Chapter 75: Confidence Is Half the Battle in Impersonation (1)

Clara was in the passenger seat as they drove down the open road towards the ruins.

An alarm, visible only to Rohan, appeared.

The rewards are a bit unusual this time, huh?

Restaurant reservation tickets are sold in the Shop for 50 Points. Rohan himself had never purchased one.

It’s as if the reward is telling him to have a meal after this is over.

10 tickets is 500 Points.

It’s quite a bit less compared to the reward of Transcendence. Still, he would have done this even without a reward.

Since they’re giving him two Point Pouches, he decided to think of it as a bonus.

Rohan took his eyes off the quest and organized the situation.

The end of the Main Story is finally in sight.

Depending on the player’s choices, The Broken Crown can end in Act 3 or proceed up to Act 4.

In Abyss City, experiencing both the Act 3 and Act 4 endings to receive all the rewards and resources is the most efficient strategy.

However,

Rohan had no intention of going to Act 4.

Rewards? Of course, he was tempted. Even if they only gave him a hefty amount of Points like now without any special items, he’d be satisfied.

But the more his greed grows, the more Shion, who actually exists, will suffer.

I’ll finish it in Act 3.

Rohan decided. He will finish it before sunrise.

So, he tries this method.

“Grand Elder Levin Maxwell!”

The real name of the Grand Elder, which even Shion didn’t know and only a very small number of Elders knew.

He felt a sense that the attention of the group inside the building was gathering.

“Come out immediately and obey the command of the Reverse Praise Society!”

What Rohan was aiming for was impersonation based on overwhelming information.

If someone who knows information that shouldn’t have been revealed appears, the other side wouldn’t be able to act recklessly.

The old men in there are only receiving unilateral notifications from the Reverse Praise Society. They don’t have any way to contact them.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

An Elf, presumed to be middle-aged, walked out.

He was wary, yet still courteous towards Rohan and Clara.

“…Who are you?”

“We are messengers of Hex.”

“!!!”

“Ignorance is no excuse for impudence. I called for the Grand Elder, not you.”

Shing!

Rohan drew the sword hanging from his back.

As he exuded a killing intent that suggested he would snap their necks at any moment, the Elf stiffened with tension.

With an annoyed expression, Rohan strode towards the entrance, sword in hand, and Clara quietly followed behind.

Fortunately, no traps or Security Skills were activated, so Rohan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief as he grabbed the Elf’s neck as if he were about to break it.

“I have personally spoken the name of the Reverse Praise Society. And you act like this after hearing that name?”

“Kugh! I apologize…!”

“Is this something that can be resolved with a single apology?”

An apology escapes involuntarily at Rohan’s confidence. There’s no resistance.

Power is this sweet, that’s why everyone goes crazy for it.

As Rohan ostentatiously infused his sword with Mana, displaying the semblance of killing intent,

A hurried voice came from the entrance.

“I apologize. This old man has slow steps, so I sent him ahead in case you were waiting. Will you forgive us…”

Rohan’s head moved, feigning indifference.

He’s here.

What caught his eye was an old Elf who looked like he might turn into a withered tree at any moment.

The old man, accompanied by the Elders, with his bent back, came out wearing a magnificent robe that dragged on the floor and carrying a staff adorned with jewels.

Having encountered his target, Rohan composed himself to avoid showing any agitation.

He calmly continued his act.

Outwardly, he didn’t erase the air of displeasure towards the Elves before him.

“Are you Levin Maxwell?”

“Yes. I am Grand Elder Levin Maxwell.”

Did they already judge him to be real based on the Reverse Praise Society, the coin, and his real name?

Their attitude was extremely polite.

“Tsk.”

Rohan clicked his tongue and sheathed his weapon, throwing the Elf he was holding aside with irritation.

“I shall convey Hex’s words. Lead the way inside.”

“Yes.”

The Elders lowered their eyes and opened a path to the left and right.

Rohan walked inside confidently, and Clara, in the bewildering situation, followed the light in front of her in silence.

It was impossible to understand, so she just kept her eyes on Rohan.

““…””

They walked through the Abandoned Building in silence.

Rohan didn’t match the Grand Elder’s pace, and instead ordered one of the Elders to guide him as he moved at his own pace.

It would be absurd for a member of the Reverse Praise Society to show courtesy or respect to another group. He was certain that these actions were the correct ones.

“Enter. This is the Conference Room.”

Rohan took the head seat without a word.

He pulled a chair next to him and sat Clara down.

Good. I just need to put in a little more effort for the rest.

The situation was, literally, a bloodless entry. The quest was as good as accomplished.

Now all he needed to do was use this situation to fulfill his personal desires.

“You elf over there.”

“Yes!”

“The smell of mildew is terrible. Do you ever clean?”

“I apologize…!”

Rohan stirred the Elder who had volunteered as a guide.

He leaned back in his chair in a relaxed posture.

Rohan waited for the slow-paced Grand Elder to arrive at the Conference Room, while at the same time

He scribbled the word ‘okay’ on the back of Clara’s hand with his finger.

“Hee hee.”

Relieved of her tension by Rohan’s consideration, Clara curled her lips into a smile.

Unlike her own smooth hand, she wrote a reply on Rohan’s hand, which had prominent veins.

Oppa’s hands are really big…

Even after finishing writing, Clara didn’t let go of Rohan’s hand.

Being in contact like this definitely calmed her heart.

Without thinking much, Clara placed Rohan’s hand on her thigh and wrapped both her hands around it.

The girl felt Rohan flinch and become flustered, despite the fact that he was looking straight ahead with a composed expression.

When Rohan subtly tried to pull his hand away, Clara held on tighter. Seeing his reaction made her even less willing to let go of his hand.

“Once again, I apologize for my slow pace…”

“Unnecessary. Sit and listen.”

Just then, the Grand Elder and the other Elders entered in a flurry. Rohan gave up on pulling his hand away and continued his act.

Even though Clara knew it was an act, she felt a sense of mystery from Rohan’s demeanor and focused on observing him.

“Levin Maxwell. Do you have Judas’ Silver Coin bestowed by Hex?”

The exact name. The Grand Elder nodded and rummaged through his pockets.

He placed the jet-black coin on the table for Rohan to see.

Rohan, with his arms crossed, leaned back in his chair and continued his announcement.

“To the main point. Hex has found a new vessel. Today, we will determine whether to discard the vessel you have nurtured.”

At those words, the Grand Elder’s wrinkled eyes widened.

His face looked as if he had been struck by lightning.

“W-Why would you…?”

“Because we have found a lineage more certain than Testarossa to kill the Grand Emperor of Snow. Hex dislikes focusing on low probabilities.”

“…”

“You were just a part of the possibility. Just one of many substitutes.”

As Rohan delivered his fabricated words calmly, the Grand Elder’s hand gripping his staff trembled.

“Then what will happen to me and the others, who were promised? We believed Hex’s words and betrayed Tigrova…!”

“Shut up and listen. That’s why I’m here today.”

With a single word, the Grand Elder quickly fell silent.

It wasn’t the feeling of suppressing his surging emotions, but rather of listening attentively because the answer he was waiting for had arrived.

Just looking at his attitude, Rohan thought, truly rotten.

Thud!

Rohan placed the two Judas’ Silver Coins he obtained from killing Doberman on the table.

Including the coin the Grand Elder currently possessed, there were three.

A giant organization in the shadows.

It’s one of the conditions for formally joining and receiving protection from the Reverse Praise Society, also known as the Black Hand.

“If I give you two here, you’ll have a total of three Judas’ Silver Coins. Things will work themselves out.”

“…But as you initially commanded, we placed a request with one coin. Some have already left for Academy City.”

“They’ll fail anyway. I saw who you chose. The selection was abysmal.”

At Rohan’s firm answer, the Grand Elder fell silent.

One of the Elf Elders, who had recommended Doberman from the list, cautiously spoke.

“The results… haven’t come out yet.”

“Huh, is that so? Am I wrong?”

With an incredulous expression, Rohan abruptly stood up.

The Grand Elder averted his gaze with a resigned look.

The Elder who spoke was just one of the expendable pawns who didn’t even receive proper information. He didn’t know who helped the Grand Elder, nor what the Reverse Praise Society truly was.

He had simply ridden the wave of Tigrova’s chaos like a bat and ended up here.

As Rohan strode forward, the Elders who knew about the Reverse Praise Society quickly moved out of the way.

A fist flew through the opened path.

──Whack! White teeth showered from the Elder’s mouth.

“Cough…!”

“Don’t argue with me.”

No one helped the Elder who was groveling on the floor after a single punch.

Everyone just watched.

“Well, fine. Now is the time to judge. Where is Testarossa’s lineage? Let’s see the blade you’ve nurtured.”

Rohan looked at the Grand Elder.

The Grand Elder groaned and spoke in a subdued voice.

“Elder. Go and bring her as quickly as possible.”

“Y-Yes, sir…!”

Just like that, one of the Elders quickly moved to bring Shion.

A short while later.

Shion, with a bewildered expression, entered the Conference Room with the Elder.

“!?”

She stopped breathing when she saw Rohan and Clara sitting at the head of the table.