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Chapter: 58

"Hyung, what acting school did you go to?" Yeonwoo asked quietly, approaching Hanbit.

"What are you talking about?" Hanbit replied, slightly amused.

"Your priest act. You even memorized scriptures and acted like a completely different person. Were you preparing to be an actor or something?"

-I agree.

-I thought he was crazy.

-You have to be this good to be a streamer.

-All those streamers who just eat and play games should quit.

-Real talk.

Hanbit\'s brief but powerful performance as a priest left a lasting impression. However, having spent a significant amount of time roleplaying as a priest in the other world, it felt natural to him.

"I don\'t know about acting. There were a lot of scriptures in the novel."

"I really want to read that web novel. How many chapters were there? Did it have content like that?"

"...Around 2,000 chapters, I think?"

"Wow, that\'s a lot. No wonder it had all sorts of stuff in it."

Yeonwoo nodded, accepting Hanbit\'s vague explanation. Since the web novel didn\'t exist, its authenticity would never be verified.

"Just wait a minute!"

Brook was busy searching his room.

A safe within a safe.

A hidden compartment.

A unique box folded multiple times.

A quill diligently copying the recorded contents.

The number of pieces of evidence he pulled out from various magical tools was extraordinary.

"There\'s this much evidence? But why did he stay silent in other people\'s stories?" Yeonwoo asked, puzzled, looking at Brook.

Most players had the help of Barres and sentenced Brook.

However, with so much evidence, it seemed unnatural for Brook to accept the situation so calmly.

"That\'s because Barres was still alive. He wanted to see how Barres would help him and then expose the evidence. He would have been killed anyway."

"What? Barres killed Brook?"

"He would have eliminated him as an obstacle. It\'s easy to hire bandits to do it."

-No way.

-Come to think of it, we never heard about him after the trial.

-It\'s not surprising for Barres to do that.

-He\'s totally capable of it.

Brook never trusted anyone easily. However, since Barres was still alive, he wanted to see at least how he would react.

"Then why is he doing this now? Barres is still alive."

"He\'s convinced that the Holy Kingdom thinks of them as traitors. Since a priest even came here, Barres\' future is over."

No matter how much power Barres had accumulated, the Holy Kingdom was a force far greater. It was impossible for an individual like him to resist.

"I\'ve gathered everything!"

Brook stopped, having searched everywhere.

Hanbit looked at the pile of evidence and changed his tone.

"Is that really everything?"

"Yes?"

"I asked if that\'s everything. Is this enough to prove your innocence and Barres\' guilt to God?"

"That..."

Brook hesitated, struck by the question.

After countless thoughts racing through his mind, he finally made a decision. He reached into his pocket and took out a pendant around his neck.

"May I make a request?"

"God will not ignore your efforts. Speak."

"...This also contains evidence of my betrayal of my family. Although I have deviated from God\'s teachings, if my innocence is proven, could I receive the Holy Kingdom\'s protection and continue to run Edlen?"

"Hmm."

Brook seemed to be scared after recalling the scripture verses Hanbit had recited.

However, the scriptures were only concerned with protecting God and his followers. They didn\'t care about the affairs of other countries.

Of course, Hanbit wasn\'t a believer of the Holy Kingdom.

"Very well. I will speak to the High Priest directly."

"The High Priest...! Thank you! I\'ll release you right away!"

Brook\'s eyes widened in joy at the mention of the high-ranking figure.

He pricked his finger on the sharp end of the pendant. A drop of blood appeared and was quickly absorbed.

Click-

There was a sound as if something unlocked within the faintly glowing pendant.

After checking the pendant, Brook handed it over and said, "Please take it. It\'s a magical artifact that records voices."

"Voices?"

"Yes! It contains all the details of the plans I discussed with Barres and even his private remarks!"

"Hmm."

Hanbit, having obtained the desired evidence, deliberately hesitated. Then, he slowly nodded and looked at Brook. "Very well. Until we can bring Barres to justice, you will act natural. If you ruin anything, the next people you\'ll meet will be the Holy Kingdom\'s knights."

"Y-yes, I will!"

Slightly intimidated, Brook bowed deeply. Although he looked foolish, he was someone who would do anything to save his own life. He wouldn\'t risk revealing anything to Barres.

Gathering all the evidence, Hanbit spoke again in a solemn voice. "I\'m leaving. No matter what happens, hold onto your faith in God."

"Yes!"

With those words, Hanbit and Yeonwoo left the room. When they reached the secret passage where their companions were waiting, an alarm sounded.

Ding-!

[Main Quest #11 completed.]

[Received 150,000 gold.]

[7 stat points awarded.]

[Experience increased by 50,000.]

[Level up!]

[1 stat point awarded.]

[Progress increased.]

[Main Quest #12: Cleanup]

You have successfully obtained numerous pieces of evidence from Brook using your wit.

Discuss with your companions and make the next plan.

Objective: Return to the gathering point.

Reward: None

*Current progress: 81%

"Is this all the evidence?"

"...I can\'t believe it."

In the secret underground space, which had become their meeting spot, people looked dumbfounded at the evidence piled on the table. Some of the information contained in the evidence was enough to be a decisive blow.

"With this, neither Barres nor Brook will be able to deny it. If the Royal Knights come, we can definitely finish them off."

"Finally, Lord William\'s dishonor will be cleared!"

The vassals shouted in joy.

Seeing their reaction, Hanbit spoke to them. "First, I plan to hold a formal trial."

"Hold a trial?"

"Haven\'t you heard? Barres has the entire legal system of Edlen in his grasp."

When Hanbit mentioned a trial, the vassals, who were well aware of the dark inner workings, expressed their concerns. However, that was exactly what he wanted.

"Barres will also realize that something is amiss. I\'ve already made it public that I\'m investigating the Holy Kingdom, and Edlen is effectively sealed off. So, we need to buy some time until the Royal Knights arrive."

"You mean to say you want to keep him guessing?" Cowen asked, stroking his chin.

Hanbit nodded. "That\'s right. We just need to make him believe that the trial is our best option. We can select the most crucial evidence and use it."

"That makes sense..."

"It could be an effective way to deal with him."

The vassals agreed with his plan.

When the atmosphere was settled, Hanbit outlined a detailed plan.

"You all compare this evidence with the actual written records and organize them. There are also exchanged secret letters, so we need witnesses and testimonies. I want everything to be official by the time the trial begins."

"There are many overlaps with what we\'ve already been investigating. Since it\'s all within Edlen, it won\'t take long."

"We can\'t give Barres and Brook any time."

The vassals’s eyes lit up with determination and zeal. It was a mixture of guilt, longing, and anger, condensed into a single hope.

"Then please do your best."

With the evidence in hand, the vassals quickly left the place. With their determination, they would surely finish the task in less than a day.

"So, what are you guys up to?" Hanbit asked, turning his attention to a corner of the room. Lia and Flona were examining Camon\'s workshop.

"I was just seeing if there\'s anything helpful," Lia replied, looking a bit troubled. She seemed to feel helpless, unable to find anything she could do.

"So, did you find anything?"

"No, not really." Lia\'s voice was a little downcast. She wanted to help, but there wasn\'t a suitable role for her at the moment. With enemies on the lookout, even under Asla\'s protection, her options were limited.

"Ugh..." Flona, squatting beside Lia, was poking at a small toy-like piece of paper.

"What\'s wrong?"

"There\'s a gap here... but it won\'t fit," she replied, her lips pursed in concentration.

Watching their efforts, Hanbit felt a bit sorry for them. There was nothing more to find in this place.

"Don\'t strain yourself too much. Everything is going according to plan."

"Yes..."

The viewers felt the same way.

-Aww, she looks so sad.

-Cute.

-Give her something to do.

-Sylph, we\'re counting on you.

Hanbit turned to organize the remaining evidence.

"Ouch!"

Suddenly, Lia\'s voice came from behind.

He turned his head quickly, and an unexpected scene unfolded.

Pop-!

"...?"

A dark blue light was emanating from a small toy at Lia\'s feet near a corner of the workshop.

"Hmm." Asla, who had been half-drawing his sword, sheathed it again. This meant there was no immediate danger.

"Oh?" Lia crouched down, seeming to have discovered something. She pointed to a wooden box hidden under the toy Flona had been fiddling with and looked at Hanbit.

"...There\'s another note here."