The Game of Time

Night fell, as it always did.

While the Lower City plunged into its deepest shadows, the Upper City remained as bright as day.

As the brilliant sun dipped below the horizon, cold artificial lights took over its duty. Unbound, countless demons seized the opportunity to unleash their inner ambitions.

“Open up! Law enforcers on official business!”

Inside a bustling casino, Louise Christian led a contingent of enforcers in a forceful entry.

With the Blackwing Knights providing assistance, they swiftly brought the situation under control.

Under the intimidating glint of blades and barrels, the gamblers huddled in corners, clutching their heads.

Their hearts pounded with terror as they watched the enforcers conduct a thorough search of the premises.

“What is this? What in the world is going on?!”

The casino manager quickly arrived, drawn by the commotion. Seeing his establishment in disarray, he immediately confronted Louise, his voice laced with fury.

“Officer, we are all law-abiding citizens! We run an honest business, just barely scraping by to make a living. Why are you targeting us? Who is behind this?!”

Louise’s gaze was cold as she looked at the young man with gold-rimmed glasses. “Someone reported the presence of a heretic here,” she stated indifferently. “Tonight, we are merely conducting a routine investigation.”

The young man’s eyes widened in profound astonishment. “Heretics? How could that be? We wouldn’t dare collude with heretics!”

“Mr. Ruby,” John interjected, “if you claim not to be colluding with heretics, then how do you explain these?”

Ruby, the young man, turned to see a dark-skinned, scar-faced man in heavy armor approaching, holding a bottle of Sweet Dream.

Ruby’s expression remained calm, his voice steady. “Commander John, the Empire doesn’t prohibit the sale of Sweet Dream. As a casino owner, I occasionally encounter eccentric individuals, and I can hardly refuse a guest’s request, can I?

Storing a few crates of Sweet Dream hardly constitutes a major offense.”

John curled his lips into a sneer. “Nobles possess absolute dominion over their territories; the Empire’s laws do not necessarily apply here. Are you unaware of this?

Count Reyn Rheinhebo has already enacted a law prohibiting the sale of Sweet Dream. Anyone caught peddling it will be considered to be colluding with heretics!

Furthermore, those found using Sweet Dream will be subjected to re-education through labor. Did you just say that some guests here were using Sweet Dream?”

Ruby’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, yet his facial expression remained largely unchanged, and his voice was as steady as ever. “They were merely past guests. If the Count intends to prosecute even for that, I will certainly cooperate fully.”

John casually tossed the bottle of Sweet Dream to the ground, allowing the liquid to spill everywhere. He met Ruby’s calm gaze, then offered a slight smile. “No, the new law does not concern the past.

Since these were stored previously, you wouldn’t object to us destroying them all, would you?”

Ruby’s face broke into a remarkably sunny smile. “Of course. I have always been a law-abiding citizen. If the lords have a need, I will certainly cooperate.”

John gave Ruby a long, searching look, then began to survey the casino’s surroundings. “Though the Dreamweavers have vanished without a trace, there’s no guarantee they won’t resurface.

Since you’re selling Sweet Dream here, you wouldn’t happen to have any dealings with the Dreamweavers, would you?”

Ruby shook his head. “Commander John, you wrong me. I purchased these few crates of Sweet Dream from the open market. How could I have dealings with the Dreamweavers?

Besides, the formula for Sweet Dream is no secret, and its origin isn’t necessarily limited to the Dreamweavers.”

John chuckled, reaching out to lightly pat Ruby’s shoulder. “Don’t be nervous. I was just asking.”

Ruby met John’s smiling gaze. “I am no thief; why would I be nervous?”

At that moment, an enforcer approached, leaning in to whisper to Louise. “Head, there are no traces of heretics.”

Louise frowned. Her presence here today stemmed from a tip from Ark, but the order itself came from Reyn Rheinhebo.

Were it any other noble, she would have dismissed it as a mere pretext for extortion. Yet, the mastermind behind the Witch’s Assembly hardly needed such paltry sums.

She stared sternly at her subordinate. “Are you certain you checked thoroughly? No omissions?”

The enforcer, caught under Louise’s piercing gaze, inevitably grew flustered. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke again. “There were a few individuals whose attire didn’t match that of the Upper City. They seemed to be from the Lower City.”

Louise turned to stare at Ruby. “Mr. Ruby, can you explain why there are people from the Lower City in your casino?”

Ruby narrowed his eyes, letting out a soft chuckle. “Officer, people from the Lower City are still people. They have every right to come to the Upper City. Are you suggesting you discriminate against them?”

Louise scoffed. “People from the Lower City have pockets cleaner than their faces! Even if they wanted to gamble, they wouldn’t come to this renowned den of luxury in the Upper City!”

Ruby smiled as he replied, “They may be poor, but their bodies can always create some value. Since they wish to play, why should I turn guests away?

Or does this, too, count as me colluding with heretics?”

John suddenly interjected. “Mr. Ruby, such a minor matter would naturally not be considered colluding with heretics. However, could you tell me what those individuals from the Lower City used as collateral?”

Ruby shook his head. “Commander John, I am not authorized to disclose guest information to you.”

John turned to Louise. “Officer, may I witness how you typically deal with heretics?”

Louise clicked her tongue and signaled to an enforcer beside her. The enforcer immediately understood, his face cold as he gripped a dagger and seized Ruby’s arm.

“Speak!” he demanded in a chilling tone. “What exactly did they use as collateral?!”

Ruby shook his head. “I am not authorized to answer.”

No sooner had the words left his lips than the enforcer severed one of his fingers. Intense pain swiftly surged through his nerves, and the calm expression on his face shattered.

He glared at Louise, his features contorted in a slight snarl. “Officer! Are you planning to extort a confession through torture? Have the Holy Church and Reyn Rheinhebo already joined forces?!”

John turned to his knights, stating coldly, “Disrespecting a noble. Make a note of it!”

Ruby stared angrily at the group before him, his voice trembling. “Don’t think you can act with impunity! Yes, nobles have absolute dominion over their territories! But they have no right to infringe upon another noble’s assets!

Even if this were taken to the Imperial Capital, you would still be in the wrong!”

John suddenly began to clap, a surprised chuckle escaping him. “How interesting. In this territory, you claim there are assets belonging to another noble? Then, pray tell, which noble would that be?”

Ruby’s expression shifted dramatically, and he clamped his mouth shut. Seeing this, John offered a cold smile.

They had countless ways to loosen a tongue!

Just then, a knight approached and reported directly, “Commander, according to the few individuals from the Lower City, what they used as collateral was time!”

John raised an eyebrow, looking at the silent Ruby with a half-smile. “Something like time can be used as collateral?”

Ruby suddenly let out a long sigh, speaking softly. “Why… why must you seek your own demise?”

Louise instinctively sensed danger and shouted, “Everyone, evacuate immediately!”

But it was too late. As they attempted to retreat, they discovered that the casino’s main entrance was sealed. No matter how they attacked it, they couldn’t leave a single mark.

Ruby watched the Blackwing Knights, who were now staring at him with playful gazes, his voice hoarse. “This is the Lord’s casino. The game has begun, and when it ends is entirely up to the Lord’s decision.

Now, you will all dutifully enjoy the game!”