Hitchcock (3)

Frondier followed Paul's lead, moving to a new location with Jeremy. He had expected to be led back to the company to choose a product, but instead, they ventured deeper into the facility. As if sensing his concern, Jeremy spoke first.

“The products we're about to show you are not yet available to the public. However, their performance is guaranteed. They are all safe products that have undergone thorough testing.”

“You mean they haven't been released yet?”

Paul answered the question.

“Yes. Aside from our company personnel, you, Frondier, will be the first to see them.”

Frondier felt a surge of anticipation at those words, but at the same time, a chilling apprehension crept down his spine.

‘It's only natural, but we're going deeper and deeper into the company.’

If Frondier's suspicions were correct, and Jeremy was a devil, then it was highly likely that he had orchestrated this entire situation. Of course, it was Frondier who had provided the hint about the 3D map, but even without that, it wouldn't have been difficult for Jeremy to lure him here.

Even the mere act of providing the idea for the 3D map would have been enough.

If Jeremy is a devil, and Hitchcock is a devil's lair…

Going deeper into the company, it's like sticking your head into a lion's mouth.

“Here we are.”

Paul's voice interrupted Frondier's thoughts, and he peered into the room Paul had led him to.

“……Wow.”

A small exclamation escaped his lips. Of course, the quality and design of the countless items arranged inside were excellent.

But more than that, it stemmed from a pang of conscience, questioning whether he should be ‘seeing’ so many items.

However, conscience aside, Frondier's eyes quickly scanned the items on display. In an instant, new items filled the list in his Workshop.

“Please take your time and look around.”

Paul said, and Frondier followed his suggestion, walking slowly as he examined the displayed items.

He had been impressed when he saw the Imperial Armory, but the items displayed here were astonishing in a different way.

There were objects that resembled guns, others that looked like Wizard view or smart watches, and even more whose functions were completely beyond his comprehension.

Of course, it wasn't a big problem since the Workshop would provide a rough explanation when he stored them.

“By the way, Frondier, excuse my rudeness, but…”

Paul's cautious voice came from behind Frondier as he was looking around.

“The bracer you're wearing now looks very similar to our products.”

“Ah, this? Jeremy mentioned that too.”

Frondier raised his arm to show the bracer. It was so thin that it was hidden under his clothes and barely visible, but he wasn't particularly trying to hide it, so it occasionally peeked out from under his sleeve.

In fact, Paul probably already knew about Frondier's bracer.

“It's amazing how you've applied an item designed to control Mana in such a way.”

“…….”

Frondier said nothing and looked at Paul.

He immediately understood the meaning behind the statement.

So, Frondier smiled faintly and opened his mouth.

“……Is that so?”

“…….”

From Frondier's perspective, it was a very obvious leading question.

Frondier hadn't revealed the origin of the bracer he used. But agreeing with the question would be admitting that this bracer was an application of a Hitchcock product.

“As I mentioned before, I know nothing about Magitech.”

“My apologies.”

Paul bowed his head. Frondier chuckled and started walking again.

And then he stopped in front of a certain artifact.

‘…This bracelet.’

In front of him was a luxurious-looking bracelet. It was placed without any special distinction, and in reality, it wasn't a particularly outstanding artifact.

However, what caught Frondier's eye was after he stored the artifact in his Workshop.

Bracelet of Mental Resistance

* Rank: Rare

* Description: Slightly resists all forces acting on the wearer's mind. Resistance does not discriminate between the caster and the type. In other words, it also resists forces that are beneficial to the wearer. As the range of resistance is wide, the resistance itself is weakened.

As the description suggests, it was a bracelet that reacted to the mind.

Currently, Frondier was suspicious of whether he was under Lily's charm. He wasn't devotedly loyal like the other knights, but it was hard to shake off the worry that it might be subtly affecting him.

More than anything, Frondier had forgiven Lily.

What if that forgiveness was due to ‘charm’?

Would Frondier have normally executed Lily?

In other words, was this situation the result of not making the right choice?

‘Even if it's just a slight resistance, if I feel something after wearing this…’

Whether this bracelet was actually helpful wasn't important.

The fact that there was an ‘effect’ itself would be proof that he was under a charm.

Of course, Lily's power might be something this bracelet couldn't block, but it was better to try.

“Can I try this on for a moment?”

Frondier asked, pointing to the bracelet.

Of course, Paul readily nodded.

“Of course. As I said, please wear it yourself and choose it while checking its effects.”

Frondier nodded and picked up the bracelet, putting it on his left arm. He could definitely feel a different kind of Mana enveloping his body compared to ordinary bracelets.

‘…It doesn't seem much different.’

But just as he was tilting his head, wondering if it had any effect on his mind.

Wheeing-

Suddenly, a light came on from the display stand where he had taken the bracelet.

“Huh?”

The light scanned Frondier thoroughly, as if examining him.

At that moment.

“Ugh!”

Frondier stumbled, feeling a strong dizziness, and grabbed the display stand with his hand.

‘This is…!’

For a moment, he thought it might be another mental magic attack, but it wasn't. To begin with, a clumsy mental attack wouldn't even hit Frondier.

The reason Frondier felt dizzy wasn't a direct effect. It was a side effect.

What Frondier was actually experiencing was,

‘My Mana was stolen!’

That's right. The Mana inside his body was rapidly disappearing.

It was probably a security measure to prevent intruders from stealing the artifacts here.

But the fact that the device was still operating while Frondier was looking around meant…

“This is unfortunate.”

Paul, whose expression had changed, looked at Frondier coldly.

“You always keep your mouth shut on important matters, so we have no choice but to use a little rough method.”

“A little rough method…?”

Frondier laughed in disbelief.

If a person's Mana was rapidly drained in an instant, they could even die.

It was only because Frondier's Mana was so vast that he was able to endure it; if it had been an ordinary person, they would have died from shock. It was no different from someone losing all their blood at once.

And it wouldn't end there; the device would probably continue to operate even after the Mana depletion. It was clearly a device designed to effectively kill people.

“Answer my question before you die.”

Paul walked towards him. It seemed the security device had no effect on him. The same went for Jeremy, who was behind him.

Was this security device designed to target only intruders, or…

‘…Is it an effect that only applies to humans?’

If it was the latter, it was truly intriguing. A machine that could distinguish between humans and devils.