The Captain was escorted to 2 Clyster Street, the place he had desperately wanted to enter just hours ago. Now it lay wide open before him, but his current mindset was entirely different.

Although over a thousand militia prisoners had already been captured，But this was the first time the skeleton soldiers saw a prisoner with shit and urine on his head. Though the skeletons didn't know how to handle this special situation, at least they would ask their lord.

Byron looked at the portly middle-aged man before him, while the Captain eyed the tall, composed baronial heir. "Captain, sir, I need a reasonable explanation for today's events. But first..." Byron waved a hand in front of his nose, "You need a good cleaning."

Bucket after bucket of well water was dumped over the Captain's head by some miners until he no longer reeked.

Shivering from the cold, the Captain was brought before Byron again. "Lord Byron, you want to know something? I'll tell you everything, just don't use any necromancy on me..."

Byron furrowed his brow in confusion, wondering if the man had misunderstood something. But he soon realized this must be arranged by His Majesty.

"Who was behind today's operation?"

"The former count's...the count's cabinet ministers."

"What was their goal?"

"To kill the Merchant's Guild leader, capture and exile the wizard, and preserve their power..."

"Why don't you come meet my friend?"

"As you command..."

Byron led the dejected Captain into the parlor where Murphy sat bored at the head of a long table, sipping tea.

Murphy raised an eyebrow at the cowering Captain. "Let me ask you some questions."

"I'll say anything, just spare my life."

"Have you read 'The Great Knight Returns'?"

"What..." The Captain wondered if the cold water had damaged his hearing.

"The book I wrote as a literary consultant, 'The Great Knight Returns' - have you read it?"

"Y-yes, I have."

"Good. Then you'll need to cooperate fully from now on. If you perform well enough, it seems the prison camp could use another overseer..."

"I understand, I'll do my utmost." The Captain sobbed in response.

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---

At the Adventurer's Guild, no adventurers came in that day due to the lockdown of the City of Gath.

The entire guild seemed to have become a dance floor for the masterminds, with people swaying in drunken hazes.

The lead cabinet minister looked outside and said, "It's getting dark out. It should be over soon, right?"

A sycophantic minister replied, "Under your brilliant arrangements, we're sure to receive good news by tonight."

"Hmm, I'll have another drink then. To you all..." The leader hadn't finished speaking when a knock sounded at the parlor door.

Having his words interrupted irritated him. "Come in," he said tersely.

The door opened and the sycophantic Captain of the Militia - no, the Captain of the Standing Army - entered with an ingratiating smile. "Just as you gentlemen predicted, the plan succeeded. The traitorous merchant Alaric is dead, and the wizard Murphy has been captured alive."

"Excellent. What reward would you like?" The minister asked disinterestedly.

"I desire no reward, only to introduce someone who was instrumental in our success."

"If you say he was a great help, then bring him in."

The Captain clapped his hands, and footsteps sounded from outside the door.

The minister frowned at the Captain's antics, as if he were the star of the show. He thought that if this young man proved capable, the Captain would need replacing.

The parlor's double doors burst open, and two fully armored soldiers entered, taking positions by the entrances. A confidently striding young man in a suit appeared in the doorway.

"Surprise! Surprised? Didn't expect this?" Murphy surveyed the room with a mocking tone.

The minister's heart skipped a beat. He turned to the Captain. "What's going on here?"

"What do you think is going on?" The Captain's expression was solemn, not a hint of sycophancy left. "Today is the day you villains meet your doom!"

The Captain cleared his throat. "The clever one recognizes the times. I advise you all to cooperate with Lord Murphy. He won't mistreat you. Otherwise, I'm sure his necromancy spells will pry your mouths open. This is your last chance - don't decline the alcohol and drink the punishment wine."

The minister stared at Murphy in disbelief. "The Standing Army has over a thousand men. How could you possibly..."

Before he could finish, the Captain abruptly resumed his sycophantic demeanor, bowing deeply. "Rest assured, Lord Murphy. With me here, the remaining army poses no threat."

"Yeah, you're pretty weak," Murphy scoffed at the minister. "You didn't really think your so-called Standing Army were elites, did you?"

"Your power exceeds level twenty!" the Guild leader demanded. "Who are you really?"

"Just a wandering wizard passing through," Murphy dismissed him.

"We're cabinet ministers of the lord! Kill us and you'll gain nothing!" a minister bellowed defiantly.

"Which lord? The returning Baron Reed? Or the hung Count Reed? Or perhaps..." Murphy glanced towards the entrance.

A tall, stern middle-aged man strode in and knelt before Murphy. "On behalf of House Reed, I pledge our eternal loyalty to you!"

Murphy shrugged.

"Even if you've turned the heir, others may not agree. Without Alaric, the Guild is just scattered pieces," the minister protested.

A kindly, portly middle-aged man entered. "Lord Murphy, the City of Gath and all its trade are in your grasp!"

Murphy smacked his lips.

"Even so, the gangs we've propped up in the lower city, hiding in the shadows..." the minister grasped at straws.

A tall, bald man carried in a sheaf of bound parchment. "Sir Murphy, all the lower city gangs have been recorded. Just give the word to arrest them."

Murphy sighed mockingly. "Keep going, I'm listening."

"You, you, you...who are you? What will you do to us?" The men at the table seemed to have lost their spines, slumping in defeat like blobs in a swamp.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. You're all too cunning - I've found the perfect place for some character reformation." As Murphy turned to leave, he answered dismissively.

"As for who I am..."

Murphy glanced back at the dejected men with a cocky grin.

"(✓)"