Damned System

Chapter 100. Gift (3)

“I, I can’t accept this!”

“How much money could I possibly need? I eat and sleep at your house after all.”

I didn’t really need the money in this safe right away.

‘I can take what I need to Earth later.’

If I required funds for activities in Bihar, I could just ask Rashar for help. She was eager to help with anything, so she wouldn’t refuse such a request.

‘Moreover, there’s a limit to how much I can spend myself.’

To make the original owner of this safe gasp in surprise, it would not be enough for just individual expenses.

‘After all, he’s quite a tycoon in Bihar.’

It would be better to have an organization operating across the entire continent to fully empty the safe.

By the way, I owed Rashar quite a bit, so repaying some of those debts could benefit everyone.

That was why I handed over the key, thinking it was the more rational choice.

However, Rashar was persistently refusing.

Unwilling for this standoff to drag on, I subtly shifted my gaze sideways.

‘I wish they would step in soon…’

As if not to disappoint my hopes, a hand naturally inserted itself between me and Rashar.

“Thank you, K.”

It was Jordan who smoothly snatched the key from between me and Rashar.

“Priest Jordan!”

Rashar jumped in alarm and tried to stop him, but it was futile.

Jordan and I had already exchanged everything through a mere glance.

‘You know how to use it, right?’

‘I’ll surely meet your expectations.’

The rumor that Jordan really cleaned out the safe to the point where the belching Vellego foamed at the mouth and fell over backward emerged only much later.

* * *

It took considerable time to stop by the Kerman Bank in Habon Castle to notify them about the transfer of the key’s ownership.

Though, there was hardly any trouble that I personally had to deal with during the process.

‘Jordan handled all the necessary paperwork.’

I couldn’t possibly handle those tasks, not knowing the legal system of this world.

So, I asked Jordan, and while he took care of the paperwork, I took a look inside the safe.

As a result, I discovered something rather satisfactory.

「Solpenito’s 87th Work, Shadow’s Face」

• Category: Accessory

• Acquisition Difficulty: Special

• Rank: ★★★★

• Description: This is the 87th magic tool crafted by Solpenito, a renowned craftsman and mage across the continent. Shadows are everywhere, but there are none who recall their faces. When worn, a facial recognition failure magic is activated.

• Effect: Facial Recognition Failure Magic (Inactive)

It was an earring designed to be worn on the ear, enchanted with a facial recognition failure magic.

‘I don’t know whether it was a collection or actually used, but…’

The acquisition difficulty was special, and the effect was the kind I desperately needed.

Since it was something found in a safe that had become my possession, there was no reason not to take it.

After this unexpected gain, when I returned to the Bennett mansion, the sky was dark.

Although the outing had been longer than expected and left me somewhat tired, unfortunately, my day’s tasks weren’t over yet.

Instead of heading back to my room, I descended to the mansion’s basement.

Since arrangements with Rashar’s side were already concluded, no one stopped me.

Rather, the knight guarding the place led the way and guided me.

Following the knight deeper down led us to a place where cold air rose from around.

The first thing visible was the lighting magic tool used to fend off the darkness.

What next caught my eyes were the long shadows of the iron bars stretched out along the path.

‘A basement prison.’

Initially, I found it truly fascinating that such a facility existed in the mansion.

It meant that an individual could capture and imprison someone, not a government or police force with public authority.

Of course, now I found it convenient rather than amusing.

Having lightly observed the interior, I followed the knight again as we set forth.

Eventually, when we reached our destination, gazes from huddling individuals wearing chains rushed towards us.

I leisurely glanced at the scene through the iron bars and curled one corner of my mouth.

“I’m glad to see you all again.”

They were the mercenaries who had fled after handing me over to the guild staff, only to be captured by Rashar’s side.

Of course, not all of them were present.

There were only six in the cage, while the rest had escaped before surrendering me to the guild.

But they would soon be caught, as those caught earlier blew the whistle on the identities of the escaped ones.

‘I don’t really have to worry about that.’

The process of apprehension would be handled by Palao’s holy knights.

Originally, controlling their fate should be handled by Palao’s order.

After all, the attempted kidnapping of an outsider this time was related to the order, not the Bennett family.

However, Rashar had brought and imprisoned them here at my request.

I had matters to settle with them before they could be processed into the legal system.

After briefly scanning the six individuals again, I took something out from my inventory and spoke.

“I won’t speak much.”

The mercenaries’ eyes focused on my hands.

“Just one person, first come first served.”

In front of the iron bars, items were carefully laid one by one, making a regular sound.

‘Around the neck and both wrists.’

They were magic tools shaped identically to the shackles Ahel wore.

Judging by their appearance, it wasn’t hard to guess their function.

‘Restraints that control behavior by inflicting pain on the wearer.’

Wearing it meant you couldn’t defy the person to whom it was imprinted as the owner.

Though I didn’t ask directly, the shackles Ahel wore were probably imprinted on Rashar.

I’ve seen her inflict pain on Ahel, for certain.

‘Putting on the shackles means I secure pieces that follow my word well.’

I’ve already completed the process of imprinting my attribute mana on the shackles.

It’s certainly better to make an obedient pawn out of them than to have them serve as an example.

Not everyone should be spared.

‘Otherwise, they won’t truly realize how significant their experience was.’

A sense of relief from being the sole survivor while others perished.

Wariness that they could be abandoned at any time if considered useless.

It’s best to instill those two feelings simultaneously.

Then, the chances of them brazenly sticking their heads up or concocting schemes would be reduced.

The reason for such aggressive initial control was due to their past.

While processing tasks at the bank, Jordan completed the investigation of the mercenaries caught earlier and shared the information with me.

Thanks to that, I could grasp what they had been up to.

Most of it was unpleasant enough to make me frown.

In my eyes, it was like a signpost showing how vile humans can be.

‘I see no need to treat such scoundrels like humans.’

There’s no beautifying crime for my taste.

“The extenuating circumstances or forced inevitability,” something uttered to rationalize one’s profit.

‘It’s better to have openly shameless crooks who acknowledge their sins rather than those hypocritically justifying their self interest.’

Such characters don’t bother with disgusting pretense, as they are honest with their desires.

Ultimately, I would not treat them with humanity.

These were individuals who traded others as goods; what humane treatment?

After laying down the restraints, I straightened my posture and added a word.

“If you’re counting on the guild to rescue you, don’t.”

The guild had already abandoned all mercenaries caught red-handed.

They claimed never to have received kidnapping commissions concerning outsiders.

Those involved weren’t even actual guild members but criminals disguising as such.

They cut ties far faster and more drastically than I anticipated.

‘Perhaps they acted quicker because I haven’t cleaned out Vellego.’

Whatever the reason, the guild’s stance was clear.

– The recent attempted kidnapping of outsiders is unrelated to the guild, perpetrated by a few criminals.

They denied any connection with both the guild-affiliated executives who issued the commission and the mercenaries who received it.

‘In other words, the ones here are destined to die via doctrinal trial.’

I am a volunteer force summoned to this world through a transaction with the 7 Guardian Gods. Attacking such a person would undermine the face of all seven orders.

The order wouldn’t resolve this incident lightly or carelessly, especially in maintaining amicable relations with players.

With news relayed by Palao’s side, other order leaders had already started to act swiftly.

The error was first made on Bihar’s part, not Earth, so their dignity was at stake.

Thus, the mercenaries here are very likely to have their lives used as an example.

I intend to save just one of them from this process.

‘I must choose that one wisely.’

Currently, the ones in Bennett Estate’s underground prison fall into two categories.

First are those who quickly gave up, thinking they’d be caught anyway.

‘These are the somewhat wiser ones.’

The second type consists of those who stubbornly stayed, unable to abandon the commission fee even in this situation.

This class isn’t worth filtering out; they’re downright dim-witted.

‘What I need is the former.’

There’s no point tasking someone who lacks basic situational judgment to do a job right.

‘If I was to take anyone, it’s best to take someone quick-witted and capable of sound judgment.’

That’s why I only used the term ‘first come, first served’ without explaining further.

If they understood their current situation, there’s no way they’d miss this chance.

Will they become sniveling servants escaping from there, following my orders, or decline the offer and face doctrinal trial?

“So, what will you do?”

No sooner had I finished my question than two individuals started moving.

Clattering!

With quite an urgent movement, they crawled to the iron bars and reached out their hands, each vying for the opportunity.

Only one restraint was prepared, meaning that among those seizing the chance, one would inevitably fail.

The winner, the man with three long scars across his face, picked up the constraint magic tool without hesitation and mounted it on his neck.

I couldn’t help but sneer.

According to the documents Jordan passed on, he was the supposed leader of this team.

‘Ladriol Van.’

The so-called leader opting to survive solo, abandoning his followers.

‘I did offer the choice though.’

What a pitiful leader.

‘Well, that’s none of my concern.’

Whether or not Ladriol’s leadership is pathetic matters little to me.

After scanning Ladriol with an indifferent gaze, I asked the knight to extract him and confine him separately.

The rest would soon be transported to a prison within the temple.

That concluded my affairs.

Finishing up in the underground storage and emerging, I was met with an unexpected individual waiting for me.

“Rashar?”

She was supposed to head to the temple after finishing the bank procedures.

With her preoccupied with troop restructuring at the heart of the order, I had returned to the mansion alone.

“You’re back earlier than I expected?”

While it would’ve been nice to also mention Ladriol’s situation, unfortunately, she wasn’t alone.

“Someone I wanted to introduce to you has just arrived.”

“Introduce?”

As I shifted my gaze and approached closer, Rashar calmly continued her words.

“Count Shamel Perlota, who once served as the head of the Royal Knights of the Ferrell Kingdom.”

Standing beside her was an elderly lady at eye-level with me, possessing notably sharp features that carried an icy feel and striking white hair.

As I swiftly took note of Shamel’s appearance, Rashar added,
“She’s also the mentor you requested.”

With Rashar smiling in between us, urging us to greet, an exchange of probing glances transpired between Shamel and me.

On that initial day meeting with Shamel, a connection which could either be a bad or good tie.

「A new member is accessing the website.」

「2/5,000」

A newcomer has arrived.