230: Clash of the Titans

Chapter 226: War of the Gods

The merchant excitedly shouted, "You know! You know! You know!"

"The black sun has appeared before, yes, the two of them merged into one."

"No, I don't know, tell me about him."

"The black sun will descend first, paving the way for the Daughter of Illusion—he is the gatekeeper, our guide."

Godwin placed the interrogation confession back on the table and scratched the back of his neck.

He had heard enough about the Daughter of Illusion and the black sun to make his ears ring.

From Lookout Fort to the surrounding villages, every cultist repeated the same story.

For Cyric, who possessed infinite cunning and exquisite methods, mortals knew very little about him.

Perhaps, this was why people fell into the lies and traps he wove time and time again.

"Then where is the gatekeeper?"

The small merchant finally closed his mouth.

Fear seized him again, as if he had suddenly remembered some secret that had to be strictly kept.

But it was too late.

His broken face twisted and contorted, struggling in the fear of a dilemma.

He first looked pleadingly at Godwin.

Then he abruptly turned his head away, as if something terrifying was lurking behind him.

A moment later, he turned back, his gaze returning to Godwin.

"I never repeat a question, sir," Godwin said.

His tone was calm and unruffled, yet the words carried a knife-like threat. "You can delay as long as you wish."

The merchant's expression grew more pained.

His hands quickly clenched and unclenched, and he desperately glanced at the window a few feet away.

The sky outside the window was covered by an endless expanse of dark clouds.

"If I tell you—can I still escape harm?" he asked.

"Answer the question."

Tears once again streamed down his bloodshot cheeks, like a string of broken pearls.

The merchant, Carl, slumped in the chair, one hand still clutching the armrest, his nails almost embedding into the wood.

Godwin stood up, drew a dagger from his waist, and idly trimmed his nails with it.

"West—" Carl said weakly, "Just to the west."

"The west is a big place, there are at least seven or eight villages."

"Unclear—"

Godwin walked towards the merchant.

The other party immediately shrieked, "I really don't know! No one ever told us!"

A smile appeared on Godwin's face as he pressed the dagger against one of the other's fingers.

He wasn't sure if one cut would sever that finger, but he hoped the process would be prolonged.

"Ruins! That's all I know!

"A ruin left by the Calimshan people!

"It's on the mountaintop, near Leapfrog Village, to the west! You'll definitely find it!"

Godwin paused for a moment.

Genuine emotion showed in the merchant's terrified eyes, and years of interrogation experience allowed him to judge whether a person had revealed everything they knew.

He slowly moved the dagger away.

"Not very specific, sir," he said.

"I've told you everything! Everything I know is right here!"

"Yes, I believe you."

Godwin turned around, walked back behind his desk, picked up the confession, and added some content to it.

The merchant was still trembling.

"Now—now what, my lord?" he stammered.

"The interview is over," Godwin said, putting down the revised confession.

The merchant's expression changed from terror to confusion. "Then—then can I go?"

"Yes."

But he still didn't move, just sat there trembling, his mouth wide open.

Godwin clapped his hands, and the door to the room opened, Udo walked in.

Seeing the tall figure, the merchant flinched violently, twisting his body in the chair as if trying to merge with the wood. "Udo," Godwin said while writing something, "escort this gentleman out of here and send him home.

"I believe he was misled, thinking that his actions had some connection to the official doctrines of the church.

"He will be required to undergo two months of penance at the local church, and I believe Father Juan will agree."

As Godwin spoke, an expression of disbelief and despair gradually appeared on the merchant's face.

His hands were still trembling, but he relaxed a little. Udo nodded curtly.

"Alright, boss." He approached the desk. "Anything else?"

Godwin handed Udo a parchment: "This is the Commander's authorization letter.

"Read it to him later, make sure he understands that everything we do is legal and compliant."

Udo took the authorization letter and read it carefully.

"I will take note, sir."

Godwin turned to Carl Bofills: "You are very lucky; I am in a good mood right now.

"This is your chance to start anew, sir, do not waste it."

The merchant was still incredulous, frozen in place.

He clutched the armrest tightly, trying his best not to look at Udo.

Godwin couldn't blame him for that.

After all, most people would avoid eye contact with this scar-faced brute.

"Of course, if you choose to stay here, I might discover more problems."

This sentence seemed to break the spell.

The merchant dragged his exhausted body to his feet, his knees bent, swaying, unable to straighten his waist, as if his spine had suffered severe damage.

"Tha—thank you," he stammered, bowing and rubbing his scarred hands. "May you be well, sir, thank you."

"Believe me, sir, I am not without mercy.

"Provided you have told me everything you know."

With Godwin's warning, the merchant shuffled out of the room.

The poor man clearly flinched when Udo followed him.

The fierce warrior walked behind him, his boots thudding heavily on the floor, then closed the door behind him.

Godwin sat back in his chair, leaning back.

He rested his elbows on the armrests, his fingers tightly clasped.

For a long time, he didn't move again.

He watched a spider on the ceiling diligently weaving a new web.

After a long while, he finally moved.

Even so, only his lips moved, repeating two words under his breath: "black sun."

The worship of Cyric, the God of Lies, was permitted in Amn.

This meant that the merchant had not committed a crime, it was just that his foolish mind failed to realize this.

The reason, perhaps, was that the worship of Cyric was not common in eastern Amn.

The Falcon Family's involvement here was enough to indicate that the merchant forces in western Amn were planning a full-scale invasion of the east.

These merchants represented the interests of their respective families.

But ultimately, it was still the will of the Golden Lady, or rather, Waukeen, the Golden Lady.

Godwin knew very well that in this world, everything ultimately pointed to the gods.

And in this conflict between Mother Earth and the Golden Lady, Cyric, the black sun, was also involved.

Ah, how could a god of trickery like him miss such an excellent opportunity to create chaos!