Chapter 4

Episode 4

“GAAAAAH!”

A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the chamber.

It was a sound heard all too often in this mold-infested, filth-ridden place.

A groan followed, carried on the stench of decay.

“Ugh…”

“Listen here, you little shit! You borrow money, you pay it back on time! You were all over me when you needed it, and now you’re saying you have nothing? I’ll teach you!”

*WHAM!*

The burly man showed no mercy with his fist, newly adorned with a gleaming steel knuckle duster. He was quite pleased with its effectiveness.

The bound man’s body went limp, suspended by the ropes.

“Brother, perhaps we should take a break? We don’t want him dying on us just yet.”

“Don’t be a wimp. He can take it. You think people die that easily? Just splash some water on him. Actually, this would be better.”

The burly man brandished a red-hot branding iron. Without hesitation, he pressed it against the man’s flesh.

*SSSSSSSS!*

“AAAAARGH! MERCY! PLEASE! HAVE MERCY!”

The bound man’s eyes bulged as he was jolted back to consciousness. But his relief was short-lived, replaced by the searing agony of burning flesh.

“Shut your trap! Don’t make me say it twice. You’ll regret opening your mouth again. Next time, I might just burn your eyes out. Think carefully.”

He tossed the branding iron aside and cracked his knuckles, sending shivers down the bound man’s spine.

“Where are you hiding your wife and daughter?”

“W-why would you…”

*WHAM!*

This time, the knuckle duster connected with his jaw. Several yellowed teeth flew out of his mouth.

“GAAAAH…”

“I told you not to make me repeat myself. Where are they? No collateral, no problem. Hand over your family! You think we’re running a charity here?”

“Th-they… They’re not in town. They went back to our hometown…”

“You lying little…”

*CRACK!*

A sickening crunch echoed through the chamber. The bound man’s jaw hung at an unnatural angle, his face contorted in pain. Blood and tears streamed down his face.

With a broken jaw, he could no longer speak.

The burly man spat on the ground.

“Damn it! Another dead end. Jack! Stop gawking and get over here! Search his house and bring me anything of value!”

“Right away, boss.”

“And find his wife and daughter. I don’t trust that hometown story. Spread the word. I want them found and brought to me.”

“What about him?”

The bound man trembled, his eyes pleading for mercy.

But the burly man just laughed.

“Chop off his hand and sell it to the alchemist. If that’s not enough, take his legs too.”

“Both of them?”

“Are you stupid? Of course, both! We need to collect on the interest. Take everything you can!”

Despair washed over the bound man’s face, followed by another wave of agonizing screams.

The burly man’s name was Satyr.

He was a well-known figure in Baron Gerard’s circles, responsible for managing the Baron’s illicit businesses and serving as his personal enforcer.

He operated in the shadows, but he dreamed of one day stepping into the light, earning a title of his own, and living a life of luxury.

“I’ll be on my way. Finish up here.”

“Yes, boss.”

Satyr stepped out of the torture chamber, relieved to escape the oppressive atmosphere, even if it meant walking into a dimly lit corridor.

He heard footsteps approaching.

“Satyr.”

“Ah, Master.”

It was Baron Gerard himself.

Roman von Gerard.

The young lord of House Gerard was hailed as a prodigy within the Kalisto Dukedom. He was a rare talent, skilled in both martial and intellectual pursuits.

He was also known for his impeccable manners in social circles.

But it wasn’t just his manners that earned him such a favorable reputation. It was his handsome features.

He charmed his way into the hearts of countless women.

However, no one knew of the darkness that lurked beneath his refined exterior, the depravity he indulged in.

No one except Satyr.

“I was just reviewing the ledgers. The shipments have been unsatisfactory lately.”

Indeed they had.

Satyr smirked.

“Ah, yes. I’m doing my best, Master, but business has been slow.”

“Perhaps it’s time we switched suppliers.”

“My apologies, Master. I’ll apply more pressure.”

To an outsider, their conversation might have sounded like a discussion about trade and commerce.

But Satyr knew the truth. He had seen the monster hiding behind Roman’s mask, the monster that preyed on young women, the monster capable of both rape and murder.

In a way, they were two sides of the same coin, comfortable revealing their true selves to each other.

“On a brighter note, we have a promising delinquent scheduled for collection tomorrow.”

“Who is it?”

“A man named Alentz. He’s in no position to repay his debt. However, his daughter is quite the looker. Right up your alley, Master.”

Satyr produced a sketch from his pocket. It was a portrait of Lilith, the maid.

“Hmm, she looks familiar. Who is she?”

“A maid working at the castle, Master.”

“The castle? Isn’t that a bit risky?”

A low chuckle escaped his lips.

“There are over a hundred maids working at the castle. What’s one less? Besides, we have ‘her’ backing us up.”

“That’s true, but…”

They never spoke of ‘her’ true identity. After a moment of contemplation, Roman shook his head.

“You’ve heard about the new Inspection Unit, haven’t you?”

“The Lucius Inspection Unit?”

Satyr’s smirk widened.

“It’s nothing but a child’s game. There’s no need for concern. As long as the books are in order, we have nothing to worry about.”

“You act as if you know everything.”

Roman found Satyr’s arrogance irritating at times.

But he kept him close because he was efficient.

“If we become the Inspection Unit’s first target, it will be a problem. Don’t underestimate the power of a good example. The Duke himself supports this endeavor. We can’t afford to be caught in their crosshairs.”

“Hmm, I see your point.”

“Nevertheless…”

A glint of madness flickered in Roman’s eyes. His gaze fell upon the portrait in his hand.

“That girl is worth acquiring. Make the necessary arrangements.”

***

The estate was even more impressive in person. It had plenty of rooms, a spacious bathroom, and even a drawing-room.

Five servants had been assigned to the property. Normally, their wages would come out of my own pocket, but in an unusual turn of events, the butler department had decided to cover their salaries.

‘Or rather, this was all part of Lady Lucia’s plan.’

It was highly likely that she had planted someone among the staff. It would be more surprising if she hadn’t.

“Will you be going out, Master?”

“Yes, Lady Selendis and I have some business outside the city. We’ll be back late, so don’t wait up.”

“As you command, Master.”

The butler, Balzac, bowed his head.

Of all the servants, he was the most suspicious.

If this world was truly a game, then ‘Balzac’ was too significant a name to waste on a random NPC.

As someone who had devoured every single one of Honoré de Balzac’s novels and even his biography in his past life, the name held a certain weight.

They had all passed the ‘Mind’s Eye’ test, but that didn’t rule out hidden agendas.

As I stepped outside, I sensed a surge of energy, sharp and honed.

Fortunately, the estate had a small training ground, where Selendis had been diligently practicing her swordsmanship.

Her movements were captivating.

I had witnessed countless knights spar during my time as an assistant, but her style was unlike anything I had seen before.

It was fluid and graceful, like a crane dancing in the wind.

“Lady Selendis.”

“…”

She ceased her movements, her aura dissipating. The sword returned to its normal state.

Her aura was blue.

Not particularly potent, but not weak either. Perfectly average.

“You called, Master?”

“I apologize if I interrupted your training. It’s time to go.”

“As you command.”

She was ready in an instant. We mounted our horses and set off.

‘I haven’t gathered enough information.’

I had summoned Lilith a few days ago, hoping to glean some useful information. But her testimony had been less than helpful.

It boiled down to her parents being charged exorbitant interest rates.

‘This isn’t Korea. Interest rates are a matter of personal agreement.’

Ultimately, it was the borrower’s responsibility to understand the terms of the loan, especially if they had signed a contract.

I decided to pay her parents a visit myself, hoping to uncover more information.

We rode through the forest, leaving the city behind us. Eventually, we arrived at the dilapidated shack Lilith had described. I dismounted a safe distance away, securing the horses to a nearby tree.

As we approached the shack, I attempted to make conversation.

“Why do you think Lady Lucia chose me to be her Inspector?”

“Because of your exceptional abilities, Master.”

“That seems insufficient, considering my humble background.”

A moment of silence followed.

I didn’t expect a response, but to my surprise, Selendis spoke.

“I believe the same could be said for me, Master. The Lady possesses a keen eye for talent. She values ability above social standing.”

“That’s rather…uncharacteristic of a knight, wouldn’t you say?”

“What do you mean, Master?”

An elderly couple, their hair streaked with gray, emerged from the shack. They eyed us with suspicion, mistaking us for debt collectors.

“Who are you? We don’t believe we’ve met.”

I produced the Lucius Inspection Unit emblem.

“I am O’Brien Walker of the Lucius Inspection Unit. We’re conducting an investigation. We require your cooperation.”

“The Inspection Unit?”

It seemed word hadn’t reached this far yet. Then again, the concept of an inspection was foreign to most commoners, especially those living outside the city walls.

But Selendis’ presence proved useful.

Anyone would assume I was someone important, traveling with a knight as my escort.

“Please forgive our ignorance. We meant no disrespect.”

“No harm done.”

I surveyed the shack as we entered. It looked as if it could collapse at any given moment.

I could already tell the couple was in poor health. They were lucky if they ate one decent meal a day.

“Your living conditions are rather deplorable, considering your daughter works as a maid at the castle. Was it the loan sharks?”

“You know our daughter?”

“Indeed. We used to work together.”

Their apprehension seemed to dissipate somewhat. The couple exchanged a weary look.

“Where do we even begin…?”

“Take your time. Tell me everything you know, everything you’ve heard, everything you feel.”

The man hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth to speak.

*BAM! BAM! BAM!*

Someone was pounding on the door, threatening to break it down. The flimsy structure finally gave way, collapsing inward. All eyes turned towards the intrusion.