NOVEL WEB Chapter 14: Poisoned War Council
Mission Update: "The Poisoned War Council" Begins in 24 Hours.
☰ Next Objective: Interrogate the Assassin or Prepare for the Next Betrayal.
Base Expansion: Preparing for War
Back at the Hidden Base, I reinforced our security systems, deploying new spy networks to track hidden threats.
☰ New Base Upgrade Available:
✔ Hidden Interrogation Chamber: Unlocks interrogation missions to extract enemy secrets.
✔ Strategic Sabotage Unit: Allows players to preemptively counter enemy moves.
✔ Supply Chain Reinforcement: Strengthens trade routes to prevent future ambushes.
As dawn broke, I stood at the war table, staring at the untouched goblet meant for me.
Do-Hwan sat bound before me, silent. His fate—and the rebellion's next step—was now in my hands.
☰ Player Choice: The Traitor's Fate
1. Public Execution: A warning to all spies. (Fear increases, but so does internal paranoia.)
2. Turn Him into a Double Agent: Feed false information to Kai-Hoon. (Risky but rewarding.)
3. Interrogation for the Greater Enemy: Uncover a deeper conspiracy. (Unlocks hidden antagonist plot.)
☰ New Gameplay Mechanics Unlocked:
✔ Poison Detection System: Identify and counter assassination attempts in political meetings.
✔ War Battle Mode: Lead small-scale skirmishes before the full rebellion begins.
✔ Legendary Duel System: A powerful enemy challenges Bae Kae to a one-on-one fight.
Opening Cutscene: A Toast to Treachery
The war table was draped in a blood-red silk cloth, its surface scattered with detailed maps, deployment plans, and coded messages. The scent of ink and candle wax mixed with the faint bitterness of poisoned wine resting in a ceremonial goblet before me.
Twelve of my highest-ranking generals and advisors sat in the candlelit chamber, unaware that betrayal lurked in plain sight.
My gaze flickered to Do-Hwan, still bound and kneeling at the far end of the room. His fate had been sealed the moment I unmasked his treachery. But his actions raised a deadlier question—was he truly the only traitor?
☰ Mission Update: The War Council's Test
✔ Objective: Unmask the hidden conspirator before the war plans are compromised.
✔ Gameplay Mechanics:
Poison Detection System: Analyze food, drink, and gestures for signs of treachery.
Political Influence Meter: Your choice in punishing traitors impacts loyalty and morale.
Stealth Investigation: Uncover suspicious behavior among council members.
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Silent Clues: The Betrayal Runs Deeper
I ran my fingers along the goblet's rim, letting the dim candlelight reflect against its golden surface. My Poison Detection Meter pulsed faintly—the drink was laced with Shadow Lotus Venom, a toxin that paralyzes before suffocating its victim.
I glanced up. Who in this room had betrayed me?
☰ Gameplay Action: How to Unmask the Traitor?
1. Feign Drinking & Observe Reactions. (Requires high Perception—watch for the betrayer's subtle relief.)
2. Secretly Switch Goblets with Another Member. (Forces the traitor to act, but risks losing loyalty.)
3. Call Out the Treachery Immediately. (Direct approach—engages in a tense dialogue battle.)
I pretended to sip, feeling the weight of the room shift. A flicker of tension in Minister Jo's face. A darting glance between Commander Sung and Scholar Ryu.
I had them.
Gameplay: Confrontation & Deception Battle
☰ New Gameplay Mode Unlocked: "Mind Games"
✔ Dialogue-Based Strategy: Players must manipulate words, tone, and evidence to break the traitor's composure.
✔ Loyalty System: Accusing the wrong person causes unrest.
✔ Intimidation vs. Persuasion Paths: Decide if you threaten, trick, or reason with the conspirators.
Confrontation: The First Traitor Unmasked
I placed my goblet down with a deliberate thud, letting the tension coil in the room.
"The wine is poisoned."
A collective hush fell.
"Which means one of you has chosen Kai-Hoon over the rebellion."
I let the words hang, watching their reactions like a wolf among sheep. Scholar Ryu's hand trembled slightly—a nervous tic. Minister Jo's breath quickened.
☰ Gameplay Choice: Who Do You Accuse First?
1. Scholar Ryu: He was always cautious—too cautious. (Intelligence route—rely on logic.)
2. Minister Jo: His ambitions made him dangerous. (Political intrigue—expose his motives.)
3. Commander Sung: Too quiet, too observant. (Psychological approach—trap him with contradictions.)
I fixed my eyes on Minister Jo.
"Do-Hwan was your man. His actions led to multiple failed missions, but you never questioned them. And now, you sit here while a poisoned goblet waits for me. Tell me, Minister—should I call this coincidence or carefully executed treachery?"
His face paled, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple.
"You have no proof," he spat, but his voice trembled.
I smiled coldly. "Then drink from my goblet."
His fingers twitched, hovering over the rim, but he didn't move. He couldn't.
☰ New Gameplay Prompt: The Execution or the Interrogation?
✔ Kill Jo Publicly: A display of power—but what if he isn't the only traitor?
✔ Torture Him for More Secrets: Risk turning your advisors against you, but gain vital information.
✔ Fake His Death & Turn Him into a Double Agent: A high-risk, high-reward deception play.
I raised my hand—the choice was mine.
New Base Upgrade: The Assassin's Tribunal
With the rebellion infiltrated, I ordered the construction of a hidden council chamber, a place where spies and traitors would be judged, tested, and turned into assets—or silenced forever.
☰ New Features Unlocked:
✔ "Shadow Tribunal" Missions: Gather intelligence on suspected spies.
✔ Advanced Deception System: Plant false information to mislead enemies.
✔ Interrogation Expansion: Extract enemy plans or break morale.
As Minister Jo was dragged away, I exhaled. One traitor down—but how many more?
☰ Next Objective: Prepare for the Battle of the Phoenix River.
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Next mission Preview: The First Great Battle Begins
Kai-Hoon's Elite Generals Arrive.
A False Surrender? Or an Ambush?
Bae Kae Unlocks the First Legendary Counter-Artifact.
☰ New Gameplay Unlocks:
✔ War Battle System Expansion: Command squads with different battle formations.
✔ Duel of Generals: Face Kai-Hoon's warlords in one-on-one combat.
✔ Base Defense Mechanic: Fortify against upcoming assaults.
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Opening Cutscene: The Echoes of Betrayal
The flames of the war chamber lanterns flickered eerily, casting long shadows across the stone walls. Minister Jo's interrogation chamber sat beneath the hidden base, a cold underground cell where secrets festered like open wounds.
As I paced outside, the weight of his betrayal still clung to me. One traitor had fallen, but I knew better than to believe he had worked alone. A conspiracy of this scale could not be the work of just one man.
☰ Mission Update: The Second Spy Hunt Begins
✔ Objective: Unravel the hidden network of spies within the rebellion before they strike again.
✔ Gameplay Mechanics:
Surveillance Missions: Follow suspicious members, track their movements.
Codebreaking Mini-Game: Intercept and decipher encrypted messages.
Infiltration Quests: Plant false orders to test loyalty.
Loyalty Meter Expansion: Allies will react differently based on accusations and punishments.
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False Leads and Hidden Messages
Three of my most trusted officers stood before me:
Commander Sung – The war strategist, a master of battle formations and tactics.
Scholar Ryu – The empire's former historian, now an advisor on enemy movements.
Chae-Yeon – My deadliest assassin, trained in the shadows of the imperial court.
"I want a full lockdown on all outgoing messages and supply routes," I ordered. "No one leaves the base without clearance. The spies are still among us."
☰ Gameplay Action: Choose a Focused Investigation Path
✔ Interrogation: Question the council further—gather hidden tensions. (Higher risk of false accusations.)
✔ Surveillance: Track movement and unusual behaviors. (Slow but highly accurate.)
✔ Bait & Deception: Leak false war plans and see who takes the bait. (Risky but could expose multiple spies.)
I chose Bait & Deception.
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Gameplay: The Deception Trap
A forged letter was crafted—detailing a "surprise attack" on Phoenix River—and handed off to one of my most trusted messengers. The moment it left the base, I ordered shadow operatives to trail it.
Within two hours, the letter never reached its intended recipient. It had been intercepted.
☰ Gameplay Prompt: Follow the Letter's Trail
✔ Option 1: Have my assassin tail the interceptor. (Stealth-based approach.)
✔ Option 2: Wait and see who responds to the false information. (Longer wait time but wider net.)
✔ Option 3: Intercept and alter the letter again, leading the traitors into a counter-ambush. (High-risk, high-reward.)
I went with Option 3.
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Twist: The Spy's Next Move
Hours later, an urgent report came in. A supply meant for the rebellion had been burned down. A perfect diversion.
I clenched my jaw. They knew we were watching. The enemy spies weren't just hiding—they were testing us.