Chapter 64 : Chapter 64
Chapter 64
The knight’s declaration created a stir.
Betty Pollard was dead. An organization that had lost its powerful core was bound to collapse in an instant.
Reinhardt didn't present any evidence, but the aura he exuded made it impossible for anyone to doubt his words.
Clang. Clunk.
Someone dropped their weapon. The metal hit the ground, making a sharp noise.
There were also one or two organization members who quickly assessed the situation and fled the scene.
The battle was as good as over. Reinhardt didn't bother to chase them.
‘If those guys get dragged to prison, how much justice will be lost?’
They were not upstanding individuals. As such, they would likely be thinking of hunkering down in the underbelly of Romain for a while.
After this situation was completely resolved, they would become good experience points for Reinhardt.
“Sir Knight!”
“Please see to the well-being of your colleagues first.”
There was a resonance in Reinhardt's voice.
Before asking for the whole story, Ganesha first complied and took care of her injured colleagues.
“What should we do about them?”
Ganesha asked, looking around.
Some of the Redfoot members held up a white flag, cautiously watching the situation, while others rolled their eyes as if to sneak away.
“Let them escape. This is not the time to waste energy on a meaningless chase.”
Ganesha nodded and focused on treating the injured.
A blue and warm light swirled at her fingertips.
Shallow cuts healed in an instant.
The bleeding stopped, and the groans subsided.
‘This is why healing mages were so valuable.’
Magic twisted the laws of nature.
Wounds that even a priest couldn't heal, a healing mage often could.
It didn't take long for the surroundings to be cleared up.
Ganesha approached Reinhardt without a word.
Her expression demanded an explanation of sorts, but Reinhardt summed up the situation simply.
“I apologize, Ganesha. I was the one who executed Betty Pollard.”
Flinch.
Ganesha froze for a moment, then answered.
“No, you don’t need to apologize. Is my revenge fulfilled?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say? Betty. At the last moment.”
“Betty Pollard begged for her life. She pleaded for her life, saying she would give up everything she had.”
A moment of silence followed.
Then, Ganesha let out a dry laugh.
“A miserable end. I can’t believe she showed such a side of herself.”
“Betty Pollard failed to fulfill her contract with the warlock. Her soul will fall to hell.”
“Does hell really exist?”
“It does.”
Reinhardt had already faced the existence of hell directly.
Of course, it was a story from within the game.
Around the final chapter of Soul Calibur, something like the gates of hell would even open wide.
“The content of the contract, I surmise, was to offer the souls of many humans.”
“Then what happens?”
“She will suffer for as many souls as she failed to provide. And her consciousness will remain intact.”
“That’s a terrible thing.”
“Yes, it is a terrible thing.”
Contrary to her words of it being terrible, Ganesha's expression was now refreshed.
“May I go inside and see?”
“Of course.”
Reinhardt led the way into the mansion.
Ganesha followed behind him, and the rest of her colleagues kept their mouths shut and followed at a suitable distance.
The inside of the mansion was quiet.
The numerous employees had either fled early on or had long been swept up in the battle.
“Was there nothing else said?”
It was Ganesha who broke the silence.
Reinhardt answered without turning his gaze.
“Betty Pollard knew that the power you were using was from scrolls.”
“That’s surprising. To think she knew. Did she also say why she bothered to keep me alive?”
“She did not. From what I felt, it seems she didn't consider you a threat.”
“So she kept me alive for fun. She could have found me long ago if she wanted to.”
Reinhardt did not deny it. Ganesha had pinpointed the reason correctly.
To Betty Pollard, Ganesha was nothing more than a ridiculous toy.
One that tried so hard to reach her.
But would never, ever be able to.
Thud. Thud.
They crossed the luxurious hallway.
They climbed the stairs, and another hallway unfolded.
Betty Pollard's space was at its end.
“It won't be a pretty sight.”
“I don't mind.”
Reinhardt stopped in front of the door and waited. Ellie and the other colleagues did the same.
Ganesha accepted their consideration and pushed the door open, entering alone.
Silence.
At the end of the space filled only with ragged breaths.
“Sob…”
A sound like a sob leaked out from between the door.
Reinhardt approached the window by the hallway.
While Ganesha composed her emotions alone, he observed the mass of demonic energy outside the window.
The mass of demonic energy floating in the air was the source of the plague that had struck Romain.
‘Are you going to run, or are you going to fight?’
If the size of the demonic energy grew here, it meant the warlock would resist, and if it shrank, it meant they were fleeing.
And.
The demonic energy that had spread throughout Romain began to fade like the morning fog.
The warlock's decision was to retreat.
It meant that the moment Bitdori found the warlock who was turning tail, the battle would begin.
***
Ganesha Edropin was a strong person.
After a short time had passed.
When she came out of the room, she had an expression as if nothing had happened, just like any other day.
“I can thank you properly later. For now, I'll block the guard's approach.”
Ganesha said, tearing a new scroll.
It wasn't for attack purposes, but a scroll to block the enemy's approach.
“There should be enough time to get away. And enough time to grab the loot.”
“I have taken what I needed.”
“The item you mentioned was your mission, right? That’s a relief. But I was talking about the wealth Betty Pollard has accumulated over the years.”
“I do not need it.”
“You have a right to it too, Sir Knight…”
Ganesha, who was about to say something, paused.
She then realized that the person she was talking to was a noble knight.
“I understand what you mean. I will use your share for those who truly need it. I promise.”
“I can gladly accept such a kindness.”
Of course, Reinhardt had taken his share long ago.
The loot he had taken, more generously than anyone else here, was enough to fill his [Inventory].
Soon, Ganesha and her colleagues entered Betty's space and began to collect the loot.
Although Reinhardt had already taken a considerable amount, the total quantity was so large that it wouldn't arouse suspicion.
‘Money will be needed to get the city back on its feet.’
Ganesha Edropin.
She was not the type of person to pursue personal gain. Betty's wealth would be used where it was most needed.
“Was this the reason you blocked the guards?”
“If we had let them enter, the number of enemies would have doubled. The mayor would have ordered them to.”
Most of Redfoot's members had already fled.
But it was a different story for the guards belonging to the Romain City Hall.
To them, Ganesha Edropin was a terrorist, and Reinhardt was just an accomplice who committed terrorism with her.
‘They probably think they can just cut their losses and be done with it.’
The City Hall guards had a deep connection with Redfoot.
But at this point, with Betty dead, they could feign ignorance as much as they wanted.
“That is unacceptable.”
“I think so too. There’s just no way to hold them accountable. But you, Sir Knight…”
“The mayor will pay for his sins.”
“You were serious about that too.”
“I am always serious.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“There is not. I have received enough help. What are your plans from now on?”
“Well.”
Ganesha stopped her busy hands and answered.
“There are still many walls for Romain to overcome to move forward, but thanks to Sir Reinhardt’s help, the situation is much better than before. It will be difficult to find a villain as competent as Betty Pollard. For the mayor, too.”
The mayor had condoned the existence of Redfoot.
The price for his silence was paid faithfully every month.
Mostly it was heavy gold coins, sometimes it was precious objects or animals, and occasionally, it was people.
Reinhardt already knew this story.
The reason he asked despite this was to confirm Ganesha's intentions.
He asked to know if, even at this point when her revenge was complete, she still cared for Romain.
‘It seems she has the heart for it. Then that’s good.’
In any case, it was a city where she had spent a long time.
She would have grown fond of the people around her, and as such, the sorrow deep in her heart must have grown as well.
“Ganesha. Can you and your people escape this place on your own?”
“What? Ah, yes. We should be fine. We have a few scrolls left.”
“Understood. We will meet again.”
“Meet again…”
Facing the bewildered Ganesha, Reinhardt spoke in a voice befitting a knight.
“The problem has not yet been resolved. The plague is still…”
“Peep! Pee-ee-eeep!”
“...targeting this city.”
After finishing his words, Reinhardt's gaze turned to the sky.
Fwoosh.
A trail of light was shooting down somewhere.
It was a signal from Bitdori to Reinhardt.
“I will leave first. I will send someone from my side after things are settled.”
“Sir Knight?”
A puzzled voice was heard from behind the running Reinhardt, but he ignored it.
This was not the time to be explaining things one by one.
***
Mayor Albert of Romain blinked his eyes at the unbelievable news.
“Betty Pollard was taken down? That cunning woman?”
“That is correct, Mr. Mayor.”
“That's surprising.”
Albert was someone who didn't even bat an eye at the news that the city had become chaotic.
He was like that even when citizens were dying every day from the plague.
Mayor.
An official granted authority by the nobility to lead a city.
He was fully aware of the truth behind the events unfolding in Romain.
What Betty was plotting, what 'Ganesha Edropin' was planning in the shadows.
And also.
The fact that a certain group had recently joined forces to target Betty Pollard.
“This is actually for the better. She was getting too arrogant lately. I was thinking it was about time to raise a new force.”
Albert's expression was surprised, but he didn't seem particularly uncomfortable.
Redfoot's power had grown rapidly at some point. The powerful leader, Betty Pollard, had at some point been trying to escape his control.
“Yes, what is the name of the gracious friend who saved me the trouble?”
“Reinhardt. They say he is a knight from the eastern city of Serigel.”
“A righteous and skilled knight is always precious. Arrange a meeting before the day is out.
He is a friend worth getting to know.”
“I will prepare it.”
After dismissing his secretary, Albert twitched his mustache. A satisfied smile hung on his lips.
‘Truly, he saved me a great deal of trouble.’
Redfoot was a failure. It certainly had its uses, but it had grown so large as to dare to bare its teeth at him, Mayor Albert.
One mistake is enough.
The next group to take root here would never be allowed to become as powerful as this one.
‘I’ve learned the lesson that I must always hold the leash.’
He drew up a list of candidates in his head. There were more than a few who coveted Betty Pollard's position.
‘Anyway, with Betty gone, the contract must be void. That’s also welcome news.’
Warlocks were evil beings, but the ‘contract’ was absolute.
In the end, Mayor Albert had gained a great deal without any damage to himself.
Tap, tap.
Just as he was organizing his thoughts and tapping his fingers on the desk, a knock was heard along with his secretary's voice.
“Mr. Mayor, the knight I just mentioned has come to see you.”
“Now?”
It hadn't been long since Betty's base was attacked.
To have arrived here in that time.
“It seems the Captain of the Guard was looking elsewhere.”
“I will warn him.”
Albert gave a perfunctory nod.
“You take care of that matter. More importantly, we shouldn't keep a guest waiting. Tell him to come in.”