The description of the System was so brief it caught Lloyd by surprise. 'For something this important, shouldn't there be a detailed, essay-length explanation? But it's so simple, as if they're charging by the word...'
In any case, the explanation revealed a key piece of information—the System could be turned on and off.
That meant the situation wasn't as dire as he'd thought, and Lloyd breathed another sigh of relief. He wouldn't have to worry about suddenly giving himself away.
'I should just stick to my plan,' he thought. 'Don't use the power of Twist, and don't seek out any knowledge related to it.'
'It's not like I'll run into this kind of terrorist-attack-style "teaching" very often, right?'
'Anyway, I'll just keep my head down, level up, allocate my points, and hone my skills. Once my Attributes are maxed out and my Divine Skill is perfected, won't I be like a whale in a mobile game? I'll be able to do whatever I want.'
'But until my Training Level is complete, I have to be careful about everything. This world is probably full of powerful people. Even a Drunkard whose face I couldn't get a good look at is a total stat monster.'
Having figured all this out, Lloyd finally relaxed. His mind gradually grew calm, and he drifted into a deep sleep there on the hospital bed.
He slowly began to wake only when he heard a noise near his ear.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the three patients in the adjacent beds were already awake. They all looked pale and dazed. Unable to even get out of bed, they could only groan and whimper incessantly.
As for the Drunkard administrator, she hadn't woken up. She was sleeping soundly, without the slightest sign of pain.
Next, Lloyd heard the sound of leather boots on the floor outside. The footsteps were slower this time, and after a moment, the striking figure of Weiya appeared in the doorway.
Her head was slightly bowed, her hands clasped respectfully at her waist, as if she were guiding a person of great importance.
Soon, a strange figure in a black robe walked into the room.
He was completely shrouded in a loose, black robe, his head covered by a hood. His face was hidden behind a metal mask carved into a human visage with a cold, numb expression. Not a single inch of skin was visible; even his hands and neck were wrapped in black bandages, giving him a sinister and mysterious aura.
The moment this figure entered, the patients in the other beds instantly fell silent. Their faces grew tense, as if they were facing a life-or-death moment.
The robed figure walked first to the Drunkard administrator's bed. Seeing that she was fast asleep, he left her undisturbed and moved on to the patient in the next bed. He then splayed his five bandaged fingers, holding his hand over the man's face.
He closed his hand into a fist, as if grasping something invisible, and then slowly nodded.
Two burly Priests standing nearby immediately rushed forward, hoisted the patient up, and shoved him onto a stretcher.
The patient tried his best to struggle, but he was dizzy, disoriented, and utterly weak. He could only manage to cry out:
"No! Stop! I don't want to go to a mental asylum! My parents made great contributions to the Sect! You can't do this to me!"
The two Priests looked exasperated and began to explain:
"What are you yelling about? We're not taking you to a mental hospital. You've been chosen. You'll be heading to Tower Three."
"Next time we meet, I'll have to call you 'sir.'"
Hearing this, the patient was so overwhelmed by the sudden reversal of fortune that he began to weep with joy. He was carried out, laughing and crying all at once.
The remaining two patients instantly went from being nervous and afraid to excited and expectant, watching eagerly as the robed figure approached them.
The figure repeated the same actions: splaying his fingers, closing his hand into a fist, and nodding.
These two were also carried away, overjoyed.
Finally, the robed figure walked towards an increasingly nervous Lloyd.
Lloyd was naturally nervous. 'This robed figure seems to be the real deal. After all, when I used my [Probe] skill, all I got back was a string of question marks. What if he discovers I've already gone astray...?'
But before he could figure out what to do, the robed figure was already at his side. He extended a hand, bringing it closer and closer to Lloyd's face.
Lloyd's fists clenched in nervousness as he hastily planned an escape route in his mind.
'I'll have to make a sudden move while no one is looking, spring up, and get close to Weiya. Then I'll snatch the Straight Blade from her waist, lock my arm around her neck, and take her hostage...'
It was the only plan he could come up with in the limited time, crude as it was.
But just as he tensed his waist and legs, ready to launch his attack at any moment, the robed figure pulled his hand back. He didn't close it into a fist, nor did he nod or shake his head.
Then, as if floating, he slowly glided away, with several Priests hurrying to follow.
'Huh? Is that it?'
Lloyd was still puzzled when he saw Weiya stay behind. She walked up to him, held out an envelope, and said:
"Tower Nine will be sealed for the next two days. As soon as you're able to move, go home and get some rest. Come back after the situation has been dealt with..."
"And remember: don't mention what happened today to anyone."
Lloyd took the envelope and peeked inside. It was a stack of bills, probably a little more than his monthly salary.
This was the second time he had received "hush money" from the Holy Judgment Court. He had to admit, they were quite generous in that respect.
Lloyd hadn't expected things to take such a turn. Without even a moment to breathe a sigh of relief, he quickly asked:
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Weiya paused and replied in an official, businesslike tone:
"In two days, we will issue a public investigation report. Everything you need to know will be in it. As for what you *don't* need to know..."
She didn't need to finish. Lloyd nodded quickly.
"I understand. Don't overthink it, and Don't Ask Too Much."
Weiya nodded faintly and left.
Lloyd watched her enchanting, slender back as she walked away. 'Why do I suddenly feel this strange sense of regret?'
Just then, he heard a yawn beside him. He turned to see that the Drunkard administrator was awake. She was stretching vigorously, puffing her chest out as far as it would go.
And yet, not the slightest curve was visible...
Then, she pulled a metal flask from a grimy uniform pocket, took several large swigs, GLUG, GLUG, GLUG, and let out a soft cry of pure pleasure.
"Phew... Ahhh... It's good to be alive!"
With that, she turned to look at Lloyd in the bed next to her and asked:
"Hm? You're pretty handsome, you know? And so young... Did that viper Weiya trick you into coming here, too?"
"Please don't say that," Lloyd replied righteously. "Miss Weiya saved my life from a Demon Ghost."
No matter how cold and distant Weiya might be, he would always remember the good she had done for him. He couldn't stand to hear anyone speak ill of her.