Ding!

<You have hunted a Peak-stage Senior Witch>

<You have completed an unassigned Elimination-type Witch Hunt>

<Please make contact with the deceased Peak-stage Senior Witch to reap your rewards>

..

The system sounded in Vaan's mind, but he was not in a hurry to collect his rewards.

Meanwhile, after the other witch merchants watched the first witch merchant die, they all entered a state of shock.

A few nearby witch merchants slowly glanced at the dead witch merchant lying on the ground and also saw the expression of disbelief that remained on her face.

Although there were instances where men rebelled against witches and killed them, they rarely happened and only occurred in the dark, far from other seeing eyes.

However, Vaan blatantly disrespected and killed a Peak-stage Senior Witch in front of several dozens of witnesses, not to mention they were mostly Peak-stage Senior Witches with various connections.

Even if they were to be killed for their crimes, it shouldn't have been done by a man.

Vaan's action was no different from openly and arrogantly challenging the authority of witches. However, only he could do so because he had the strength to back it.

Astoria didn't condone killing. Thus, she was affected by Vaan's killing. But for his sake, she decided to turn a blind eye to it. She only hoped he didn't kill too many.

Meanwhile, the second witch merchant in Vaan's grasp stared into his indifferent eyes with horror. She did not want to be like the first witch.

"I-I don't know much about Lady Dahlia's ambush..! I wasn't a part of it!" she denied her involvement. But when she saw Vaan's disappointment, her fear intensified. She quickly added, "But! I did hear Dorothy's group was plotting something before Lady Dahlia was ambushed!"

"Dorothy's group, huh?" Vaan muttered before he gave the witch merchant a nod. "You've earned the right to keep your life."

Shortly after, Vaan released his grip and spared the witch merchant. The person thanked him profusely for his mercy before moving out of his way.

Still, she did not dare to go too far away from Vaan. Although her life was spared, it didn't mean she could leave.

Vaan glanced at the other witch merchants and asked, "Who is Dorothy? And who is part of her group? You have five seconds to answer before I start killing indiscriminately."

"T-They are part of Dorothy's group! Her too! And her!" the crowd of witch merchants didn't hesitate to rat out six Peak-stage Senior Witches after hearing Vaan's threat.

As expected, the threat of death worked very effectively after Vaan made an example out of them. However, the accused witch merchants vehemently denied their affiliation.

"What?! They're all lying! I am not a part of Dorothy's group, I swear! I've only talked to Lady Dorothy a few times, that's all!" said one of the desperate witch merchants.

"Is that so?" Vaan uttered coolly before requesting, "Please force the truth out of her with a confession spell, Astoria."

"Alright," Astoria obliged.

After she used a confession spell on the witch merchant, the truth came out of the person's mouth. The witch merchant was indeed a part of Dorothy's group.

"W-Wait..! I can explain—" the witch merchant revealed a look of horror after Astoria's confession spell expired.

However, she wasn't given a chance to make any excuses.

Puchi!

An arrow of blue flames pierced right through her head, scorching everything in its path and killing her instantly.

Ding!

<You have hunted a Peak-stage Senior Witch>

<You have completed an unassigned Elimination-type Witch Hunt>

<Please make contact with the deceased Peak-stage Senior Witch to reap your rewards>

..

"What the hell! If you're going to interrogate us with confession spells, why don't you just do so from the start?!" another Peak-stage Senior Witch affiliated with Dorothy's group questioned with outrage, indignance, and fear, knowing she could die at any moment.

Puchi!

Another arrow of blue flames shot her way, piercing through her head like the last Peak-stage Senior Witch and killing her similarly.

Ding!

<You have hunted a Peak-stage Senior Witch>

<You have completed an unassigned Elimination-type Witch Hunt>

<Please make contact with the deceased Peak-stage Senior Witch to reap your rewards>

..

The system notified again.

Unfortunately for the Peak-stage Senior Witch, she was correct about thinking she could die at any moment.

After the third witch merchant died, no one else dared to raise their voice. They could only tremble with fear in silence after realizing Vaan wielded the blue flames.

"You don't get to ask the questions here. I ask, and you only answer. And if you lie, you die. Simple as that," Vaan coolly stated. "Understand?"historical

While most witch merchants repeatedly nodded with obedience, a few inwardly felt vengeful and hostile in their hearts due to Vaan's arrogance and domineeringness.

However, Aeliana, who was sensitive to hostilities directed at Vaan, felt them. As a result, she killed another two Peak-stage Senior Witches with wooden spikes.

"If you bear even the slightest hostility towards Lord Vahn, you will also die by my hands," Aeliana coldly stated.

After the remaining witch merchants heard that statement, they felt their hearts turn icy cold. Then, they quickly became completely obedient and cooperative.

Vaan went through two rounds of interrogations with the Peak-stage Senior Witches affiliated with Dorothy's group and learned only half of them were present. The other half went into hiding somewhere within Sunpeak Town with Dorothy.

Dorothy's full name was Dorothy von Helion. She was a member of a small merchant guild situated in the neighboring witch kingdom, the Kingdom of Verdant Woods, and also the guild leader's daughter.

In other words, she was a foreign merchant with some status.

"If you want to live, bring Dorothy Helion and the rest of her group to me for some questioning," Vaan directed the last four present members of Dorothy's group after he finished interrogating them.

According to their confession, Dorothy's group was not involved in Dahlia's ambush as far as they knew. Still, Vaan could gain some useful information from Dorothy Helion and figure out her motive in Sunpeak Town.

"There's still you lot," Vaan focused on the remaining witch merchants, causing them to shiver with fear and feel suffocated.

His simple gaze seemed to possess crushing pressure on them.