Chapter 328 I’ll Do My Best
Strom was having such horrible mood swings lately that it felt like he was riding a pendulum.
The mysterious church that came to Crookes and began a widespread inquisition against the swampmen he controlled was stretching his nerves to the limit. If the Secret Eye Society hadn’t provided him some of their ‘research subjects’ as a trump car, he wouldn’t have stop short of having the swampmen start an uprising just to attempt conquering the mayoral residence.
It was fortunate that his rational prevented him from that impractical idea.
While the city watch under the command of Lloyd, his deadly rival was not actually too impressive, they were still the second most powerful peacekeeping force in the city.
As for the number one force, it was merely a not-quite-legendary rumor that circulated amongst n.o.bles and was not known to the peasants: a covert outfit said to have been groomed by the Meredith family, the rulers of Crookes.
Naturally, the n.o.bles couldn’t prove their existence—but whenever one amongst them would threaten the mayor after being mesmerized by the riches of Crookes and getting ideas they should not have, their residences would be gone overnight no matter how prosperous their family had been. That includes one particular n.o.ble family that prospered over a hundred years in Crookes. At the time, they happened to have three bishops of different churches as well as a mage who reached the domain of supernatural in a single generation.
No one could ignore such power no matter what city it was, just as any mayor would have to compromise with their whims.
It was perhaps why the then head of the family —who was also one of the three bishops—took advantage of the great influence of their family. Having steeled himself, he was ready to overrule Old Meredith and take a bite out of the mining industry of Crookes. He and the other two bishops diverted detachments of sacred corps to Crookes, whereas the mage in the family would stay on standby in their own residence, posturing as if they were ready to declare war on the mayor if he disagrees.
But on the next day, the entire family disappeared from Crookes.
It was no culling following a violent battle, but the hundreds of members in that family literally vanished overnight. Their luxurious mansion which was comparable to the mayor’s was gone as well, leaving only an empty land. Later, the bishops’ respective churches sent in their own people to investigate the matter, even interrogating the mayor himself-but they found nothing. In fact, one of the churches proved to be a little too rude and was blacklisted by the old liege, banning them from ever preaching in Crookes.
That particular church had just planned their revenge when their religious leader suddenly died out of the blue. In his wisdom, the new leader promptly withdrew the church’s sacred corps to keep a healthy distance between themselves and Crookes, and only then did the entire matter blow over.
How the old mayor’s covert outfit accomplished all that was still a mystery, but since then, no n.o.ble had dared to stir the hornet’s nest.
Even though old Meredith was now sick, old, and on death’s door, every last n.o.ble in the city were only dutifully supporting the candidates they believed who might take his place without trying anything funny.
In fact, Strom himself only cooperated with the Secret Eye Society to protect himself because there was just no other way. Even now, he feared that the old mayor would notice that he was the one who controlled the swampmen and was up to no good, that Meredith would send out his covert outfit to destroy him.
But even as Strom as panicked to the point of hysteria, the mysterious church suddenly left the city.
There was no clear reason, but the swampmen that had slipped into the city watch reported that they were the victims of a strange ambush.
Afterward, Strom himself went to the scene personally to observe the carnage left by the unknown church and their equally unknown adversary, only to see how horrific their powers really were.
The swampmen wouldn’t survive a fight against either side anyway.
Nonetheless, just as Strom was about to breathe a sigh of relief with the departure of the mysterious church and consider how he should make a breakthrough, the swampman mole brought him more bad news.
The mysterious church had returned… and they brought along many of their friends! And it seemed that they were on the search for something else.
Despite Strom’s a.s.sumptions that they would continue the Swampmen Inquisition, he later realized that they were a lot less interested in them as they scrounged around the city.
But that didn’t mean Strom could rest easy.
Sure, that strange church was less keen on finding swampmen-but that did not mean that they were not on the look for them.
In truth, they were still as zealous about it as they had been before. Even as they combed the city for their new target, they would ask still ask anyone they run into whether they were a swampman albeit as an afterthought.
And just like before, any swampman questioned would be immediately exposed and then die as the church’s followers hack them into tiny pieces…
For his part, Strom couldn’t figure out for the life of him why would they still search for the swampman. What good would it do them? Lloyd wasn’t even paying them!
He just couldn’t imagine that the gimmick called EXP was much more precious to the Players than gold.
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“Lord emissary, please tell me what to do!”
Strom had eventually found himself cornered and helpless, and therefore reached out to the enigmatic emissary with the mirror in his bas.e.m.e.nt. “Am I supposed to use the trump card you gave me right now?”
“I’ve told you. This is a trial.”
On the other end, the ’emissary’ of the Secret Eye Society was cursing inwardly as well. He was absolutely irritated by the Players who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, but his reaction was kept hidden thanks to his hood. “You are the only one making decisions here.”
“But…”“No buts.” The emissary didn’t hesitate to cut Strom short with an obviously indignant tone. “This is the last time I answer your call before you take over Crookes.”
“What… My lord!” Storm exclaimed, fl.u.s.tered. “Did something happen?”
“We’ve found an undead night elf in the Tegrono Federation. It’s no longer self-aware, but its mind still holds the knowledge it gained when it was alive. Compared to your frivolities, capturing it is more important to us!”
The emissary of the Secret Eye Society was being very impatient-clearly the effort to capture the undead was clearly unsuccessful. “Prove your worth to us or we shall abandon you! And you know very well what would happen when we do!”
“I… I understand.” Strom’s brain seemed to turn into mush at the emissary’s threat.
Even so, he had made his choice inwardly. “I’ll do my best!”
Hence, even as the mirror dimmed, he remained before the mirror and stared at his unhinged reflection while repeating to himself, “I’ll do my best… do my best…”
His words grew in determination, whereas the triangular eyes slowly glinted fearsomely.