With a puzzled Lize at my side, I walked down a corridor lined with plush red carpet. After passing a row of menacing armored suits standing like silent sentinels, a magnificent lobby opened up before us.
The interior was a gaudy display of red and gold, featuring a brilliant chandelier and a marble fountain at its center. At first glance, it looked more like a luxury hotel than a mafia headquarters.
As I took in the splendor, a group of soldiers descended the grand staircase.
Clank, clank—.
A man appeared, flanked by dozens of guards in black plate armor. He had a neatly trimmed gray beard, slicked-back white hair, and a golden monocle over one eye. He looked like a dignified actor straight out of a classic film—an elderly man whose powerful muscles were barely concealed beneath a fine black suit.
He possessed the unmistakable presence of a mafia boss.
Thump—.
The old man strode forward with his guards, stopping directly in front of me. He spoke in a deep, resonant voice.
“Are you the one? The uninvited guest who barged into Panopticon looking for me?”
The old man loomed over me, exuding an immense sense of pressure. His sharp, gray eyes bored into mine. Facing him in reality, rather than through a game monitor, made my palms sweat and my body tense.
But thanks to my trait, I showed no outward sign of weakness. I replied calmly.
“I see Panopticon makes its guests stand in the hallway.”
“Hah. I’m not yet certain if you’re a guest or an intruder. For now… you seem more like the latter.”
The old man gestured with his chin toward the two guards lying unconscious outside the gate.
“It was self-defense. And I held back.”
“I am aware. If you hadn’t, you would already be dead by my hand.”
Crack—.
The old man punctuated his threat by clenching a massive fist, but I merely shrugged. He seemed to recognize my lack of intimidation and got straight to the point.
“Enough idle chatter. I am a busy man. Who are you, and why have you come here? I will decide your fate based on your answer.”
“……”
For someone greeting an intruder, the old man’s tone was surprisingly polite. It was likely because he hadn’t yet figured out my identity. I had no intention of revealing myself yet; I needed to maintain this informational advantage.
“Who I am is not important. What I’ve brought is.”
“Indeed. I heard you have something I need. Then let’s see it.”
Instead of pressing for my name, the old man demanded to see the item. He intended to deduce my identity from it, or at least judge its value. However, what I had brought was not a tangible object, nor was there any reason—or way—to show it here.
I evaded the demand diplomatically.
“There are too many eyes here.”
I glanced at the surrounding guards, implying they should be dismissed. The old man let out a dry, mocking laugh.
“Hah. You have many demands. It seems you still haven’t grasped your situation.”
Thump—.
The old man raised his hand, and the guards behind him leveled their halberds at me.
Fwish—!
Compared to the two at the gate, these were clearly superior warriors. From their menacing aura and the sharp flow of their mana, it was obvious they were ready to strike at a moment's notice.
“Eek!”
As the guards took their stances, Lize ducked behind my back. Bolstered by his men, the old man posed his question once more.
“What will it be? If you continue to be stubborn, things will get ugly. Hand over the item and reveal your identity. This is my final warning.”
The old man’s eyes glinted coldly.
“I have already been very patient.”
Wooooom—!
A powerful, formless energy radiated from him. I couldn’t explain the mechanics, but the moment that energy touched me, my body felt as if it were shrinking, stiffening of its own accord.
‘So this is the fighting spirit of a true martial artist.’
In the game, it was just a debuff that lowered stats, but experiencing it in person, the pressure was suffocating.
“……”
I stood my ground, enduring the old man’s aura, and swallowed dryly.
Gulp.
This was truly the lion’s den. One wrong move and everything would be for naught. I wouldn’t just fail my goal; I could very well die. I didn't have the power to subdue this entire room.
However, if I wasn’t confident I could handle this, I never would have come here in the first place. As long as everything went according to plan, there would be no problem. After all, I already knew the secret relationship between this old man and the true master of Panopticon’s western branch.
I calmed my racing heart and spoke in a low, steady voice.
“No. Your calculation is wrong, Alfredo. On the contrary, I am the one showing you consideration.”
“You… are showing me consideration?”
Alfredo’s eyebrow twitched.
“That’s right.”
I drove the point home, speaking with enough force that he couldn't miss the implication.
“Because I made it clear that I do not speak with ‘underlings’.”
“!”
For a moment, a strange light flickered in the old man’s eyes. He had understood the hidden meaning. I didn't miss my chance to strike while the iron was hot.
“Others may not know, but you should understand exactly what I mean, Alfredo.”
I fell silent. The old man was lost in thought, his gaze heavy.
“……”
A strange quiet descended upon the lobby. It was so silent you could hear the sound of a single breath.
“All of you, withdraw.”
After a long moment, the old man gave a slight nod and dismissed his subordinates.
“As you command.”
At his order, the guards vanished. The hall, once thick with tension, was suddenly empty. Once everyone—from the guards to the servants—had left, the old man asked quietly.
“How did you know?”
Alfredo publicly acted as the head of this Panopticon branch, but in truth, he was not its master. As a veteran player, I knew this fact well and had used it to shatter his composure.
My eyes gleamed from behind my mask as I said calmly, “There are no eternal secrets in this world. I wish to meet your master.”
“……”
The old man glanced between me and Lize for a moment, then chuckled and beckoned for us to follow.
“Hah. I don’t know who you are, but you’ve got guts. Follow me. I will guide you to the Young Lady.”