Chapter 66: Trial
The 300 members of the Information Guild of Azharus began to busily investigate the huge factory site that had burned down.
Azharus was turned upside down due to the incidents that happened so suddenly.
The issue of indiscriminate terrorist attacks by yers in the ''Ash Tree Vige'' located on the outskirts of the central city of Azharus and the drug ''Vic'' that was prevalent in Azharus became a public debate in earnest.
And in connection with those events, a factory of a significant yerpany named <NGTEC>, one of the biggest potion productionpanies, was burnt down, so the impact was enormous.
All the ''Adults'' of Azharus gathered and held a conference.
Investigations on the people involved in the incident have also begun.
Of course, Mose and Khea couldnt avoid the investigation.
In major onlinemunities of <Circuit Master> and <Circuit Gallery>, the discussions of Azharus continued.
Multiple reliable evidence supporting that there were links between Vic and the guild
were leading the public discussion.
[My sister''s couple went to Azharus for their honeymoon, and they participated in an event called All the Beer which was included in the package for the tour trip. There, a man in a suit with P embroidered on his clothing was suggesting drugs. My younger sister watched the embroidery closely and he hurriedly left the seat. Its such a creepy story.]
[At the end of the day, all those scoundrels thatmitted something like a crime are all screwed now. :) Hopefully, they get banned so they can screw off of Azharus, so others can walk safely at night.]
[I saw a person in the Pickup Artist suit uniform when I went to the NGTEC factory for an excursion.]
[I heard so many NPCs died. I heard that Vic was produced to fit the yers, so its lethal to NPCs. Anyways, if you got an NPC youre friends with then you should probs tell them not to go near Azharus. I told my dwarf friend to not even go near that ce.]
Nevertheless, there was a view that the aftereffects of Vic would start from now as quite an amount of Vic was still circting around the market.
[I wonder if Vic is as good as they say it is.]
[This is VR anyways so I might as well try, maybe?]
Moreover, rumors about the iparable ecstatic experience once the Vic touches your skin started to spread around.
Due to the risk-free environment of virtual reality, people were willing to try it. And even now, the number of yers who try Vic in secret was increasing explosively in the shade.
This case of drug usage in Virtual Reality shocked the public to a point where various fields such as the legal, medical, and academia took notice of this case and the prevailing outlook was that the impact wouldst at least several years.
***
The conference hall was filled with people having very loud conversations to the point you couldnt quite hear the person talking next to you.
In the midst of all this chaos, Khea carefully grabbed my hand as she sat next to me.
Alright, everyone! Quiet down!!
Sitting around a huge round table, a dwarf with impressive braided hair struck the table and calmed everyone down.
The Adult of Leaves is speaking!
All the dwarfs sitting behind him in a fan shape shouted at once.
The most important thing for us right now is to understand the truth of Vics distribution routes!
At that remark, a beastkin with the lower body of a beast nodded his head and opened his mouth.
Adult of Bushes also agrees with that statement. We need to keep track of the distribution routes of Vic in detail. The fire in the potion factory is something that can be investigatedter!
At this, a middle-aged male elf with sharp eyes sitting across from the Adult of Bushes slowly shook his head.
Adult of Swamps believes that the arson case at the factory is a bigger incident than the Vic. Now that the people involved in the fire incident have been brought into this conference hall, it would be good to listen to them!
Then he gave a sharp re at me and Khea
What is your rtionship with the
?!
He suddenly started to shout at me in anger, pointing his finger at me.
Did youmit arson on the NGTEC factory under the orders of
?!
At his remarks, the conference hall began to be a mess again. Nevertheless, the Adult of Swamps continued to talk with veins on his forehead and neck.
Is it true that you two are Sworders?
The loud and noisy crowd suddenly turnedpletely silent after hearing his usation. It was because of the bad impression that Sworders had due to the nature of the job.
Thats correct.
I answered his question right away, and the old man who frowned at the answer looked at me as if he was examining me.
Sworders all have a secret mission of their own. Was the mission to set the factory on fire?
I slowly shook my head at that word.
No.
The Adult of Swamps was furious.
Ha, of course! Because that fancy mission of yours is secret! You two must have been the ones responsible for the arson of the NGTEC factory! Under the request of the
guild!
Speaking passionately, the Adult of Swamps suddenly mmed the table with his fist.
As you all already know, the Ash Tree Vige has been devastated by a sudden attack of yers! ording to eyewitness ounts, they were all from the
guild!
Everyone nodded their heads with mouths shut all at once as if they were all in one anger.
The Adult of Swamps overly sensitive reaction and anger seemed to be only natural over the terrible tragedy that had taken ce in Azharus, so everyone showed their sympathy to that part.
And those two who have taken requests from the filthy
were the ones who set the <NGTEC> factory on fire! Why? Its very obvious! Because the
who were responsible for producing Vic had to distract the wise Adults of Azharus!
Khea jumped up from her seat at his reckless remarks. Everyone showed a gesture of surprise at her action.
Do not insult Sworders. We do not take requests from such vile scoundrels.
Haha, funny! Keep the mission a secret and when you need to just say thats not true when ites to your disadvantage! How convenient!
Despite Khea''s words, the Adult of Swamps kept on talking.
Then he cautiously moved his gaze to the man who was sitting on another part of the round table as he politely put his hands together.
How is it? This proves their charges, right?
The man who was sitting with his arms crossed tilted his head.
Hm? All you were doing was speaking by yourself and all of a sudden their charges are proven? Arent ya making too hasty a decision?
When the man who was speaking in a familiar dialect expressed his doubts, the Adult of Swamps started to shed a cold sweat.
Yes, but this is a very serious case and the persons who are suspected of being the culprit belong to a special group called Sworders...
The Adult of Swamps spoke in a beseeching tone. The man shook his head slowly as he scratched his clean, bald head.
I came all the way here cause yall told me this was a serious matter and it seems that you werent quite ready to begin with, hm?
All the other Adults of Azharus stood silent shedding cold sweat at his remarks.
<Lv. 211 Zike>
I could specte that was because of the level this man had possessed. Judging from the raw level he was showing as of now put him at the same rank of strength as people I met back in Langeru.
Even the Adults who manage Azharus had to bow their heads to this man, so I could only imagine how great his status was.
I even came all the way here in the middle of something I was taking care of since all the other Adults were gathering. But it seems like theres been nothing that was investigated? What do you want me to do?
I mean, well...
When the Adult of Swamps tried to open his mouth again, he shook his head with a determined expression.
Hm~ I, the tinum head Zike say that there needs to be a proper investigation on this incident. You Adults can talk about the rest, and Id prefer you call me in when youre done with that. Alright?
tinum Head
The position head of the Information Guild was familiar to me since Ive heard the word many times and over, including that one time with the 13th party.
Everyone I met back then was all Silver Heads. Clearly, this man named Zike must be a higher rank than all those people.
I spected that having such an overwhelming level must mean that the position of tinum Head was a very high position.
The Adult of Swamps swallowed a dry gulp.
We must hand this case over to the Barvid Tribunal! And those two criminals too! Itsmon sense! Drug usage must be treated with maximum punishment! They are the Sworders who had received requests from an organization that has tarnished the name of the Free City of Azharus!
Zikes facial expression darkened after hearing his remarks.
Alright, then. What punishment do you think that these two deserve then?
The Adult of Swamps closed his trembling eyes and resolutely opened his mouth with a sorrowful expression.
They must be sentenced to the Medeium Spell Prison.
Zike jumped out of his seat after hearing this. The mans expression hardened.
Thats not something to speak of so easily, and yet you spoke of it so easily.
It fits for the crime that they havemitted which defiled Azharus.
Yeah, and the evidence?
The Adult of Swamps swallowed a dry gulp once again, after hearing the words from Zike which had pierced through the core of the statement he was making.
The evidence is within the job that they have! Within that secret of theirs that they never reveal!
At this, Zike took turns looking at me and Khea. It was as if there was an awl from his res.
You said that you were on vacation, correct?
Thats correct. . It was a reasonably given rest period afterpleting a series of missions.
Khea gave an immediate answer in a polite manner.
Then why were you at the scene when the fire broke out at the factory?
At this, Khea calmly rxed her shoulders, got up from her seat, and lowered her head for a moment. He was surprised by her politeness, so he slightly bowed his head toward Khea too.
Ive lost one of my closest friends in this Vic incident. And Mose and I, the Sworders of Asparagan, had started the investigation on the Vic in order to take revenge for my friend.
And?
Thats how we found out that NGTEC was involved with the
guild...
Nonsense! How dare you tell such an absurd lie!
Before Khea could finish her sentence, the Adult of Swamps mmed his fist on the table.
However, Zike put a stop to him immediately by giving a re to him. The Adult of Swamps had to sit back down on his seat without even being able to look back at Zike.
Continue.
We went to NGTEC and had a conversation with the Director, Choi SeopHo, who was called the culprit behind this incident. And not long after, fire rose up from the NGTEC factory.
And the evidence?
Of course, they dont have it! This is nothing more than just a false story that they had just made up! Now, whose words will you believe?! Would you listen to the wise Adults of Azharus! Or those Sworders that have so many things hidden...
Ah~~! Shut your mouth for just one second, will ya?
The Adult of Swamps immediately closed his mouth after hearing Zikesint.
Zike seemed to be thinking very hard about something.
Since this is a huge case, we will have to investigate more about those two people, it seems. Of course, we will have to investigate other incidents in Azharus also. However, since nothing has been investigated to begin with, we will have to start from the beginning~!
He came up with the conclusion to start investigating from the beginning. The other Adults also nodded their heads, and the Adult of Swamps also nodded his head as if he was satisfied with this conclusion.
The Information Guild members flocked around me and Khea.
You must attend the Azharus Information Guild for further investigation.
Just as Khea and I were about to leave the room, caught by them, the door to the conference hall opened with a loud noise.
Everyone''s attention was focused on the source of the sound, and Khea and I in particr were able to breathe a sigh of relief when we saw who it was that appeared at the door.
What the... Who is this now...?
Asked Zike to the man who confidently walked into the conference hall.
I am called the little bird with big ears, Lorad.