I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 17. Why Do I Need Evidence?
Zehar Al Rashid was taken aback by Camilia’s sudden command.
“Right this instant, my lady?”
“Is there a reason why not?”
“It’s not that, but… if you intend to punish them for their wrongdoings, wouldn’t it be better to have more concrete evidence rather than summoning them immediately?”
It was a fair point—just not when the person in question was Camilia.
“Why would I need evidence when I’ll be interrogating them myself?”
“That’s… ah.”
Zehar Al Rashid let out a small exclamation as understanding dawned on him.
“I see. That would certainly be more efficient.”
Without hesitation, he summoned a messenger bird through magic, then whispered to it softly just as he had done when summoning the Adventurer Guild Master.
“The lord wishes to see you. Upon hearing these words, come at once to the Audience Chamber of the castle.”
The messenger bird repeated his words like a recording and soon flew away with a flutter, passing through the wall and vanishing.
‘Good. Let me finish handling matters before they arrive.’
Summoning them and asking questions would yield answers readily enough, but there was a difference in efficiency between asking when you already knew the answers and asking in ignorance.
If the ledgers showed no major issues, there would be no need for me to personally conduct the interrogation.
“The Head Maid will arrive first, so let me finish reviewing the Inner Castle ledgers before then.”
At Camilia’s gesture, Zehar Al Rashid set aside the Territory ledgers and unfolded the Inner Castle accounts.
Though better organized than the tax ledgers, these too were a complete mess. The numbers were inconsistent, and the dates were recorded haphazardly.
‘I’ll need to convert all the ledgers to double-entry bookkeeping.’
Muttering inwardly, I placed the ledgers and system window side by side to examine them.
Unfortunately, I found discrepancies before even turning three pages.
The system details clearly showed an operational expenses category.
There was nothing more to see.
“These little rats are really running wild.”
With a sigh, I leaned back in my chair, sinking into it.
Zehar Al Rashid’s expression darkened of its own accord.
“I never expected the Head Maid to be involved as well… I apologize, my lord. This is entirely due to my inadequate oversight.”
An ordinary Steward would have had no excuse for such a blunder and would have been dismissed.
But Zehar Al Rashid was no ordinary Steward—he was a shadowy figure with a past.
Poring over ink-stained ledgers or struggling to catch embezzlers was not his role.
The true duties of a shadow operative involved things like pondering whether to preserve the lord or contemplating whether to hasten the world’s destruction.
‘During the Previous Lord’s time, things must have been even more chaotic.’
With the First Lord’s soul shattering and crumbling, how could anyone have spared attention for anything else?
I forgave him with a generous heart.
“I’m not foolish enough to scold a dog tied to a post for failing to catch rats released before it. Regardless of my lost memories, these are people I appointed with my own hand, so it falls to me to take responsibility.”
“But…”
“That’s enough. We’re done with this discussion.”
As Camilia cut off the conversation, Zehar Al Rashid obediently lowered his gaze without another word.
Meanwhile, Netanel Fragma’s eyes sparkled like gold coins as she gazed at Camilia.
‘What will you do now?’ he asked with his eyes.
Camilia answered his silent question with a look of her own.
‘That depends entirely on how these embezzlers conduct themselves.’
“My lord, I beg your forgiveness… please, I implore you…!”
The Head Maid, summoned to the Audience Chamber, prostrated herself the moment the ledgers and embezzlement were mentioned.
She groveled desperately, promising to surrender everything she possessed if only her life would be spared.
‘No, that won’t do.’
If she’d stolen only a pittance, I might have simply frightened her and moved on. But the amount was far too substantial.
She’d been skimming even the monthly wages of Shusu and several other servants, embezzling them for herself. An example needed to be made.
“All assets will be confiscated, and you shall serve a labor sentence. The position of Head Maid will remain vacant, and Zehar Al Rashid, you will assume her duties temporarily.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Zehar Al Rashid bowed without hesitation.
But Netanel Fragma was different. Dissatisfied that the verdict fell short of his expectations, he turned toward me with a subtle complaint.
“She deceived her employer for so long and embezzled your assets—isn’t a labor sentence rather merciful?”
“I have no need to waste valuable labor satisfying my emotions. Doesn’t your god also teach you to act rationally?”
“My, how you twist my words! A lord who is too lenient is hardly ideal, you know.”
His words said one thing, but his loyalty and affection spoke the truth.
[Netanel Fragma’s affection increases.]
[Netanel Fragma’s loyalty increases.]
It seemed he preferred a master who was fair and merciful to one who was cruel.
Whether it was Netanel Fragma’s personal judgment or the Golden Scales’ approval of a ‘rational verdict,’ I couldn’t say for certain.
Either way, I was reaping the rewards of this double accumulation event for loyalty and affection.
[Netanel Fragma]
Loyalty: 25/100
Affection: 30/100
His affection and loyalty, which had been at rock bottom, were now over one-third full.
At this level, I needn’t worry about him leaving the party.
It was more than enough compensation for the misstep I’d made with the internal affairs that I’d thought I could handle carelessly.
Camilia dismissed the maid with satisfaction.
As she was dragged away by the soldiers, she cried out her gratitude for sparing her life.
The Mayor who entered next, however, proved far less cooperative from the start.
“Embezzlement? That’s absurd! My family has served the lord faithfully for a hundred years!”
When I brought up the embezzlement, he merely protested his innocence and refused to admit anything.
“My lord, you must recognize my family’s loyalty…!”
That is, until he lifted his gaze to meet mine directly.
“Ah… ah…!”
The moment our eyes met, the Mayor broke into a cold sweat and soon after, like a dog, pressed his forehead to the floor.
“I… I… have… served… with… loyalty… so… it’s… unfair…!”
His earlier bravado evaporated, and his words began to stammer.
‘So my Charm stat really does work effectively against ordinary NPCs.’
At eighteen, that’s already mythical or legendary-tier stats.
Unlike adventurers with their bold dispositions, those without levels—powerless as they were—typically fell into status abnormalities the moment she cast a hostile glance their way.
The Mayor’s current state: ‘terror’ and ‘overwhelming pressure’.
Either way, it was a status abnormality that mental magic worked exceptionally well on.
‘Mind Reading.’
Camilia swiftly activated the spell.
The energy residing within her body surged outward, and immediately a wavelength mimicking the Mayor’s voice resonated in her mind.
【Damn it, I’m ruined! Ruined! They already know everything! How did they find out what I’ve been doing beyond the usual!?】
Panicked, he was essentially confessing his crimes aloud.
Then it was time to use ‘Domination’ immediately after.
“Mayor Brute. From this moment forward, answer with nothing but the truth—not a shred of falsehood.”
Dice tumbled with a rolling sound, and a success effect appeared.
Camilia asked to confirm.
“Will you answer my questions truthfully?”
“Y-yes…? N-no, of course I should lie!”
“Right. I understand. How much have you embezzled this year?”
“Twenty platinum coins… Ugh, what!? W-what is this!?”
Whether the Mayor gasped as though about to faint or not, Camilia continued her questions with an indifferent expression.
How he’d siphoned the money, where he’d hidden it, who was involved—everything.
Zehar Al Rashid, listening to the confessions pouring out almost involuntarily due to the Domination spell, muttered in disbelief.
“I thought he was just pocketing gold scraps, but he’s been skimming twenty percent of the taxes…?”
“A mere boy who can’t stand against the lord, ugh, hah! N-no, no, Steward! What I meant was…!”
The Mayor tried to clamp his mouth shut as though wishing for death, but it was futile. He spilled everything regardless.
“Everyone… th-thinks the lord’s research expenses are burdensome, so ignoring a concubine-like wretch is only natural…!”
“…Ha.”
Zehar Al Rashid let out a hollow laugh, apparently at a loss for words.
Camilia lightly tapped the back of his hand to signal him not to mind, then continued.
“Since you’ve confessed your crimes of your own accord, I’ll spare you execution. Your relatives and all those who’ve served under you will follow in your footsteps, so you won’t be lonely.”
“Y-Your Lordship…! I’m innocent! My family was simply continuing what we’ve always done…!”
“Innocent of what? If I permitted your negligence, then when I no longer permit it, accept that your head will roll.”
“That can’t be! Such a thing!”
Having no intention of hearing more complaints from an extra, Camilia lightly tapped the Steward’s hand again.
As though he’d been waiting, a spell flowed from Zehar Al Rashid’s lips.
Silence. Then unconsciousness.
A clean combination.
Thanks to that, the guards had no trouble dragging the Mayor away.
Camilia exhaled a low sigh. She’d only handled two Audience Chamber sessions, yet her energy was completely drained.
‘Still, I need to check on my party members’ conditions.’
Both Zehar Al Rashid and Netanel Fragma were companion characters who didn’t react strongly to mental magic, but one could never be too careful.
“How did you view today’s judgment?”
Zehar Al Rashid answered promptly.
“A merciful and just decision, my lord.”
Netanel Fragma responded with a bright smile.
“Your employer’s abilities are truly remarkable?”
‘Good. No problems there.’
When I thought about it, Rohengreen Ashen was the only party member who would have reacted negatively to interrogation using mental magic.
Though it wasn’t intentional, I was grateful to have handled matters without him present.
‘Still, how do I manage the city administration? I’ve completely replaced the Mayor and everyone beneath him, so I need to fill those positions somehow….’
I had a few trusted associates I could use for administrative work, but bringing them here immediately at this point would be difficult.
Dumping the Mayor’s duties on Zehar Al Rashid as well didn’t feel right either.
‘Though it’s not as if I have no options.’
I studied Netanel Fragma intently, her eyes gleaming with interest.
“Your gaze feels rather intense, my lord. Is there something you wish to say to me?”
Could I trust Netanel Fragma?
At this point in time, no less?
‘…Regardless of Netanel Fragma, I can trust the contracts guaranteed by the Golden Scales.’
The priests of this world held the covenants of their gods in higher regard than their own lives.
In that sense, there were few I could trust more than the priests of the Golden Scales bound by contractual obligation.
Having deliberated, I reached my decision.
I stopped tapping my fingers against the armrest of my chair and spoke.
“Netanel Fragma. Or rather, the head of the Golden Fleece Trading Company—could you manage the city administration for a time?”
“My, my. I truly didn’t anticipate this.”
Netanel Fragma still wore that bright smile, but her eyes had narrowed with a sharp, fox-like gleam.
“How did you know about that, my lord…?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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