After returning to the Imperial Grand Hotel, John arrived at the hotel conference room and eagerly had Bruno remove the anti-magic restraints from the seven captured members of the Special Operations Division.
He had thought that, as the villainous boss, he could deliver a devastating psychological blow to Anna Splinter, the game-designated heroine, then use the interrogation as a pretext to lay the groundwork for her initial defection through intelligence pressure and psychological manipulation.
However, after Bruno removed the anti-magic restraints binding the seven Special Operations Division members and he saw their true faces beneath their helmets, John fell silent on the spot.
"WTF? How could she not be here? How could she possibly not be here? This isn't scientific at all!"
Looking at the familiar faces before him—though, in his memory, they were merely disposable first-generation members who would be written off after two episodes—and finding neither Anna nor Royce among them, John felt as if the sky had collapsed.
Wasn't his purpose in going to Hagia Sophia Cathedral to bring Anna, the game's heroine, over to his side, try to talk her into joining the Empire, and incidentally keep that troublesome, dangerous element Royce under control?
Yet not only had he failed to get Anna herself, he had not even gotten Royce, the bonus prize.
Instead, all he had gained were seven disposable characters with practically no value whatsoever.
"What kind of joke is this?!"
Looking at the seven useless nobodies trembling in silence before him, John felt his eye twitch. But after a moment of silence, he accepted the fact and helplessly instructed Galil, who was waiting nearby, to find a secure room and lock them up.
"Creak!"
"You seem very disappointed?"
As though she had sensed John's mood, Sellviya—who had somehow changed back into a red