Four Split Personalities

[Holy Calendar Year 9571/Lan Month/Prayer Day 3, the higher node again captured live sacrifices 124, as per the original plan, half of them were to be provided directly to this node, including 40 live sacrifices and an equivalent wealth of 22 high-quality live sacrifices, extraction day...]

The use of the word "captured" was quite meaningful.

Afterward, he continued south with a certain fugitive, Motan, conducting investigations and in the process, found several small-scale strongholds hidden in towns. He concluded an irregular pattern where the closer he got to Marshal Territory, the denser the strongholds of the Whisper Sect were.

Finally, when he successfully reached Violet and unexpectedly met Frith Bresen, Motan was able to make certain deductions based on the information he had. After he formed an alliance with Double Leaf and shared all the files left by Ned, his guesses were further corroborated.

The Marshall Family was not the accomplices of the Whisper Sect but had become a part of the Whisper Sect many years ago!

The cooperation amongst the Marshall Family, Viper Chamber of Commerce, and Mysterious Religious Group mentioned by Saika was a mere facade. Just by cross-verifying the number of live sacrifices recorded at some small strongholds and the evidence and testimonies gathered by Ned and Zack, one could see that the so-called Mysterious Religious Group was wholly integrated with the Marshall Family.

The so-called transaction had only two parties involved, the supplier and the middleman. The so-called religious group was purely a facade meant to mislead, a fact not even known by their supposed accomplice, Viper.

Seventy percent of the slaves were exported northwest and southwest through Viper’s channels in exchange for money, the remaining thirty percent were directly used as live sacrifices consumed within the sect. If not for Ned’s extensively detailed missing person statistics, nobody could have guessed anything amiss from Zack’s testimonies alone since even the insiders did not know how much stock the Marshall Family secretly held back.

Even if Baffi Marshal was not a fanatical believer of the Whispering God, he was definitely intertwined with the sect under his command.

Because of this deep understanding of the Whisper Sect’s power, Tan Mo was utterly convinced of Baffi Marshal’s prison escape - those guys’ whispers were sufficient to support a silent break-out...

If the target was a significant collaborator, the Whisper Sect would definitely find a way to extract him.

If Baffi Marshal himself was a high-ranking member of the Whisper Sect, then he might even manage to escape without any external assistance.

For Motan, this episode was an impeccable prelude.

...

Game Time PM19:02

Violet Empire, Capital City of Sālāmù’ēn, Commercial District West Square

The already noisy streets were packed with people, including vendors, civilians, students, and lesser nobles tightly crowded together, each with a look of righteous indignation on their faces. They vigorously waved their arms and shouted incoherently, staring fixedly at the rather corpulent figure in the center of the square, vehemently expressing their outrage.

This was the first large-scale public execution held by the Violet Empire in hundreds of years. The condemned, named Zack Frith, was an exceedingly vile individual who outwardly operated a logging camp but secretly hired countless thugs to kidnap people across the Empire, treating tens of thousands of innocent people as merchandise. Over decades, he created numerous unsolved cases within the territories such as the tranquil Fire Claw, the peaceful Marshal, and the prosperous Housaiyin, leaving indelible scars and committing immeasurable crimes.

Fortunately, after years of relentless searching by the Joint Investigation Team, led by the Violet Royal Family and Fire Claw, the despicable mastermind behind the scenes was finally exposed and captured several days ago by the lords including Crystal Wolf, Baroka, Dundis, Violet, and Marshal, in a lightning-fast operation.

Today, justice would be served!

"Heh..."

On a loft to the left of the square, a petite girl scoffed and lightly clapped her hands, "Such despicable justice indeed."

Motan, comfortably seated on a velvet chair, leisurely swirled the wine in his glass and chuckled, "No, to be precise, it’s cheap justice."

This was a premium seat specifically prepared by Frith, exclusive not only to Motan and Double Leaf but also to the grand dukes Baroka, Crystal Wolf, and the Prince himself, all present to witness this ’execution’ spectacle from the best vantage point.

However, aside from the two players and Frith, the other two dukes seemed uninterested in chatting and just solemnly watched the judge reciting the crimes leave the stage, and watched the Emperor of the Violet Empire slowly stand up to swing his right hand down in front of tens of thousands of people.

A stern-faced black-clothed swordsman appeared silently amid explosive cheers, quietly moving behind Zack Frith.

"You have one minute for your confession."

The chilling voice rang by Zack’s ear, causing the ashen-faced Lizardman to lift his head as if awakening from a dream.

[Yes, it’s starting...]

He blinked his increasingly murky vertical pupils, numbly observing the faces eager to flay him alive, feeling neither joy nor sorrow.

Seconds later, Zack burst out laughing, especially joyous in his laughter, knowing that the pretentious judge had attributed innumerable baseless crimes to him. He knew even if he hadn’t shouldered those crimes, he deserved death, yet he had no regrets.

Conscience and morals, he had already fed them to the dogs the moment he decided to join Viper Chamber of Commerce.

Even though his life was nearing its end, for a minor figure like himself, he had lived a life splendid enough.

He had enjoyed luxuries that many would never experience in their lifetimes, so what did a few spits matter?

Was it not a privilege to take a bow on such a grand stage?

So, there was nothing to regret for Zack Frith. In his view, his fleeting life had been meaningful enough.

Thanks to that person, he had long figured out how to disregard, even despise, death.

The only regret was that he couldn’t see his daughter one last time...

Where was she now?

Was she still living at number 11, Herb Street?

Did she know that her most loving father was about to leave forever?

Zack didn’t count his last moments of repentance, but instinctively looked toward the direction of the old town, staring intently in the direction of ’home’.

Even though he had dozens of properties to his name, only the place where Tatiana was, qualified to be called home.

But he saw nothing, apart from those fervent faces. He saw neither the old house nor the lively and adorable little girl.

[Heh, she must have already flown far away...]

Zack chuckled bitterly to himself, gently sighed, and felt somewhat relieved that his daughter must have already left Sālāmù’ēn, as he didn’t want to tarnish her image of him.

However, in the very next moment, a familiar little face suddenly came into Zack’s view.

Familiar big eyes, familiar light red scales, familiar pink hairclip, unfamiliar black dress.

It was Tatiana! His Tatiana! Right in the crowd!

"No!!"

Zack screamed, then frantically twisted his bound body, emitting a desperate roar, "You lied..."

Zoom!

"Time’s up."

A cold flash passed by, and Zack felt himself soar high, his vision uncontrollably spinning.

[Why am I smiling?]

This was his last thought before plunging into darkness.

...

"Because justice was served~"

Motan drained the bright red liquor, watching Zack’s head as it fell back to the ground, and smiled fondly.

Chapter 477: The End