Chapter 126: Lance Isnt the Least Bit Scared

Chapter 126: Lance Isn't the Least Bit Scared

A brief silence settled over the hall on the ground floor of Lichten's Castle. The elegant stone corridors, the opulent fireplace, and the paintings adorning the walls were all bathed in the hazy, dim light of early morning.

Given the young man's candor and the wealth of information he had volunteered, there was little reason to doubt his identity. As for the two bodyguards standing behind him, they showed no inclination of talking just yet.

Frey nodded, mentally categorizing the trio as "the young master and his two hired muscles," before turning his attention toward the three women standing at the far diagonal corner of the room.

"We hail from the Krati Empire." The young woman leading the group possessed a distinctly aristocratic air, and she gave him a polite nod. Her demeanor was a blend of elegance and humility, and her long brown hair was as smooth and lustrous as fine silk.

Besides her introduction, she seemed disinclined to say much more, holding Frey's stern, piercing gaze without flinching. The magical aura radiating from her was potent and steady, marking her as a traditional mage. Flanking her were a tall, spirited female knight with sharp, handsome features and a petite, timid cleric in white robes, whose blue eyes welled with unshed tears.

It was a textbook Warrior-Mage-Healer party composition. Since they offered nothing further, Frey wasted no more time on them, mentally labeling them the "Imperial Women's National Team" as he turned his attention to the final trio.

"We come from the Northern Continent. We are clergy serving under the Saintess of the Church of the Goddess of Fate." A cleric clad in spotless white robes with exquisite gold-thread embroidery along the edges stepped forward and offered a sincere, respectful bow. His eyes were gentle, filled with benevolence and warmth.

Standing behind him was an executioner clad in heavy armor and a red cloak and a paladin encased in gleaming silver-white armor. Their faces bore expressions of unwavering resolve, and their eyes burned with a steadfast, spirited intensity, as if fueled by the very flames of justice.

Frey asked casually, "Do the three of you know Lawrence?"

His tone implied he stood on equal footing with Lawrence, which startled the three of them, leaving them wondering exactly what kind of status Frey held at Ikerite University.

"Of course, even though we are from the Northern Continent, we are well aware of the deeds of High Priest Lawrence," replied the priest, and he then had his companions each demonstrate a bit of divine magic.

Judging by the divine magic they displayed, there was little reason to doubt their status as members of the clergy. However, they still could not rule out the possibility that the Church of Resurrection had planted moles within the Church of the Goddess of Fate.

Frey mentally categorized this trio as "The Saintess' Lackeys."

By this point, Frey had a general grasp of everyone's backgrounds, even though two of the nine individuals were certainly using false identities. As for the specific details of their roles and professions, aside from what they were willing to openly share with the group, the rest would have to be conveyed to him individually in writing later on.

"Do either of you have anything to say?" Frey took a step back, moving closer to Lance and Hyperion.

Hyperion found it difficult to articulate the specific nature of her role. Instead, she signaled Lance and Frey to turn around. Using her fingertips, she traced characters in the air behind her back to reveal that she was the Actress.

"...Understood."

Upon learning her role, Frey and Lance became convinced that other challengers might possess similar roles. These were identities that offered little direct assistance to the Detective, yet were both suspicious and dangerous if exposed.

This realization significantly increased the difficulty of Frey's deduction task. Even if he were to interrogate everyone about their roles, a Traitor could easily fabricate a flawless cover story.

As long as the Traitors possessed sufficient intelligence, identifying them based solely on their role was nearly impossible. Such was the nature of the Shadow Realm's mechanics.

Once Hyperion had finished communicating with them, Lance turned his gaze back toward the main hall. He stepped forward with ease and raised a hand to address the group.

"Hello everyone, I'd like to introduce a few pieces of information. My role is Lawyer. I am well-versed in the laws of the Honing Empire. The empire now fully worships the vampires. Any act defying vampiric rule is punishable by death. Furthermore, strict identity registration is required for any human entering or leaving the cities."

He paused and then continued, "I have a small addition regarding the information provided by the Geographer. The Honing Empire's defensive barrier is now controlled by the vampires and does not allow flight. Non-vampires cannot use any flight magic or items, a fact I believe we can corroborate with one another shortly."

His news rippled through the room like a stone cast into a lake, prompting everyone in the hall to fall into deep thought and analysis. Yet another person had revealed their role and done so with remarkable openness.

Moreover, the young man's emerald eyes shone with brightness and sincerity. His voice carried a calm, steadying quality that seemed to dissolve people's doubts and anxieties. It was difficult to suspect someone of being a villain when they exuded such an unadulterated, gentle aura. Or perhaps, if, by any chance, a person like that turned out to be a villain, it would be the stuff of a truly unimaginable horror movie.

At this point, Lance sighed helplessly. "If I'm not mistaken, there's some very bad news. The only bridge leading to the city-state has likely been destroyed. We're trapped on this side of the cliff, hemmed in by the terrain and the edge of the national defense barrier."

Frey smiled, asking Lance with a hint of amusement in his tone, "So, the Shadow Realm's requirement is that we must correctly deduce who the Traitors are and capture them? And if we accidentally kill the Traitors by mistake, we won't be able to escape as their respective vampire lords will show up?"

As those words were spoken, the expressions of the others darkened noticeably. A variety of emotions played across their faces. Some were shocked, while others were contemplating the news gravely. Their eyes shifted constantly, like a scene in perpetual flux.

In this enclosed space, everyone became more acutely perceptive. They could almost smell the tension and unease intensifying by the moment. The mere mention of being locked down and chased by vampire counts was enough to make every challenger present turn pale.

Even in the real world, vampires were terrifying beings, creatures that could not be matched by others of the same rank. With their innate powers and immortality, vampires had historically proven to be foes against whom human powerhouses would only waste their precious, high-level combat strength.

Although vampires were theoretically weakened significantly when the sun rose, surviving an entire night against one was an impossibility. Setting aside the inherent racial disparity, the challengers were mostly around Rank 5, so they were simply not in the same league as a vampire count at Rank 7. Any one of them would likely have their head torn off in a single exchange, reduced to nothing more than a plaything for the vampire's sadistic amusement.

"There is no escaping it, of course," Lance answered Frey calmly, his state of mind as still as a tranquil lake.

He remained unruffled, even in the face of such impending danger. Hyperion glanced at Lance and felt a measure of relief. As long as he maintained this composure, she had nothing to fear.