Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Crown Hall Hypnosis App Crackdown Operation -6
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Crown Hall was a sprawling city, and at its heart lay the district where the imperial bloodline resided. Much like how modern real estate prices are swayed by transportation and amenities, various factors influenced values here too.
Generally speaking, the closer to the city's center—the Imperial Palace—the more valuable the land. So they say you could roughly gauge a family's influence just by knowing where their mansion or villa was located.
This is a simple map.
The inner walls protecting the imperial district, colloquially known as the 'Golden Ramparts,' marked the boundary of the 'Golden Ring.' Only those who enjoyed the Emperor's favor were granted entry.
It wasn't a place you could buy your way into. Only the truly connected could even set foot here, making it the dream of many ambitious nobles.
Even the boy knight who nearly bisected the Violet Magic Tower had his family home here.
Beyond the 'Golden Ring' lay another concentric ring, dividing insiders from outsiders based on whether their patrols fell under the direct route of the Imperial Capital Knights.
This elite knight order, composed of the Empire's finest, ensured impeccable security. Petty thieves were a rarity inside. It was a bona fide affluent enclave.
High nobles and outrageously wealthy tycoons clustered there, and even territorial lords from distant lands kept a villa tucked away in the district.
Some nobles even claimed, "This is where real Crown Hall begins," or "Without the Capital Knights' protection, it's not true Crown Hall," drawing lines between the authentic and the fake among themselves.
And everything from there out to the outer walls was the Crown Hall we'd been enjoying up until now.
Viscount Dompel's mansion sat right on that borderline. Pingbalrez explained it was a spot a mere viscount would normally never snag, but he'd scraped in thanks to the duke's backing.
He added,
"The Capital Knights are an imperial affiliate like the Imperial Defense Bureau, but they prioritize quelling disturbances in Crown Hall. We clash with them occasionally. You get what that means?"
"Drag our feet, and the Capital Knights show up?"
"Exactly. Viscount Dompel's place is ambiguously on the edge of their turf, but if they appear, things escalate."
"In and out fast, got it."
I took it as: loot everything before the cops arrive.
We closed in on the viscount's mansion swiftly. Its outer walls were festooned with garish ornaments—not artistic, but a blatant flaunt of wealth that came off as grotesque.
Why hang a jeweled necklace on the outer wall? It didn't even look like an artifact.
Two guards stood watch at the gated entrance.
Breaching the mansion needed to be quiet. There were surely more guards inside, and a fight outside spelled trouble for two reasons.
The Capital Knights would spot us quicker, and open terrain was a disadvantage in combat.
Best to handle any scraps indoors if possible. Infiltration was ideal. We also needed to confirm if the viscount was perpetrator or victim.
I locked eyes with my soul partner, Pingbalrez.
"Say we're delivering a package?"
"Nah, I'm a farmer who sold all my land and jumped into commerce, but my goods overlap with the viscount's guild, so I tanked hard. Brought a bribe to beg for mercy..."
As he improvised our cover, one guard pointed at Scarface Senior and approached. What now? Just blast through with hypnosis magic?
The guard bowed to Senior.
"You're early this time. The master's been waiting."
"...?"
"These your hypnotized slaves? Master's gonna love 'em. Got any spares for me...?"
"...!!"
Pingbalrez and I instantly glazed over, pupils dilating slack. Time to ride the wave.
I checked my reflection in Pingbalrez's eyes. Every angle screamed mind-controlled thrall.
I shielded the Magic Tower Master, who was blankly lost. Scarface Senior, no rookie, shook off surprise and rolled with it, playing it cool.
"Doesn't look like spares this time. All S-grades just by looks—think the viscount'll share? Well, maybe this guy."
"Haha, no need. Not hurting for 'em..."
Damn it.
A chill raced up my spine. Watch the gender, asshole.
Scarface Senior led us inside. The guard's chumminess suggested repeat visits, courtesy of Senior's scarred mug fooling them.
Impersonation's scary. If we'd called Senior in for a proper debrief instead of investigating quietly, suspicion would've been unavoidable.
Senior, sensing it, patted my shoulder gratefully. Yeah, I saved his ass.
"Have a good time."
The guard escorted us to the door and returned to post. Senior eyed us briefly. Go? Let's. You're real Lorelei, right? No, sir.
Senior opened the mansion door.
A red carpet ran the length of the hall, flanked by porcelain vases and paintings galore. Maids bustled about.
More maids than expected. A place this size needed maybe five servants, but I counted over ten.
All wore collars fit for pets, pupils vacant. Hypnotized.
The Violet Magic Tower Master shuddered, muttering,
"...Creepy."
It was. Treating people like objects was blatant.
I grabbed a passing maid's wrist. No resistance, weak pulse. She looked malnourished. Bare-minimum care wasn't even consistent. I asked,
"Name?"
"Eleanora, Master."
"You take my orders too? I'm new here."
"I'm commanded to serve all mansion guests as Master."
Figures.
I opened a nearby door. Empty guest room. I ordered,
"Every maid who hears my voice, enter this room and rest. Carefully, no trampling."
"Yes, Master."
The maids filed in. Couldn't release them yet, so isolate and protect here for now.
The bustling hall emptied instantly.
Scarface Senior sighed and headed to the end. We trailed, feigning hypnosis. Pushing ornate double doors revealed a vast room, long table, and a pig at the head.
Dripping in jewels—that the viscount? He leered at Pingbalrez and the Tower Master, then spoke to Senior with fat lips.
"Said next visit was months out. Early bird, eh?"
"Yeah, plans changed."
"Already half quota filled. Soon even the eastern beggars'll eat. Heh heh... rewards prepped, right?"
"Rewards?"
The pig viscount thumped his armrest irritably, jowls jiggling. He pulled a small statue from his bosom and bellowed,
"You promised to enhance this hypnosis idol! Make it work on noble bitches too!"
"Ah, right. It's ready, don't worry."
"Sick of commoners. A noble body needs noble slaves. Yeah... Gotta show that Kisilia bitch who mocked me as half-pint that I'm no pushover!"
The viscount spat fury out of nowhere. No manners, eyes greasy with greed and inferiority.
He'd been thick as thieves with the culprit. Used wealth and power to seize slums, plant those 'Big Brother' idols.
And his pay? That hypnosis app.
Classic rotten noble. Fitting app holder, in a way. No wonder the culprit approached him.
Pingbalrez's hidden hand clenched; Scarface Senior twitched fingers. With ties to the perp confirmed, no hesitation to strike. As I prepped spells,
Violet Tower Master Yuna spoke softly.
"...You... got money. Power."
"Huh?"
"Coulda just... hired people. Normally. Treated fair. You ain't... poor. Could if you wanted. Why... hypnotize innocents? Make 'em serve?"
"That bitch ain't hypnotized? Slacking?"
The pig scolded Senior, smacked lips, then proclaimed like gospel,
"Think I'm short on cash? Hell no! Could hire ten, hundred commoners. But touch their ass? They scream. Call to bedroom? Quit like hell."
"...".
"These maids? Loyalty through the roof. Do whatever, no peep, no dog-eyes glare. Like this!"
Slap!
He slapped the adjacent maid.
Slap! Crack! Slap.
Her cheek swelled fast, blood trickling. Hypnosis-bound, no resistance. Viscount panted.
"Huff, huff. Playing freely? That's the good part."
"...".
Hate meeting folks who see people as things. Clearly human like me.
Born screaming, crawled, walked, built bonds. How does one turn so twisted? The thought brings bitter sorrow.
The pig boldly thrust the small idol at Pingbalrez and Yuna.
"No hypnosis? I'll fix that. Look here! Heh heh... All my sex slaves now!"
The handheld idol flashed runes, blasting potent hypnosis waves. Our faces went slack.
We succumbed, minds lost, his toys. Pig cackled, beckoned.
"Yes... perfect... serve me now..."
As if.
Whack!
I smashed the pig's occiput. Head snapped back, lolled, grinning dopily. Bounced hypnosis waves sent him to happy dreams.
Pingbalrez rotated her wrist.
"Crazy wizard, mind if I sock him too?"
"Too hard might break hypnosis... Wait, that mana? You'd kill him."
Snatched the idol from his hand.
Finer craft than the big ones. Output stronger than expected.
No mental barrier? Instant slave like maids. Weak one? Repeated exposure seals it.
Lucky we're top-tier in this field. Academy kids might've fallen. Felt educator's duty stir.
World's vast, dangers plenty. Gotta drill students harder, build mountain-strong barriers. No app ambushes.
"Alright, viscount neutralized... Time to ransack."
Gather max evidence. With proof, we're not intruders—we're righteous crime-busters.
Secure the narrative, and our Second Prince'll handle the fallout. Trust.
"...".
"Senior, what?"
Scarface pondered, hand to mouth. Nicked by the waves?
"Junior. The viscount... dumber than thought?"
"Looked it... yeah?"
True, we slipped guards, but this crew? No suspicion? Pure-hearted skull.
"I'd never put an idiot in charge. If he were sharper, maybe. But no..."
"Puppet boss has a real power behind?"
"Bingo."
Got it. Even as mastermind, I'd hate tasking this fool. Want someone sharp, capable...
"Pig talked like he was seeding 'Big Brother' across Crown Hall. Needs a field commander type."
Classic trope hit: the bumbling noble's butler is the true schemer.
So not time to relax post-capture—
"Wizard! Up top!"
Pingbalrez's sharp warning. I reflexively eyed the ceiling.
Rrrrip! Crash!
Ceiling shattered into dozens, three figures dropping weapons drawn: greatsword, dual blades, bow. At me...? No, the viscount. Silencing him?
"Protect the viscount!"
I hastily wove spells. Tower Master's hand flashed, chains rattled, Senior drew dagger.
Clanggg-!!
Metal screeched, dust billowed.