Chapter 174

Chapter 174. Playing Catch-Up (6)

As soon as I left the banquet hall, Vellego, who had followed me out, discreetly asked.

“Was that really discussed in the meeting? Did the Order broker it for you?”

Naturally, instead of answering his question, I turned my body and reached out.

Thud!

In the deserted corridor outside the banquet hall, Vellego was pinned against the wall with me gripping his collar.

“Ugh! What is this… what are you doing?!”

Vellego tried to free himself from my grip while still pressed against the wall with a groan.

With my hand easily restraining his struggle, I asked in a low voice.

“What did you say the name of that priest was earlier?”

The way Vellego flinched and trembled only bolstered my suspicions.

I needed to confirm this now.

“Speak.”

As I pressed my arm to his throat, Vellego gulped a short breath.

Of course, with the trachea pressed, it was impossible for him to draw a breath.

Vellego struggled more fiercely than before, but as an ordinary person, he stood no chance against my strength.

I stared down at him with cold eyes.

“Your last chance. The priest’s name.”

Perhaps realizing I was serious, Vellego, who until then had kept silent, finally spoke.

“—!”

Despite speaking, the words did not come through in this peculiar situation.

It was the moment suspicion became certainty.

The name of the one who ordered Vellego to kidnap me was Somir Isha.

Once I released my grip and stepped back, Vellego coughed violently and sat down on the spot.

As I continued to look down at him with ice-cold eyes, I organized my thoughts.

‘That may not be the head, but.’

It was definitely a tail, so I could trace it back.

At the end would be the head, the one who ordered the kidnapping.

‘Giselle, the princess’s maid, also bore the name Isha.’

I couldn’t forget that Giselle had contacted Gallonic separately.

One by one, the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place.

‘Indeed, enduring pays off.’

Smirking, I opened the chat window.

I promised to uncover everything about them.

As I busily sent messages, rekindling past grudges.

“It doesn’t seem like the right time.”

A voice came unexpectedly from behind, even though I hadn’t sensed anyone.

Quickly turning around, I saw a man standing at the opposite corridor from the banquet hall.

The moment his face registered, I instinctively drew out Kerak’s spear.

I didn’t care that weapon entry into the Imperial Palace was restricted.

Gretman had advised against taking out weapons from my otherworldly space, but this wasn’t the time to heed that.

I also didn’t have the luxury to care about Vellego fleeing in a panic.

‘It’s him.’

The man, appearing in his mid-twenties with dark black hair and golden eyes, was the strange apostle I had seen through Meferoseta’s authority.

I had an idea of who he might be, though we’d never exchanged names.

‘Karlos’s second apostle, Gilenios Begram.’

Someone who had been looking for ways to meet me.

Even though Karlos had shown goodwill towards me, that didn’t translate into trust for him.

He was the one who planned to carry away the unresponsive me, mentioning gods someday.

Gripping the spear tightly, I tensed my muscles.

‘What happened?’

Had Yang Taeho already met him?

‘There were no scars on his face, right?’

Or perhaps, he planned to approach Taeho after meeting me.

My thoughts were a tangled mess in an instant.

On the other hand, the person causing my chaotic mind seemed nonchalant.

“Well, since I’m here, let’s get this over with quickly.”

He had clearly read my suspicion and hostility, but that didn’t stop him from speaking smoothly.

Perhaps he knew what I was considering.

“Since you don’t seem to have a mild temper, I’ll be straightforward.”

I gripped the spear even harder, speculating what he was about to say.

The person, evidently an apostle, extended his hand towards me and spoke.

“Just one handshake.”

I was momentarily too stunned to keep a neutral expression.

‘What?’

Suddenly appearing and asking to shake hands?

Even after seeing how on guard I was against him?

Did he think I’d entertain such a ludicrous request?

My already complex thoughts became even more tangled.

Though the person behind my confusion seemed overly unconcerned.

“Geez, you’re like a frightened cat, bristling up. Take it easy, I don’t mean any harm to you.”

My vigilance sharpened instead of dulling.

As I kept my guard, the man rummaged through his upper pocket and pulled something out.

“You can use it, right? Check it out.”

The moment I reflexively swung the spear to intercept, I didn’t hear the sound of metal clashing.

‘Pat?’

Instead, it was the sound of paper rustling.

The paper fluttered downwards as my spear deflected it.

Grabbing it mid-air, I found unexpected words scrawled upon it.

「One-time use of Agnotia’s authority」

“I went through hell to get that.”

Still clutching the authority usage ticket, I eyed the man with suspicion.

‘As if I’d use this.’

It wasn’t issued by the System, and there was no guarantee it was genuine.

As I maintained my defensive posture, the man grimaced and complained.

“I know I’m suspicious, but isn’t your suspicion a bit overboard?”

“Better to be excessive than complacent.”

“Oh, so you can speak? I thought you were mute!”

“And you sure talk a lot.”

“Geez, your temper.”

The man snorted dismissively.

Yet, he seemed anxious because I wasn’t responding the way he wanted.

This was evident as he repeatedly tapped the floor with his foot while crossing his arms.

“Of all the people, you had to choose someone like this…”

Then, glaring at me sharply, he clicked his tongue.

Everything about his actions, from start to finish, irritated me beyond measure.

Was this guy really an apostle of Karlos?

‘If so, I’m questioning Karlos’s judgment.’

I growled at him with a frown.

“What’s the reason for the sudden handshake request?”

“Well, I was going to offer you a present… Oh, am I not supposed to say? Fine.”

The response was left hanging.

I was speechless from the absurdity.

He continued speaking aimlessly.

“Are you really not going to use it? If you don’t, I have no way to make you trust me.”

Trading silence and concealment for explanations and persuasion was contradictory to earning trust.

“Whatever you do, I’m not trusting you.”

His words could be true, but it wouldn’t lead to trust in him.

As I replied in a cold tone, he sighed, scratching his head fiercely.

“Being wary is fine, but if it’s too much, it becomes a problem.”

“It’s nothing life-threatening.”

“And this place might get ruined too. Maybe ease up a bit?”

He spun a finger beside his head while gnashing his teeth.

It was a useless gesture.

“No need to worry. I’ve got a strong mentality.”

“Wow, you just won’t let it go, will you!”

He shouted and stomped the ground in annoyance.

I, too, stepped back immediately, trying to keep the distance.

The man’s speed matched mine. The distance each of us moved wasn’t much different.

It meant there wasn’t a significant discrepancy in our physical abilities.

‘He’s not someone like Gretman or Horfe.’

That was relief. I just needed to be cautious of his authority.

Though not certain from which of the 7 Great Gods it came, it’s likely from Karlos.

‘A head-on confrontation isn’t feasible.’

Returning to the banquet hall and escaping was a viable option.

With many key figures present, that fool couldn’t misbehave recklessly.

If that lunatic did run wild, there would be knights among the guests who could help.

‘They can help block him.’

I prepared for a possible escape, sliding my foot back slightly.

But the man didn’t seem willing to let me go easily.

“You’re quite fast.”

“I may not look it, but I’m among the top among Outsiders.”

“With such amazing skills, why waste them on me? I’m just requesting a handshake. It doesn’t take much.”

I evaded him again and swung my spear, not just as a threat but with clear intent to harm.

“Did you really just try to stab me?”

“If you continue to threaten me, gladly.”

Perhaps he was at his wit’s end as he stomped his foot, raising a ruckus.

“Hey! You said it’d be easy once I met him! Does this look easy to you? I’m already short on time, leaving my spot.”

Then he started saying things I couldn’t understand.

His words seemed like complaints to someone else…

‘What’s with this crazy guy?’

I was baffled by his yelling and antics.

I sighed, questioning how I got tangled up with such a fool.

“Why choose this paranoid kid?!”

As if on cue, he thrust his hand forward and shouted.

“Forget trust; let’s solve this the easy way!”

A golden light concentrated in his hand.

‘Karlos…’

Having experienced it just days ago, I was certain. It was definitely Karlos’s authority.

‘So he really was Karlos’s apostle.’

The first apostle was said to be over 60 years old. It confirmed that this man was indeed the second apostle, Gilenios Begram.

As I confirmed Gilenios’s identity, the golden light in his hand formed into an object.

Upon seeing what he had formed, Gilenios muttered blankly.

“… Why is it this?”

Curious, I glanced over and realized it looked similar to what I held.

‘Authority usage coupon?’

Though not entirely clear, I could faintly make out the word authority on the paper’s edge.

“No, I used my authority, but why does it give me another authority? Hey Karlos, is your authority broken? I’m already feeling terribly unfortunate with things not going as planned. Shouldn’t it help get him on my side or immobilize him?”

I shivered involuntarily at the name clearly mentioned.

Noticing my reaction, Gilenios’s expression began changing.

He unfolded what was in his hand and showed it to me.

「Karlos’s Authority 1-time Usage Ticket」

Seeing the words inscribed on it made my eyes twitch involuntarily.

“Ho…”

Gilenios moved his hand, holding the authority behind his body, waving it around.

As if trying to catch a cat’s interest with a toy.

My cheek twitched involuntarily.

‘That bastard…’

There was something about Gilenios’s actions that grated on my nerves.

Clenching my jaws tightly, I heard the grinding of teeth.

Meanwhile, Gilenios snickered as he mumbled to himself.

“Aha, so that’s how it is. Then it makes sense for this to come out.”

Having muttered to himself again, Gilenios chuckled quietly as he raised his hand.

Then waved the usage ticket with it.

“Want it?”

Then extended his empty hand.

It suggested that if I wanted the authority, I should extend my hand.

I looked at Gilenios’s empty hand, questioning myself.

Should I take on this unknown danger just to obtain Karlos’s authority usage ticket?

It wasn’t a question that needed long contemplation. My answer had been predetermined.

Damned System