Chapter 174
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: The Traitor Unmasked
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It's Ulrox.
Ulrox.
Like Roskanto, he was a high-ranking executive with significant influence in the Archers' City.
And now that name had come from Hudin's mouth.
Roskanto and Hilla were so shocked they could only stammer, unable to continue.
Is that right? You sure?
Yes. Ulrox has been spying for our Thieves' City for the past six years.
What?!
Roskanto bellowed.
Jeong Hoon raised a hand to silence him and continued.
Tell me exactly what happened.
Ulrox was a respected archer in the Archers' City.
Six years ago, he had left for another city for a conference.
That's when he made contact with Marcus, an executive from the Thieves' City.
You should be the next leader, right?
What...? How could I ever become leader?
What if the Thieves' City helped you? Wouldn't that change things?
...Helped me how?
Yes. I'll be the leader soon. You know what that means, don't you?
......
From then on, Ulrox periodically met with people from the Thieves' City and faithfully carried out his role as a spy.
He helped Hudin establish himself in the Archers' City, and even personally administered the sleeping curse when Hudin couldn't.
Unbelievable......
Roskanto couldn't believe his own ears.
Ulrox, who had sworn loyalty to Alteer.
For him to plot to assassinate the leader......
He was the one pushing to attack the Warriors' City......
Alteer had given the order to prepare for war when he was deeply trapped in the curse's swamp.
Taking advantage of his vulnerable state, Ulrox had repeatedly argued they needed to reclaim the territory lost to the Warriors' City through war.
Now it made sense why the Thieves' City had proposed an alliance at such a perfect timing.
Keep going.
Hudin went on to list all the ways Ulrox had helped him afterward.
As the story progressed, Roskanto and Hilla's faces grew darker and darker.
Ha, to think I considered that traitor a comrade...... I have no face left to show the leader......
That traitorous bastard...... I'll never let him get away with this.
Hudin finished his story.
In summary, Hudin's accomplice was Ulrox, and it was thanks to him that Hudin had been able to push Alteer to the brink.
Alright, then. Let's go arrest the culprit.
Ulrox was in the sanctuary right now.
......I'll go capture that traitor Ulrox.
Roskanto hurriedly left the kitchen.
I'll come too. It's legal to kill him, right?
Hilla was gripping a kitchen knife.
You're not planning to kill him with a cooking knife, are you?
Why not? He messed with our food, so he can become the ingredient.
She looked ready to stab Hudin in the gut right then.
But Jeong Hoon raised a hand to stop her.
Hold on a second.
What now? We've caught the culprit, so we should send his head to those Thieves' City bastards.
That wouldn't be a bad idea. But the leader's judgment comes first.
......Tch, you're right.
At the mention of the leader, Hilla backed down obediently.
As Alteer had said, her loyalty was remarkable.
Archers' City.
Ulrox sat with eyes full of boredom.
This is getting tiresome. When the hell is that bastard Alteer finally going to die?
It had already been six years since he started spying, believing the promise that he'd be made leader.
All that time, he'd kept a low profile while leaking the Archers' City's information to the Thieves' City.
There had been a few close calls where he nearly got caught, but he'd navigated the crises with quick thinking.
Just wait a little longer, and we'll make our move.
Make your move? Does that mean the plan is finally starting?
Yes.
......Can I really become the leader?
Of course. I'm not interested in the Archers' City at all.
Marcus had no interest whatsoever in the Archers' City.
His goal, ever since becoming leader at a young age, was Alteer's granddaughter he'd seen at the past conference.
Irina von Askenstone.
But Alteer wouldn't fall easily.
Even after more than two years of the sleeping curse, he hadn't drawn his last breath.
Still, seeing him asleep for the past three months straight, even Alteer must be reaching his limit.
Ulrox!
Just then, Roskanto came rushing into the sanctuary.
What is it? What's got you barging in so frantically?
Come with me somewhere for a bit!
Where?
......Can I borrow your ear for a moment?
Ulrox obligingly tilted his head.
Roskanto whispered softly, and Ulrox's eyes trembled wildly upon hearing it.
His heart pounded with extreme tension.
How the hell did that dying old man open his eyes?
Is that true......?
Yeah. The leader just woke up. I'm telling you quietly because I only want to bring you.
Let's go right now. Is he in the bedroom?
Yeah. But he's not in good shape, so let's go quietly, just us.
Ulrox nodded.
Got it.
Thanks.
Roskanto left the sanctuary with Ulrox.
Did you hear about that?
Once they were alone, Roskanto suddenly stopped and stared straight at Ulrox.
What now?
Ulrox tilted his head.
They say the reason the leader slept so long was because of that sleeping curse herb.
......Really? First I've heard of it.
I always admired your loyalty. You worried more than anyone when the leader wouldn't wake.
Glad you noticed.
You were so worried you couldn't focus on work, even handing over temporary command to me.
Temporary commander.
Despite his own ambitions for leadership, he'd passed command to Roskanto.
The reason was to pin all the blame for the war on him.
Strictly speaking, Roskanto was the second most influential figure in the city after the leader.
So, if he dragged him down, then made a pact with the Thieves' City himself and took the throne, the plan would succeed perfectly.
But for Alteer to wake up......
Ulrox maintained his poker face and nodded.
Yeah.
You said the commander's duties were too much, so you'd handle the potions entirely.
......Yeah. But you ended up managing them.
Ulrox had planned to tamper with the potions sustaining Alteer's life.
But temporary commander Roskanto had insisted on handling them personally, ruining the plan.
I never imagined that loyalty was all fake.
Tears had welled up in Roskanto's eyes.
His voice trembled slightly, and he glared at Ulrox with resentment.
What......?
Why did you do it? Was the leader's seat that tempting?
I don't know what you're talking about. Speak clearly.
Why did you betray us?!
Roskanto's left foot stepped forward as he swung his hand.
What?!
Ulrox urgently leaned back to dodge.
But a burning pain flared in his chest area.
In Roskanto's hand was a dagger.
Will you die here? Or come quietly bound?
Roskanto's demeanor turned ferocious.
Betrayal?! Stop with the nonsense!
Ulrox shouted in bewilderment.
No more hiding. I know you plotted to assassinate the leader.
Thud.
Ulrox felt his heart sink.
......So the leader waking up was a lie?
No, it's true.
Then what's going on...... Ack!
Ulrox couldn't continue.
His vision blurred.
His head spun, making it hard even to stand.
I coated the dagger in poison. It won't kill you, so relax. You can't die right now.
Da, damn it......
Don't worry. When you wake up, everything will have changed.
With those words, Ulrox's consciousness faded into darkness.
......Is everything you just heard the full truth?
Alteer pressed his throbbing head.
Before him, Hudin and the bound Ulrox knelt.
No! Absolutely not! How could I do such a thing?!
Ulrox desperately denied it.
Then how do you explain the testimony of the man beside you?
Hudin, still not free of the brainwashing, repeated the same story even before Alteer.
As the leader's shadow, he'd seen and heard much.
Ulrox's face paled at his vivid testimony.
Tha, that......
Let me say it again. Ulrox coveted the leader's seat and plotted to assassinate you. He also shared internal information with the Thieves' City.
At Hudin's confirmation shot, Ulrox glared with bloodshot eyes and yelled.
You bastard! Where do you get off spouting that crap?!
In my pocket, there's a recorder made in the Mages' City. Please take it out.
Jeong Hoon pulled a recorder from Hudin's pocket.
He'd recorded every conversation with Ulrox.
Playing it, Ulrox's voice emerged.
Hey, this isn't what we agreed. Why isn't he dying?
I don't know.
Ha...... This is maddening.
Isn't there a way to give him more sleeping curse?
Impossible. Even if I wanted to mess with the potions, that bastard Roskanto is watching like a hawk.
Jeong Hoon turned off the recorder.
Is this enough evidence?
Traitorous bastard! I'll kill you!
Ulrox struggled to lunge at Hudin.
But the bindings held him too tightly to move.
Traitor? Strictly speaking, that's you.
Hudin landed a sharp retort on Ulrox.
No! I'm not a traitor! Leader! It's all a misunderstanding! Give me a chance to explain!
Ulrox denied it vehemently again.
No misunderstanding. As of this moment, you're expelled from the Archers' City.
L, Leader......
Expelled.
Ulrox's face went deathly white.
Of course, expulsion won't let you walk free.
What should the charges be?
Charges? Conspiracy to murder me, attempted murder since he carried it out, treason for betraying the Archers' City, and espionage plus leaking classified info. All added upexecution.
At the words execution, Ulrox trembled in terror.
Pl, please spare me...... Look what they've done to me!
Shut your mouth! On what grounds do you beg for your life?!
Hilla approached, grabbed his collar, and pummeled his face with her fist.
Hilla! Calm down first!
Roskanto hurriedly stopped her.
It's fine. He's dead anyway.
But Alteer coldly halted Roskanto with his tone.
He was angrier now than ever.
Betrayed by a subordinate he'd trusted.
Without Jeong Hoon, he might be dead, the Archers' City in decline from war, and his only granddaughter handed to the Thieves' City.
Please, just one chance! If you give me one, I'll make it up somehow! Please......
Even as he was beaten, Ulrox kept begging for mercy.
Roskanto.
Yes.
Drag this traitor out now. Put him on the execution platform and wait.
Understood.
Roskanto dragged Ulrox outside.
Still fuming, Hilla huffed repeatedly.
Hilla.
Yes, Leader.
At Alteer's call, Hilla instantly regained her composure and knelt on one knee.
Assemble everyone in the Archers' Sanctuary to the execution platform.
Understood.
Hilla went out too.
Left were Jeong Hoon, Hudin, and Alteer.
Ah, that one I'll lock in the underground prison to rot forever. Good judgment, right?
Alteer glanced at Hudin and asked Jeong Hoon.
Underground prison.
A place so horrific people said death was preferable.
Not cutting off his head and sending it to the Thieves' City?
That'd be too merciful. Whatever you did, he'll answer every question faithfully. Am I wrong?
Correct. He's under truth-only brainwashing. It'll hold until I release it.
Then we can extract info without issue?
Info?
Yes. They struck first, so we'll make our own weapons.
With internal info leaked, the Archers' City needed leverage against them too.
Yes. That's a great idea.
I want to rip Marcus apart right now...... But that might cost me my treasures......
Jeong Hoon smiled silently.
Anyway, truly grateful...... Without you, a horrific future would have unfolded.
A red exclamation mark blinked over Alteer's head.
Proof of completing the hidden quest from Roskanto.
You have completed the hidden quest.
Hidden quest complete.
Alteer went to a drawer in the corner and carefully opened it.
Inside was a single old key.
He took it out and offered it to Jeong Hoon.
This key......?
The first leader kept it. You deserve it. Please take it.
Yes. Thank you.
Jeong Hoon took the key.
You have acquired an Old Rusty Key.