Lucas followed the stream of villagers as they slowly gathered toward the central square of Verne Town. The air carried a heaviness that pressed down on everyone, though it manifested differently across the crowd.
Some people wore faces of deep sorrow, unable to hide their grief.
Some carried unease, shifting from foot to foot and glancing nervously around.
Most, however, seemed detached, as if this gathering had nothing to do with them.
They had long grown accustomed to following orders, accepting arrangements without question, never daring to wonder about the purpose behind those orders.
The square continued to fill. More and more villagers arrived, their wooden shoes clattering against the cobblestones, their whispers fading as the space became packed with bodies.
At first, quiet discussions buzzed through the crowd like restless insects, but as time passed and more villagers gathered, the voices dwindled. By the time the square was full, an uncanny silence settled over the place. Hundreds of people stood together, yet not a single voice dared to break the stillness.
---
The Arrival
The church bells struck 6:15 p.m.
At that exact moment, a man in a crisp black suit strode confidently onto the podium in front of the square. His presence alone drew every eye.
He had a square, rigid face, sunken eye sockets, and a long hooked nose that gave his expression a sharp, predatory edge. His steps were heavy and deliberate, each one carrying authority.
The microphone in front of him gave a faint screech as he tapped it. His gaze swept across the crowd with chilling calm, and though he said nothing yet, an invisible pressure radiated from him, forcing the villagers to stiffen instinctively.
Lucas felt the change instantly. Several villagers near him tensed up like prey sensing the hunter's gaze.
> [Modeling...]
[Risk assessment being generated based on host's own strength...]
[Senior management of the town: Approaching beyond senior-level danger.]
Lucas's eyes narrowed. So, this is the first one in Verne Town whose danger rating surpasses the senior threshold… the so-called "talker."
---
The Prisoners
The hooked-nosed man gave a subtle nod to his left. At once, three prison guards emerged from the shadows, dragging with them three ragged men in torn clothing.
Each guard carried a long white staff, the ends glowing faintly. The captives struggled, their faces filled with terror, but the sticks seemed to hold a cruel power. With a simple flick of the guards' wrists—
Plop!
The three men fell to their knees as if crushed by invisible chains. Their heads were forced down, pressed against the wooden stage.
Lucas's system flickered again:
> [Town staff: Advanced danger]
[Villagers of K-Town: Medium danger]
[Villagers of Birta Town: Advanced danger]
[Villagers of Nile Town: Approaching intermediate danger]
The hooked-nosed man gave a small nod of satisfaction at the sight of the captives' submission. He motioned again, and another group was brought forward—this time not intruders, but villagers accused of harboring them.
Whispers rippled briefly through the audience, but no one dared raise their voice.
Among those dragged forward was a man Lucas recognized immediately—Liu Youwei, one of the players.
The system identified him clearly:
> [Player Liu Youwei: Advanced danger]
---
Defiance
Unlike the others, Liu Youwei resisted fiercely. His veins bulged across his forehead, and his body trembled with effort as he tried to break free from the staff's control. Yet, despite his strength, his legs moved against his will until he was forced onto the stage, kneeling like the rest.
Still, he would not yield. His roar tore across the square:
"Let me go, you lunatics!"
The sound echoed off the stone walls, startling even the silent crowd.
The hooked-nosed man frowned deeply. His hand rose, pointing at Liu Youwei's mouth.
At once, the guard restraining him twisted the white staff, pulling out a thin rod tipped with sharp steel. With a brutal swing, the guard struck Liu Youwei across the face.
Crack!
Blood spattered as a deep red welt split across his temple and cheek. His head snapped to the side, and a groan of pain rattled from his throat.
The crowd winced, but no one spoke.
Finally, Liu Youwei quieted, his shoulders rising and falling with ragged breaths. The only remaining sounds on the stage were the muffled sobs of the other captives.
The hooked-nosed man's frown loosened slightly. He stepped forward, coughed, and spoke into the microphone, his voice amplified across the square.
---
The Speech
"Today," he declared, "with the combined efforts of our staff and the loyal villagers of Verne Town, we have captured three intruders."
His words rang with authority.
"However—" he paused, letting silence weigh upon the crowd, "we also uncovered nine betrayers, villagers who were deceived by the invaders, who fell into their ideological traps."
He pointed at the trembling villagers behind him.
"Their minds are no longer those of compatriots. Keeping them among us would plant dangerous seeds that threaten all of Verne Town."
A suffocating silence fell. Not a single voice rose in objection. The villagers stood frozen, their faces pale, as the words pressed into their minds.
The man's gaze sharpened. He leaned toward the microphone again.
"But despite our efforts, intruders still lurk in our town. They hide in the shadows, protected by those willing to shelter them."
At this, nervous murmurs broke out. People turned, looking suspiciously at neighbors, friends, even family.
The fear was contagious, spreading like wildfire.
The hooked-nosed man seized upon it. His voice grew louder, cutting through the whispers:
"I know you intruders are here. Watching. Listening. If you still want your companions to live, step forward now. Confess, and I will give you a chance to atone for your sins!"
He raised his pocket watch, flipping it open.
"You have five minutes. After that… every ten minutes, another life will be taken."
---
The Countdown
The stage dissolved into sobs and desperate cries from the captives. But the man stood expressionless, his hands folded behind his back as he waited.
The villagers below turned in circles, scanning those around them with suspicion. Some whispered, some trembled, some glared at shadows.
Five minutes crawled by like an eternity.
But no one stepped forward.
The hooked-nosed man snapped his pocket watch shut. His voice was cold:
"Unfortunately, time is up."
He gestured sharply.
A guard dragged a woman forward, her face streaked with soot, snot, and tears. Her body shook uncontrollably, and when the thin rod pierced into her, she let out a strangled cry before collapsing.
Blood stained the stage.
---
The Plea
Liu Youwei's eyes blazed red. He twisted against the staff, blood spilling from his lips as he screamed:
"Resist! Why don't you resist?! You're all villagers—your own people are being killed in front of you! Do something!"
His voice cracked, hoarse with desperation, but the villagers below only stared at him. Their eyes held confusion, fear, and a strange detachment. To them, he was not a savior—only a madman, ranting like a fool in a circus.
Lucas, standing silently among them, exhaled heavily.
Somewhere inside, he felt the weight of truth pressing on him.
"They don't understand," he murmured to himself. "The discrimination within the lighthouse has always existed… and the villagers themselves are part of it. How can they resist what they've accepted all their lives?"
The crowd remained motionless, the stage soaked in despair, and the voice of the hooked-nosed man continued to echo, merciless and unyielding.
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