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Just as Morin and Gaius had predicted.
News that an Adjudicator had arrived at the Continental Hotel-along with corresponding photos-was quickly verified by the Hawkeye organization and reported to the relevant High Table personnel.
The response came fast.
The Adjudicator was fake.
...
Rome Continental Hotel.
The receptionist arrived at the entrance of the gallery with a team of assassins.
They had received the message from the High Table.
As Gaius's loyal subordinates, they were naturally the most anxious. Without hesitation, they brought people with them and rushed over.
"Knock, knock."
The receptionist knocked on the door and spoke in as steady a voice as possible.
"Sir, Mr. Batius is here to see you."
"Sir?"
"Sir?"
...
Silence.
There was no response from inside, as if no one were there.
"..."
The receptionist fell silent, glanced at the people around him, then nodded.
A few seconds later, they moved together.
The door was kicked open.
They rushed in with guns raised-
And found Gaius lying on the ground.
Unconscious.
"Sir!"
The receptionist rushed forward.
Gaius was sprawled on the floor, unmoving.
The others stayed alert, spreading out and searching the room one by one.
They were looking for the fake Adjudicator.
By now, they all understood who that person really was.
Most likely-
The Templar Knight who had come to assassinate Gaius.
The assassins flooded into the gallery, which doubled as a meeting room, and searched every corner again and again.
Nothing.
No trace.
They looked at each other in disbelief.
There had been people guarding the door the entire time.
There was no secret passage.
The surrounding glass was intact.
So how did that person vanish?
Even after deploying various high-tech detection devices, they still found nothing.
"Ugh..."
A low groan sounded.
Gaius slowly regained consciousness.
A sharp pain throbbed at the back of his head.
"Sir? You're awake?" The receptionist hurried to his side and handed him a glass of water.
"Drink some water first..."
Gaius took a few instinctive gulps.
His eyes were vacant for several seconds before gradually focusing.
"Parsley..." Gaius struggled to sit up.
"What happened?"
"Why am I here?"
"What time is it?"
"How long was I out?"
"Sir, please don't get agitated," Parsley said gently.
"You were unconscious for about an hour. It's over now..."
"Tell me what happened," Gaius said.
"The Adjudicator was fake," Parsley said.
"When we received the High Table's message, we rushed over. But we only found you here."
"The fake Adjudicator had already disappeared."
"Disappeared?" Gaius frowned.
Whether from pain or disbelief, it was hard to tell.
"How is that possible?"
"There's only one entrance to the meeting room. People were guarding it the whole time."
"How could someone leave without being noticed?"
"How could they just vanish?"
"That's a question for you, Mr. Gaius."
The door was pushed open.
A man walked in.
The men behind him instantly subdued Gaius's guards at the entrance.
"I am the Adjudicator," the man said coldly.
"I came specifically for this matter."
"Adjudicator?" Gaius gave a short laugh.
"I'm starting to dislike that word."
"You should," the Adjudicator said flatly.
"That man was nothing more than a reckless thief."
He walked to the bedside and looked down at Gaius.
"I have several questions for you, Mr. Gaius."
Without waiting for a response, he began.
"Why did that person disappear?"
"Was that person a Templar Knight?"
"What did he say to you during the twenty minutes and thirty-two seconds you were alone together?"
"One final question."
"Why didn't he kill you?"
"Why did he only knock you unconscious with a blunt object?"
There were no cameras.
No recording devices.
Gaius was silent for a moment.
Then he lifted his gaze, cold and sharp.
"Are you interrogating me?"
"This is an inquiry from the High Table," the Adjudicator replied without evasion.
His expression didn't change.
This was the Adjudicator's attitude.
And it was also the High Table's attitude.
They demanded accountability.
That was all.
"I don't know," Gaius said slowly, narrowing his eyes.
"That fake Adjudicator knocked me out instantly."
"After that, I remember nothing."
"So," the Adjudicator said coolly,
"a Templar Knight impersonated an Adjudicator, came all the way to the Rome Continental Hotel, and only knocked you unconscious?"
He didn't wait for an answer.
He straightened.
"Mr. Gaius, due to your possible violation of the principle of absolute obedience to the High Table, I am giving you three hours."
"Return to the Rome Continental Hotel."
"Your qualifications as owner will be suspended."
"A new owner will be appointed."
"Owner?" Gaius snapped.
"I am the owner of the Continental Hotel!"
"Under the High Table," the Adjudicator said indifferently.
He turned to leave.
"Have you considered," Gaius said coldly as the Adjudicator reached the door,
"that his real goal might have been to keep me alive?"
"To make all of you suspicious of me?"
"That is precisely why we are removing you," the Adjudicator replied without slowing his steps.
This time, he didn't even say "temporarily."
Perhaps he forgot.
Or perhaps-
He didn't care.
"Sir..." Parsley looked at Gaius with worry.
"Parsley," Gaius asked abruptly,
"how long does it take to get from here to the Rome Continental Hotel?"
"About half an hour," Parsley replied, confused.
"Have everyone leave," Gaius said.
"I need an hour of quiet."
"Sir, you shouldn't-"
"Do it!" Gaius snapped, his expression sharp enough to make her flinch.
"...Yes," Parsley said softly.
"I'll inform them immediately."
"Wait."
As she reached the door, Gaius stopped her again.
After a long pause, he asked,
"Parsley... if-and I mean if-I were to do something that might lead us to our deaths..."
"Would you follow me?"
"I can't speak for anyone else," Parsley said, turning back with a small smile.
"But I will follow you until the day I die, sir."
"...I see."
Gaius was silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"You may go."
Parsley left and closed the door behind her.
She went to carry out his orders.
Gaius leaned back.
He let out a long breath.
After a while-
"As you wish, Mr. Morin."
In the now-empty private ward, Gaius opened his eyes.
Cold light flickered within them.
"I agree to your deal."