004

When I fully woke up, I was in a cold room, with a cloth tightly wrapped around my eyes. When the guardian noticed that I had woken up, he violently removed the cloth, and yapped. 

"This is the only time I'll ask nicely. What is the key to the King's vault?". 

I chuckled, knowing full well what was going to happen. 

"This is your idea of a luxury suite? Not really my style, sorry. Ah! I'll have to change my conditions then.". 

The guardian, no, the torturer, opened his mouth in an eery smile, and took out a whip from his belt. He even started laughing, before whipping me quite a few times. 

Obviously, blood fused everywhere, but my facial expression did not bulge. That was also a side effect of my Mental stat; I could know endure well every pain imaginable, even if a normal human would completely pass out. 

Seeing this, the torturer's smile turned into a frown. "Why are you not talking?". Before I could answer, he whipped me again, in the face. "This one kind of hurt, you know.".

He whipped again and again, before tiring himself. At that point, I was well covered in blood. I also knew that it was dangerous to let it continue further, so I spoke up. 

"You know what? I'll talk, only if I'm face to face with the Duke.". I took a pause, before continuing.

"You very well know that if you don't get anything out of me, you'll be the next one on this chair, so you better do as I say.".

The torturer pondered for a while and probably decided for it, seeing as he left the room without speaking more. 

My face turned into a mad grin. It felt like I was compelled to grin like that; I couldn't stop it. It was really weird, my Mental stat didn't even butt in to make me keep my composure. It felt like I was high. Was it because I was just tortured, and survived? Am I a masochist?

Some time passed, which allowed me to return to my usual demeanor.

I waited for what seemed like hours - and which probably were - until a medium size, skinny-fat and very muscular man showed up. This is it.

The man, the Duke, was now standing before me. His expression was like that of the calm before the storm, without any hint of emotions.

"I'm here, so speak up."

"I know that the tension between your faction and the King's faction are rising.". His expression wasn't changing. 

"I also know that you cannot touch the King.". His expression wasn't moving yet again.

"Like I said, I'm well aware that you can't, no, that you don't know how to access the the King's vault.". Looks like I need to talk more.

I took a pause for dramatic effect.

"I can fix those two problems.". This time, the Duke expression slightly moved. 

"How?". He went back to being ice cold in a split second. Truly a terrifying character. 

"That's not your problem. What's your problem, is that now my conditions have changed.". I paused again.

"Now, I only want two little things. The first is that I want you to step up as the new head of the Kingdom and stabilize everything as soon as it becomes possible.". It's obvious anyways. "The second one, is that I will pick out an artifact from the King's vault. Whichever I want.".

Seeing as he didn't move an inch, and did not intend to, I added. "You actually don't have to agree, just give me my rewards when I'll do my job.".

"Hmf. Fine.". He looked at the torturer. "Let him go.".

The torturer quickly went to untie me, and by the time I got up, the Duke was already long gone. He showed me the way to my room; just like in my memory, we were just under the inn.

I was still covered in blood from head to feet, so I hopped in a bath again. This time, it shouldn't be drugged. It shouldn't be.

I entered the bath, and felt relaxed like the first time. But no fatigue, brain fog, or anything of the sort. I can finally have a great bath.

Well, I had to empty the bath two or three times not the bath in red water, but still it was nice.

When I got out and looked in the mirror I realized my state.

I was deeply cut on the body, and cut on the face.

[ Attempting to use 'Basic Heal' ]

[ Action is impossible ]

[ Due to user's probability, the action will be rendered feasible ]

[ Using skill 'Basic Heal' ]

The familiar sensation of mana draining out of my body appeared, and my open wounds began to close. This healing wasn't anything fancy, to say the least, but at least it wasn't bleeding.

My mana was empty, too. I would've liked for it to be a bit better, but for now I don't have the possibility to augment my stats.

And I had an even bigger problem. I needed to actually open the King's vault. Because, if I didn't, I would miserably fail at this life in the first trial. I actually have to be smart this time.

The key to opening the King's vault was quite peculiar. It was not a key, obviously, but it was not even material. It was a 'qualification'.

It took me a lot of time to discover that, and even more to do the next part.

This qualification is earned in two ways: its either passed down onto you by the King, or you get it by killing the King.

The first option is immediately ruled out, which leaves us with the second. However, I realized quickly in the past that winning against him in a fair duel is impossible. This man possessed a strength I would not dare to think possible on the first trial. This was the main reason why 'Resolving the situation' was often summarized to getting rid of the Duke.

Which meant that I'll have to cook up a plan again.

In the game, I tried countless ways to kill him, but none worked. I tried poisoning him, but oh wow he's immune. I obviously tried fighting in many different ways, but each of them resulted in my death.

Until I finally found a solution. A way for the King to die.

Setting my plan in motion, I headed out of the hotel - or, down 9 floors, and then out of the hotel.