IX

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"Room Seven. After accepting the high intelligence fee of fifty pounds, the waiter led them to the door of the secret room very warmly, opened the secret lock, and left.

"Thank you. The Major, who had the name of the god of war written on his chest, thanked him and pushed open the door, followed by the god of deception and the goddess of fate.

The décor of the secret room is very inconspicuous, just ordinary rooms, like a hotel where two shillings can stay for one night. There was no anti-magic array in the room, just some eye-catching magic detection devices on the surrounding walls. Not surprisingly, there are already people inside. There were three men, all men: a thin man in a strange tall hat dressed as an elven archer, with the name of the god of justice on his chest, Lesador, a tall and strong man dressed in the emperor's fine clothes, Travo, the god of travel, and a man sitting in the corner, with a standard, muscular and distinctly military temperament, wearing a white mage robe that didn't fit well, and his name was also the god of war, Correll.

"Another person interested in this topic has appeared. When they came in, the "God of Justice" spoke first, "Or are you traitors?"

"Sorry, we're not. "Fortilla" chuckled, and her smile was full of seductive charm. "At least, I'm not, I can't be responsible for the two over there. ”

"Neither are we. Clad replied coldly. He was wondering if the masked soldier would be an acquaintance. There must be many people who know about the "vampires of the budget", especially in the Free Army and the National Guard, but the man who can quickly think of the current chairman of the General Staff and pay fifty pounds for it must be the best of the military intelligence officers.

"Maybe the man wants to wait for a few more buyers?" speculated the other god of war, "and he's going to get all interested people to bid." ”

"However, there are really a lot of people who are interested in this out-of-the-way information?" the bewitching god of fate muttered, "The keywords of that letter are a little obscure. ”

"Not terribly obscure. The giant man's voice was unusually low and hoarse, "After all, the 'vampire of the state budget' is a well-known nickname. Keeping keywords in this category ensures that everyone present has sufficient intentions and sufficient funds......"

"That's right. Because the stakes are so big and the value is too high, I don't dare to use the usual methods to deal with it. ”

Hearing this, everyone began to look around almost at the same time. Not only for the sudden appearance of this mysterious voice, but also for the familiarity of this voice.

That was the voice of the speaker of the conference before me.

"Please don't look for it, I'm not here. If you're here, there's a good chance you'll be exposed, or you'll be killed by one of the hidden killers. Of course, this voice is not my own; Mr. Saric, Mr. Travo, Mr. Lezado, Ms. Fortilla, and two Mr. Corell, let's get the deal started. ”

Then the giant man asked, "What shall we call you, then?"

"Just call me 'spokesperson.'" The spokesman continued. Although he said, "He is not here", the meaning of his words is clear: "He knows everything here": at the very least, he can see the emblem on everyone's chest.

"Maybe he's one of the few of us here?" Major Hull whispered to his commander, "there is always a feeling that there is going to be a murder in a closed room......

"It's impossible to say yet, after all, there are many ways to control the situation without being present. Clad replied slowly, "There's no anti-magic array here. Plus, you've read too many detective novels. ”

The major, who is a fan of detective fiction and an amateur mystery writer, shut his mouth in shame. The rest didn't talk, and it looked like they didn't know each other.

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The spokesman's voice paused for a moment before continuing: "As you know, this information is about His Excellency Radertz Govar, Chairman of the Free Army Staff Council. 'Vampire of the Budget', now the master of the Ring Fort. Before I recount this information...... Please show your sincerity first. ”

"Cut. The short man snorted, but still took out a small bag of gold coins and threw it on the table in the center of the crowd. The rest of the people also donated generously, leaving money bags of various sizes on the table. Clad thought it was a bit like a bard selling a legend...... In essence, it doesn't seem to make a difference.

The voice was silent for a moment—I don't know if it was counting the money or just playing tricks.

"First of all, about the movement of the Free Army. It is known that the current commander of the Lenny garrison is Major General Dikhao Lemda. And that's all I have to say...... This man is 100 percent of Radetz Govar's cronies. ”

"This information is not secret...... I've heard similar rumors. And then?" said the other god of war, Curell, impatiently.

"But if I had to tell you again that I had enough evidence to prove that the commanders of the 10th Division of the Free Army 'Lenny' had a secret agreement with Field Marshal Govar, what would you think?"

"What?" more than one person exclaimed in surprise when he heard this.

Radetz Govar...... Does he really want a coup d'état?" Clad López whispered.

"Shouldn't the commander of the 10th Division be Vena Betsy's man?" The God of Justice stood up sharply as he propped up the table.

There was no answer. In the middle of the table, a few pieces of paper silently appeared, and they were secret letters with the names of both parties in mind. Everyone stood up, and the strong "Travo" moved the fastest, reaching for the letter in the middle, which turned into dust the moment he touched it.

"Illusion!"

"Don't be in too much of a hurry. These things are priced. The speaker's voice echoed without emotion, full of hope for money.

"Control the adjacent troops...... Does Radetz want to ......?!" Major Hull Tedwood gripped the armrest of his chair tightly, his knuckles blue. "I'm going to let the intelligence network confirm...... This can't be fake information, right?"

"I believe it. Clad's eyelids jumped, "Senior Govar would do this kind of thing." ”

"But why would Govar want a coup d'état?" asked Hull in a low voice.

"Because he's a somewhat paranoid patriot. The lieutenant general replied, "All the time." ”

"What about the motives?" asked the woman next to her, "what is his motive?!, who supports him?"

"It's someone who has a lot of influence in Parliament. Or rather, the people who lurk in the darkness of the White Mansion...... That's the real information, so please make an offer. Just put the price on the table and make a one-time bid. ”

"1000 pounds. "1500 pounds. "Two thousand pounds. "3,000 pounds. ”

One by one, people made bids, and soon it was Clad's and Hull's turn. The major, who did not have so much money with him, glanced at his commander as if asking for help, and Clad silently took a small box from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"What is this?" asked Fertila.

Clad quietly opened the lid. Even if the ordinary lighting light hits the inside of the box, it can reflect a dazzling fine light. "The famous diamonds treasured by the princes of the Muleman Empire are enough to store a resurrection magic. I hope that all the people here will hear this information, and if there is a shortfall, I will pay for them. ”

The spokesman seemed stunned as well, and did not speak again until a long time later.

“...... Well, I'll tell you. The person behind this is ......"

The voice snapped off. At this moment, the magic detection alarm on the surrounding walls suddenly went viral!

"Ah......h

With a scream, a deep dark spell was silently activated, and darkness immediately spread throughout the room!

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"Hell, counteract!" Clade's voice carried a hint of impatience - the lieutenant general, who had traveled in the East for a long time, was completely bad at countering.

"Bright light!" Hull focused on trying to unravel the dark magic, but failed. "No...... The magic is too strong for me to counter...... Ahh

The magic alarm went louder. There is more than one person, and at the same time they are working magic!

"Broken dreams!" To protect himself, Clad summoned his flying sword and put the two in the defense of the blue light.

As soon as the broken dream flew out, something came up with an unknown thing, and with a "boom", the blue light collided with the attacking object, making a screeching sound.

"Is there really someone attacking in the shadows......" Clad's heart sank, "Is it because someone doesn't want others to know the true face of the person behind the scenes?"

"Counter, bright light!" The "Goddess of Fate" on the side threw a countermeasure magic.

When the light comes, the darkness dissolves in an instant.

"It's hard to believe that female spies also have real skills...... As soon as the light was restored, the top students of the Military Academy saluted the gorgeous girl with a little respect. Hull has always been confident in his abilities, but he also has a lot of respect for everyone who is truly stronger than him.

Clad, on the other hand, had no such idleness at all—he was observing the situation in the room. Everyone looked a little more embarrassed than the others.

The hat of the dwarf "elven archer" was nailed to the wall by an unknown object. He himself was getting up from the ground and dusting the dirt off his body.

The tall and burly man seemed to have tried to block the thing, but his left arm was stabbed, wrapped in his clothes, and still oozing blood.

The soldier in the corner didn't appear to be injured, but there was also a small pile of charred ash in front of him. Behind the girl, there was also a mysterious white object stuck in the wall.

And also...... Bloody gas.

General López set his sights in the direction where the gore was most intense. At some point, a secret door appeared in the wall, and the secret door was open, as if it had been blasted open by something powerful. In the middle of the secret door, lies a ......

Corpse. Wearing a corpse hidden in a discolored cloak. The corpse was wearing a servant's mask, and it must have been a frightened expression under the mask. Due to the blood as a lining, the cloak turned a bright red color.

People rushed forward and gathered around the corpse.

"Is it a traitor? The short man sighed.

"I don't know what kind of secret information is it that he is going to be killed?" the giant man crouched down and unmasked. It is a typical thief's face, without any memorable features. A person whose face is easy to remember cannot be a thief.

"There really are corpses...... masked the soldier dressed as a white-robed mage, "this is still a secret room......

In other words, it was a case of murder in a closed room. Major Hull Tedwood took his pipe from his pocket and put it in his mouth. He spoke slowly, his expression extremely serious.

Expressions of astonishment appeared on everyone's faces except him and his superiors. "What?!" "How is that possible?"

The alarm was still blaring, blaring, but the tempo slowed down.

"This is already the case, and the Thieves' Guild should arrive soon. Hull stepped forward and crouched down to examine the body's wounds. Wounds spread all over the deceased's body, and bones stabbed out of the wounds in a mess. The secret door should have been opened at the last minute before he died—but it was too late.

"The wound appears to be caused from within...... The blood and joints all over his body burst together. It is clear that the murderer killed him in order to cover up the secret. ”

"What kind of magic is so brutal?" asked the diminutive "God of Justice".

Hearing this, the people in the chamber looked at each other. No one had ever heard of this unheard-of bloody magic, and it was not one of the "canonical formulas" that the Society for the Arbitration of Magic had identified.

"It doesn't have to be magic...... It could also be some kind of magic, or a special ability of a magical creature. "Fortila" added, "I think it might be some kind of undead." ”

"I think so too. Clad López picked up a handful of ash from the table, "It's scorched by that Curell's magic, but it's definitely bone meal." I'm afraid it's still a very powerful undead creature......"

“...... It's hidden among us!" Hull asserted confidently.

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"So, how do you find it, Mr. Corell?" sneered the soldier disguised as a white-robed wizard, "do you want us to have a series of alibies?"

"This ......," the Major was momentarily speechless, "we can investigate everyone's magical abilities first......"

Magical abilities?, he jerked back. By this standard, I'm afraid his commander is the most suspicious.

"No...... You can't rely on mystery novels. You have to find a way to force the killer to strike again. If he kills people before the keyword appears, he must be a perfectionist and will not allow any leaks to exist. ”

If he can make his opponent think that the information has been leaked, he will do whatever it takes to kill all those in the know before the investigators arrive, that is, if only he had cultivated the illusion realm-

"Unfortunately, you killed only an unfortunate member of the Thieves' Guild. Before the major could draw up a plan of action, the spokesman's cold voice sounded again. "The guild will be here soon, and they'll get all your intel out. ”

"What?!" the other Corell's brow furrowed.

"The seller is not dead?" the short man stood up.

"Is this man really among us?" said Hull's pipe.

The spokesman's voice was impassioned: "I will make you and those behind you pay! I will leak evidence of Radetz Gvar's intention to carry out a coup d'état to ...... Wiener Betsy"

When it was time for the critical moment, the sound was interrupted again. The magic detection device on the wall suddenly lit up - the reason why the alarm went off was because there was already silent magic enveloping the room.

The giant "Travo" slowly stood up, sneered, and said something.

Major Hull, an elite intelligence officer trained in lip language, struggled to identify: "Lazy, with you, these, useless, guys, acting......"

Before he could make out all the words, the "God of Travel" raised his right hand. With a flick of his fingers, his right hand immediately turned into a white bone and shot at the five of them! Without chanting a spell or concentrating on it, this guy was a real undead creature! An undead returned from the earth...... The undead who possess wisdom are of the highest order.

Seeing the bones flying, Hull habitually recited the spell of protective magic: "Prote......"

At this point, he reacted violently. The silence technique in the field has not yet been lifted, and now that the incantation is recited, how can it be effective?!

He rolled to the ground in embarrassment, trying to dodge the bone arrow. The giant man caught a glimpse of his movements with the rest of his eyes, and with a shake of his right arm, the bone arrow stabbed straight to the ground.

As soon as he saw that the bone arrow was about to hit, a purple shield appeared in front of him, blocking the bone arrow, and a blue light swept again, turning the white bone arrow into powder.

The major looked at the man who had saved him with gratitude.

Clad López pressed his right hand to his waist, and blue light shot out from between his fingers. In contrast, the bewitching goddess of fate stood in the other corner of the room, her hands emitting the white glow of the "Dispersal Technique".

"It's finally out. The lieutenant general regrouped the blue light, "I was still skeptical of this piece of false information...... Now, though, I'm convinced. ”

"It's not good to be too impatient. The flamboyant woman grinned, "It's so easy to take the bait." ”

Hearing this, Major Hull was slightly startled. It was clear that the woman was using the plan he had in mind...... She is indeed not an ordinary female spy who sells her hues for a living.

"Surrender, Resurrection of the Dead. What is dead should be dusted and dust to dust. Clad said coldly, pulling out a few yellowed scrolls and rune papers from his pocket.

The giant man took two steps back, leaned against the wall, and laughed, "You want to trap me?

His laughter was very harsh. Almost all the oil lamps and candles in the room were extinguished by the laughter, except for one candle swaying in the corner.

"Come out, Phantoms! I'll have to sacrifice an intelligence network tonight. ”

Through the flickering candlelight, one can see that the shadows in the room are distorting, deforming, and recombining, becoming a terrifying existence between the flat and the three-dimensional.

"Shadow?!" Hearing this, Clad's pupils dilated.

Creating even the weakest shadow requires the creator to possess great magical abilities. According to the current knowledge of the undead, there are only three types of undead creatures that can create ghosts as followers......

"Excuse me, sir, are you a vampire, a mummy, or a lich?" the woman next to her asked in a flirtatious tone.

"Let's be the last one. The giant man replied in a hoarse voice.

The nobles of the undead are like the users of spells among humans. Use your own spiritual strength to cross the boundary between life and death, rather than being passively manipulated by fate or obsession. They determine absolute power with absolute spirit......

Their name is the Lich.

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