Blinding yet empty.

This bland white room glowed due to some sort of unique stone that constructed the walls. Sammuel’s curiosity made him finally seek out this particular item. Just as he was able to find Mirage Apples, he was also able to identify other objects. He did need a preliminary understanding of the object before being able to identify it though.

When he and Lawrence were specifically seeking out the particular item that he needed. Lawrence gave him a detailed description as well as the name of the object. All Sammuel had to do was pinpoint the item that fits that description well.

[???]

Just as I thought. It’s not omnipotent. At the very least, I won’t need to remember things after I catalog them. That’ll save me the hassle in the future if that’s the case.

His mind began to wander off into the future. The mindset of focusing on the future made him forget his situation. An overwhelmingly loud voice spoke down on all of them.

The King of the Elevnia Kingdom spoke out. “Before you manage to prove yourselves with a clear alibi, you will be stuck in this room. You will eat, sleep, drink, and live in this white room. I’m not as ruthless as to not feed you nor am I as sadistic to torture all of you to gain what I need. So, if you have somewhere else to be, better start making efforts here. Great efforts.”

A few of the captives began to panic as they feared for the worst. If they were unable to prove that they were innocent then they just might have to spend the rest of their lives here. But Sammuel understood the hidden implication underneath his words.

Just stay put. That’s what he’s trying to say. To just stay put and don’t do anything. Does he have some kind of plan? Perhaps he just wants to use us as bait for the real culprits. If that’s the case then everything so far would’ve made sense. Especially his last words... 'great efforts,' are very unnerving.

They were all still restricted from using mana, essentially rendering most of the captives useless except for the sole exception of Lilia. For some unknown reason, she was able to exert so much physical force despite having a slender frame. It wasn’t to the point that she would be able to win against the guards but at the very least she wasn’t helpless.

Many of the captives began to look at each other in an odd mood. They did not know for how long they were going to be stuck here with these people. Some had already started off on the wrong foot while the others were far too afraid of what the future held.

Sammuel noted down the captives that caught his eye. He was going to be as objective as possible. Among the captives he had checked, the most interesting person was undeniably Lilia. It had only revealed her core details but nothing beyond that. After learning that she served the Great Human of Poverty, Sammuel couldn’t help but learn more about this world. Religion seemed to be a staple everywhere. Aganth didn’t have any religious presence or rather, it was so minuscule that Sammuel was unable to experience it. As a city that focused on goods and trade, there wasn’t much room for belief. When money puts food on the table, there was no point in praying.

Seeing all those involved, Sammuel’s observations led him to a flaw that he couldn’t overlook.

It would’ve made sense if they were afraid of the King… but they clearly aren’t. If what the King has said is true that one of us is colluding with the culprits then this entire setup is nonsensical. He made such a large display when his son was injured yet he’s treating the possible culprits so well. There’s something else I’m missing.

As for what the secret of the King of this kingdom was hiding, it would slowly be unraveled in the future. This wouldn’t be a play that Sylph would enjoy for nothing. There was something hidden amidst such a seemingly insignificant matter. There had to be.

For now, it’s better to play along and not to attract suspicion to myself.

“My dear friend! I thought I’d lost you forever! Come here!” Gregor ran up to Sammuel with wide open arms. From the looks of it, Gregor had been given the same treatment as he was, locked in a cell as soon as he arrived. There didn’t seem to be any new wounds on his body. For once, Sammuel felt slightly at ease.

Though that sense of ease quickly disappeared.

This is not the way if I want to not attract attention.

Gregor was still shackled by the same cuffs that bonded his hands together. He ecstatically ran up to Sammuel without caring about the odd gazes directed at him. A meek girl followed right behind him. She seemed to be panicking from Gregor’s sudden actions.

She wore a uniform similar to that of the other of the handlers. Based on everything he had seen so far, this girl was the one dealing with Gregor. Her childlike demeanor made it difficult to deal with her.

Sammuel noticed his own handler show a slightly disgruntled face. Sammuel’s handler silently took a few steps to the side, seemingly wanting to increase the distance between them. From an outsider’s point of view, it was difficult to assume whether it was Gregor’s appearance that made him back off or something else.

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[Name: Martine von Resctus

Card Quality: Platinum

Star Quality: 3 | 105/200 | 4.23/100%

Affinity Level: 84.43%

Combat Power: 5,232]

So my handler’s quite the powerhouse himself. Over 5,000 Combat Power without any [Skills] active? I’ve never seen anything as high as that before. Was what Verim said that our standards were low really true? From the looks of it, I'm more inclined to believe so.

Sammuel checked the other handlers. From his understanding, this Elevnia Kingdom truly housed powerful people. As they focused on military might instead of trade, everyone was a cut above.

[Combat Power: 8,254]

[Combat Power: 3,985]

[Combat Power: 4,281]

From the looks of it, Martine was in the middle of the pack. The person who had a base Combat Power of 8,254 was the oldest person here. If not for requiring his aid in suppressing these troublesome captives then he wouldn’t have stopped retirement. There was only one person who had the right to be handled by such a powerful figure, Lilia.

After observing just how dangerous this place truly was, he finally laid his eyes on the girl behind Gregor.

[Name: ???

Card Quality: ???

Star Quality: 3 | ???/200 | ???

Affinity Level: 100%

Combat Power: ???]

As always with cases like this, Sammuel felt a headache coming on. It was one thing for him to witness an overwhelmingly high Combat Power but it was a whole other story to see someone that [Ego] was unable to see through.

It had to be noted that although he wasn’t able to see through powerful figures like the high priest of the Salvo Empire, Gaben, or the brute from the Vis Empire, Riccen, he could see through their names. Yet this girl’s name was hidden. There were far too many mysteries being uncovered in quick succession.

“What’s the matter?” Gregor followed Sammuel’s gaze and landed on his handler. He immediately opened into a wide smile before nudging Sammuel’s chest. “Actually, if you want, I’ll help you out here. What’s a friend for?”

Sammuel wanted to smack Gregor’s face yet his hands were still bound. He was unable to do so at all. “That’s not it. I’m just curious why they gave you a little girl. Were you really just that weak?”

Gregor might only be in the Awakened Stage but his talent was approaching Xeril. Even if Sammuel hadn’t learned anything else, he wouldn’t dare underestimate such a person. He was simply playing the part of a fool who knew nothing.

“Eh?” She seemed to be not a day older than twenty. Her youthful complexion contrasted the rugged appearances of all the handlers in this white room. Taking her hand and shoving her hair back behind her ear, she acted embarrassed. “Uhm...”

The white room reflected her neck-length pink hair and radiant eyes. Her grey uniform seemed to be a size too large for her, given how much baggage there was at the end of her limbs.

“What’s wrong with her?” Sammuel immediately directed his question to the person who brought him there. If there was anyone that he could ask then it would be him.

Martine sighed before asserting his authority. “Lady Valerie. If you would please act accordingly. This is a serious matter.”

“I-I’m trying my best!” Spoken like a complete newbie.

“See, she’s trying her best!” Gregor joined in and vouched for his handler.

“He’s behaving well! Look, Gregor, tell him how much you’re behaving!”

“Valerie is doing well! I follow her words to the letter!” Gregor tried to raise his hand to salute Valerie yet he clumsily hit his head. He fell on the ground as Valere began screaming out.

“Sir Martine! Sir Martine! He’s knocked out, what do I do?” The complete and utter fear and confusion in her eyes were genuine. Which made it much worse in Sammuel’s eyes.

Martine and Sammuel looked at each other. For some reason, there was some sort of understanding that formed between them. It was the type of bond that could only be felt between people who have gone through similar troubles.

“How long have you been with this fool?” Martine coldly asked.

“Too long. You?”

“Longer than I can stomach. Still…” Martine went to Gregor’s side and grabbed him by the shoulder. He pulled him up until he was standing up straight. “Lady Valerie is of noble descent. I can’t let her tarnish her name.”

“She’s a noble? Woah! Are you really?”

It was then that Valerie switched up her tone to one of complete pride. “Uhm, yep! I’m a noble. I’m here to easily get the qualification to be the head of my-”

Martine woefully sighed and warned her, again. “Lady Valerie, that is confidential information. Please refrain from spilling any more secrets.”

Valerie quickly covered her mouth with her hands. “Oooh. Then is the-”

“Lady Valerie, please stop talking.”

Valerie nodded in agreement. She still kept her hands on her mouth while following Martine’s words to the letter. Martine sent her away while he took Gregor under his wing.

“Lady Valerie, if you would kindly stare at the wall while I brief these two.” Martine treated Valerie like a child. The worst part was that Valerie really acted like one. She followed Martine’s words and did as he said. As for the other handlers, they have become far too accustomed to seeing such a scene.

The other captives looked at this strange sequence of events.

“Why don’t I have her as my handler?”

“Yeah, can I switch now?”

“She’s… a girl like me too. If… If possible, can I please-” The girl who had broken into tears before spoke up.

“Shut up.” The same person who had forcefully shut her up replied once again.

“Okay…”

In another corner of the room, Lilia was silently watching on as everything unfolded. She had already gotten the gist of what they were doing here. After hearing it in clear detail, she grew wary of her surroundings. Still, there was something else that made her curious enough to ask her handler.

“Who is she? She’s not like the rest.”

“She’s a noble. Her upbringing and training regimen are different from ours. She had been given the best of elixirs and had been taught by the greatest teachers around. Her future is limitless.”

Lilia scoffed. “I’m not stupid.”

“Getting caught intentionally seems to be a little stupid though.”

“So are you going to let me go?”

The old man warmly smiled. “If you want to leave, just give us proof that you are innocent. As simple as that. We only want the culprit.”

“Fucking hypocrites.” Lilia refocused her attention on Valerie. "Just get on with it already. I'm not getting held up here for no reason."

He slightly smiled before coughing out, "Please, act accordingly."