"Aside from having the [Time Death Judgment] passively lifted, there’s another way: get the other party to actively lift it for you."

"Get the other party to actively lift it... You mean I should go kidnap the Judge from the Outer Side who passed the final judgment on me?"

Baron said uncertainly, "But I don’t know where he lives."

"The Judges of the Prole Court are all Silver Tier Law Enforcers. Going after one is a suicide mission." Bagins shot Baron a glare. "The [Time Death Judgment] was issued because the court found you guilty. If you can prove your innocence, you can get the court to reverse its sentence."

"So what you’re saying is..." Baron had an inkling of the answer.

The Dwarf Master gave the answer: "Redemption."

Baron was silent for a moment. "I didn’t kill anyone. I didn’t kill that Knight Order Leader."

"I know. Judging by how stingy you are, you wouldn’t even want to pay a lawyer’s fee. Murder is completely out of the question for you."

Bagins shrugged. "But the problem is, they don’t care that you didn’t kill Anthony, the Knight Order Leader of the Lion Eye Knight Order. All they care about is you dying."

He stood on a stool and, with some effort, used a knife and fork to carve off a piece of ham hanging over the dining table. He paired it with some finely ground black truffle and ate it.

He mumbled through a mouthful of ham, "Anyone with eyes in the Old Descendant World can see this news is about a political persecution, a frame-up. But as long as you’re dead, the case will be closed for good."

"The Inner Side isn’t like the Outer Side—civilized on the surface but barbaric underneath. These members of the Old Race, who pride themselves on their noble bloodlines, have been at it since they were selling slaves during the Age of Discovery. They might as well have ’Doer of All Evil’ tattooed on their foreheads."

"Find the key person in this case, the one who can make the Judge reverse the sentence," the Dwarf said. "While there’s still time, convince them to clear your name."

Without needing Bagins’s reminder, a thought struck Baron like a bolt of lightning. He instantly thought of a golden-haired girl with the cold, haughty expression of a princess.

The sister of the deceased, Anthony Lancelot; Baron Constantin’s former fiancée; and the recent kidnap victim—Freyja Lancelot.

...

"This is destined to be a war without smoke, Mr. Constantin. Charging into the lion’s den alone is something even Don Quixote would have to be crazy to attempt. Please, follow me."

Bagins wiped his mouth, hopped off his chair, took a hammer from Don Quixote, and struck the floor once.

The candlelight flickered. The fire in the hearth split in two, revealing a long, deep tunnel behind it.

Baron followed Bagins into the tunnel and arrived in a space that wasn’t vast, but was clean and bright.

The small room housed a countless collection of treasures: sabers, spears, swords, and halberds. It was fully stocked with weapons from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, and from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

Hanging from the ceiling was a long-handled weapon with blades on both ends, looking like a cross between a spear and a sword.

Bagins explained that it was called a "sha," an ancient weapon from China.

In combat, the sha’s unique side-blade design allowed it to better trap an enemy’s weapon when blocking.

"This is my armory, where I store the Alchemy Weapons I’ve forged and enchanted. Just pick one that suits your fighting style. Consider it a personal gift from me."

Bagins rummaged around for a moment before picking out a Kramer Slash Sword for Baron:

"Contract Knights all like to use Two-Handed Swords or Lances... If it were one of the Holy Cross Association’s unique Faith Knights, a Hand and a Half Sword or a French Small Sword used with a Shield would be a better fit..."

Seeing Baron take the slash sword with one hand, Bagins said hurriedly:

"Careful! An Alchemy Weapon with Red Mercury added is much heavier than one forged from ordinary Italian Steel... Alright, looks like it’s still too light for you."

Baron casually swung the Kramer Slash Sword and found it wasn’t as heavy as Bagins claimed.

After his Spiritual Sense fully awakened at the Julis’ family home, not only had his previous injuries healed completely—injuries that, in his past life’s university, would have prompted medical students to write a thesis on "An Analysis of Medieval Theology"—

but Baron’s already formidable physical functions and five senses, which had been enhanced after his initial Spiritual Sense awakening at the crime scene and in prison, had become even stronger.

He estimated that he now genuinely possessed the strength to kill a tiger with a sliding tackle or knock down a black bear with a sweep kick.

Just as Lawrence had said, Law Enforcers were, in a modern sense, hidden Supermen.

Next, Baron took one weapon after another from Bagins—swords, sabers, axes, and battle-axes—swinging each one.

Finally, under the nearly numb gazes of Bagins and Don Quixote, he chose two Colt Python Revolvers that had been forgotten here. They had been left out during research on how to make .357 Magnum Alchemy Bullets.

Baron spun the cylinder, which clicked crisply. "I haven’t had any formal training, only combat instincts. When it comes to melee techniques with swords, I can’t beat them at all."

Baron picked up the scattered Magnum Bullets from the table, loaded the guns, and aimed both revolvers at the candle flame along the armory wall. After a few deafening gunshots, only a single black dot appeared where the flame had been flickering.

Baron reloaded the cylinders and tucked the guns into the waistband of his pants, under his trench coat. "These will do."

"Two hundred British Pounds," Bagins said flatly.

Baron was surprised. "Didn’t you say it was a personal gift?"

"For the wall repair fee, and the upcoming Alchemy Bullet fee..."

"I get the repair fee, but shouldn’t regular bullets be enough?"

’Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to kidnap Freyja so easily at the subway station with just two shotguns.’

Bagins, chewing on his pipe, said, "You’re a Contract Knight yourself. Surely you don’t think ordinary bullets can stop that pack of humanoid beasts?

Aside from a point-blank headshot, normal bullets do minimal damage to Law Enforcers other than those of the Wizard class. Slicing bullets with a sword is child’s play for them."

"I’m not going to kill anyone. I’m just going to prove my innocence."

"You still have to stay alive to prove it. The Alchemy Bullets aren’t for killing people; they’re to ensure they can’t be sliced apart by their Alchemy Swords." As he spoke, Bagins pulled a silver chain from his clothes and gave it to Baron. "Put this on."

"This is..." Baron looked uncertainly from the necklace to Bagins.

Bagins rolled his eyes. "It’s not the Goddess of Death Necklace, kid. Dwarves may live long, but that doesn’t mean we’re eager to die."

"It’s a C Level Taboo Object, the [Chain of the Imitator]. Tie it to your wrist or waistband. Its Authority is to randomly let you play the role of someone that both you and the observer have an association with, even if it’s just a passing acquaintance."

Subsequent disguises will be based on the initial role you played, unless you restart the Chain of the Imitator.

If the person being imitated is present, it will automatically switch to a role that all parties involved have at least a passing acquaintance with.

You can play the role for up to a day. The recovery time is equal to the duration of use. The price is that after using it, you will lose one random day’s memory, and it will also drain about one-third of your Spiritual Power."

He paused. "And whatever you do, you must not see what you look like in the observer’s eyes. Not only will it instantly break the imitation, but you will also be cursed, forced to experience all the pain the person you imitated has ever endured."

Bagins had Baron put on the Chain of the Imitator. Baron tied it to his waistband, letting it dangle.

Once Baron had infused it with Spiritual Power, he had Don Quixote bring Sangji over for a look.

The little boy had Sangji look left and right, then said in pleasant surprise, "It’s a very tall Lady Triss!"

"Lady Triss was this morning’s Dwarf maid."

Bagins shrugged at Baron. "By the way, I should remind you, the imitator can only copy the face, not the body shape. You need to be especially careful about that."

"The sky’s getting bright. People from the Prole Court are still out there searching for you. For now, rest up at the clinic and gather your strength. I’ll go upstairs and forge some suitable Alchemy Bullets for you. That will take at least a day, which is perfect for you to make your move at night."

Bagins paused. "You don’t have to worry about me turning you in. Dwarves have a reputation to uphold. Besides, you haven’t paid me the final balance yet.

Also, give me the guns. Standard stainless steel barrels can’t handle the power of Alchemy Bullets."

Baron gave the two revolvers to Bagins. Bagins glanced at Baron and said flatly:

"Don’t be anxious. As someone who’s been there, let me give you a piece of advice: tomorrow always arrives a day later than you think."

...

「November 18, 1987, 4:03 PM.」

In the clinic, Bagins frowned at the huge crater in the armory wall, apparently created by some kind of explosion.

’Just how many British Pounds should I charge for this?’

Nearby, Baron, having slept and taken a shower, was ready to set out. He grabbed a few handfuls of banknotes and coins from his Holding Ring and gave them to Bagins and Don Quixote respectively.

He also took out a Gold Coin Chocolate for Sangji to eat.

Don Quixote’s face fell. "Sir, dogs can’t eat chocolate."

"But this one can!"

Bagins’s expression changed the moment he took the Taboo Item pipe from Baron. He scolded Don Quixote, "That’s a Taboo Item—a Gold Coin Chocolate that makes dogs bleat like sheep."

"Don Quixote, stop embarrassing yourself! Show some of the worldliness befitting an Alchemist’s apprentice!"

Baron watched Sangji, who had started bleating like a sheep after eating the chocolate, and smiled. He gave a gentlemanly bow to the bickering master and apprentice and said in a low voice:

"Farewell, Master Bagins, Don Quixote, and Sangji... I hope we meet again."

He left without a sound, and then returned just as silently.

"Quick question, how do I get to the Lancelot residence?"

Bagins rolled his eyes. "Buckingham Palace."

"Isn’t that where the Queen of England lives?"

Baron thought he had misheard.

This time, Don Quixote explained on behalf of his master:

"Inner London is both a nearly one-to-one replica of Outer London and a different world entirely. The iconic buildings are merely anchors to strengthen the connection between the two worlds."

"Therefore, the one living in the Inner Side’s Buckingham Palace doesn’t have to be Queen Elizabeth; it can be the young lady of the Lancelot’s Family."

Baron nodded after listening.

’So it’s true that dragons beget dragons, and phoenixes beget phoenixes,’ he thought. ’The children of the rich really do live in palaces.’