The Baron’s cold sword pressed against his chin from below. He swallowed hard.

“I will not repeat myself,” the Baron said.

He was at a loss for words. What do you mean ‘who sent me here’?

“I don’t know,” he blurted out.

The Baron tilted his head to the side. In the moonlight, he could make out the Baron’s piercing gaze from his green eyes.

“If you want to stick to that story, then I’ll make sure it’s written on your tombstone,” the Baron said. “No further questions are needed if you don’t feel like answering.”

The Baron slowly extended his sword. He turned the sharp edge towards his neck, ready to strike him down. There wasn’t a hint of hesitation.

image [https://i.imgur.com/beGUeqS.jpeg]

“I don’t know. I truly don’t know. I woke up in this place without any memories,” he pleaded. “I was told that you bought me. I thought you knew why I’m here.”

He immediately noticed that he had forgotten to address the Baron properly. He pressed his forehead into the dirt.

“My Lord, you have to believe me when I say I don’t know what happened before today. Please,” he begged, “forgive me for not being of any help. I don’t understand what’s happening either. I don’t even know my own name.”

This is so humiliating! But what else can I do? I refuse to die here!

“Is that how you explain your Status?” Baron Bonatelli asked as he slowly lowered his sword. “Don’t worry, I’ll make you talk.”

“What?” he asked, his voice weak.

He had heard the term ‘Status’ before but had no idea what it entailed. He raised his head to meet the Baron’s eyes, searching for an explanation. The Baron still looked down on him with a penetrating intensity. His heart sank.

“I must say, you’re the first to cause me such a headache. Who was it? Are you one of Xuang’s spies? He doesn’t have the means for that beyond the border, right?” The Baron started rambling. “Was it Blair? He might’ve found out. He’s a tricky one. Or was it-?”

The Baron suddenly fell silent, his eyes searching the dirt for a moment before they fixed back on him.

“That bitch is siding with the HU,” Bonatelli mumbled.

The sword in the Baron’s hand began to tremble. He cowered further as the Baron grew increasingly unstable.

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“It’s Leonhard, isn’t it?” The Baron’s eyes flared with rage.

He couldn’t even begin to understand what Lucio Bonatelli was experiencing.

The Baron screamed: “Answer me!”

He’s manic!

“I don’t know these people!” he said, his voice trembling.

The Baron wasn’t satisfied with that answer. He glanced at the other Adventurers. Pressed to find out the truth, he raised the sword again.

“I heard all about your schemes. Don’t play dumb with me,” he threatened, “it’s Leonhard who sent you. That sounds like her.”

The sword’s tip lightly danced a deadly pattern on the skin of his neck. One misstep and it would be all over.

“Wha- What schemes? Who’s Leonhard? I have no idea. It’s the truth!” he stammered before adding: “My Lord.”

The Baron tightened his grip on the sword. His muscles were so tense that the sword began to shake.

“You better stop lying if you wish for a quick death.” Bonatelli began to press the tip of the sword against his throat.

He flinched and fell backward, screaming.

“Stop squirming, you worm!” the Baron shouted. “You’re up to something. Why else would a Player hide among the NPCs?”

The Baron repeatedly stabbed his sword into the ground between his legs.

“What are you talking about?” he asked, trying to dodge the flurry of attacks.

“You went straight for my prized possession! What are you trying to achieve by coddling up to those ones and zeroes?” Bonatelli demanded answers like a madman.

“What ones and zeroes? I don’t understand! You have to believe me, please,” he begged between cries of pain.

The Baron halted his assault, breathing heavily. He looked like he needed a quick break too. They stared at each other for a moment as he checked his legs for any cuts. Finally, Becket broke the silence.

“My Lord,” the Sword said, “I don’t believe he is lying.”

“Silence,” the Baron commanded.

Then Reacher spoke up: “If he’s not a spy, then this is a PvP crime.”

Bonatelli’s eyes shot in the knights’ direction.

“Sometimes when you don’t know what you are talking about, you better shut your mouth,” the Baron threatened them, “or I’ll have you reassigned to the front lines.”

It didn’t take long for the Baron to regain his composure.

“Ones and zeroes,” the Baron repeated as if to clarify the previous question, “what are you plotting with my NPCs? Be very careful with your answer.”

He didn’t know what to say, but he had to give an answer, no matter how confusing the question was. Even though the Baron had ceased his attack, he knew time was short if he wanted to survive. He saw Reacher and Becket, arms crossed on the sidelines. Did Reacher rat me out? Surely, this isn’t about a few missing gems.

His mind was blank from fear. He couldn’t think straight. He looked around frantically. He saw the other knight with the battleaxe, the litter, the slaves. Nothing came to mind. Nothing, really? Nothing at all? I can’t even come up with a stupid lie?

The Baron grew restless. He laid the blade of the sword on his other hand and inspected it. One could almost hear the inner debate on when to strike. A sense of dread filled the air. What ones and zeroes? What plans? Think!

“I suppose no answer is an answer,” the Baron said. “I grow tired of this. I’ll find out what you’ve been doing here some other way.”

With that, Bonatelli raised the sword above his head. The sword’s edge glimmered white in the moonlight. He knew he couldn’t fight back. Helplessly, he looked over to PP, still kneeling by the litter. He wouldn’t help him this time. There was no hero coming to save him. This was where it ended for him. No, please, no!

As the Baron began to swing his sword, his eyes caught the red mantle. The word ‘Status’ resurfaced in his mind, and something clicked. As the sword descended, he clung to a very faint hope. It was an answer he wasn’t sure would help him, but an answer nonetheless. With no more time to lose, he closed his eyes and prayed that whatever he blurted out next would save him.