Iya Continent: Card God

Upon hearing the word "lie," Kim Gong-un became agitated and enraged, like a lion with its mane bristling or a burning furnace.

Adventurer Malen trembled as he explained, "I...I didn't..."

Lin Tayan: "I'm not saying that what you described was fake. What I mean is that your purpose in leaving directly was fake. Although you shouted loudly and attracted the guards, you didn't dare to have too much contact with them and deliberately escaped in the chaos."

"What's going on?" Jin Gong was a little confused and didn't understand.

Maren felt a chill run down his spine and was greatly surprised.

This guy in front of me, who looks even younger than me, seems to know everything.

“Yes, I’m afraid of the guard’s knights,” Maren said in a low voice.

"What are you afraid of! Are you afraid they'll rob you?" Jin Gong retorted.

Linta said calmly, "It's probably related to his identity."

Maren's heart skipped a beat. Startled, he sighed and replied, "Yes, I... I'm not an adventurer. I'm... a thief."

Jingong suddenly realized, and said with a hint of mockery, "Oh, you're one of those robbers too?"

"I'm not a robber or murderer," Maren said in shock. "I was just forced into this situation, and it didn't happen to me at all..."

“What did you omit in your statement? Recite it again,” Linta asked solemnly.

Looking at Linta before him, Maren, having lost all desire to hide anything, sighed and said helplessly, "I came to Conetooth Street to have the goblin Bruce forge magical artifacts. I heard that he is very skilled and can forge all kinds of artifacts I want."

"When I found the goblin Bruce, Boss Reno was also there. The two seemed to be arguing about something, and the atmosphere was a bit strange. As someone who was just buying something, I didn't think much of it and directly told him why I was there. At that moment, Boss Reno told me that he had what I wanted. I could pick it up in two days when the goods arrived. Crafting takes a lot of time, so I decided to buy it from Boss Reno since I only had to wait two days."

Two days later, I went to Mr. Reno's magical artifact shop and saw Bruce the goblin holding a sharp blade, with Mr. Reno lying dead in front of him. I was terrified, afraid that the goblin would kill me. I remembered seeing the Flame Fox Knights patrolling nearby before I arrived, so I shouted loudly, and they came running when they heard me. Afterwards, I quietly left when there were many onlookers. After all, I'm a thief, and I was afraid that the Flame Fox Knight, Mok Besson, would discover my true identity.

"After I left, I was thinking of leaving Sandel City. But then I remembered that I still had some things at the Hibiscus Inn, so I went back. I waited in the shadows for a long time, and only after I made sure that no guards or knights came to the inn did I dare to go in. And that's when I ran into you."

Jin Gong demanded in a gruff voice, "It's all true!"

"Yes! It's true!" The thief Maren raised his hands in an innocent reply.

Gingon was deeply moved by Maren's words. These words undoubtedly proved Stone's motives. First, the two had a long-standing feud. Second, Luc Reno had snatched Maren, a guest, right in front of Stone. This angered Stone, and in a moment of impulse, he killed him that day!

Mullen's words undoubtedly made things even more unfavorable.

"Linta, what should we do?" Jingong asked, at a loss.

Linta's expression was somber, his thoughts seemingly shrouded in mist, drifting aimlessly.

“You can’t leave now,” Linta said, looking at Malen.

Malen looked terrified, "I..."

Linta said bluntly, "We'll need you as a witness later. If you leave now, who will speak for us afterwards?"

The thief, Malone, was filled with despair. The other party meant he had to stay and testify. This meant his identity was highly likely to be exposed. Then, he would be the one going to jail!

Linta noticed his fear, raised her arm, and pulled down her sleeve to reveal the magic-suppressing ring that had been bandaged and concealed. It wasn't appropriate to reveal her identity to him, as she had placed it on her right wrist.

"We're all pretty much the same. I won't let anything happen to you."

Maren glanced at the anti-magic ring, knowing the other party was a fugitive, and felt slightly relieved. But then unease crept in. "You can't even use magic, how can you guarantee I won't get hurt?" he thought. Wait a minute. Didn't this guy just use magic? What happened?

A mix of confusion and bewilderment washed over the thief, Malen, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words.

……

Bruce Stone's Craftsman's Workshop.

Linta and Jingon brought Maren back.

“The three of you are back,” Pinecone said gently.

"Quack quack!" the quack cackled in welcome.

Malen looked at the orc bear-man and aquatic fish-man before him with some surprise. As his thoughts raced, another strange thought suddenly occurred to him. The bear-man said, "You three," does that include me? Shouldn't it be two? I don't even know him.

Confused, a silver-haired elven girl appeared beside Linta without him noticing.

Who is she? When was she there?

Shia, Jingon, and Linta went out together to find Maren. However, Shia stayed in the shadows to provide support, just in case.

"What's next?" Shia asked coldly.

Linta said slowly, "Logically, we should go to the murder scene to take a look; maybe we'll find some clues. But now, it seems a bit late. Afterward, it would be best to ask the goblin stone for the truth."

Jin Gongyan said, "Shi Tou is imprisoned in the city's dungeon, a place where outsiders are not allowed to visit. How can we ask him?"

“I can give it a try,” Shia said.

"Huh?" Linta's eyes widened as he looked at the elven girl.

Shia said calmly, "I might be able to sneak in. As long as there are no magic circles or anything like that, it shouldn't be difficult."

Malen said, "No."

"How do you know? Have you been there?" Linta asked in return.

Mullen whispered, “I know a colleague who’s been in there before.”

Jin Gong demanded, "Really! You're not lying to us, are you? You should know the consequences!"

Maren said fearfully, "I wouldn't dare. That's what I've heard before."

Linta looked at Shia with a serious expression. "It's better not to go. It hasn't come to that yet."

"You question my abilities?" Shia retorted.

Linta blinked, somewhat speechless.

Thinking to myself, "Go ahead, go ahead! Don't say you know us if you get caught! We can't save you anyway." Is it wrong for a friend to offer some help?

"Are you really going?" Linta asked again solemnly.

"How can you ask if you don't go?" Shia asked, her face devoid of any emotion.

Linta said helplessly, "Then you wait a bit. We'll go to the scene to check for clues. If there's no progress, then you can go. Okay?"

Hia said, "Okay."

"Should I...go?" Maren asked, pointing to himself.

Linta smiled and said, "What do you think?"