TOTCF2

Chapter 53: Hide and seek (8)

The residents always gathered at the central plaza when it was time for a festival in the Empire’s capital.

That was usually where they announced the start of the festival.

“…So many people have gathered.”

“I know, right?”

Today, the central plaza as well as the alleys connected to the plaza and the commercial districts and all buildings within it were full of people.

However, the mood was noisy but oddly somber.

There was also a mysteriously heated atmosphere.

“It’s much better up here on the roof!”

Some people had climbed up to the roofs of buildings to look down at the plaza.

“…Wow. All of them are to be executed?”

There was a fountain at the center of the plaza. Starting from there, there was an area that resembled a piece of pie toward the Imperial Palace to the north. Extremely tall separators were placed to distinguish this area from the rest.

“I can’t really see the faces of the candidates because we are too far!”

The candidates of the Imperial heir test were all within that separated area.

“Hehe.”

Mercenary Zero… He was smiling while looking around.

“So many people came to watch people die~”

Today was the day to announce the results of the second test, the Hide and Seek.

In other words, it was the day of the public execution.

He was looking at the extremely packed crowd and could not stop laughing as if he found this to be extremely hilarious.

“I guess watching people die is quite entertaining. Pfft.”

Numerous spectators were whispering while watching the people the candidates had captured.

Zero was quite entertained by this.

However, the gazes of the other candidates as they looked at him were not very nice.

“Ha! He’s gone crazy!”

One of the candidates scowled while looking past Zero’s shoulders.

“…All of them have burlap sacks over their heads.”

“They do.”

One of the candidate’s helpers continued to speak.

“As expected of someone of mercenary origins, he must have received help from mercenaries.”

There were a lot of people dressed as mercenaries standing behind Zero. Based on what they had heard, Zero had spent money to hire these mercenaries as he no longer had any helpers.

Zero apparently said that he was willing to accept points being taken away for doing this and proceeded with the second test.

The candidates who were now seeing the results could not hide the shocked looks on their faces.

“There are over ten luggage carts.”

Large luggage carts.

They were all stationed around Zero.

Inside them were people whose faces were covered by black burlap sacks kneeling with their hands and feet in shackles.

“It looks like there are at least twenty people in each one.”