Soulless Players

Chapter 33: Threat and Intimidation

Ting!

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[Chain Quest (1) Complete: Investigate Maris' father's death.]

Reward: 10 Experience points

[Chain Quest (2): Help Maris' family seek vengeance]

Reward: ???

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Aside from the quest, Philip had no reason to intervene. Helping them take revenge was not an easy task. He could not just waltz around and help them only with the system telling him.

He had to prioritize his safety first and lie low until he could find a suitable identity to copy.

'Well, even without me, surely someone will stop them, right?' He thought while looking at the people gathering around.

Philip continued gossiping with the onlookers. Aside from Davies' situation, he also asked questions regarding the city. Since he had left the city for four years, he had no idea what changes had occurred during this time.

However, while he was talking and gathering information, he still could not help but notice the argument becoming more heated and intense.

SLAP!

One of the muscular men slapped Maris' older brother. The force was so great that he was tossed away.

The onlookers gasped, including Philip, who was secretly watching them. Philip skimmed around, but after seeing no one wanted to interfere, he asked the person beside him.

"Why is no one helping? Are we just going to watch that man beat him?"

"You don't understand," A man sighed and whispered, "It was a project backed up by nobles. If we are to help him, we might bear their anger and suffer a consequence."

"We might be rich enough to stay at this inn, but we are still commoners. We are nothing in the face of nobles."

"Furthermore, while the Evans may be commoners, they have great connections with the nobility and have a chance of being the first to receive a noble title without military achievements."

"So you see. It's not like no one wanted to help him, but we are just powerless compared to them."

Philip listened to him and finally understood the situation. He could not blame them as they also had their lives to protect like him.

However, there was still something that he was confused about in this situation.

"If that would be the case, why is he fighting hard? Why can't he just sell the building?"

"That's what I am talking about!" Another man butted in, "Why is Conrad being so stubborn? It's not like they have to surrender the building for free."

He breathed out a long sigh and said, "If only they chose to back off, his father might not have ended up with that accident."

It was then Philip knew that their father had met with an accident. Because of the ongoing pressure, he died from heart disease.

Philip still felt something strange. He perceived that the Evans Family and the nobles backing them up were strong. But why not just assassinate them? It might be cruel, but with their power and wealth, burying the news was a piece of cake.

Philip carefully asked this question, and a woman gossiper answered him.

"It's because of their mother. She is a head maid of a duke family and is situated far from the capital. It was okay if only her husband died because it was just an accident. But If she heard that her entire family is killed, the duke might help her investigate and take revenge."

"Hahh. I am sure she still had no idea about her husband's death and the pressure her children are under."

"Maybe that is why Conrad is still stubborn, he is waiting for her mother to help them. But it is almost a month yet not even her shadow could be seen," Another person added.

When Philip heard about Maris and Conrad's mother, his system rang and notified him of a quest.

Ting!

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[Chain Quest is updating upon receiving the new information!]

[Chain Quest (2): Help Maris and Conrad inform their mother.]

Description: The Evans Family has been stopping their letters from being delivered to the Semion fief. Help the family communicate with one another.

Reward: ???

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'So this was the case,' Philip mulled while watching the time. He wanted to intervene and help Conrad but time limited him. He only had 3 minutes left before the transformation ended.

'Can I finish this in three minutes?' He asked internally. However, he was forced to step up when he saw Conrad was about to surrender and sign the papers.

'If it is only this and not revenge, maybe I can help and complete this quest,' Philip quickly decided. He would not let Conrad sign those contracts.

"Are you not afraid of the police?" Philip's voice resounded loudly in the lobby. The gossipers on his side simultaneously glanced at him with their widened eyes. They quickly trotted away from Philip, not wanting to involve themselves in this mess.

"What?! Are you talking to us?"

Philip stepped forward, his gaze aimed at the muscular man squatting in front of Conrad. His hands held the contract papers and the pen he forcibly pressed into Conrad's fingers.

"With all of us here, are you not afraid someone will report you to the police station? This is harassment, you know?" Philip declared, his serious voice carrying authority and confidence.

"Hah! As if someone would dare," The man scoffed and said, "We have nobles behind us! Just try it and let's see if you can!"

He faced the crowd with his bloodshot eyes. Scared, all the onlookers speedily left the lobby. Their intention was obvious. They didn't want to meddle with their fight.

Shortly, he looked at Philip, as if he was an idiot who did not know how to value his life.

"Oh! Threats and Intimidation!" Philip clapped sarcastically, "Do you know you will also be punished for that?"

When the man saw Philip didn't seem to understand him, he stood up, intending to show the huge difference in their height, and asked irritably,

"Hey. Who are you by the way? Why are you butting in someone's business?" He was too close to gaining Conrad's signature. If it wasn't for Philip's interference, he would have left a minute ago.

He strode towards Philip and stood a foot away from him. Because he was 15 cm taller than 180 cm Philip, he had to lean down so their gazes would directly meet.

His eyes were burning as he closely faced Philip eye-to-eye and whispered intimidatingly,

"I'll give you one last chance, little man. Why don't you stop being a meddlesome hero and walk away?"

The man raised his fist threateningly in front of Philip. "If not," he said, "this might be stuck into your face."

Philip remained unfazed by his intimidation. All he was thinking was how to end this fast.

He only had a minute left. If he could not finish this, he might end up transforming into his original body.

Philip smiled eerily and replied by grabbing the man's fist, "Hey, why don't you think about the Evans' reputation?"

"If the police won't work and the people are scared of you, How about the church? Can you handle it if I bring this forward and inform all your atrocities to them? What would happen if a priest preached my story? Can you take the wrath of all the believers?"

"So why not stop today and leave?"

He gripped the man's fist more tightly. The man tried to free himself but realized he could not.

Although Philip might be shorter than him, Philip was still obviously stronger. After all, he had increased his Physique by 15. And even without that, with his past body, no ordinary person could overpower him.

"Let me give you a piece of advice," This time, it was Philip's turn to threaten the man. He narrowed his eyes dangerously as he whispered, "Don't be too overconfident, and know your place."

"The world is big, you see." Philip smirked and continued, "You never know. This man standing in front of you may not be a real person."

"That's ridiculous!" The man screamed in denial, but his body was trembling from Philip's words. He tried to unbuckle himself but ended up utterly defeated. He could only cry silently while he glanced at Philip with a pleading and pitiful look.

"Hehe," Philip giggled and stopped gripping him. He walked gently towards the stairs, not bothering the man's scared appearance behind him.

Philip didn't need to push hard as he knew they would temporarily stop today. All his focus was to reach his room immediately. He only had 20 seconds left and his room was on the third floor. He had to climb quickly.

When his foot touched the 1st-floor landing, he stopped acting and dashed as quickly as possible.

10 seconds left on the second floor. And 5 seconds left on the third floor.

But when he was about to celebrate, he noticed someone squatting in his doorway.

She was Maris and she seemed to be waiting for Phillip outside his room.

Maris perceived someone was coming into the corridor and unconsciously turned her head.

When she saw the breathless Philip, her lips turned upward as her eyes became wet.

However, 5 seconds later, her gaze turned into a surprise. She watched Philip becoming smaller.

Shortly, Philip transformed into his original body. With his incomplete limbs, he dropped to the floor with his oversized clothes and the stolen briefcase.

Philip looked at Maris who was now slightly taller than him. He scratched his head as he greeted embarrassingly,

"Hi?"