Chapter 182

Chapter 182. Fishing (1)

A conference room adorned with antique furniture.

Gathered there were the members of Agnotia who belonged to the most extreme faction.

“I heard that the priest Somir in Gemal was arrested. Is it true?”

“Yes, the charge was bribery.”

“Do you really believe that? I heard he encountered an outsider and a Vellego priest at a banquet. He must have been caught then.”

“I heard that the Finelpenia side strongly insisted on the arrest and investigation…”

“Don’t even get me started. They took over one investigation team and are acting all high and mighty.”

“Huh, what on earth is happening?”

They all couldn’t hide their anxiety.

During the process of exposing those colluding with the human traffickers, an unexpected incident occurred.

Completely unrelated crimes were uncovered.

Embezzlement, bribery, illegal personnel solicitation, appointments, and even affairs with nobility were discovered.

As soon as the investigation team found these charges, the central headquarters’ inspection unit intervened, and a significant number had already been arrested.

Given the situation, even those unrelated to the trafficking were being cautious and laying low.

Everyone gathered in this reception room was in the same boat.

They were all implicated in the same crime.

‘Attempted kidnapping of an outsider.’

Not just once, but multiple times.

Though the attempts failed each time, involvement in the activities was a fact.

They were now busy destroying evidence and silencing witnesses but weren’t yet at ease.

Truly, they had attempted too many times.

If even one attempt came to light, they might have to fear for their lives.

Following the latest trafficking case, the Order’s headquarters had made an agreement with a group representing the outsiders.

“If there is clear evidence of infliction or attempted infliction of harm to members on the opposing side, the perpetrators will be handed over to the aggrieved party.”

“This condition applies to all incidents since the gate was connected, and the perpetrator’s custody must be handed over within ten days after the exposure of the violation.”

It was an unprecedented and exceptional agreement.

A declaration that they would not offer any protection if issues arose.

If their deeds became known, they would have to face the consequences imposed by the outsiders.

Of course, the outsiders were not in a different position.

In fact, the custody of dozens of outsiders who led the trafficking was handed over to the Order’s headquarters.

With the precedent set by the opposing side, there was no way those wanting to purge the radical faction would miss out on this opportunity.

Naturally, the priests were trembling with anxiety.

“This is all because of that fool’s failure.”

“Who was it that visited him? Was it priest Hamona? Was it you?”

“I-I didn’t know that idiot would hand the work over to the mercenary guild! I thought he’d resolve the matter quietly!”

“How short-sighted must one be to involve mercenaries?”

“Indeed. If it weren’t for him, priest Somir wouldn’t have been captured…”

“I heard the restriction they imposed got discovered, so there’s no denying it now?”

“Why put a restriction in the first place? Without it, he could’ve claimed it as a false accusation!”

“We have to do something about priest Somir before she mentions our names, don’t we?”

“The security is stricter than expected. We can’t touch the investigation targets at this moment.”

“Phew, really… How are you going to take responsibility for this?”

“Are you saying this is all my fault?! It was the Count who recommended him in the first place!”

Out of anxiety, they started blaming each other and arguing over trivial matters.

As the volume escalated, the person who had been silent since arriving in the reception room finally spoke.

“Let’s stop this meaningless argument.”

The person attempted to moderate the disputes gently.

However, it was not a suitable method for dealing with those agitated and steeped in unease.

“Will a solution emerge from all this?”

“Surely, you wouldn’t have called us together without a clever plan?”

“Yes, after all, it was you, Reitan, who started this. Hurry and solve this matter!”

The group shifted their indignation onto a new scapegoat, Reitan Protoram.

Instead of reacting emotionally, Reitan responded calmly.

“We need to wrap up what was in progress first.”

It was only logical to cease targeting the outsider since the risks had significantly increased.

“But without that outsider, we won’t be able to present the sacred fragment to Agnotia…”

“I thought we agreed not to mention that carelessly.”

Reitan immediately silenced someone who appeared about to object, with a keen glare.

The person who had spoken cleared their throat, avoiding eye contact.

Having cut off unnecessary talk, Reitan lightly tapped the sofa’s armrest.

There were rumors that he was strengthening ties with the Senoa Order and relocating his patronage, but…

The Protoram family continued to support the Order of Purity, Agnotia.

The reason for concealing that fact was to establish a puppet aligned with Agnotia’s wishes within the leadership of Senoa.

‘Gallonic fell unexpectedly, leading to a partial failure.’

It was a long-prepared plan, but it was derailed due to an unexpected item.

‘That relic has a rather bothersome power.’

Reitan, internally clicking his tongue due to the increasing variables that demanded attention, closed his eyes for a moment.

‘I must secure that outsider.’

The reason was simple.

For Agnotia to absorb the sacred fragment of Palao, a suitable vessel was essential.

Indeed, the god of purity, Agnotia, possessed the sacred fragment of the enigmatic Palao.

In an ideal world, he wanted to absorb it immediately and enhance his divinity.

‘Absorbing the divinity of another god with embedded records risks corrupting Agnotia’s divinity.’

Thus, purification was necessary, and the easiest method was to attune it to a material being.

A divinity anchored in the material realm loses accumulated records, allowing Agnotia to absorb it more conveniently.

‘The problem was finding a material being strong enough to accept the divinity.’

After agonizing over that issue for a year, a solution suddenly and unexpectedly presented itself.

‘Whether knowingly or unknowingly, Senoa granted someone the capability to endure various divinities.’

Why Senoa, who rarely intervened dimensionally aside from Karlos, was suddenly involved was uncertain.

Nevertheless, Agnotia did not want to miss this opportunity.

After nearly a year of frustration, a means to resolve the issue appeared, making it more unreasonable to let it slip away.

Thus began the operations to secure K, an outsider favored by Senoa.

Despite devices set to entice the religiously fanatical extremists into multiple initiatives.

Suddenly, those assigned to the abduction experienced mass ailments.

The kidnappers on route found themselves covered in food waste.

Whenever they approached, interference from other outsiders drew crowds, causing plans to unravel.

As if the heavens themselves were safeguarding that outsider.

‘That can’t be. If so, Agnotia would have intervened to obstruct.’

With no such indications, it was unlikely the gods were involved.

However, it’s undeniable that matters remained unresolved.

Hence, they solicited Vellego, stationed outside the Order, to orchestrate the abduction.

Contingency plans were in place to eliminate him discreetly after his role was fulfilled.

‘It’s vexing how everything keeps going awry.’

Reitan fiddled with the pocket watch resting in his pocket.

It was a divine artifact bestowed by Agnotia.

Lost in thought while clutching the watch briefly, Reitan spoke in a calm and composed tone.

“The immediate priority is to prevent them from continuing to probe us.”

As he restated his intentions, the priests in the meeting room swallowed nervously.

“Exactly how? Explain the method!”

Instead of drawing things out, Reitan provided a direct answer.

The primary target was the chief priest of the Order of Agnotia.

He was known for opposing the extremist faction that insisted on sacrificing believers to serve the god.

In actuality, he was the head of the moderate faction and had strong ties with the leading priest of the Order of Temoria.

‘Information suggests that he recently had a private meeting with the outsider K.’

It was likely they intended to form an alliance with the investigative unit led by K to eliminate those orchestrating the kidnappings.

Before they could advance their plans, they had to ensure their retreat.

The timing was such that someone impatient spontaneously suggested an opinion.

“What if we ask for Senoa’s assistance? Surely they’d struggle if we’re gone and help us out for this once…”

But it was promptly met with ridicule.

“Do they have the capacity to assist?”

Indeed, K was primarily targeting Senoa.

Senoa was under much more urgent circumstances.

With the exposure of numerous links to traitors, executions were practically unfolding, so they were undoubtedly in abrupt situations.

“Right now, there’s only one sure way to resolve the issue without fail.”

Reitan abandoned the dismissed suggestion and presented a more certain solution.

“We need to make them drop this matter first.”

His explanation cast a glow on the faces of the priests gathered in the meeting room.

* * *

In an instant, the dark haze over consciousness was pierced by faint light.

As distinct murmurs rang in the ears, the muffled sensations that felt submerged slowly began to resurface.

Among the sounds that registered prominently was the persistent drip-drip of water droplets.

Perhaps what created that sound was not purely water, making it distinctly recognizable.

‘What use is it to realize that now?’

Regaining consciousness, La Wian found himself lying on a cold stone floor.

Though conscious, he couldn’t move his body easily.

All he could manage was to force open his heavy eyelids.

The first thing he saw was the corpse of a silver-ranked player lying beyond, the one who was bleeding from the neck when he blacked out.

Beyond that, a man sat cross-legged on a wooden chair.

Noticing the spear resting diagonally on the man’s shoulder caused a reflexive shiver to run through La Wian’s body.

That spear claimed lives with every swing.

Simply its presence cast an aura of impending death.

Instinctively, La Wian averted his eyes.

On doing so, he noticed the muddy boots stained with dripping blood.

Despite being joined by several holy knights, none drew attention quite like the man with the spear.

“I’m really telling the truth! I-I know nothing!”

Overwhelmed murmurs suddenly crystallized into coherent words.

“Really?”

“Y-yes…”

In the month since the Player Association and the headquarters of the 7 Great Orders officially declared their stance against human traffickers, their combined investigative unit impressively and swiftly identified the traffickers’ hideouts.

As if guided by an internal informant revealing their locations.

‘That sparked a commotion at one time.’

Yet, they couldn’t identify the informant.

‘There were numerous caught, they must have confessed.’

It fanned distrust among internal members, becoming a blunder.

While living with icy tension for days, a directive for complete withdrawal was finally issued.

Returning to Earth would at least afford them the protection of the Chinese government.

However, the order was delayed far too long.

‘The holy knights are sprawling across the gate.’

Fatefully, right after the public announcement of the investigation by the association and headquarters, the game was updated.

From three gates reduced to one, and there, the holy knights conducted inspections.

Simply having fewer gates heightened the risk of being caught.

The updated game began displaying the players’ nationality on status screens.

Without revealing their nationality, they couldn’t use the gate past the holy knights.

‘If confirmed as Chinese, they immediately arrested them.’

It was said players from Latin America were also taken, although the exact cause was not declared.

There might eventually be vocal discontent over such control measures, but now wasn’t the time.

The global announcement of large-scale human trafficking and organ trafficking reached all players through community alerts.

Acknowledging the seriousness of the matter, many players cooperated with the investigation without major backlash so far.

Because of this, the vast majority of Chinese players were isolated in Bihar without access to the gate.

It was why La Wian faced some fifty holy knights in his hiding place in Bihar instead of returning to Earth.

“That’s strange…”

There was an individual leading the charge among the holy knights who stormed the hideout.

“The one caught in Dobel, called Liang, said you’d know.”

A player affiliated with Palao stood, his spear resting on one shoulder.

Damned System