He Died and Receive an Overpowered Tyrant System

Infiltrating the Gustave's Dominion Part 3

"First things first, what did we learn by simply staying in this inn owned by a generous and benevolent owner? Any ideas?" Mike initiated the discussion about their first two hours in the city of Yutia Village.

"Well first the landscape and the scenery looks exactly like Eighbury, except for those that are under construction, everything looks magnificent and beautiful. If this was my first time coming here and visiting this village, I'd say this village has a copious amount of money." Jasper said as he wandered into their room. He approached the wooden cabinet and briefly brushed his hand on the top. It was smooth and had no rough sensation to be felt, looking at his hand, there was no dust to be seen.

This room was thoroughly cleaned.

"Okay, a very astute observation but apparently they are all very conspicuous. I need something that is strange. Something that we overlooked. Any ideas?" Jasper asked.

Saiki, who was sitting on the bed, raised her hand. She mumbled shyly: "Uhm...I've.. scented... some... foul... odor... coming... from... the... ground floor."

Jasper turned to Saiki who just gave her opinion about the inn they are staying at. His eyebrows knitted, "What do you mean foul odor?"

As she was asked a question relating to her innate skills, Saiki unexpectedly explained to them fluidly.

"During my practice as an assassin, my master trained me to sniff a variety of materials so that I can deduce what's around me. Of course, some of them are dead animals and humans. This smell that I'm sensing is similar to what I've smelled before."

"Enough with the pause just let it slip out your tongue...what is it?" Jasper urged as he remained impatient of her dramatic pause...

"It's the human scent."

The two reflexively reacted, Jasper and Mike looked at each other, exchanging meaningful glances.

"I knew it, the first thing that came to my mind when I first entered here is that the village is sketchy."

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Mike said to Saiki.

Saiki replied simply "It's because I don't want the owner of the inn to be alerted."

"Fair enough…" Mike gave up. He propped up his chin as he contemplated something.

The journey they've made was tough, encountering some weak monsters along the way and killing them with their weaponry. But after that, it seems that they've got their rewards by having them treated like a VIP by the villagers.

The village is pleasant, their buildings are nice, their clothes are fancy, and everyone's really friendly...He'd expected all the commoners to be wearing shabby stuff like the way they were disguised, but guess what, things are different here.

From what he'd heard during the feast, the villagers were largely wheat farmers. As they'd happily explained, they didn't have much income, but because of how well King Phillip III and Duke Elm Gustave kept the peace, they were able to live in comfort despite that. Not to mention the financial crisis the Kingdom of Crentis is currently facing.

Honestly, not only him but Jasper had trouble believing it all. He could never have imagined commoners in the Kingdom under the post-war being so blessed in luxury.

"It seems that you are pondering the same thing I'm pondering." Jasper broke Mike's train of thoughts about the village.

"I think it's better to write this down." Mike pulled out something from his pocket, it was a paper small enough to make notes, then with a pen, he listed everything he finds sketchy in the village.

While writing down his thoughts, Jasper voiced out his thoughts.

"I wonder why were they so insistent on getting us drunk? Plus their houses and clothes were clearly expensive, but all the people...Why do they look like they're starving."

"Same thought here, I'm currently writing it down," Mike said and realized something. "Wait, remember what Obergruppenführer said before we set out? You know, giving us a potion that neutralizes intoxication, defies our common sense, and statutes, things like that?"

"It seems that Obergrupphenfuhrer is telling us something or warning us about something. The question is, why didn't he just tell us so that we can shave off some time discussing this?"

"Maybe it's because of time, you know, time changes."

"Okay back to the topic...where were we? Oh yeah, about them looking like they are starving."

"Go for it," Mike said as he continued writing down his thoughts.

"Their heavy winter clothes did a good job of hiding it, and they were using makeup to make their faces look presentable. Their skin was all dry and ragged, though. Even an amateur could make out the sallow in their eyes."

It was the first thing he caught something fishy.

"Saiki, do you have anything to share other than the scent?"

"Well, I can lead you to the source of smell if you like." Saiki offered.

"By all means do so," Jasper said, he glanced at Mike with a coded look, their hands placed near to their waist, ready to draw their pistols when the time comes.

They left the room and moved briskly towards the door in question. It was down the stairs and past the service counter. When opened, the two found a stairwell leading down. At this moment, the two drew their pistols fitted with a suppressor and tactical light they've never used before.

They were instructed that to open it, they have to push a small button. After that, the bright light illuminated from the small cylindrical tube just below the muzzle.

"This is amazing…" Jasper whispered his praise.

"Focus on the mission." Mike reminded.

The three began their descent. Seconds later, they found themselves in front of yet another door. Saiki paused before it turned to the two.

"This is where the source of the smell is coming from...the scent is getting stronger here."

"Open it," Jasper ordered.

Saiki pulled the handle toward herself.

The three felt a cold sensation run down their spine. That was easy enough to deduce: the smell. The moment Saiki opened the door, the rank smell of blood assailed their nostrils. The two Protection Squadrons' eyes went wide as morbid curiosity made them wonder as to the source of the horrible odor. Aiming the pistol fitted with a tactical light, it shone into the room.

Inside.

"Wha….??"

"This could be the secret they were hiding."

They saw them.

Cast in the light against the dark background was brutalized human corpses dangling from the ceiling.

The room felt eerily cold.

The three saw the unbelievably gruesome spectacle laid before them.

"Th-Those are people?"

"So I see...I think this is the thing Obergrupphenfuhrer is warning us about."

Even though the room was filled with corpses, the three were unfazed, after all, they've seen worse back in Eighbury during the purge. Possibly, they've become accustomed to seeing corpses.

Covering their noses, Jasper wandered around the room with his pistol.

"These people are probably travelers just like us...they've lured them into their trap, got them drunk so they couldn't fight back...then brought them down here," Mike said.

At this point, they remembered wondering how a simple farming village could possess such wealth.

"They kill travelers and take their money. That's why they seemed so rich…" Mike deduced.

"That's what I thought at first, but it looks like money wasn't the only thing they were after." Jasper who just finished wandering around shone his light on one of the suspended corpses.

It looked to have once been a man but was missing a head and one of its hands.

"Look. See the deep cut on the ankle? What does a hunter do when they catch an animal and prepare them for food?" Jasper asked rhetorically.

"They've had their blood drained." Mike simply answered.

"That's right. And the organs were removed cleanly, so they're definitely being prepared for consumption. This village is a den of murderers."

Suddenly, they realized something.

"Wait...what have we eaten earlier?"

"Bluuuurgh! I'm gonna be sick." Mike dropped to his knees and ejected the contents of his dinner.

"Fuck...does that mean???" Jasper dropped to his knees also, feeling completely disgusted at what he just thought.

But

"Don't worry, we're fine. We are not eating human meat, that was all horse meat." Saiki assured.

"H-Horse?"

"I see that you aren't astute." She sighed, "When we came into this inn, there was a wagon. It probably belonged to one of these guys." Saiki said, fluidly. Making the two wondered about her bashful personality.

But they didn't question it.

"I know what's going on here." Jasper thought of something, "It might be possible that the villagers here used its horse to throw us that feast. If they fed us people and scared us off, it'd defeat the whole purpose. Besides, trading the horse flesh it takes to fill a couple of bellies for three whole bodies worth of meat is a pretty good deal."

"I don't like what you are saying here."

"Hmmph. Imagine us three hanging on these walls when we were not careful."

"We aren't careful enough." Jasper countered. "We've been warned by Obergruppenführer, remember? If it wasn't for the potion, we would probably be the one hanging there."

"I don't think so." Saiki countered, "I may be just a kid but I can protect the two of you from getting there."

"Oh that's right you were an assassin, of how stupid of me." Mike sarcastically said.

"But how can they do that? They looked like decent people but their ways were barbaric. Their alluring smiles, they were all fake!" Jasper exclaimed.

Mike and Saiki couldn't agree more. They were deceived by their fake smile. Then...something came up with Mike's mind. He realized the expression of Amelia at him.

Wait.

Had she been trying to warn them? However, Mike's train of thought was soon interrupted. A shrill ear-piercing whistle shattered the air.

The three of them reflexively looked up, the two's pistols aimed at the door.

Above them, they heard a voice echo that echoed in their location. It was loud, male, and booming.

"The Knight's Captain Albarest is here for an inspection! Show yourselves!"

"What is that?" Saiki asked.

"I don't know, but we better get out of here before someone finds us here. Remember, be discreet, if they find us out, our mission will be compromised and aborted." Mike reminded the two.