REAPPEARANCE

Jack drew upon his newly acquired power. [Sight Mode: Eyes of Judgement] activated. 

The world shifted. Not in a physical sense. But in the revelation of hidden truths. Myriad colors swirled around individuals. Allowing him to acquire specific information from the Realm of Omniscience. 

Information panels used to be strictly limited to his own status. Now, it flickered into existence around everyone in the ruined hall. He focused first on the most obvious target.

[Name: Count Gullfort Bellcroft] 

[Affiliation: Order of Glory] 

[Karma: Evil] 

[Power Level: Very High] 

[Power Class: Supernatural Sorcerer] 

[Current Status: Seriously Injured] 

[Specialty: Werebear Transformation] 

[Personalities: Ambitious, Ruthless, Temperamental] 

[Crimes: Mass Murders, Serial Murders, Illegal Human Trafficking,...] 

[Inheritance: None]

This Count Bellcroft... Jack's suspicions were now confirmed. The man was a walking disaster. A vortex of dark karma. 

Mass murders, serial murders, human trafficking. The list trailed off into ellipses. Suggesting more horrors Jack didn't need to see specific details of. Just the blunt fact of the first three was enough. 

And 'Order of Glory'? Jack made a mental note. An organization he had never encountered before. It sounded like a twisted joke. Given Bellcroft's crimes. 

Luckily, the bastard hadn't gained any inheritance from the Cloudfather's trials. That would have complicated things. Greatly.

He flicked his gaze to the next suspicious individual. Silas Boulder.

[Name: Silas Boulder]

[Affiliation: Free] 

[Karma: Evil] 

[Power Level: High] 

[Power Class: Steamrune Engineer] 

[Current Status: Seriously Injured] 

[Specialty: Heavy Gun Mastery] 

[Personalities: Sadistic, Vengeful, Cruel] 

[Crimes: Murders, Kidnapping, Rapes, Arsons,...] 

[Inheritance: None]

Another rotten one. A Steamrune Engineer. Just like Jack Night. But this one was pure, unadulterated evil. 

Murders, kidnapping, rapes, arsons... This guy was a common criminal. One steeped in generic depravity. 

Bellcroft was a grand-scale evil. A mastermind of atrocities. Silas was a brute. A perpetrator of personal, brutal wickedness. Both were very much on Jack's hit list. No inheritance for him either. Good.

Then, the portly researcher. The one who seemed suspiciously uninjured. Jack's [Eyes of Judgement] sliced through the illusion.

[Name: Reina Reverie (Queen Mirage)] 

[Affiliation: Night Salvation] 

[Karma: Evil] 

[Power Level: High] 

[Power Class: Supernatural Sorceress] 

[Current Status: Slightly Injured] 

[Specialty: Illusion] 

[Personalities: Opportunistic, Selfish, Cunning] 

[Crimes: Murders, Betrayals, Frauds,...] 

[Inheritance: Law of Illusion, Law of Fog]

'Well, well..' Jack thought. A spectral vengeful smirk twisting his invisible lips. 'Queen Mirage. The little backstabber from the Webmother's trial. Here in Cloudfather's domain. Another disguise...' 

Her illusionary disguise was flawless. Fooling even his sharp spectral senses. But [Eyes of Judgement] saw through the veils. She wasn't a man, but the notorious Queen Mirage. 

And she had two inheritances. The Law of Illusion from the Webmother. And now, the Law of Fog from the Cloudfather. Which meant... She had completed the Fog Trial. The one Jack had failed. 

Her crimes were insidious. Less variations compared to the other two. But with similar or even higher quantities. Murders. Betrayals. Frauds. A different flavor of evil. More refined. More deceptive. 

And 'Night Salvation'? That insane criminal organization. She was still part of them.

Jack rapidly scanned the others. Most were 'Neutral', with negligible power levels and no noteworthy crimes. Minor transgressions... Petty theft, public nuisance, accidental murder. The usual human blemishes. No inheritances.

Dr. Crafton and Chloe Chase were different. The master-apprentice duo had much better karma than the others. They were 'Good', not 'Neutral'. And almost without crimes.

But when his appraisal landed on Leon Drake...

[Name: Leon Drake] 

[Affiliation: Free] 

[Karma: Neutral] 

[Power Level: High] 

[Power Class: Supernatural Sorcerer, Mystic Scholar] 

[Current Status: Slightly Injured] 

[Specialty: Dragon Knight Transformation, Mystic Spells] 

[Personalities: Adventurous, Erudite, Logical] 

[Crimes: Trespassing, Burglary, Theft] 

[Inheritance: Law of Fate]

"Figures..." Jack mused. 

Leon Drake. The one with the protagonist aura. He had acquired the Law of Fate. The trial Jack had also failed. Not that surprising.

Jack noticed that Drake's crimes were minimal. Almost quaint. In comparison to the others. Only Dr. Crafton and Chloe Chase had lighter crimes than him.

Trespassing, burglary, theft. Youthful indiscretions, perhaps. Or driven by his adventurous, treasure-hunting nature. 

Unlike Dr. Crafton and Chloe, his karma alignment was Neutral. Not Good. But not Evil either. He was a survivor. A Seeker. A destined mover of events. 

Jack wasn't surprised he got Fate Inheritance. Some people just had that kind of luck. Or destiny.

While Jack rapidly processed these revelations, the atmosphere in the throne hall was already thick with tension. The survivors were wary. Exhausted. But keenly aware of the sudden quiet after the stormy trials. 

Count Bellcroft had not lost his imperious bearing. Despite his grievous wounds. He glared around the room. Blood was staining his noble raiment.

"Someone among you acquired Cloudfather's inheritance." Bellcroft's ragged voice boomed with authority. "The surge of power. The shift in the very air… It was unmistakable. Confess now! State what you have gained, and perhaps I will be lenient in my negotiations."

Leon Drake shifted. His armored hand instinctively going to his grimoire. His eyes narrowed. 

Dr. Crafton remained stoic. But his gaze darted towards Chloe. A flicker of protectiveness appeared in his weary eyes. 

Chloe herself stood her ground. An almost serene calm was exuded from her. She was holding the inheritance. Not from the Cloudfather. But the Law of Fortune from Webmother. 

The other mercenaries and researchers looked at each other, suspicion and fear warring on their faces.

A grimace of pain appeared on Silas Boulder's face. His single remaining leg was braced. As he sneered. "Negotiations, Count? You're bleeding out. More like begging." 

He adjusted the heavy, archaic Steamrune Revolver strapped to his thigh. Clearly provoking the injured nobleman.

Bellcroft's bloodshot eyes flared. "Insolent dog! I may be injured, but my power remains. I can still crush you all. I merely offer a choice, for the sake of efficiency. Do not make me take it by force." 

He took a staggering step forward. His immense presence, even weakened, was radiating menace. His body began to emit black smoke. A faint, dark purple aura forming around it. 

Werebear transformation. Jack remembered from the information panel. He was likely preparing some form of bestial transformation magic.

It was then. As Bellcroft's gaze swept over the cowering group... As his hand crackled with dark energy... The portly researcher, Queen Mirage in disguise, moved. Not with a shout. Not with a spell. But with the silent, insidious speed of an assassin.

Her pudgy hand had seemed innocuous a few moments ago. Now it gripped a wickedly sharp, silver dagger. 

It flashed. Catching the dim light of the ruined hall. Moving with impossible swiftness. Count Bellcroft was too focused on intimidating Silas and the group before him. He didn't even register the attack until it was too late.

The dagger plunged deep into his back. Directly between his shoulder blades. A wet, sickening stabbing sound echoed in the throne hall. Followed by a choked gasp from Count Bellcroft himself.

The Count stiffened. His eyes were widening in disbelief. The black smoke and the purple aura around his body flickered and disappeared. He turned slowly. Almost comically. As if trying to comprehend the betrayal. 

Reina was no longer portly man. Instead, she had reverted back to a slender and elegant woman. Her features were shimmering as her illusionary disguise dissolved. Revealing the striking, almost ethereal beauty of Queen Mirage. 

Her face was set in a cold, triumphant smirk. Devoid of any past pretense of being a harmless scholar.

"Apologies, Count..." Reina Reverie's voice, now melodious and chillingly clear, purred. "But I prefer not to share. Especially not with a dying beast."

She twisted the blade deeper. A low gurgle escaped Bellcroft's lips. His colossal frame shuddered. Then it began to topple. 

He hit the stone floor with a thud that shook the very foundations of the ruined palace. Blood blossomed rapidly beneath him. Forming a dark, spreading pool.

Silence. Shock. Absolute silence filled the hall.

Silas Boulder, the mercenary, was the first to react. His eyes narrowed in a mix of surprise and vigilance. 

"Well played, wench!" He muttered. His hand already on his revolver. He saw an opening. Bellcroft was down. The field was clearer.

Leon Drake cursed under his breath. Opening his grimoire decisively. Ready for combat. His eyes flickered between the fallen Count and the revealing Queen Mirage. And the other survivors. 

Dr. Crafton pushed Chloe gently behind him. Drawing his grimoire. Placing himself as a shield. The other mercenaries and researchers scattered. Their vigilance were giving way to outright panic.

Jack was still invisible. Observing from the shadows. He allowed himself a rare, internal smile. The rats were turning on each other. Excellent. 

Count Bellcroft was certainly out of the game for now. Though he was still technically alive. The cunning and opportunistic Queen Mirage had made her move. She was establishing dominance. 

Silas Boulder was a wild card. Very likely to take advantage of the chaos. And Leon Drake, the accidental hero, was caught in the middle.

'Such fun!' Jack thought. His spectral eyes glowing faintly in the gloom. 'A free-for-all. And I haven't even had to lift a spectral finger yet.'