Chapter 172

Chapter 172

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 172: The Doll (5).

Luis headed to his mother’s room, still unable to easily believe this reality.

Truly, could it be that his mother was the mastermind behind all of this…?!

Honestly, although she wasn’t someone who could be called benevolent, she was at least someone who could distinguish right from wrong. Yet, who would have imagined that the possessed doll, which didn’t seem real, was hers?

However, when he heard the story of how his father’s concubine and his young half-sibling were executed for daring to start a rebellion, something struck him hard.

In truth, his two mothers had always been quite at odds with each other. Luis didn’t have much affection for his stepmother and half-sibling, but he never thought of killing them. Yet, they died during the few months he was away.

-There’s no doubt about it. The doll possessed by the evil spirit will be in your mother’s room, so never let your guard down. Once the job is done, send the signal immediately.

The operation was to take place before night falls, when the evil spirit would grow stronger. As swiftly as possible.

If it drags on, it’ll be dangerous…!

The people of the Count’s household were already suffering from madness. Moreover, with his stepmother and half-sibling already executed for treason, if it were revealed that the Countess was involved, the Count’s blade would surely turn toward Luis.

Thus, before the situation could escalate, securing the doll and escaping the Count’s castle was currently the best plan.

Honestly, it was a dangerous plan, but there was no other way.

-Trust me. My life is also at stake in this plan. Would I proceed without any certainty?

By rumor and direct experience, the Group Leader Allen was never one to speak empty words. As he said, it was a plan that could easily endanger him too if mishandled.

I have no choice but to believe in him. For everyone’s sake…!

He didn’t have to kill his mother. He just had to subdue her quickly, secure the doll, and escape the city. The Allen-Mercenary Group and the Luis-Mercenary Group were already armed and waiting for the operation to conclude.

On the way to his mother’s bedroom, Luis steeled himself several times. He only focused on what he had to do. There could be no personal feelings involved, even if it meant ignoring his mother’s pleas.

Soon, he arrived at her room with two members who were like his confidants. Naturally, a knight guard was stationed at the door.

“What brings you here, Young Master?”

“I came to see Mother for a moment.”

The knight knocked on the door without much suspicion.

“Madam, Young Master Luis is here.”

-Luis? Let him in.

With permission granted, Luis glanced at the two mercenaries before twisting the knob and entering.

Her room had completely changed in a few months. The Countess was clearly a person far from excessive luxury, yet her room was filled with jewels and gold, like a treasure trove.

Sitting in front of the vanity with heavy makeup, continuously brushing her hair, she seemed a bit puzzled by her son’s sudden visit.

“Luis, didn’t you say you were unwell?”

“I feel better after some rest. It seems the long journey took a heavy toll on me.”

“Is that so?”

She gently placed the comb down and smiled meaningfully.

“That’s a relief.”

Then she slowly approached the bed and sat gently at its side.

Indeed, the Countess didn’t seem like her usual motherly self. Somehow, it felt like she had changed.

“My son. Come sit here. Will you talk to your mother?”

“Ah, yes.”

He sat beside her… and there was a brief silence.

Just then, a small commotion was heard from outside. Simultaneously, the gazes of the two shifted towards the door.

Taking advantage of her son’s momentary distraction, the Countess swiftly reached under the pillow and drew a dagger, swinging it towards his chest.

However, sensing her violent motion, he instinctively twisted his body. Thankfully, due to his quick reaction, the dagger only grazed his right lower abdomen instead of his chest.

!!!

Startled, he pushed the Countess away with both hands and stood up. At the same time, a sharp pain shot through him, and a groan escaped from his mouth, “Gah!”

“You brat! Betraying the mother who raised you?!”

The Countess, her eyes glinting with madness, screamed and lunged at her son again. Unable to bring himself to harm his mother, he tried to restrain her by grabbing her hands, but she didn’t care if her arms broke; she lunged forward and bit into his forearm.

“Ahh! Mother! Ah, damn it!”

Her lips quickly filled with blood. In the end, she bit off a chunk of flesh.

At that moment, the door burst open, and the two mercenaries, having subdued the knight guard, entered the room.

“Quickly, restrain her!”

They swiftly subdued her, binding and gagging her to prevent any further outcry.

“Group Leader, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I can get treated later. Let’s focus on the task first!”

Group Leader Luis tried his best to control his emotions, his eyes bloodshot. He hurriedly signaled to Allen, who was waiting at the end of the hallway. Then, the two female mercenaries and Allen entered the bedroom immediately.

Allen glanced indifferently at the Countess writhing on the bed, then gestured to the Blind Saintess.

Removing her blindfold, she quickly found the doll stuck like a roof in the concave space above the bed. The sinister doll was fixed to be seen directly when lying straight on the bed. It was suspicious, to say the least. If not enchanted, who would stick a doll like that?

!!!

The doll clearly looked like a child’s toy, but its face was smeared with blood.

“That’s it! I’ve seen that before, too…!”

Luis testified directly. It was the very doll that appeared like a hallucination and vanished, leaving only an eerie, chilling laugh.

A doll possessed by an evil spirit.

Allen placed it into a prepared container and sealed it completely. The Countess’s thrashing grew even more intense.

“Uuuugh!!!! Uuuuugh!!!”

With eyes bulging as if they would pop out, she struggled, looking as if she were witnessing her child being kidnapped.

“It’s done. Let’s go as quickly as possible.”

Luis approached his bound mother, holding his bleeding abdomen with one hand, and whispered with a sad expression.

“Mother, I will set everything right again. Until then, please…!”

“Group Leader Luis! Quickly!”

At Allen’s urging, Group Leader Luis hurriedly exited the Countess’s room.

Of course, with such a commotion in the lady’s room, it was impossible for the Count’s castle to remain unaware. Until the grand event commenced, access to the corridor was strictly prohibited, but the moment they fled, the situation would be discovered by the servants.

Just as Group Leader Allen and Group Leader Luis were about to leave with the prepared mercenary group and escape the inner castle.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The loud sound of the bell echoed throughout the inner castle.

“Go!”

Group Leader Allen shouted loudly. Simultaneously, the mercenary group rushed towards the castle gate.

Of course, the castle gate was firmly closed, but Group Leader Luis quickly came up with a plan.

“Open the gate quickly! It’s an emergency!”

The guards hesitated, unsure of what to do, but when Group Leader Luis urged them once more, they finally opened the gate. After everyone had exited, the Count’s escort followed closely behind. Among them was Count Jolla, eyes bloodshot and consumed by madness.

“You bastard, Luuuuiiiis!!!”

The mercenary group boarded the carriage they had prepared outside the inner castle and began to race away.

“Move! Get out of the way!!”

Old Dog Kalisman, sitting beside the coachman, roared at the people on the main road.

However, the bells had already sounded throughout the city, and the outer gate was firmly closed.

Kalisman urgently reported to Allen through the coachman’s hatch that the castle gate was shut.

The expressions of the members turned pale. If they were caught like this, it was clear they would not escape severe punishment… unless they fought desperately to break through the gate and escape.

However.

Allen had already considered this possibility. No matter how hastily they acted, it was only natural for the outer gate to close. Especially if it was the Count’s castle seized by madness.

The Count, who had already killed his own wife and young son, would never just watch rebels committing treason and fleeing!

“Elena!”

Elena, who had been given a hint by Allen in advance, was already chanting a magic spell the moment she boarded the carriage.

Furball Geese quickly opened the small hatch on the carriage roof. And with Northern Musclehead Pergamond, they each grabbed her legs and lifted her up.

The Milk-Jug Mage, with her upper body rising smoothly above the carriage roof, spun her mana-filled staff in the air once before extending it toward the castle gate.

“Please, please, please, please.”

The Balding Kancho closed his eyes tightly and clasped his hands as he fervently prayed. Newbie Kori shared the same sentiment.

A massive mana bullet formed at the tip of the magic staff and flew toward the castle gate.

And then… an explosion…!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The powerful elemental magic, upon striking the castle gate, created a tremendous roar and vibration, instantly blasting the massive gate away. Many were caught up in it, but they had no time to worry about others. Escaping the city as quickly as possible was the priority.

“GET OUT OF THE WAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY!!!!!”

With Kalisman’s thunderous roar, the two carriages carrying the mercenary group safely exited the city.

Furball Geese sighed and plopped down in his seat as he watched the sunset-hued city walls fade into the distance.

“Damn, we did it…”

“We got out. We really got out. We did it!”

The Balding Kancho shouted with a look of overwhelming relief, shaking his hips as if he’d just come back from the brink of death. The members also breathed sighs of relief, each letting out a curse or two.

“Elena, well done… You all worked hard too.”

Of course, it was all part of Allen’s plan, but honestly, he was quite nervous. Worried about what might happen if they couldn’t break through the gate. However, the magic of a Gate Opener was indeed different, truly distinct.

For now, they had overcome one hurdle.

But a bigger hurdle still remained.

Whew.

Allen leaned against the carriage wall with a long sigh. The rattling vibrations traveled through his flesh and shook his stomach.

…Money is the root of all evil…

Even as he thought so, he found it truly ironic that he could not resist the lure of money.