Chapter 182
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: The Tightening Net of Investigation
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Having reached that conclusion, Jun immediately sorted through the materials sent by Childs and began deducing individuals potentially linked to Viscount Voretek.
"There are three high-probability suspects in total."
The rest were either dead, retired, or had ascended to higher positions.
Only about three remained on Slayer Coast Island.
"But the other two have significantly lower odds."
One had grown stronger through methods other than the Evil Spirit Orb.
The other showed remarkably minimal growth over ten years despite using it.
That left just one candidate.
"The problem is I can't verify it right away..."
To confirm this, he'd inevitably need Dexter's resources. And that meant sharing his realization with both royals.
But this was no decision to make lightly.
'Maybe I'm overreacting.'
The crisis Jun knew of wouldn't erupt for years.
He could make these deductions because he knew the future, but from Dexter's perspective, his theory might sound like the ravings of a conspiracy theorist.
'Preparing alone versus mobilizing the royals are worlds apart.'
No matter how tight-lipped Dexter was, any preparations would leak word inevitably.
And if nothing happened?
'That'd be a problem in itself.'
It could shatter the trust he'd built up in one blow.
'But if the crisis I fear does strike...'
It would be catastrophic.
As Jun agonized, he recalled the recent incident.
The Voltine ore district, tainted by poison and overrun.
An event absent from the game's history.
'The Origin Poison Master, who should have died human, became a monster through spirit rampage.'
For some reason, the Cheoncheon Church was moving faster than in the game.
With even nonexistent crises occurring, who could say future ones wouldn't hit soon?
'Yeah. I have to tell them.'
If his prediction failed and trust with Dexter broke, so be it.
Fear couldn't paralyze him, or he'd just watch the Church's plans unfold.
'Not now. Not anymore.'
Decision made, Jun hastily compiled his notes and headed straight to the room where Dexter and Javier were.
There, he found...
"Hm? Jun. Have you already met Javier?"
"Pardon? No, I haven't seen him yet."
"I see. Our paths must have crossed. He seemed to have something to tell you."
"To me?"
He'd had little direct contact with Javier until now.
What could he want?
"So, what brings you here?"
"Ah, I've found a lead on the Cheoncheon Church."
"...Those bastards again. Out with it."
Another deep conversation with First Prince Dexter.
He had to choose his words carefully once more.
'It went smoothly last time, but I still need to toe the line.'
Licking his lips, Jun began laying out his findings in order.
"First, looking at the Church's recent movements, they've targeted imperial infighting."
"Mm. Indeed."
"And the faction easiest to shake in that regard? None other than the nobles."
Dexter nodded at Jun's words. This was common knowledge for anyone even mildly interested in imperial politics.
"But the nobles' power isn't that great now."
"Exactly. The result of long-term imperial management. But that's a problem for the Church. So, what action do you think they'd take?"
Dexter fell silent, pondering Jun's question.
Anyone else witnessing this would raise an eyebrow.
A mere mercenary captain daring to quiz a frontrunner for the throne like an examiner?
'But he's not the type to waste time on idle visits.'
Dexter had shown Jun his unguarded side multiple times.
That was his true nature, yet the mage before him never crossed into equals' territory.
He kept distance, fulfilling decisive roles from the minimal position.
Thus, the question carried weight.
"Simple. They'd try to weaken the Emperor's faction."
Jun smiled and nodded.
"Precisely. A clear imbalance in political power. They'd want to flip it."
"But can they?"
"Purely theoretical, but yes, there's potential. For instance... by launching terror attacks in Emperor-faction heavy areas."
"...!"
Dexter furrowed his brow at Jun's words.
Wouldn't that just strengthen the Emperor's faction?
Blackout was isolated from the surface in many ways, but terrorism changed everything.
"Of course, they'd know that too. They won't resort to such extremes until ready."
"Then... they're targeting Emperor nobles through other means?"
"What if they disguise it as an accident in Blackout?"
Before Dexter could counter, Jun handed over the documents.
"These... are quite old records."
"Yes. Mostly events from centuries ago."
"Why bring these?"
"According to them, failed raids occasionally affected even the [Checkpoint]. See here?"
"Mm... Yes, there are such records. Even in these documents you brought."
Ancient logs indeed.
A fifth-layer field where monsters spawned from tree sap.
Normally, the sap never entered the [Checkpoint], but a failed raid changed that.
"Monsters spawned from sap that leaked into the [Checkpoint], causing heavy casualties."
"Yes. The moment the [Checkpoint]'s safety from monsters was shattered."
"But... the number of monsters generated inside wasn't that high. The sap's spread was minimal compared to field averages."
Undeterred by Dexter's rebuttal, Jun presented more prepared materials.
"True. The effect was minor. But the point is: failed raids impact the [Checkpoint]. Look at this too."
"Mm. A parasitic monster type on humans?"
"Yes. Normally, such monsters go dormant inside the [Checkpoint]."
"But here, a failed raid led to hatching... Hm?"
A peculiar note caught his eye.
"The host's violence exceeded norms?"
"And reports noted above-average physical enhancements during rampage."
By now, Dexter grasped Jun's implication.
[Checkpoint] anomalies. Human-parasitic monsters.
In other words...
"The Evil Spirit Orb... You're thinking of corrupted spirits?"
"Exactly."
Dexter rubbed his eyelids, face grave.
Summarizing Jun's points:
"Failed raids bring abnormal effects to the [Checkpoint]."
And if corrupted spirits rampaged via Evil Spirit Orbs then, the fallout would be massive.
"Haa... Headache."
Dexter eyed Jun with faint hope.
Unlike him, the mage remained calm.
He must have a solution.
"A way to find them?"
"Not foolproof. Just a means to narrow the search."
"Speak."
Almost there.
Jun paused dramatically before continuing.
"From what I've gathered, corrupted spirits implanted in humans need time to mature."
"That Origin Poison Master had a well-aged one?"
"Not just 1-2 years. At least a decade, I'd suspect."
Imperial intel on the Poison Master's followers confirmed activity spans.
"That level after a decade..."
Even a vice-captain of the 8th-level Heavenly Dragon Knights struggled.
If such a disaster hit without him... Blackout's safety would be in question.
But despair wasn't over.
"That was without a failed raid. If one fails and spirits rampage..."
"As you say, massive casualties."
"They'll watch the Empire closely, striking surgically at the optimal moment."
"The Empire's perfect blow. Without seeming like terrorism... Here, Slayer Coast Island."
Dexter finally caught on, nodding.
"Where Emperor nobles gather, and annual raids happen. Hard to call any incident terrorism outright. But..."
Knowing this, could they warn the nobles?
'I'd love to, but it's not simple.'
How much would nobles believe? And Slayer Coast Island's tourism-driven economy?
Jun offered the fix again.
"The surest way... Identify and eliminate those with Evil Spirit Orbs beforehand."
"Surest, yes. But spirit power? Hidden subtly."
Not the same spirit, hard to detect without physical contact.
"How to find them?"
"Assuming they're targeting Slayer Coast Island narrows it down."
"Hm?"
Jun subtly steadied his breath at Dexter's puzzled look.
'Honestly, I don't know game lore details.'
He had to piece it like a puzzle.
"Back to the Origin Poison Master. He joined Cheoncheon Church and got implanted at least ten years ago."
"Right."
"But they're cautious. With that tech, they've never irked the Empire—or if they did, undetected."
"Mm..."
"Would such plotters lack a mole here, a prime target?"
"...Are you suspecting Viscount Voretek?"
"No. Frankly, he's got everything."
Born to a decent house, raking in wealth managing the island.
Why side with the Church?
'Time to reveal the answer.'
This touched politics.
Better provide solid evidence upfront.
And Jun had it.
'Suffered days for this.'
He spread the curated files—handpicked with Childs.
"Suspect candidates my comrades and I vetted."
"Criteria?"
"Sudden growth ten years ago."
"Evil Spirit Orb stats, I presume."
"Yes."
But all but one were crossed out.
"All eliminated?"
"Except one."
"...This guy?"
A familiar face.
Seen in reports before.
"My suspect: Viscount Voretek's aide, Dermaan."
"What? He's..."
"Yes. Current raid leader."
Dexter frowned.
"...Still lacking evidence. If as you say, why would the raid leader join the Church?"
Fair point.
He'd served Voretek for a decade, excelling as raid leader long before.
What reason now?
"What if he has a special past?"
"Past? I've seen reports. Quiet fellow. No scandals. Loyal to his post."
"Did those reports cover his history?"
"...No. His past was untraceable."
"Exactly. Thoroughly erased."
"Even so... possible?"
"Yes. With noble influence."
"Noble...? Voretek?"
"Yes. High chance he wiped Dermaan's past."
"...Why?"
"I suspect he's Voretek's illegitimate brother, presumed dead."
"...!"