The God of Liar

’Let’s see, I gotta balance it out first, so…’

Seojin poured all his remaining points into INT.

Now, his INT was at 78.

’I’m glad I didn’t waste my stat points earlier.’

If Seojin hadn’t saved them, he might have had to choose another test or get stomped on by a terrible difficulty level.

After finishing investing his points, he set off immediately. The corridor wasn’t too long, Seojin soon arrived in front of the shiny metal door at the end of it.

’Um…’ Seojin brushed his chin as he stared at the door.

The door was a magnificent color. However, what really caught Seojin’s attention was the drawing carved into the center of the door. It was a silver shield with a roaring lion’s head above it.

There was no way the pattern would be meaningless.

’It looks like the symbol of some aristocratic family…’

Whether aristocratic or religious, it must be a symbol of some special faction in this game.

’Wasn’t the emperor symbolized with a lion?’

The strongest nation in Midgard was the Empire, so it seemed that the lion on the shield seemed to symbolize the emperor.

So, what about the shield?

’The shield that protects the emperor… my bet is the house of a warlord.’

It was only an assumption, but Seojin thought that beyond the door would be the mansion of a noble family.

It was a reasonable assumption from the information he’d obtained.

’That’s all that I can draw from this insignia.’

It was time to face the test.

He opened the door opened gently and stepped inside.

’I knew it.’

His guess was right. It was a luxurious reception room. No, it was more like the master of the house’s study. Documents were strewn all over the desk, and there were two rows of servants standing by the wall. Seojin was kneeling in the middle of the chamber, looking up at the lord.

”Huh?” Seojin let out a sound of confusion but understood the situation a few moments later.

He didn’t kneel by himself.

He was put into his role as soon as the door opened.

Stanceshift: Clumsy Swindler

Effective: Permanent effect within the mission

The skill was cast. He didn’t do it himself. It was automatic. Which meant…

”What were you thinking, Morrison Tucker?”

’…What the hell?’

Seojin glanced around quickly instead of answering. He was kneeling on the floor, everyone had congregated around him, staring at him with cold, inquisitive eyes.

The air was full of both distrust and disgust.

The man sitting on the chair spoke again with a ferocious expression.

”You heard what I asked! Morrison Tucker, why were you in my chamber?!”

Time Remaining: 01:00

A message flickered in the corner of Seojin’s eye.

’What the hell is this?’

It was so confusing, between the time limit and the Level 75 difficulty. The fact that he had to complete a task within the time limit was obvious, but…

”Morrison Tucker!” the man in the chair shouted once again.

It was the third time now, and Seojin was sure that the man was calling him ”Morrison Tucker.”

’…It must be a kind of roleplay!’

Information flooded in at the moment Seojin finally realized.

Specialization Enhancement Quest!

Deception selected.

Difficulty Level: 75

”Morrison Tucker” of Valaran is an active veteran spy who has been operating in the empire for quite some time.

He stole many military secrets by playing the role of a wandering knight, and this time he even got his hands on ”The Sword of The Empire” Duke Ferret’s operational plans.

’…!’

He was finally understanding what this was all about. But the messages kept pouring in one after another without a break.

However, one perceptive servant found Morrison Tucker in the duke’s study. Duke Ferret had been trying to recruit Morrison for a long time, so this made him furious.

Duke Ferret now suspects Morrison Tucker to be a spy. You must clear Morrison Tucker of all suspicion and charges.

Duke Ferret is an honest soldier. Once he puts his faith in someone, he will trust them until the end.

This crisis is an opportunity. If you successfully win the duke’s trust, it will be a lot easier for Morrison Tucker to operate from now on.

Objectives:

1. Ensure Morrison Tucker is cleared of all charges.

2. Do not endanger the Kingdom of Valaran.

Bonus Objectives:

1. Have the charges dismissed within 20 minutes.

2. Obtain perfect trust from Duke Ferret.

’Oh, so this is how it is?’

Seojin raised his eyebrows. He was currently Morrison Tucker, and he had to deceive Duke Ferret.

Come to think of it, Valaran was Seojin’s starting kingdom. Maybe that was why he was playing the role of a spy from Valaran.

’Maybe I’ll be able to get a state-scale quest if I….’

”Answer me, Tucker!”

Seojin came to his senses as the duke shouted. It wasn’t the time to think about stuff like that.

Time Remaining: 00:28

He’d already wasted thirty seconds… but wasn’t the bonus objective for him to clear the quest within twenty minutes?

”…Fine by me if you don’t want to answer. Tyren, arrest him.”

Time Remaining: 00:09

Clock’s ticking! Hurry up! You must say something to prevent the Duke from confirming his suspicions!

”Please give me a moment, Your Grace!” Seojin shouted reflexively as the message hinted.

Time Remaining: 00:18

The time limit had extended, it was only by ten seconds, but at least he’d found a way.

”Speak.”

”…There seems to be a misunderstanding. Would you kindly give me a chance to explain?”

”I must have asked you to explain over a hundred times now! What on the earth is this all about? How dare you rummage through my study while I was seeing my wife. You’d better have a good reason for this!

The duke’s voice did not lower by a single decibel, but the time limit had increased once again.

Time Remaining: 00:37

It had increased by a whopping thirty seconds this time. But still, it was rapidly decreasing.

’So, it’s a puzzle with a time limit.’

Seojin relaxed slightly. He realized that he had to solve it bit by bit to keep extending the time limit.

The time decreased even more as he was thinking to himself.

Seojin deliberately let out an exaggerated sigh.

”Looks like this is a dead end. Your Grace, may we talk for a moment in private?”

”…Hmm?”

Great Acting! Bonus Time Added!

Time Remaining: 01:33

The duke’s face stiffened slightly as if he sensed something. It seemed like it worked since he was given a whole extra minute.

’Okay, that means I should be careful about my physical cues too.’

Seojin realized it for the first time back when he was catching squirrels, he needed to do more than just talk to use his skill effectively. He also needed to incorporate the appropriate actions and facial expressions.

He now had an answer for the duke, too.

”Please, it’s not just about me. It will affect not only me but Your Grace and our empire too. I need only a moment. My life is already yours, the way that I see it.”

”…Ehem.”

A Magnificent Line! Bonus! Bonus! Bonus!

It seems like the duke is wavering!

Time Remaining: 3:17

The duke groaned. This time, Seojin gained two minutes. It wasn’t the end.

Stage One Complete!

Additional Details:

Morrison Tucker prepared a Plan B for this situation. Please check your inventory. If you use these items properly, they will be highly effective.

Acquired: Letter from the emperor(fake).

Acquired: Letter from a high-ranking Valaran official.

Acquired Information: Valaran Military Organization(fake).

Acquired Information: The situation of the Emp…

’…Was that only the first step?’

Seojin managed to deal with the most urgent matter, yet the quest still didn’t give him a break. Seojin was given a total of nine items. Almost all of them were counterfeits.

Top secret information from both countries, like the secrets of their military organizations, was packed into his inventory.

Time Remaining: 02:29

’I don’t have time to read them all. Let’s go with the emperor’s letter first.’

The short letter was decorated with a golden border. It was said to be a personal letter from the emperor.

Of course, it was fake.

But that was enough.

’This is it…’

Seojin grinned internally.

”Your Grace, please let me ask you once more. There are too many ears here. I need to talk with you in private, leave only the two guards you trust the most.”

”…What?

”What I’m about to inform you of is a top secret. I don’t want you to have to eliminate your people for no reason. Please just trust me, one last time.”

He had the key in his hands and it was time to push it into the lock.

The emperor’s fake letter was well worth it.

As long as he chose his words and actions well.

”…Everyone get out. Keane. Dett. Keep your eyes on him.”

”Yes, Your Grace.”

The knight named Keane put a sword to Seojin’s neck, and Dett stood next to the duke.

All the other servants and knights left the room. Seojin was rewarded an additional ten seconds for every person that left the room.

Time Remaining: 03:41

”Now answer me, Morrison Tucker. What kind of trickery have you been pulling?”

”I belong to the Royal Guard.”

”…What?”

”See for yourself. I was supposed to take this to my grave, but this situation is grave, so…”

Seojin took out a golden envelope and handed it over to Dett, feeling the cold blade pressed against his neck.

”What?” Dett gasped as he checked the seal of the envelope. He immediately showed it to the duke.

”What on earth…?”

The duke was caught off guard too. Seojin didn’t miss his chance.

”I’m a double agent, my job is to leak counterintelligence to the spies of Valaran. However, you have to deceive even your allies to be a successful spy. His Majesty prepared a failsafe for this kind of situation.”

”…”

”I was searching your study for the route of our military. If I successfully created a counterfeit and leaked false information to the enemy, Valaran would deploy troops in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then…”

”Our country will exploit their misfortune?”

”Exactly.”

Perfect Acting! A Magnificent Line!

You have a talent for deception! Bonus! Bonus! Bonus!

Time Remaining: 04:02

Seojin was rewarded even more additional time. He spoke quietly as if he felt remorseful.

”…I sincerely appreciate your interest and affection toward me. I also apologize for the inevitable deceit. But, Your Grace…” Seojin paused deliberately for a moment. ”I should remain in His Majesty’s shadow, until my very last breath.”