"Bishop Kim. As part of the church policy, you do not need to dwell with the infected."
The remaining players were flabbergasted, disbelief and anger flashing over the pale faces - all but one.
Thanh Van's brow arched as his gaze met Kim Jihun's bewildered eyes.
"Your grace," the plague doctor continued, a hint of mirth in the hollow voice as it lowered its walking cane - clang - the sharp sound pulled the players into the unhinged reality of their situation. "You may leave the premises."
"W-what the fuck is this?!"
"How is this fair?!"
"He must be a mole to get this special treatment!"
The players ganged up, trying to pour out of the door, but as soon as they reached the opening, a gleam of a blade caught their attention, and they stilled, brimming with anger. The plague doctor's cane had unseethed into a long sword.
"Breaking quarantine is prohibited." The hollow voice echoed in the inn, bouncing off the cold walls.
"I don't know what is going on, but I'll look for help-" Kim Jihun started when something wet sprayed over his face.
A chilling silence fell as the other players felt their skin crawl at the murder that was clear in Kim Jihun's amber eyes.
The CEO stood unblinking. The spit clung to his lashes, dripping down his high cheekbone.
Kim Jihun, the sole heir to the Kim enterprise, had never been treated this way by anyone. And this crippled piece of shit, Christof, had limped forward and spat at him.
CEO Kim's knuckles cracked, nails digging into flesh, but he said nothing.
Thanh Van watched him in awe. He could feel the killing intent radiating from Kim's barely calm facade. It must have taken everything Kim Jihun had to not fuck up Christof Kunze's ratty face at that moment.
But rules were rules. Do not hurt your fellow players.
Kim Jihun forced his anger down, wiping the spit away with his sleeve. His deep voice drew tight as he spoke, "I'm here to help-"
"Fuck you and your help!" Christof shoved Kim Jihun's shoulder roughly. "I bet you let that guy die by the pier on purpose, motherfucker!"
"C-christof, calm down. He saved me back there-" Hai Le tried, but they ignored him.
"How can you not see that he is the bad guy here? He told us to run to the ship! It's because of him that over half of us are dead!"
"That is enough," Kruger commanded, pulling Christof away from Kim Jihun's personal space.
"He is right, you know. This is unfair." Someone mumbled, and agreeing murmurs filled the silence.
"Your grace," the plague doctor beckoned.
Kim Jihun shot a last murderous glance Christof's way before he turned to leave.
"Your grace," Thanh Van hurried to whisper, fingers pulling the CEO to a halt until they stood toe to toe, breaths mingling in the chilly autumn night. "You need to get us out of here."
Kim Jihun's lip curled, but he stayed silent.
"Also," Thanh Van's grip tightened around the fabric, tearing at it. "Find mayor Jean's wife-"
"Breaking quarantine will result in punishment."
The cane came down and shoved at Thanh Van's ribs painfully, sending him back.
The doors closed between the players and the outside world, leaving only the bars over the doors and windows to let the chilly air filter into their makeshift prison.
"Kim Jihun, find her." Thanh Van gritted through his teeth as he glared at the NPCs.
But the NPCs merely stared back with their hollow eyes.
Kim Jihun seemed to ponder the situation before he nodded and disappeared into the night.
A heavy brass lock fell in place, and they were locked in.
Thanh Van hissed as he massaged the bruise forming fast over his left rib, and it took him a moment to notice the unnatural silence within the inn.
Cautiously, he let his eyes wash over the remaining crew. Hostility shined from their eyes, their killing intent growing by the second.
Thanh Van didn't blame them.
With the system suddenly giving special treatment to Kim Jihun, it appeared the system wanted to either fuel disparity or offer them an easy hint on a silver plate.
After everything that had happened so far in the scenario, Thanh Van wasn't ready to bet on either of the possibilities.
"Look what we have here." Christof was not done ranting, and Thanh Van regretted that this piece of shit was not mauled by the sea monster. He would have made good fish bait.
Kruger shook his head as he dragged Christof back, but he pulled free from the grasp, limping across the stone floor. "Your saviour didn't take you with him, now did he?"
Thanh Van didn't say a word, only taking a step back whenever Christof's stinky breath came too close to his precious NPC skin.
"Little bitch," Christof Kunze sneered, as he shoved the smaller man to the wall. The back of his head smashed into the stone and Thanh Van nearly saw stars. "I bet you all, he is a mole with that fucker Kim! They were both by the pier - two of them couldn't lift one man out of the water!"
This fucking piece of shit! Thanh Van blinked tearily up at Christof, barely keeping his character in check.
"Enough! Get away from him!" In the back, Kruger was fast approaching, ready to fling Christof away.
"Shut the fuck up. Don't think we didn't notice you two exchanging googly eyes. You muscle-headed idiot here got charmed by this bitch!"
"Christof is right, captain. We can't trust him."
"Yeah! He tried to throw himself at Kim just now."
The remaining players stood in Kruger's way, unwilling to let him through.
With their support, the ratty motherfucker grinned down at Thanh Van like a hairless monkey.
Ah, this scenario didn't let Thanh Van be a cute flower vase at all. It seemed this little white lotus was forced to grow thorns.
Thanh Van blinked the tears away, staring blankly at Christof.
Christof's smile slowly faltered under such fearless gaze. He parted his lips when bony knuckles socked him in the left eye.
WHAM!
The sudden blow sent Christof Kunze on his back, howling like a kicked dog. His eyelid had split open. Droplets of blood blinded his left eye, and through the crimson haze, he saw Thanh Van peering down at him with an angelic smile.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH- GAAAH!!"
Thanh Van had stepped on his injured leg, grinding it to the ground, enjoying the little screams and sobs falling from the pathetic shit's face. It was like music to his ears.
The sonata of the son of a bitch.