28 Investigating The City (1) [EDITED]

'Someone who has a system is behind this? How is this possible!'

Sam thought he was the only one who was from another world at this point in time, he never remembered anyone else from Earth coming into the Other World earlier than him.

"Sorry Alistar, would you mind if I go to the bathroom real quick, I'll return as soon as I can, it's been a long journey!"

"Um… okay?" Alistar, bewildered by Sam asks one of the guards to escort him to the toilets, meanwhile, Sam is in a conversation with the system in his head.

'What's going on? Do you know anything?'

[[DING! …]]

'How can another person other than me be in this world have a system, is there something I need to know about?'

[[DING! …]]

Silence, Sam knew that the system wouldn't answer him like this, so he gave up questioning it. He went to the bathroom and returned back to Alistar's office.

He knew that in order for him to get the answers he wanted, he had to first face the man who came over with the system earlier than him. In the past, he thought he was the only one but now he suspects something has changed, or perhaps he is living an event undocumented by time.

"Welcome back, you looked like you recognised what the note said, could you tell me where this language came from?"

This 'system' language was a language that only people from Earth could read and write, and it was used to communicate with one another without the Other World knowing about it. Earth Lords would use this language to send letters to each other about plans of attack aganist major Other World Empires, and even though messages were intecepted they couldn't read it.

"Yeah, it's my uh… 'home' language."

"Great! What does it say!"

"The Many shall suffer for the sins of the one"

"…"

The note was eerie and sounded like whoever planted it had a vendetta with the city lord, or someone in this city rather.

"Any enemies you made prior to the disappearances?"

"Other than half of the nobles who support the First Prince to take over the throne? None! Despite my reputation, from how my citizens react outside of the city it seems like I am a well-liked lord."

"The meaning of the note is simple, someone committed a 'sin' that was so bad that everyone innocent or not shall suffer its consequences."

"None of the gods in the church have a saying like this, nor does anyone follow that sort of practice."

Sam raises an eyebrow, "The person who wrote this isn't from this region, which means his religion is outside the seven gods. Have you investigated the church?"

Alistar sighs, "I can't investigate it further than just talking to the leading figures over there. Kingdom is extremely religious, especially under the current ruler. No noble can interfere with what the Church is doing unless they have solid evidence of evil doings, which is hard to prove when you can't investigate it without breaking rule one."

Sam clicks his tongue, "Any other groups I should be aware of before I go into the city?"

"None I can think of…"

"Alright, I'll begin my investigation. See you when I get any information about this mysterious group!" Sam stood up and headed back to the city square where everyone stared at him through their windows with fear in their eyes.

Sam looked around the city, taking note of where everything was. He noted specific places like taverns, the church region, and markets.

As he arrived in the church region, he was met with three guards wearing different uniforms from the other guards in the city.

"Sorry, non-members of the church cannot enter this region."

"That's odd, shouldn't the city lord control the entire city, not just some of it?"

The guard who didn't answer Sam's question stood there, not moving. Sam sighed and turned around, he wanted to get in, not start a fight.

He walked back to the city entrance and headed towards the refugee camps to gather information and leads that they might have.

"Leaving the city so soon? City Lord wants us to make sure you stay and finish the job you promised to complete!" The guards who saw Sam at the city gate halted him.

"Heading to the refugee camp to get some information. Don't worry, I won't leave just yet. I have my horse at your stable as insurance, without the horse I can't return home!"

Sam patted the guard's shoulder before walking away towards the tents outside the city walls.

The guard who heard Sam called the other guards to tell Alistar of Sam's movements.

Soon, Sam arrived at the refugee camp and was met with unkind eyes and contempt.

He sighed, knowing this was the result.

Seeing as everyone was looking at him, he cleared his voice before shouting his intention.

"Attention everyone! I am here on behalf of the City Lord to investigate the disappearance of citizens! I just spoke with him, and the main reason why you guys aren't being accepted is that he can't afford for this mysterious group to come and kidnap your kids too!"

The refugees who heard Sam began to mutter between themselves, and people who were far away began moving closer to hear Sam.

"If you want to live in the city, you must help me! Any information is good information, and when the culprit is dealt with then the city can finally accept you!"

Sam didn't know if Alistar would accept the refugees into the city, but it was his only option to fabricate a lie in order to gain the trust of the refugees who at this point in time are starving and cold.

"I… I know where you can find information!"

Soon, a young man stepped forward. He looked like he hadn't eaten in a long time, with his ribcage even showing.

"There is a group of people who control the city behind the scenes! Although the city lord is respected, they do not have control over the citizens as much as this group! They handle all internal disputes amongst people!"

Sam raised an eyebrow, there is a group like that and Alistar didn't tell him about it?

"But… the group is very hidden in how it acts. They also deal with… illegal things that might anger the city lord."

Mafia.

That is all that Sam could think of, an underworld gang that controls the city in the darkness.

"They meet every few days in the tavern as a way to spread the message about what they'll do for the week among the civilians! And it just so happens it is tonight!"

The young man's eyes began to roll over and he fell on the floor flat on his face. The speaking caused him to use more energy than he needed causing him to faint.

"For helping me out, I'll provide food from the city to you guys! It might not be the best, but it'll feed you for the time being as I am investigating!"

The refugees who heard Sam's words cheered and soon spread the message among the other tents who cheered from afar also.

"What's going on?" Alistar who watched from a distance walked was surprised to see the cheers of the refugees.

"Sam spoke to them, and now they are happy."One of the guards said, standing next to Alistar as protection.

Sam slowly arrived near the city entrance and saw Alistar standing there in shock.

"Feed the refugees, they just gave me some information that is pretty helpful."

"Oh?" Alistar questioned, "What was this information?"

"It is best that I only have this, as it might be in your best interest not to know." Sam didn't want to interfere with the city's underworld relationship with the city lord. He just needs to speak to this group and ask for information about the mysterious kidnappers.

"… Alright, for the sake of my daughter, I'll trust you." Alistar then whistled, which led his assistances to rush over and bow their head.

"Feed the refugees with whatever food we have in storage."

"Yes lord!" The assistant not questioning anything rushed to the food storage along with the rest of the guards who will help distribute the food.

"I'll continue my investigation!" Sam then turned around and began heading to the tavern to meet with this 'mafia-like group!

**

Meanwhile...

"Sir, someone from outside the city has now come to investigate us. What do you want to do?"

The man with the dark hood stood eerily in the middle of the abandoned room, and in front of him was a cage that spanned half the room filled with people who were wearing rags and were dirty.

"Nothing. He won't find us in time before we summon Him. Remember, we were chosen to do this task and we shall deliver success."

The man bowed before the hooded man, "I don't think that is wise, what if he catches us?"

"Then we shall catch him before he catches us. Send some people to spy on him, if he does something worrisome, bring him here to me. We may have use for a man like that."

"We shall carry your order!" The man rushed out of the room to send the message, while the hooded man stood there in silence watching the scared captured civilians.

"Be grateful you infidels, when you die at least you shall die in the name of the Great One!"

"Please let me go!"

"I want mommy!"

"You monster!"

The captured citizens cried and shouted in anger, but was only met with a stare and laughter.

"Father... please save me...." A young beautiful girl was on the ground crying while hugging her knees.