Clara was seated in the passenger seat as they drove down the open road toward the ruins.
A notification visible only to Rohan appeared.
[A quest has been triggered.]
[Broken Crown Act 3]
◇ Quest Details: You have finally found a clue. To find out what lies at the end of the thread, you can enter the ruins and reveal the truth. Or if you prefer to proceed with caution, you can return to the Academy City.
◇ Category: Main Story
◇ Reward for Success: 2 Random Point Pouches, 10 Restaurant Reservation Tickets
◇ Penalty for Failure: None
The rewards are a bit unusual this time?
The restaurant reservation tickets were items sold in the shop for 50P each. Rohan had never actually bought them before.
It felt like the reward was suggesting they go out for a meal after this was over.
10 tickets would be worth 500P.
Compared to the reward of Transcendence, it felt a bit lacking. Still, it was something he would have done even without the reward.
Since he was getting two point pouches, he decided to consider it a bonus.
Rohan took his eyes off the quest and began to assess the situation.
Now, even the main story is nearing its end.
The Broken Crown could conclude at Act 3 depending on the player’s choices, or it could continue up to Act 4.
In Abyss City, experiencing both the Act 3 and Act 4 conclusions and reaping all the rewards and resources was the most efficient approach.
However.
Rohan had no intention of going all the way to Act 4.
Rewards? Of course, they were tempting. Even if it was just points, he would be satisfied as long as they were plentiful.
But the more his greed grew, the more Sion who existed in reality would suffer.
I’ll wrap it up at Act 3.
Rohan had decided. He would finish it before the morning sun rose.
Thus, he tried this method.
“Chief Elder Levin Maxwell!”
The real name of the chief elder, known only to a select few among the elders and unknown even to Sion.
He could feel the attention of those inside the building focusing on him.
“Come out at once and obey the orders of the Reverse Reverence Society!”
What Rohan was aiming for was impersonation based on overwhelming information.
If someone who knew information that should not have been exposed appeared, the other side would not be able to act recklessly.
The old men inside only received one-sided notifications from the Reverse Reverence Society. They had no means of contacting them.
Step. Step. Step.
An elf who looked to be middle-aged walked out.
He showed courtesy to Rohan and Clara, but his demeanor was cautious.
“…Who are you?”
“We are the messengers of Hex-nim.”
“!!!”
“Ignorant and insolent. I did not call for you, but for the chief elder.”
Swoosh!
Rohan drew the sword slung across his back.
As he exuded a killing intent that seemed ready to sever the elf’s neck at any moment, the elf stiffened in tension.
With an annoyed expression, Rohan strode confidently toward the entrance with his sword in hand, while Clara quietly followed behind.
Fortunately, no traps or defensive skills were activated, so Rohan inwardly sighed in relief as he grabbed the elf’s neck with the force to snap it.
“I personally mentioned the Reverse Reverence Society. And yet, you dare to act like this?”
“Kgh! I’m sorry…!”
“Do you think a simple apology is enough?”
The elf’s involuntary apology was spurred by Rohan’s boldness. He didn’t even resist.
Power was so sweet that it drove everyone mad.
As Rohan visibly poured mana into his sword, signaling his intent to kill, a frantic voice came from the entrance.
“I apologize. This old man’s slow steps made me send this fool ahead. Will you forgive us…?”
Rohan’s head moved with feigned indifference.
He’s here.
What came into view was an old elf who looked as if he could turn into a withered tree at any moment.
The old man with the hunchback was accompanied by the elders. He appeared wearing an elaborate robe that dragged on the ground and holding a staff decorated with jewels.
Having encountered his target, Rohan steadied his mind to avoid showing any agitation.
He continued his act calmly.
Outwardly, he made no effort to hide his displeasure with the elves before him.
“Are you Levin Maxwell?”
“Yes. I am Chief Elder Levin Maxwell.”
Perhaps they had already judged him to be genuine based on things like the Reverse Reverence Society, the coin, and his real name.
His attitude was exceedingly polite.
“Tsk.”
Rohan who had been holding the elf irritably threw him aside, clicked his tongue, and sheathed his weapon.
“I will relay Hex-nim’s words. Lead me inside.”
“Yes.”
The elders lowered their eyes and opened a path on either side.
Rohan strode confidently inside, while Clara who was bewildered by the inexplicable situation just silently followed and kept her eyes fixed on his back.
Unable to comprehend what was happening, she simply kept her gaze on Rohan.
“……..”
They walked through the abandoned building in silence.
Rohan moved as he pleased. He told one of the elders to guide him instead of keeping up with the elder’s pace.
It was absurd to expect a member of the Reverse Reverence Society to show courtesy or respect to another group. He was convinced that such behavior was the right approach.
“Please come inside. This is the conference room.”
Rohan confidently took the seat of honor without a word.
He pulled up a chair beside him and seated Clara.
Good. Now I just need to put in a bit more effort.
The situation was, in essence, a bloodless conquest. The quest was as good as completed.
Now, all that remained was to use this situation to fulfill Rohan’s personal desires.
“Hey, pointy-ears.”
“Yes!”
“The moldy stench is unbearable. Do you even clean this place?”
“I apologize…!”
Rohan prodded the elder who had taken on the role of guide.
He sprawled comfortably in his seat.
While waiting for the slow-moving Chief Elder to arrive at the conference room,
Rohan used his finger to write “It’s okay” on the back of Clara’s hand.
“Hehe.”
Clara relaxed. She was relieved by Rohan’s gesture and curled her lips into a smile.
Unlike her, the veins on Rohan’s hand were bulging, and Clara responded by writing back on his hand.
Oppa’s hand is really big…
Even after finishing the message, Clara didn’t let go of Rohan’s hand.
The physical contact brought her a sense of calm.
Without much thought, Clara placed Rohan’s hand on her thigh and clasped it with both hands.
She noticed Rohan flinch slightly and grow flustered as he sat confidently, looking straight ahead.
When Rohan subtly tried to pull his hand away, Clara held on tighter. His reaction made her even more reluctant to let go.
“I apologize once again for my slow steps…”
“No need. Sit down and listen carefully.”
Just then, the Chief Elder and the other elders entered in a flurry. Rohan gave up on pulling his hand away and continued his act.
Clara, though aware it was all an act, found herself captivated by Rohan’s demeanor and focused on observing him.
“Levin Maxwell. Do you have the Judas silver coin bestowed by Hex-nim?”
At the precise mention of the name, the Chief Elder nodded and rummaged through his robes.
He placed a pitch-black coin on the table, showing it to Rohan.
Rohan, with his arms crossed and leaning back in his chair, continued his announcement.
“Here’s the main point. Hex-nim has found a new vessel. Today, he will decide whether to discard the vessel you’ve nurtured.”
At those words, the Chief Elder’s wrinkled eyes widened sharply.
He looked as if he had been struck by lightning.
“Wh-Why would he…?”
“Because he has found a bloodline more certain than Testarossa’s to kill the Snow Tiger Emperor. Hex-nim dislikes wasting time on low probabilities.”
“…….”
“You were merely a part of the possibilities. Just one among countless alternatives.”
As Rohan delivered the fabricated words with a calm demeanor, the Chief Elder’s hand that was gripping his staff began to tremble.
“Then what about the promises made to me? What will happen to us? We trusted Hex-nim’s words and Tigrova…!”
“Shut up and listen. The reason I’m here today is precisely for that.”
With those words, the Chief Elder quickly fell silent.
It wasn’t that he was suppressing his rising emotions, but rather that the answer he had been waiting for had arrived, so he listened intently.
Just from his attitude alone, it was clear how rotten he was.
Thud!
Rohan placed two Judas silver coins on the table. These were the ones he had obtained after killing Doberman.
Combined with the one the Chief Elder had, there were now three.
The large underground organizations.
Being officially affiliated with either the Reverse Reverence Society or the Black Hand and receiving their protection required meeting certain conditions.
“If I give you two coins here, that’ll make a total of three Judas silver coins in your possession. Everything will sort itself out.”
“…But as per your initial command, I placed a request using a single silver coin. There are already people who have left for Academy City.”
“They’ll fail anyway. I saw who you picked. Your choices were pathetic.”
At Rohan’s firm response, the Chief Elder fell silent.
One of the elven elders, who had recommended Doberman, hesitated before speaking.
“The results… haven’t been decided yet.”
“Hah, is that so? Are you saying I’m wrong?”
With an incredulous expression, Rohan sprang to his feet.
The Chief Elder averted his gaze with resignation written all over his face.
The elder who had spoken up was nothing more than a disposable pawn, not even privy to proper information. He had no real understanding of who was aiding the Chief Elder, nor what the Reverse Reverence Society truly was.
He had simply followed, latching onto Tigrova’s chaos opportunistically like a bat, and that was how he had ended up here.
As Rohan strode forward, the elders who were aware of the Reverse Reverence Society quickly stepped aside.
Through the path that had opened—
Smash! A fist came flying in.
—Crack! White teeth scattered from the elder’s mouth.
“Khuh…!”
“Don’t talk back to me.”
With just a single punch, the elder crumpled to the floor.
Yet no one stepped forward to help him.
They merely watched and gauged the situation.
“Well, fine. Now it’s time to judge. Where is the bloodline of Testarossa? Shall we see the blade you have raised?”
Rohan turned his gaze to the Chief Elder.
The Chief Elder let out a quiet sigh before speaking in a subdued voice.
“Elder Lee, go and bring her here as quickly as possible.”
“Ah, understood…!”
With that, one of the elders hurried off, saying he would bring Sion.
A short while later—
Sion entered the conference room alongside the elder. Her expression was filled with confusion.
“!?”
The moment she saw Rohan and Clara seated at the head of the table, she froze and held her breath.
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