Jack cast Teleportation to escape. The safe room's rune diagram originally also blocked anyone from teleporting in and out of the room, but Easye's native contact inside the faction had shut down the diagram's function which blocked teleportation, allowing Jack to make his escape.
He appeared outside the cathedral.
"Boss, you are safe!" Easye called from behind a nearby tree. They had agreed on this spot for their escape. Easye honestly thought that Jack was not going to make it. He was hiding behind the tree to wait and observe the situation.
Jack hurriedly transformed into Iamanorc before anyone noticed.
Easye came out of his hiding and approached Jack. "Did the faction members find you?" He asked.
"No," Jack answered.
"What about the princess and his bodyguard?"
"They will keep what happened a secret."
Easye was relieved. This meant he didn't have to quit the faction.
"Are you free at the moment?" Jack asked. "I have some questions I need to ask."
"Sure. Whatever you need, boss," Easye answered.
Though his involvement in the incident just now shouldn't get exposed, Easye thought it was still prudent to wait and see. If he didn't get kicked out of the faction, he would contact his acplice inside the faction and make sure before he entered any of the faction's facilities.
Jack asked him the nearest tavern and the two headed there. He received a message informing him that Arthur had accepted his invite. The elderly swordsman was now on his friend list.
It was still early, so not many people were in the tavern. They sat on the chairs from one of the many unoccupied tables.
After ordering some drinks, Jack asked Easye, "The princess mentioned something about a situation involving outworlders in this country. Do you have any idea what she meant?"
"Situation...? Oh! I think what she meant was the serial killing," Easye answered after thinking for a while.
"Serial killing?"
Easye nodded. "I don't know when they first started, but I think I started hearing about it about one month ago."
'One month ago? About the time Mistress became Aurebor's queen,' Jack thought.
"The victims were always natives," Easye said.
"Natives?" Jack frowned. "Considering this issue creates tension between the kingdom and the outworlders, does this mean the kingdom suspects the killings were done by players?"
"Yes."
"Do they have proof?" Jack asked.
"In some cases, there were witnesses seeing players leaving the crime scenes. In some other, someone sees players entering the rooms that have the victims. But the most convincing are a few occasions where the witnesses saw the killings happen right in front of them. The murderers wore masks and something that blocked others from using Inspect on them, but they were players."
"Murderers? There is more than one?"
Easye nodded. "The killings aren't just happening in one city. It happened in almost every main city and large city. Although players could teleport from city to city instantly, it is unlikely one person pull it off. There are incidents where two killings happened at almost the same time, so it is more likely they were done by different people."
"A group then. It is unlikely different individuals develop the same urges at the same time," Jack said. "And you said the killings happened inside cities?"
"That's right. You should have known that we players only lose one level if we die inside the city. Natives have no such perk. They die a permanent death whether it is inside a safe zone or in the wilderness."
Jack nodded. That's what happened to Alonzo, Quintus, and Themos. They all died inside the palace.
"Any of the murderers ever captured?" Jack asked.
Easye shook his head. "The authority had sent many patrols searching, but without results. Whomever this group is, they hide very well. It stirs up the kingdom so much that curfews were implemented around two weeks ago. You should take care to not wander around the city after the sun sets. You will be arrested if spotted. Every outworlder that es into the city also has to report to the authority and have their visits recorded."
'No wonder the rigorous checking when I teleport here,' Jack thought.
"I heard the situation has turned rather heated inside the kingdom faction these past few days. With the killings still happening and the perpetrators not caught, added by this invasion from Liguritudum and Aurebor, this country is a powder keg. The rumor is the queen is very close to announcing the outlawing of outworlders. If that happens, we players will need to go on an exodus to other countries."
Now that Jack heard about this, he understood what Princess Aldryth meant by it being a very bad idea to meet with the queen at this moment.
Jack thought about this for a moment. The reputation of outworlders in this country had taken a nosedive. He wouldn't be able to convince the queen of his good intention at this time. But if he helped resolve this country's situation, maybe he could gain the queen's trust.
"Can you get the information about the past murders? The victims. Where they happened and when?" Jack asked Easye.
"I have a contact in the law office. Not someone important, but he should have enough access to get the information, but he will need..."
Easye did the money gesture again.
Jack rolled his eyes. "How much?" Jack asked. He was beginning to wonder if Easye took a cut in this supposed bribery.
Easye chuckled. "Hehe, not as much as needed for the meeting with the princess just now. We are not exactly breaking the law this time. Ten gold coins should be enough. Which city do you want for the info?"
"All the cities where the murders had happened," Jack answered.
"All...?! If that's the case, then I need two hundred gold coins," Easye said.
Jack handed the coins to him. "I need the info fast. Can you make it happen by today?"
"I will get them to you by this afternoon," Easye answered.
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