CHAPTER 30: City of Sin, Trist (5)

Karnak and his group continued walking down the street.

During that time, they witnessed two more incidents of pickpocketing and three more cases of robbery.

In less than an hour, they had seen five crimes.

Even so, there wasn't a situation where Alius needed to step in.

The pickpockets they encountered afterward displayed a seasoned demeanor, unlike the boy from the market.

They skillfully snatched up belongings, immediately dashed off, handed the stolen goods to waiting accomplices, and managed to dodge flying daggers before disappearing into alleys.

The victim of the pickpocketing raged furiously, but the reaction of those around them was different.

"Those guys are pretty good, aren't they?"

"If you're going to be a pickpocket, you should be at least that good."

Just as they had shown no interest in the boy who had fallen earlier, they showed no concern for the person who had just been pickpocketed.

As a result, there was no bloodshed, and no need for a cleric to step in.

The robberies were much the same.

"Hey, buddy, mind lending us some cash?"

It wasn't even in a back alley—burly thugs openly robbed a passing merchant right in the middle of the street. Naturally, the merchants, enraged, tried to fight back.

But they were hopelessly outnumbered from the start. They were beaten senselessly and had their purses snatched away.

However, it was clear how often the robbers had done this, as they never beat anyone badly enough to cause lasting harm.

They just knocked them down to subdue them, took the money, and quickly left. 

"Ugh!"

"You damned bastards!"

"The heavens are truly indifferent!"

The merchants, bruised and robbed, cried out in frustration, but from Alius' perspective, it wasn't a situation where he could intervene.

'If their lives were at stake, maybe, but I can't reveal my identity for something like this...'

While he was busy worrying about what to do, no one seemed to take special notice of his hesitation.

The other people were just watching as if it were an entertaining spectacle. When the situation ended, they simply went about their business.

Boras clicked his tongue in disbelief.

"Wow, what kind of place is this?"

He had walked through many shady backstreets rife with illegal activities, but this place was different.

"So, this is why they don't call it the City of Illegal Acts but the Lawless City."

The difference between having laws that are broken and not having laws to break was more significant than one might think.

Serati spoke up, worried.

"I'm not sure we can safely stay at an inn here."

The entire city was under the control of the Lanfelt family, and the place was swarming with people who would stab you in the back at the slightest provocation. Even staying at an inn, it was doubtful they could sleep with both eyes closed.

"Won't we end up getting stabbed in our sleep if we stay just anywhere?"

Alius agreed, replying, "It's said that many wanderers disappear without a trace in this city. That's why we need to find a place with reliable connections."

Riltein frowned. "So, does that mean we need to set up defensive barriers in our inn rooms? This is ridiculous... it's not like we're camping outdoors."

Fortunately, that wouldn't be necessary.

"I have a place in mind, Riltein."

"What? But didn't you say the Trist Diocese is suspicious...?"

It's common practice for priests operating outside their home regions to seek out the local church. But the Hatoba Church in this city couldn't be trusted.

Wasn't that the very reason they had disguised themselves in the first place? 

"Yes, that's why I found a different local ally."

"...Can they be trusted?"

Given the city's atmosphere, having a local ally was essential.

But could this ally be trusted? After all, the Lanfelt family had already seized control of the entire city.

They found the answer as soon as they reached the central street.

"No way, this is..."

Serati muttered in disbelief as she looked at the large mansion standing before them.

"This is the Pulad Mansion?"

It was the very same family that had been ruined by the Hatoba Church.

***

The exterior of the Pulad Mansion was unremarkable. In fact, it was quite an old building.

There were many areas in need of repair, and it was clear that Karnak's Jestarad Mansion was larger and more splendid in comparison.

Yet, the mansion before them seemed surprisingly luxurious.

"Wow, with everything else around here in such a state, this place actually looks pretty good."

In a city filled with patched-up, run-down buildings, even a halfway decent exterior stood out.

And in this city, maintaining a mansion like this was indeed a luxury.

"Even though they've fallen, it seems they still have considerable power," Karnak said with a smile.

He had wondered how much help a ruined family could provide, but seeing this, it seemed they were trustworthy.

'Besides, they must hold an unquenchable grudge against the Lanfelt family, so there's no worry about betrayal.'

As they approached the mansion, Alius commented, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? Right now, there's no one more reliable for us than the Pulad family."

"And isn't the Hatoba Church also their enemy?"

"More precisely, the Trist Diocese of the Hatoba Church is their enemy. And aren't we here to punish them?"

"Indeed, our interests align perfectly."

Watching their surroundings as they approached the mansion entrance, they noticed two gatekeepers standing guard.

Both were older and didn't seem particularly skilled, reinforcing the impression that the family had indeed fallen on hard times.

As the group approached, one of the gatekeepers, wary, asked, "What brings you here?" 

Without a word, Alius pulled out a brooch from his coat and showed it to them.

It was a seemingly ordinary brooch, yet the gatekeepers immediately dropped their guard. It must have been a prearranged sign.

"I'll show you inside."

As it was already nighttime, candles were lit throughout the mansion.

After being led to a reception room, they waited until a young woman in a dress entered the room.

"Welcome to the Pulad family estate. I am Sildera, the head of the family."

She wasn't an extraordinary beauty, just someone with a plain appearance. However, she had a well- developed physique, fitting for a woman living in such a harsh city.

[Looks like she can hold her own.]

[She'd look better in armor than in a dress.]

While Karnak and Boras habitually assessed her, Alius politely greeted her.

"I am Alius, servant of Hatoba. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sildera."

She was the daughter of the former head of the Pulad family, Marad.

When the former head went on a rampage, allying himself with a necromancer, she was the one who stood up against him and was consequently despised, spending a long time in seclusion.

After the family's downfall, this opposition became the very reason she earned the absolute support of those who remained.

She alone served as proof that the Pulad family was no longer involved in necromancy.

"I have no intention of making excuses for my father's sins. My goal is simply to restore the family."

Sildera's expression twisted slightly as she continued.

"To do that, I cannot tolerate that vile Lanfelt family. However, we lack the strength to oppose them..."

The Pulad family's power had dwindled to almost nothing.

The key figures involved in necromancy had been executed, and those who remained had either scattered to seek their fortunes or struggled just to survive.

"Even so, we still have some influence left throughout the city. If you trust us, we will do our best to help."

Alius nodded without hesitation.

"Of course, I trust you."

In truth, those who remained in the current Pulad family were genuinely uninvolved with necromancy.

Anyone even slightly suspected of involvement had been executed.

Many innocents had perished as well.

Only those who, no matter how much they were scrutinized, had nothing to hide, managed to survive.

The church's inquisition had been that harsh.

The Pulad family harbored as much hatred for the Hatoba Church as they did for the Lanfelt family.

Alius had skillfully directed that hatred specifically towards the Trist Diocese.

"The Church can no longer turn a blind eye to the Trist Diocese's atrocities. They will surely face the goddess's punishment."

After they had settled in, Alius asked seriously, "So, can you update us on the current situation?"

***

The Lanfelt family's defenses had become extremely tight. This was only natural, given that the Hatoba Church had already sent people multiple times.

"The Church's usual tactic of infiltrating under disguised identities to gather evidence of necromancy is no longer effective."

They didn't allow anyone they didn't know inside. Even those they knew weren't allowed close unless they were long-time subordinates.

It was as if they had bristled like a porcupine, ready to strike at any threat. Thus, Alius's plan was a nighttime raid.

They would disguise themselves as a different faction, attack the mansion, and in the ensuing chaos, search for evidence of necromancy.

"It's a simple and brute-force method, but surprisingly, it has a high success rate—as long as we have enough military power."

To make this work, they needed an accurate understanding of the current forces within the Lanfelt family.

Sildera brought out a map and spread it on the table before beginning her explanation.

"The Lanfelt Mansion currently houses about 100 soldiers. All of them are warriors equivalent to 2nd-tier adventurers, and they have three 2nd-circle mages and five 3rd-circle mages."

In addition to this, the Lanfelt family's forces were spread throughout the city, making it clear that they had enough power to control the entire area.

Despite this, Riltein felt reassured. 

"This seems manageable."

When considering the forces at the mansion alone, they didn't seem overwhelming compared to Karnak's group's current level.

Moreover, since they had detailed information on the troop placements and shifts, it seemed feasible to strike and retreat successfully.

Sildera's expression darkened.

"The problem is the necromancers."

The Pulad family's intelligence couldn't determine how powerful the hidden necromancers were or how many there were.

This was something they wouldn't know until they faced them. However, Alius appeared confident.

"That won't be an issue."

Necromancers were formidable not only because they could gain power easily but also because their methods were so unfamiliar.

No matter how strong someone was, encountering something outside their experience could reveal unexpected weaknesses.

In this respect, Alius's group had nothing to worry about.

"These people here are all veterans at dealing with necromancers."

***

The enormous basement of the Lanfelt Mansion, located on the western side of Trist City.

Torches were embedded in the walls, casting a dim light over the darkness, while agonized groans echoed throughout the space.

"Ugh..." 

"Ahhh..."

Blood-soaked bodies hung from the walls and pillars. Their skin had been flayed, and their entire bodies were covered in wounds, leaving them in a grotesque state.

The scene was so horrific that one might think if hell existed, it would look like this.

Two men stood on one side of the basement, observing the scene. One was a middle-aged man, appearing to be in his forties, and the other a younger man in his thirties.

The younger man cautiously spoke while watching the basement.

"It's been a month since we last dealt with those sent by the Church. Don't you think the main temple might take action again soon?"

The older man seemed unconcerned.

"If the Church keeps sending people, it's a welcome development. It just means more sacrifices for us."

He turned his gaze to the dozens of men bound in the basement—members of the Hatoba Church's Darkness Hunters.

They were all exceptionally skilled warriors, experienced in facing other necromancers. 

"But the truth is, they've never faced a true necromancer."

They were pitiful wretches, wielding the mighty power of darkness like a spear or sword, without any wisdom or knowledge. 

They had only ever fought against the lowest of the low, those unworthy of being called necromancers, and yet they believed themselves to be the ultimate enemies of necromancy.

This foolishness had led them here.

The older man raised his right hand. At that moment, darkness began to rise throughout the basement.

"Arghhhh!"

"Aaaaah!"

As the screams echoed, the rising darkness converged toward the older man. Absorbing the darkness, he smiled contentedly.

"Good, it's transformed into high-quality necromantic power."

The younger man asked, concerned, "Isn't this putting a strain on your body?"

"There's some strain, of course."

The older man replied as if it were nothing, clasping his hands together.

"And that's why..."

As he brought his hands together, they began to emit a radiant light—the holy light of Hatoba, the goddess of the sacred earth.

"...I protect my body with the blessings of the great goddess."

The older man, Bishop Shutraff, the head of the Trist Diocese of the Hatoba Church, grinned wickedly, his hands filled with both light and darkness.

"This time, I hope a high-ranking priest comes to challenge us. The rewards will be even greater."

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