Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 060
Chapter Title: Emerging Clue
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The empty interrogation room in the detention block once more.
"Y-Yes? What?"
"What's your deal?"
Lumia, the dark elf, looked flustered at Kyle's question.
He glanced at the powered-down camera and spoke to her.
"No time to waste. Roll call's coming up soon."
He fixed her with a fierce glare.
"Be straight with me. You're from the Baal Cult, right? The devil worshippers that bearwolf belonged to."
"!!"
Her eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively backed away.
"W-What? Y-Yes?"
"Bingo. Or not."
Kyle crackled lightning across his palm with a sharp crack! and pressed her again.
"Answer."
"…!"
Unable to spit out a lie, she flattened herself on the floor before him.
"I-I'm sorry!! O Proxy! I didn't mean to deceive you! I was just... so worried about your well-being in this penal unit...!"
"Proxy?"
Kyle furrowed his brow at the word, and Lumia nodded vigorously.
"Yes, exactly! O Proxy! The noble one who has descended to this mortal realm in the great Lord Baal's stead! That's why you wield curses without cost! That grace is proof you're his proxy!"
Her eyes sparkled with fervor, as if her earlier fear had been a lie, making Kyle step back without thinking.
What the hell is this bullshit?
Baal's proxy? Grace?
Lumia ignored him, slamming her forehead to the ground and clasping her hands in prayer.
"My body, my soul, and my entire clan—we are all yours, O Proxy, who will guide the cult to righteousness! Ah...! Grant this lowly, worthless one the honor of serving at your side!"
"…."
Kyle felt his jaw drop.
Now it all made sense—the subtle worshipful stares he'd sensed since the bearwolf encounter.
These... these crazy fanatics.
Something had felt off.
They've been under some ridiculous delusion?
He pinched his forehead and sighed deeply.
"Uh, sorry."
"?"
He corrected their misconception outright.
"I'm not that."
"Pardon?"
"I mean, I'm not Baal's proxy or whatever."
"…?"
Lumia tilted her head, as if failing to comprehend.
She asked,
"If you're not the proxy, Clark sir, then who is?"
"No, listen!"
Growing frustrated, Kyle pointed at himself.
"I don't know who the proxy is, but it's definitely not me, got it?"
"Gasp...!"
She clapped a hand over her mouth in shock, and Kyle swallowed a sigh.
"Good, now you get—"
"To think you lack self-awareness!"
"…."
Everything clicking into place, Lumia clasped her hands together.
"Ah, that explains it! That's why you haven't come to the cult and have been wandering this penal unit instead. No omens make sense now. For some reason, it must have been an incomplete descent? Oh, Lord Baal..."
She began praying again, leaving Kyle's mouth agape.
This is driving me insane.
How do you reason with a fanatic who won't listen?
He knelt to meet her eyes and interrupted her prayer.
"No, seriously. I'm not some devil proxy."
"But Proxy, how else could you wield curses so freely without sacrifice?"
"That's...!"
Kyle found himself at a loss for words.
"I mean, that's...!"
He clutched his forehead.
Damn it, I can't tell them I'm immortal!
That would expose his fatal weakness.
"See! You lack awareness, but that's Lord Baal's grace itself—proof you're his proxy, Clark sir!"
"…."
"Don't worry. Even if you're confused from an incomplete descent, our cult will serve you with our lives."
Feeling like he was talking to a wall, Kyle rubbed his face.
"Fine, whatever. Let's say—purely hypothetically—I'm your proxy."
"No need for hypotheticals. You are."
"Anyway!"
He asked,
"Then why'd that Gamlong guy from the helicopter try to kill me?"
Lumia's face hardened at the memory.
"You mean that faithless scum who deserves to be torn apart?"
"Faithless?"
"Yes. He dared doubt you, Baal's proxy, denying the obvious. And he even tried to kill you to prove his point."
Gamlong, that bastard...
Kyle's jaw dropped.
Turns out he was one of the few in the cult with any sense?
"But no need to worry, Proxy."
Lumia smiled brightly.
"That filthy heretic will suffer in our cult's purgatory until his worthless life ends."
Apparently, Gamlong had faced brutal purges since then.
"Ah... okay."
Kyle sighed wearily, looking drained.
"Anyway, I told you."
"Pardon?"
He stood and pointed at the kneeling Lumia.
"I clearly, clearly said I'm not Baal's proxy."
"You are."
"No...!"
Kyle gave up arguing.
She was a fanatic—what was the point?
"Just don't come after me later claiming I tricked you and try to kill me or something. Got it?"
"...!! Kill you, the Proxy? We'd never!"
"Anyway! I said it clearly! Not the proxy!"
"You are."
"Fuck."
The conversation kept looping back, and even Kyle—who rarely swore—let one slip.
How'd I end up tangled with these lunatics?
He sighed deeply and stared her down.
"Whatever. Don't go blabbing about me being the proxy outside."
"No worries. We have no intention of disrupting your current life."
Lumia placed a hand on her chest and continued politely.
"But if you ever need aid, just command us. We'll stake our lives on any task."
"Hah."
Shaking his head in exasperation, Kyle grabbed the door handle—then paused.
Hold up.
The devil cult was deeply tied to curses.
He stared down at Lumia.
"?"
She blinked her large eyes and tilted her head again.
"Any commands?"
"...Just occurred to me."
"Yes."
"Does your cult have magic artifacts or relics related to curses?"
Lumia nodded.
"Of course. Unlike those laughable heretic cults, we Baal followers uphold ancient history and traditions. We hoard all sorts of cursed items."
"Hm..."
Kyle hummed thoughtfully.
"Mind lending me a few?"
"No need to borrow—take them!"
"No."
He waved it off seriously.
"Just need 'em briefly. I'll return them right away."
No sense risking them claiming he stole later.
Meanwhile, in the Central Administrative District's council chamber.
"This real?"
[Yes, it's authentic.]
Councilor Rockton stared in disbelief at the bodycam footage Joseph had sent over video call.
"Aki O's Torch summoned an ancient dragonkin?"
[Yes. Analysis confirms it's not an elder dragon, but definitely a dragon.]
"A dragon..."
Rockton looked incredulous.
Summoning mere nether beasts was one thing; dragonkin were another entirely.
By this era, most had left the material plane.
Summoning one that might not even exist here anymore?
"Even Aki O's Torch—possible?"
[That's why I'm saying... Leverk seems involved.]
"Leverk?"
[Yes.]
Rockton hummed softly as Joseph relayed Kyle's post-battle dragon comments.
"If Leverk's truly involved..."
[As we suspected, Marshall and Leverk are collaborating behind the scenes.]
Marshall was headache enough; now the mage tower's power too?
Dragging in the tower—what are you plotting, Marshall...!
As he rubbed his face, Joseph continued.
[Still, we got lucky. Without Kyle... the unit would've been wiped by that dragonkin.]
"Unbelievable, no matter how many times I see it."
Soloing a dragon now? How'd he pierce its hide?
Even Rockton had to admire the inexplicable miracle.
"The guy's bottomless."
[Agreed. He's a godsend on our side...]
"…."
Yet it only deepened the mysteries.
Just who the hell is he?
Why did Mayor Luther hide him? Why so strong?
[So, about this...]
"What?"
[What do you think of granting Kyle Clark special amnesty and a separate mercenary contract?]
"Special amnesty?"
[Yes. Things are getting messy; prisoner status limits his mobility.]
Fair point. Rockton had considered it.
"But as you know, Unit 141 is a subproject of the 8th District development plan—under Mayor Luther's initiative. Amnesty needs a separate mayoral order."
Meaning, meet Luther first.
[Has Mayor Luther...]
Rockton sighed.
"Won't see me."
Third audience request, all rejected by the central secretariat.
[Why?]
"Family matters, apparently."
[...Family matters.]
Too clichéd.
[Something's up in the Luther family?]
"...Maybe. Or."
A hypothesis silenced him.
Has Marshall already seized the secretariat?
Unlikely alone, but with Luther help? Possible.
Control it, and you blind Luther.
In the end... Marshall again.
He hummed softly.
"Wait for next month's regular assembly."
If no mishap with Luther, he'd appear then.
Even Marshall couldn't block assembly attendance.
Missing it would raise suspicions Marshall wouldn't want.
Luther family's secrecy is frustrating now.
He clicked his tongue.
"Intel Agency'll send folks to the unit soon."
[Those guys from before?]
"Yeah."
They were the most trustworthy now.
"The last lead to Marshall."
Forensics team.
Rockton's eyes narrowed.
"Time to poke them."
[Understood.]
A message popped on his phone—from Inspector Yenitz.
[See you on next field trip.]
"…."
He deleted it immediately.
"You set a trap for the forensics team?"
The next day.
Intel agent Jim Gordon, visiting the unit, nodded.
"That assassin you nabbed? Viper Guild."
"Ah, yes. Of course I remember."
He still had the shadow magic artifact as a souvenir.
Speaking of artifacts, time to see Fleetwood.
Too many events since their last meet.
Wonder if she succeeded with the light artifact by now.
Not the only reason, though.
Leverk.
As a mage tower sage's granddaughter, she'd know about Leverk.
And if they're plotting something at the tower...
Better warn her early.
Kyle thought,
If nothing comes up, weekend outing this week.
Gordon continued.
"We handed him to forensics on a forensic pretext."
"Like last time?"
"Exactly."
Cassie pushed up her glasses beside him.
"If there's a mole in forensics, they'll try passing results to Marshall again."
"But not online. Using Intel's external net risks exposure."
In other words, offline handoff guaranteed.
"We're surveilling all forensics staff. Trackers as backup."
"My role?"
"Simple."
Gordon went on.
"Forensic results in two days. Then the mole'll contact Marshall as usual."
"Raid the meet?"
"No."
He shook his head.
"Let 'em go. We're not settling for small fry."
Rare chance—needed to grab the full tail.
"Target shifts to whoever the forensics mole meets."
Cassie tapped the table lightly.
"Tracking that cutout leads to another contact or hideout..."
"Which likely points to Marshall."
"Oho."
Gordon smirked.
"You just chill in the city. We send coords or address, you hit it. Done. Easy, right?"
Kyle chuckled.
"Sounds straightforward."
"Yep. We handle the boring tailing. Zero worries."
Joseph, watching, chimed in.
"Checked your account? Quantitas battle merits were huge—councilor added a bonus."
"Oh?"
Checking, Kyle's eyes bulged.
1.1 billion deposited.
Insane.
Total balance: 3 billion.
Was only 700 mil recently.
Big shots are the best.
Keep this up, and by release: nice apartment near school, sunny grave relocation for sis.
Suppressing a grin, Joseph continued.
"This mission's crucial too. Help out, get reduction and councilor'll pay handsomely."
Cassie pleaded earnestly.
"Please help again, Clark. We need your strength."
Kyle scratched his head.
More skill points always good... reduction and cash? Why not.
No reason to refuse.
Emerging Clue
⚠️ Warning: Accepting this mission unlocks the 'Lost Past' route.
⛔ Note: The third unlock condition for the hidden mission 'The Truth of Lena Clark' can be found in the 'Lost Past' route.
"?!"