The Mayor's Terrifying Interrogation
57 Norton Mansion. On the dimly lit second-floor corridor, two soldiers were slowly patrolling for reconnaissance.
"Come to think of it, the mayor seemed off today, didn't he?"
"Today?"
His colleague racked his brain at the remark, then nodded as if remembering something.
"Yeah, he was definitely avoiding people's eyes. But he does that sometimes anyway."
"No, today he was shaking like a leaf. Did he get chewed out by Lord Bares?"
"That's nothing new. Maybe he just wasn't feeling well."
An irreverent conversation for family guards to have. But in the Norton Mansion, it was a commonplace sight.
Sasasak—
Kang Hanbit's group watched from behind the soldiers, hiding their bodies as they moved. Traveling with him were Juyeonu and Cown. Liora and Asla were waiting near the secret passage.
-Real infiltration lol
-Wanna snap their necks.
-Why not kill them?
-Didn't you watch the meeting?
-"Party members, please stay back."
The viewers were bickering as usual.
Not subduing the enemies was part of the plan decided before the infiltration.
"No need to take out the mansion guards. We just need to kidnap him."
"Isn't that too risky? If we're spotted, it'll cause an immediate uproar."
"It's fine. We'll sneak past their eyes."
The goal of this plan wasn't just a simple kidnapping of Brooke. The key was ensuring no one noticed.
The mansion's occupants just needed to seem as peaceful as usual.
Shuk—
Kang Hanbit's group slipped into a room with an open door from behind the soldiers. They exited onto the balcony and leaped upward.
Tak—!
Grabbing a protruding fixture, he silently began climbing the wall.
The Norton Mansion's outer walls were dotted with countless windows. The decorations around them made perfect handholds.
Shuk—
In an instant, he reached the top. Hanbit pointed at the roof below to the two following him, then carefully pried up a roof tile.
Thuduk—
A faint sound accompanied the separated structure. Below was an empty attic-like space.
Srulk—
Pulling out a rope and tying it, Hanbit gripped it and slowly descended. Dim light filtered onto the wooden floor.
"Damn bastards……."
A faintly trembling small voice.
Peering through the gap, he spotted Brooke huddled in the corner. Wrapped in blankets, only his face peeked out.
"Suddenly looking for Holy Nation spies? Ridiculous."
"Did I kill my brother? No, I never meant to. It's all Bares's fault."
"I'm a victim too. Yes, I'm the victim."
Brooke muttered to himself, gnawing his nails. His body shook violently—his anxiety at its peak.
Shuk—
Signaling Cown, who nodded and pulled out a vial of purple liquid. He sprinkled it on the spot Hanbit indicated on the floor.
Srulk—
The wood rapidly absorbed the liquid, dissolving it. A quick slash with a dagger, and the plank split like paper.
Connecting the rope again, Hanbit slowly descended through the new hole.
"That damn adventurer. Should I capture him first?"
Brooke was still muttering and shaking. Meanwhile, Hanbit drew closer above his head.
"Yes. I can just frame that Black Dragon as a Holy Nation spy too. Even if another crazy zealot shows up, it wouldn't be strange. If I borrow Bares's power……."
"You calling me a zealot?"
"……!"
In that instant, his gaze snapped from delusion to Hanbit right in front of him.
So shocked, Brooke forgot to breathe.
"Uh… ugh……."
Stammering, he tried to stand unsteadily. But Hanbit's arms were already around his neck.
"Wait…!"
Krunch—
Before he could finish, the sound rang out. Brooke lost consciousness without proper resistance.
***
Having kidnapped Brooke, Hanbit returned to the underground secret space. He then changed into the white uniform he'd taken from the temple.
Veil covering his face, holy book in his arms. The star emblem on his shoulder—anyone would see a perfect Holy Nation bishop.
-Player wearing the robes suspiciously well.
-He got experience here too?
-Offline full-time job ㄷㄷ
-Black Dragon Cult;
Behind the screen, Liora and the others watched the situation.
"Hyung, this is kinda tense."
Juyeonu, in similar believer robes behind him, whispered. It was just a stand-and-watch role—nothing hard.
'This is the important part.'
Brooke was bound to a chair in front.
The reason for disguising as a Holy Nation bishop was simple: Brooke feared the Holy Nation more than Bares.
"Let's begin."
Rattle—
Hanbit picked up a bucket full of ice water and took a step forward. He dumped it straight on the unconscious Brooke's face.
Splash—!
"Hngh!"
The sudden cold shock snapped Brooke awake. His startled gaze landed on Hanbit standing before him.
"……!"
Brooke's eyes widened. The face he'd seen just before passing out. It was definitely the adventurer Black Dragon he'd invited earlier.
But what was with the outfit?
"H-How did you get that robe……."
A bishop's robe with a unique star emblem on the shoulder. He couldn't fathom why an adventurer was wearing it.
Yet instinctive fear of a high-ranking devotee prickled his entire body.
Whooo—!
And the eerie wind swirling around him. No magic circle or mana tool in sight—it could only be some unknown power.
That thought flooded Brooke's mind with terror again.
Waiting for the illusion to take hold, Hanbit spoke lowly in a stern voice.
"Don't make a loud noise. You'll receive divine punishment."
-ㄷㄷ
-Voice change for real;
-Suspiciously good acting…….
-Told you, full-time job.
"Eek!"
The sharp warning blew away all doubts. All he could think was survival.
First, he nodded frantically.
Seeing the obedient response, Hanbit said in a low voice,
"Under the archbishop's orders, I disguised myself as an adventurer and infiltrated. Even for the greater good, slandering the Holy Nation and our faithful pained my heart. Even the dawn confession sacrament wasn't enough."
"Ah……."
At the trembling emotion, Brooke recalled their city hall meeting. The adventurer Black Dragon's hostility toward the Holy Nation.
To an ordinary believer, that alone was sin—but for a bishop, it was different. Especially under the archbishop's command; it was practically a free pass.
"So, do you know the sin you committed?"
"…Pardon?"
Brooke spat out the question at the sudden query.
Clutching the holy book, Hanbit furrowed his brow slightly.
"Do you think making such a brazen face erases your sin?"
"N-No! But I have no idea what sin I've……."
No matter how he searched his memory, he'd never wronged the Holy Nation. After his brother's execution, he'd gone out of his way to avoid them.
"Ah!"
Clutching his head, he remembered the moment before fainting. He bowed his head as deeply as possible and raised his voice.
"I'm sorry! I didn't recognize you as a bishop and uttered the mad claim that you were a zealot! I never imagined you'd be infiltrating in adventurer guise!"
Survival instinct kicked in—his brain whirring. This had to be it.
But the response wasn't what he expected.
"You think that's all?"
"Ah……."
Wrong. Terror flooded his mind again.
Shaking, he forced out words.
"I-I'm sorry. Please, tell me my sin?"
"Hoo."
Hanbit sighed at Brooke's desperate eyes. Gripping the holy book tighter, he said,
"Chapter 8, Verse 5: 'The heart of betrayal is like a thousand swords; keep them sheathed firmly.'
"Chapter 16, Verse 9: 'He who chooses betrayal over death shall cross the river of the end. Even God shall not claim such a soul.'
"Chapter 31, Verse 2……."
-?
-He memorized all that?
-Crazy bastard?
-This guy's actually Holy Nation?
-Info) There's a real Holy Nation cult IRL.
-Knew it, Black Dragon.
Reciting verses without opening the book. Brooke's expression shifted to bewilderment.
"Wh-Why say that to me……."
"How dare you betray God for petty greed! Still brazenly lying!"
At the total clueless reaction, Hanbit bellowed.
Whooo—!
The wind with his voice made Brooke's eyes fly wide.
"I'm sorry! I have no intention of lying! Tell me the sin, and I'll confess everything!"
Bound hand and foot, Brooke bowed as best he could. Satisfied with the attitude, Hanbit caught his breath and said,
"Then I'll ask. Why did you and Bares betray us?"
"…Pardon?"
At Bares's name, Brooke's thoughts froze. Racking his brain, he asked again.
"Lord Bares… betrayed?"
"Yes. The ring passed down in the Norton family. It holds the trace of the spirit king Salion. You two tried to deceive the Holy Nation and take it secretly."
"……?"
The utterly new information swirled in confusion. He'd never heard it from former head William or from Bares via black market intel. No chance he'd know.
"Don't play dumb. You were sharing info with Bares even before dragging your brother to the scaffold."
"N-No! I was just a figurehead mayor… I really know nothing!"
"You think ignorance excuses you? Without proof it was Bares's solo act, you'll be judged too."
"That's……."
In this life-or-death pinch, Brooke racked his brain for survival. Focusing until his mind blurred, he finally remembered something.
"I have it!"
Snapping his head up, he shouted. Hanbit calmly asked,
"Explain what."
"Yes!"
Reading the shifting mood, Brooke writhed in his bonds and pleaded desperately.
"Records of all Bares's plans are in the mansion! Please check them!"