The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 23

"It was you who killed them all."

Lloyd's expression turned solemn as he looked at Saboteur. He wanted to know what kind of person lay behind that bull mask.

"Yeah, they're all dead. It was what the Master required. They thought they'd be rewarded upon their return. And indeed, they were – good food, good drink, as much hallucinogen as they wanted. Then I sealed off the room, poured oil through the cracks, and lit it. By the time they died, the hallucinogen had taken effect. They felt nothing but the gentle embrace of heaven, drifting into eternal sleep."

Saboteur spoke calmly, showing no remorse for his actions.

"Why did you kill them..." Lloyd began to speak, but then he realized everything. His expression changed, and he tightened his grip on the Winchester in his hand.

"So, this is why you were willing to tell me all of this, isn't it?"

The great detective finally realized all the abnormalities. There was never nameless benevolence, not for Lloyd, not for Saboteur either.

"Yes," Saboteur nodded, his tone neither happy nor sad. Lloyd had seen such expressions before, in the Victoria Central Hospital. Those who were about to die often had this demeanor – impervious to worldly disturbances, neither happy nor sad, just resigned to their fate.

It was a predetermined destiny, with no room for alteration.

"That's not something mortals can touch. Just knowing of its existence is a grave sin... like staring into the sun, it exacts a price, even if it's just a glance."

"So, death is their price? Death," Lloyd said.

He didn't directly answer Lloyd. Instead, the small figure jumped off the chair, swaying, with an indescribable feeling.

"Death is a release, much better than being alive. Great detective, you don't understand what it is."

"So, is that why you're being so benevolent? Anyone who knows these things has to die, whether it's the crew of the Silver Fish, or us right now, everyone here tonight has to die, right?"

That was the reason for Saboteur's honesty. Lloyd's arrival was merely a stroke of luck. Everyone who entered this frenzy tonight had to die – they were sacrifices to the taboo. Only blood and flesh could bring it peace.

The lethal shotgun was aimed at Saboteur, Lloyd's gaze solely fixed on him. If he pulled the trigger, the shotgun would release a cone of pellets, and with Saboteur's diminutive stature, there was no way he could dodge it.

"What about you? You know all this too, so is your death also tonight?"

Lloyd questioned. If the Sacred Coffin was indeed something unspeakable and untouchable, then Saboteur should be among those to be reckoned with.

Saboteur replied calmly, "Yes, tonight, I'll die too."

From the start, Saboteur hadn't intended to let anyone leave alive. The earlier gambling was just a final game for the dying. With only a few fingers, he picked up the stiletto. A gentle shake produced a piercing sound as the blood smeared on it cascaded like rain.

"Stop!"

Eve picked up the revolver from the gambling table, with only one bullet in the chamber, primed and ready. Now, two guns were pointed at Saboteur; they had him cornered.

"Wait, Eve!"

Lloyd suddenly halted Eve's action, his cold eyes betraying a hint of confusion. He realized the danger, his expression turning stern.

"So, this was your plan all along. This is why you had the leisure to play coin games with us, right?"

Saboteur nodded, his stiletto controlled by a few fingers, sharp and deadly.