The Returnee's Hidden Strategy Stream

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 57

Two guards were slowly walking, patrolling the area.

“Come to think of it, the mayor seemed a bit off today, didn’t he?”

“Today?” The other guard pondered. He nodded as if something had come to mind. “It’s true he did avoid people’s gazes. But he does that sometimes, doesn't he?”

“No, today he was really trembling, you know? Did he get a scolding from Barres?”

“That’s nothing new. Maybe he’s just feeling under the weather.”

It was a rather disrespectful conversation for the manor guards. However, it was a common sight in the Norton manor.

Sasak-

Hanbit's group, who had been observing them, moved, hiding behind the soldiers. Yeonwoo and Cowen were with him. Lia and Asla were waiting near the secret passage.

-This is really an infiltration;

-I want to snap their necks.

-Why isn't he killing them?

-Didn't you see the meeting?

-Leave the room alone.

The viewers started arguing as usual. Not subduing the enemies was part of the pre-planned strategy for the infiltration.

“There’s no need to subdue the guards protecting the manor. We just need to do the kidnapping.”

“Isn’t that too dangerous? If we’re discovered, there will be an uproar immediately.”

“It’s okay. We’ll avoid arousing their attention.”

The goal of this plan was not simply to kidnap Brook. The key was to do it without anyone noticing. As long as everyone in the manor remained calm as usual, it would be sufficient.

Shuk-

Hanbit’s group, moving behind the guards, entered a room with an open door. They then exited through the balcony and jumped up.

Thud-!

Grabbing onto a protruding structure, he began to quietly climb the wall. There were countless windows on the exterior wall of the Norton manor. The decorations around them were perfect to use as handholds.

Shuk-

In an instant, Hanbit reached the top and, pointing to the roof below, motioned to the two people who followed him. Then, he carefully lifted the tile with force.

Tuk-!

With a slight sound, the separated structure revealed an empty attic-like space below.

Swoosh-

Taking out a rope and tying it, Hanbit slowly descended.

A faint light was shining on the wooden floor. “Damn it… ”

A small voice could be heard faintly. Peering through the gap, he saw Brook huddled in a corner. Wrapped in a blanket, only his face was visible.

“Suddenly looking for Holy Kingdom spies? That’s ridiculous.”

“Did I kill my brother? No, I didn’t even think about killing him. It’s all Barres’ fault.”

“I’m a victim too. Yes, I’m a victim.”

Brook was mumbling to himself, biting his nails. He was trembling, showing that his anxiety had reached its peak.

Swoosh-

Hanbit gestured to Cowen, and he nodded, taking out a vial containing a purple liquid. He poured it onto the spot Hanbit had indicated.

Swoosh-

The liquid was quickly absorbed by the wooden board, gradually dissolving it. Taking out his dagger, Hanbit sliced through the board, which split apart like paper.

Tying the rope again, Hanbit slowly descended through the newly created hole.

“Damn adventurer. Should I catch him first?”

Brook was still trembling, mumbling to himself.

Meanwhile, Hanbit was gradually getting closer to his head.

“Yes. If we say that Black Dragon is a spy of the Holy Kingdom, it would be believable. It wouldn’t be strange if another crazy fanatic appeared. With Barres’ help…”

“Me? A fanatic?”

“……!”

For a moment, Brook's gaze, pulled from his reverie, met Hanbit's, who had arrived right in front of him. Brook was so startled that he forgot to breathe.

"Wh... what..."

He tried to get up, floundering. But Hanbit's arms were already around Brook's neck.

"Wait a minute..."

Crunch-

Before he could finish his sentence, a sound echoed. Brook lost consciousness without putting up much of a fight.

* * *

Hanbit, having kidnapped Brook, returned to the secret underground space.

He changed into the white robe he had taken from the temple.

The veil covering his face, the scripture held in his arms, and the star symbol on his shoulder made him look like a perfect Holy Kingdom priest.

-The player dresses up so well, it's suspicious.

-Is he experienced in this?

-Offline proㄷㄷ

-Black Dragon Cult;

Behind the screen, Lia and the others were watching the situation.

"Hyung, I'm getting nervous," Yeonwoo, dressed in a similar priestly robe, whispered. His role was simple, just standing there.

'Now is the important part.'

Brook was tied to a chair in front of him. The reason for disguising himself as a Holy Kingdom priest was simple. Brook feared the Holy Kingdom more than Barres.

"Let's begin."

Clank-

Hanbit took a bucket full of ice water and stepped forward. He poured it directly over Brook's unconscious face.

Splash-!

"Ugh!"

Startled by the sudden cold, Brook regained consciousness immediately. His bewildered gaze landed on Hanbit standing in front of him.

"......!"

Brook's eyes widened.

The face he had seen just before he fainted. It was definitely the adventurer, Black Dragon, whom he had invited earlier.

But his outfit was strange.

"How did you get that... "

The priest's robe with a unique star symbol on the shoulder. He couldn't understand why the adventurer was wearing those clothes.

Nevertheless, an instinctive fear of high-ranking priests rose from within him.

Whoosh-!

Moreover, the strange wind blowing around him. Since he couldn't see any magic circles or magical tools, he could only think of it as an unknown power.

That thought filled Brook's mind with terror once more.

Waiting for the delusion to continue, Hanbit spoke softly in a solemn voice.

"Don't make a sound. You will be punished."

-ㄷㄷ

-Is his tone really different?;

-He's acting so suspiciously well...

-He really is a pro.

"Hic!"

The sharp warning dispelled all doubts.

All he could think about was surviving.

The first thing he chose was to nod.

Seeing his obedient response, Hanbit spoke in a low voice.

"By the order of the High Priest, I infiltrated as an adventurer. Even for a great cause, it pained my heart to slander the Holy Kingdom and our people. Even the morning confession was insufficient."

"Y-yes..."

Brook, his voice trembling, recalled their meeting at the city hall. The adventurer Black Dragon's hostility towards the Holy Kingdom. For a normal believer, even that would be a sin, but for a priest, it was a different story.

If he had received orders from the High Priest, he had a pardon.

"So, do you know your sins?"

"Y-yes?" Brook blurted out in confusion, surprised by the sudden question.

Hanbit, holding the scripture, frowned slightly and said, "Do you think your sins will disappear just because you put on such a brazen face?"

"No, no! But I don't know what sin I committed..."

No matter how hard he tried to remember, he hadn't done anything to sin against the Holy Kingdom. He had tried so hard not to get involved with them since his brother's execution.

"Ah!"

He remembered what had happened just before he fainted.

And then, he bowed his head deeply, raising his voice.

"I apologize! I didn't know you were a priest and made the blasphemous remark of calling you a fanatic! I never imagined you would infiltrate disguised as an adventurer!"

Thanks to his survival instinct, his mind somehow managed to work.

He was certain this was the right answer.

However, the reaction he received was different from what he expected.

"Do you really think that's all?"

"Ah..."

He was wrong.

That thought filled his head with terror once more.

Trembling, he managed to squeeze out, "I, I apologize. Please, won't you tell me what sins I've committed?"

"Huu."

Hanbit sighed, looking at Brook's pleading eyes.

Then, with a firmer grip on the scripture in his arms, he spoke.

"Chapter 8, verse 5. A heart of betrayal is like a thousand swords, so guard your sheath tightly."

"Chapter 16, verse 9. Those who choose betrayal over death shall cross the river of the end.

Their souls shall not be claimed by God."

"Chapter 31, verse 2..."

-?

-Did he memorize all of this?

-Is he crazy?

-Is this guy really a Holy Kingdom priest?

-I knew it, Black Dragon.

He recited several verses without opening the scripture.

As Brook listened, his expression gradually turned to bewilderment.

"Why are you saying those things to me..."

"How dare you, who has betrayed God for your own selfish desires! You have the audacity to lie?" Hanbit shouted, seeing Brook's confused reaction.

Whoosh-!

The strong wind that accompanied his voice made Brook's eyes widen.

"I'm sorry! I have no intention of lying! Please tell me what sins I've committed and I'll tell you everything without hiding anything!"

Brook, bound hand and foot, tried to bow as much as he could.

Seeing the desired reaction, Hanbit took a deep breath and said, "Then I shall ask. Why did you and Barres try to betray us?"

"...Yes?"

Brook's thoughts paused when he heard Barres' name.

He searched his memory and asked again.

"Did you say Barres... betrayed us?"

"Yes. The ring that has been passed down through the Norton family. The Spirit King Sallion's essence is embedded in it. You tried to deceive the Holy Kingdom and secretly take it for yourselves."

"......?"

The information, which he had never heard before, overwhelmed him.

He had never heard this information from the previous head of the family, William, or from Barres, from whom he had obtained information on the black market.

There was no way Brook could have known.

"Don't pretend not to know. You were sharing information with Barres even before your brother was executed, weren't you?"

"No, no! I was just... a mere... I really don't know anything!"

"Do you think you can be forgiven simply by claiming ignorance? If there is no evidence of Barres' treachery, I will punish you as well."

"But..."

In a desperate situation, Brook racked his brain again.

Focusing so hard that his mind was dizzy, he finally remembered something.

"I have something!" Brook raised his head and shouted.

Hanbit, watching his expression, said softly, "Explain."

"Yes!"

Brook sensed a slight change in the atmosphere.

Then, wriggling his bound body, he cried out desperately.

"There are records of all of Barres' plans in the manor! Please check them!"

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]