162 FOUND THE JARS
[In a local inn in Sodom City]
"Li-Jung, why are we still staying in Sodom City?" Kazan asked, frustration evident in his tone. "The expedition to the ruins is over. We should be heading back to Cheju Mountain."
"I can't stomach the thought of losing to that bastard who stole all our stuff in Sodom's ruin," Li-Jung replied through gritted teeth, his fists clenched tightly.
"Same here," Toshi chimed in, his expression dark with shared anger.
They traded many of their system rewards to Leo in exchange for his help in freeing them from the webs of the skeletal spider that had ensnared them.
Though they were ultimately released, they still harbored resentment, believing Leo had taken advantage of them and stolen what was rightfully theirs.
"But what can we do? It's just the three of us, and that bastard who stole from us is from one of the wealthy families in Sodom City," Kazan reasoned.
"The elders told us not to make trouble here in Sodom City. This is not our city and we have no support in case of confrontation", Toshi added.
"I've already sent a message home," Li-Jung said. "My uncle will send reinforcements—a small force to help us. We'll make that thief pay."
"But that will cause trouble for the Cho-In-An?" Toshi protested.
"Don't worry, with our strength in the darkness, nobody would find out about us", Li-Jung replied to reassure them.
Knock, knock.
The sharp sound of knocking interrupted their conversation.
"Who the hell could that be at this hour? We don't know anybody in Sodom City," Kazan asked.
The three exchanged wary glances but not knowing what awaited them.
"It could be uncle's men", Li-Jung said excitedly.
So, they quickly went to the door and to their surprise after opening the door, those were not from their clan but a group of armed soldiers.
"We need to search your room," one of the soldiers demanded.
"Were our plans to kill that bastard discovered before we even started planning?" Li-Jung asked himself in horror.
Toshie gave them the look that said, "Told you guys not to do anything stupid here."
"We don't have anything you'd want," Kazan replied, standing his ground, sweat falling from his head.
The captain of the group stepped forward, resting his hand on his sword. "Are you resisting law enforcement?"
"Let them search," Toshi interjected. "We've got nothing to hide."
The soldiers entered and began rifling through their belongings. Kazan folded his arms, watching closely. "See? Told you we're clean."
Just as the words left his mouth, a soldier let out a triumphant shout. "Found it!"
"What?" Li-Jung exclaimed in disbelief.
The soldiers pulled out several large jars from a hidden compartment, their contents making the trio freeze in horror. The jars were filled with severed human heads.
"What the hell is this? Those don't belong to us!" Li-Jung protested, his voice rising in panic.
"Tell that to your executioner," the captain sneered.
Before they could react, more soldiers and mages flooded the room. Chains imbued with suppression magic restrained the trio, rendering them powerless.
Stunned and bewildered, they didn't resist, convinced this was some kind of mistake.
"How did such a large force arrive so quickly?" Toshi asked, his voice trembling.
"Because we were targeted by them," Li-Jung said grimly, realization dawning on him. "This is a fucking set up."
The group was dragged out, and as they passed through the inn's corridors, they noticed it had been eerily emptied. It was clear their room had been singled out for this operation.
"This doesn't make sense! We didn't make any enemies in this fucking city!" Kazan shouted, struggling against the chains. "Who would frame us?"
The captain only smirked as the soldiers marched them away.
Left behind in the now-empty room, a small creature emerged from the shadows—a rat with a turtle-like shell on its back. It scurried out through a crack in the wall, disappearing into the night.
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[Criminal Court of Sodom City]
The criminal court of Sodom City was unusually crowded, a buzzing hive of activity. A crime that had shaken the entire city was under deliberation, and representatives from the city's most powerful families, along with other aggrieved parties, filled the courtroom.
As the evidence was brought forward, gasps rippled through the crowd. Some recoiled in horror, others wept openly.
Displayed in glass jars were the severed heads of heirs and young masters from noble families and prestigious academies—students who had ventured into the Ruins of Sodom for an expedition.
"Who could have done this?" a voice wailed, breaking the stunned silence.
"The killers must pay!"
"Wipe out their entire families to satisfy this vengeance!" another shouted.
The accused were soon brought in—three young foreigners shackled and subdued.
"Who are these individuals?" the chief judge demanded, his sharp gaze fixed on the prosecutor.
"They are foreigners who entered the Ruins of Sodom under false identities," the prosecutor began.
"What is their crime?"
"Our investigation reveals that these individuals murdered and robbed the talented students and explorers who went into Sodom's ruins. Worse, they kept their victims' severed heads as grotesque trophies, preserved in glass jars," the prosecutor declared grimly.
"No! We didn't do it!" Kazan protested, his voice desperate.
"This is a setup, you fools!" Li-Jung shouted angrily. "When my uncle arrives, he'll slaughter every one of you!"
"How dare he threatens the court?" the crowd murmured angrily. In their mind they already have a judgment.
"Who are these individuals?" the judge asked, his expression stern.
"We found identification linking them to the Cho In Ann gang from Cheju Mountain, a notorious gang," the prosecutor replied.
The judge frowned. "Why would gang members from a distant land commit such heinous crimes here?"
"We do not know their motive, but the evidence clearly points to their guilt," the prosecutor insisted.
The chief judge conferred briefly with his fellow judges. The weight of the case, especially given the involvement of prominent families as victims—made an immediate verdict impossible.
A delay was deemed the wisest course.
"Return them to the prison," the chief judge decreed. "Sentencing will take place in three days."
As the prisoners were led away, a figure in the gallery watched intently.
Malass, a shadowy presence among the crowd, paid little attention to the trial's theatrics or the deaths of the students and explorers. His focus was fixed on the prisoners' tokens and identifications.
The Cho In Ann gang, he thought, his expression unreadable. "The C.I.A.—at last, we've found you bloody idiots."
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