Ch.207[Episode 207] Truth and Lies

    “What does that mean?”

    Sir Dominic asked as if he truly couldn’t understand.

    Murder? What on earth was this about?

    In Gachaland, one could be revived anytime as long as they had sufficient value, which made life relatively cheap.

    Duels happened whenever people got bored, and death was a common sight.

    It was a place where even after dying, one could say, “Oh my. I just died and my shoulders are stiff. I should go to the bathhouse for a hot soak.”

    In such a place, being charged with murder?

    “I understand it’s absurd.”

    Senator Muscleman said glumly.

    “But this case… it’s different in magnitude.”

    Because it involves killing a Newbie, completely deleting them from Gachaland, Senator Muscleman explained.

    “…What?”

    Sir Dominic’s expression hardened.

    “But, but… how is that even possible?”

    Sir Dominic asked Senator Muscleman with a trembling voice.

    Newbies were protected by the system for about a month.

    This protection period was meant to help Newbies who hadn’t yet proven their value to reveal their worth.

    During this period, no citizen could touch a Newbie.

    No, Newbies were to be protected and taught, never to be harmed or touched.

    The mindset was literally “Newbies are gods.”

    This was something Sir Dominic, who had been a Newbie until recently, had clearly experienced.

    “That’s why crimes against Newbies receive enhanced punishment. But if you didn’t commit the crime, this isn’t a problem at all. Rather, the issue is…”

    Senator Muscleman glanced toward the police station.

    No, not at the police station, but at the larger building behind it.

    “If this matter goes to trial… it would become too big of an issue.”

    Sir Dominic fell silent after hearing Senator Muscleman’s words.

    He realized this wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

    However, staying quiet wouldn’t solve the problem either.

    Knowing this, Sir Dominic spoke again.

    “Could you tell me more details about the case?”

    “Of course.”

    Senator Muscleman adjusted his glasses and pulled out a folder of documents.

    “First, I should tell you about the rumors that have spread.”

    Senator Muscleman opened the documents.

    “Currently, the person spreading the rumors claims this…”

    At the same time Sir Dominic was looking for guests from Feralant.

    In an alley, a man was watching Sir Dominic running through the streets with eyes full of discontent.

    “Fraud.”

    The disgruntled man began to vent his complaints about Sir Dominic.

    This man was the source of the rumor claiming Sir Dominic had committed murder.

    “Fraudulent traits, fraudulent skills, and even pumped-up stats. Even if tanks are favored, isn’t this too much?”

    Judging by the gun he was holding, he appeared to be a ranged dealer.

    “If someone’s that sturdy, what are dealers like us supposed to do? This is really too much.”

    In fact, this man had a critical hit trait and was someone who felt ecstasy in killing enemies with a single blow.

    He was the epitome of a DPS-obsessed dealer supremacist.

    The truth was, there was only one reason he disliked Sir Dominic.

    He knew Sir Dominic wouldn’t die in one hit.

    “At this rate, there’s no place for dealers… Huh?”

    The gun-wielding man suddenly noticed someone walking awkwardly through the street.

    The person was carrying a large coffin with a skull-shaped lantern attached to it and holding a dirt-covered shovel. Everything from their ill-fitting costume to their awkward demeanor clearly marked them as a Newbie.

    “…A summoning mage? A necromancer?”

    The gun-wielding man approached the awkward Newbie with a smirk.

    “Hey! You there!”

    “Eh? What? Me?”

    Yes, that’s it. The gun-wielding man trembled with ecstasy.

    This awkward Newbie’s appearance was bringing great excitement to his life in Gachaland.

    “Yeah, you. You’re a Newbie, right?”

    “Newbie?”

    The Newbie tilted their head in confusion.

    The candle-topped hat they wore tilted slightly.

    “Yeah, those who just arrived in Gachaland.”

    The gun-wielding man continued smirking as he moved closer to the Newbie.

    The Newbie flinched in surprise at his demeanor and stepped back, but the gun-wielding man moved even closer, practically pressing against them.

    “If you’re a Newbie, you should take this… Oh.”

    The gun-wielding man reached into his pocket to pull out something useful for beginners, but what he took out was someone’s salt-preserved mummified head.

    Muttering that he’d forgotten he’d put it in his pocket after headhunting, he scratched his head and turned to apologize to the Newbie.

    The Newbie must have been surprised, that was certain.

    “Eek!”

    However, the Newbie was more shocked than the man had expected and fell backward.

    Then, with tears and snot flowing, they fled the scene instantly.

    “…I didn’t even get to apologize.”

    The man scratched his head awkwardly.

    He considered following but decided against it, thinking the Newbie would panic more.

    Instead, he just watched the fleeing Newbie in the distance, licking his lips.

    Opportunities like this don’t come often, he thought.

    “…Huh?”

    Just as he was about to turn around after confirming the Newbie had disappeared into an alley.

    “Is that… him?”

    The gun-wielding man saw someone following the Newbie into the alley.

    The person following the Newbie was a knight with long brown hair and a tricolor feather decoration, and as far as the gun-wielding man knew, there was only one person in Gachaland who looked like that.

    “Why is Sir Dominic following a Newbie?”

    The gun-wielding man stared suspiciously at the alley where the two had disappeared.

    “…This doesn’t seem right. I should at least check why he’s following them.”

    The gun-wielding man entered the alley where Sir Dominic had disappeared.

    As he entered the dark, secluded alley, the gun-wielding man felt an inexplicable chill.

    “Ugh, seriously. I know each alley has a different feel, but this is too much…”

    The man shuddered at the eerie atmosphere as he ventured deeper into the alley.

    How far had he gone?

    “W-what?”

    Something caught the gun-wielding man’s foot.

    He instinctively lowered his head to check what had tripped him.

    “What’s in this alley… Gasp!”

    The man was startled and fell backward when he identified the object.

    Due to his lowered line of sight, he made eye contact with whatever it was.

    The man immediately recognized what it was.

    It was the Newbie he had just spoken with.

    The Newbie had become a cold corpse, lying on the ground like a rotten fish.

    Along with their completely shattered protection program.

    “…That’s his testimony.”

    “No, what is this—”

    Sir Dominic was dumbfounded after hearing Senator Muscleman’s account.

    “…Then what are the other charges?”

    “Apparently, a knight with short brown hair and tricolor feathers has been causing disturbances throughout Gachaland. There are witnesses for this as well.”

    Sir Dominic slapped his forehead and sighed.

    What on earth was going on?

    Sir Dominic had heard the details of the situation, but the more he heard, the less he understood.

    “Don’t worry for now. Under Gachaland law, testimony alone isn’t enough for a guilty verdict. Without clear evidence—”

    “That evidence.”

    As Senator Muscleman was trying to reassure Sir Dominic, someone appeared behind them.

    “It seems to exist after all.”

    Sir Dominic turned his head toward the voice.

    There stood a man with neatly combed white hair wearing flowing formal attire typical of nobility, leaning on an antique cane and glaring at Sir Dominic.

    “…Prosecutor Daruma.”

    Senator Muscleman glared at the man called Prosecutor Daruma.

    “I didn’t expect you to be here… Then—”

    “Yes.”

    Prosecutor Daruma interrupted Senator Muscleman.

    “This case is already being prepared for trial.”

    Senator Muscleman sighed at Prosecutor Daruma’s words.

    “It seems this case has grown too big. Of all people, Prosecutor Daruma…”

    Senator Muscleman whispered to Sir Dominic as if he had a headache.

    Sir Dominic didn’t understand the situation fully, but he realized that this nobly dressed man was in charge of the case.

    “Ah, I see.”

    Prosecutor Daruma seemed to notice Sir Dominic’s gaze and turned his head.

    Then, looking up at Sir Dominic arrogantly while elegantly adjusting his cravat, he said:

    “Your punishment has already been prepared. All that’s needed now is… a confession.”

    “Prosecutor Daruma!”

    Senator Muscleman burst out in anger at Prosecutor Daruma’s treatment of Sir Dominic as a criminal.

    “…I am innocent.”

    Sir Dominic glared at the arrogant Prosecutor Daruma.

    But Prosecutor Daruma, seemingly accustomed to such looks, made an annoyed expression and said to Sir Dominic:

    “That statement could be considered bravado.”

    “…Prosecutor Daruma. Sir Dominic hasn’t been confirmed as the culprit yet. He could be falsely accused.”

    “Ah, yes. But why ignore the fact that he might have committed the crime and is now denying it?”

    Senator Muscleman and Prosecutor Daruma glared at each other.

    “Before being a senator, I’m also a lawyer. I have my badge. I could point out at least 107 ways your words are absurd.”

    “Of course, that’s only if you get the chance to make such statements.”

    Prosecutor Daruma mocked Senator Muscleman’s words and turned away.

    “There’s no need for me to stay any longer. I’ll see you at the upcoming trial.”

    “I’ll prove my innocence before then.”

    “Do as you wish.”

    Prosecutor Daruma left, mocking Sir Dominic and Senator Muscleman until the end.

    Senator Muscleman clenched his fist so tightly that blood couldn’t flow to his hand and said to Sir Dominic:

    “I will uncover the truth of this case.”

    Senator Muscleman’s glasses gleamed.

    “I stake my position as a senator… no, my lawyer’s badge on it.”


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