A known traitor

As the words left the elder's mouth, the system prompt flickered back into vision.

[Congratulations, Ethan Cross! You have been appointed as a Village Chief.]

[Starting rewards have been sent to your inventory.]

Before Ethan could process it, another message flashed in bold red letters.

[WARNING: Treachery detected!]

[Generating starting mission...]

[Mission: Fish out the traitor.]

[Objective : Your predecessor was poisoned by one of the villager elders under Lord Bolton's orders, unmask the traitor before he escapes by midnight]

[Reward: +100 Wood, +100 Stone, +10 EXP]

[Bonus Perk: Appraisal (Allows the user to see stats and favourability of people around him.]

[Punishment: If the traitor escapes, Lord Bolton learns of your survival ahead of schedule and sends an assassin.]

Staring at the introduction of appraisal, Ethan sucked in a cold breath. Looks like the game world is following missions I've already passed in the real world. And I already have a suspect in mind.

His eyes darted across the room, faces lit by torchlight, before settling on the elder with a scar across his face.

In the real world he had failed to find the traitor before he escaped. And a week later Bolton had sent an assassin to kill him. Only managing to scrape by after using his hard earned money to top-up in-game currency. Which in turn triggered his heart attack.

The memory made his fist clench, but he forced himself to relax, a rueful smile forming on his lips, he stood up blowing slightly towards the elders in the room. "Thank you for your trust, I promise I won't let you down."

His eyes darted between the elders. Could it be someone else this time? Had his arrival altered events? Either way he would first confirm his suspicions.

Turning to the girl standing behind him. "Walk with me Anna." As he headed out of the hall.

As they stepped outside Anna looked at him her blue eyes shimmering, "You're slowly recovering your memory aren't you?"

Ethan glanced back at her, "What gave it away?"

Crossing her arms she smiled. "I didn't tell you my name after you asked me where you were and who you were."

Ethan chuckled as he continued walking forward.

He still had zero recollection of his predecessors memory but he had the memories about almost everything in the village.

Anna's voice came from behind him, "Hey wait up." Followed by hurried footsteps.

The villagers stared at him as he walked by some of them greeting him, Ethan nodded acknowledging their greetings.

After a round of exchanging pleasantries with the overly enthusiastic villagers he turned to Anna.

After dismissing Anna he approached Elder Gareth's house, slipping in unnoticed by anybody.

Inside smoke wafted out from a crudely made fireplace, the ember on the firewood inside it glowing slightly. He walked towards the bed peering underneath it he saw a box, drawing it out he opened it, inside the box was a single silver coin and several bronze coins.

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

A silver coin?

That amount was unheard of for a simple village elder. Even the wealthy town merchants rarely carried one.

Pocketing the coin he smirked, "Thanks Gareth, your contribution will not be forgotten."

Sliding the box back, he stood up. After minutes of searching he found nothing. Nothing to expose Gareth.

He exhaled sharply frustration creeping in. Taking one final glance of the room he prepared to leave.

Any longer and Gareth could come back and catch him inside his house.

Anyway I survived it before I'm sure I can do it again.

Ethan sighed, shaking his head. Maybe he was overthinking things. Maybe the coin was just a lucky windfall. He walked towards the door—but froze mid-step. His boot had caught on something, a tiny ridge in the floorboards.

He crouched down, heart pounding, and ran his fingers over the wood. There it was—a slight give, unnoticeable due to the dim lighting of the room.

Gazing at the ceiling he shook his fist. Curse you medieval rooms and poor lighting.

Glancing back down, he gently pulled it open the ridge it creaked softly revealing a tiny hidden compartment, with a vial containing a colourless liquid.

His lips stretched into a smile, as he muttered. "Bingo."

He sealed back the compartment and slipped out of the house.

Smiling his heart now at ease, he walked towards his own house, just as Anna walked out carrying three jute pouchs. Smiling wryly. "This is all the money I could find in the house."

"Thanks Anna. Gather the villagers tell them I'd like to address them."

Handing him the pouchs she nodded, "Alright."

Ethan shook the pouchs as if weighing them, the coins inside clinking against each other. He muttered. "This would do." Before walking towards the meeting hall.

Opening the door he walked into the room, staring at the Elders, his gaze lingering heavily on Elder Gareth.

Enjoy your moment of peace snake, soon I'll smoke you out of your burrow.

Placing the pouchs on the table, he turned to, Elder Ludwig the village's tax collector, "Elder Ludwig, I want to have a look at the villages tax report. Can that be arranged?"

"Certainly, I'll have someone bring it to your cabinet before the evening."

"Thanks." Staring at the rest of the Elders. "I rallied the villagers together I'd like to address them, you all don't mind being there do you?"

Elder Gareth, stared at him sneering. Already abusing his authority.

"Of course not." Helen the female elder responded.

Morris the oldest stood up, "Lead the way Chief."

Ethan, turned around walking out the door followed by the elders staring at the villagers gathered before staring at him, his heart skipped a beat.

I forgot how much I hate public speaking.

Ethan cleared his throat loudly as the mumurs died down.

Glancing across the villagers, he suppressed the stage fright enveloping him, closing his eyes briefly.

He opened them again much more confident. "My fellow villagers, our elder council has appointed me as your new village chief."

The murmurs returned, exhaling Ethan continued. "And it's a badge I plan to wear with honour, just like my father did and his father before him."

"But with a traitor in our midst it becomes a hindrance to my job and creed."

The atmosphere turned tense as the villagers began murmuring, glancing subtly to the left he noticed Elder Gareth shifting uncomfortably.

Turning his gaze back to the villagers he continued. "What do we do to traitors?

Anna shouted excitedly, "We burn them." All the villagers turned glancing at her. The ones close to her shuffling away awkwardly.

Ethan smiled, his voice gaining an up tone as he asked again, "What do we do to traitors?"

Anna's reply swiftly again. "We burn them." Accompanied by murmurs from the villagers.

His voice rose a few more pitches. "What do we do to traitors?"

A handful more joined in. "We burn them."

Shouting once more, "What do we do to traitors."

"We burn them." The rest of the villagers joined the chorus.

"What do we do to traitors?"

"We burn them."

At first, Gareth's expression was unreadable, but as the chant grew louder, his fingers twitched at his sides.

Ethan smiled, already imagining Gareth sweating nervously.

The bearded elder cleared his throat, "Do you have evidence on the traitor."

Turning to face the elders behind him, his gaze resting on Gareth he smiled, "Yes I do."

Pulling out the silver coin from his pocket, raising it into the air, "Exhibit A."