Free Web NovelChapter 36: Ch 36: Flee
After hours of failed attempts, Sir William left angrily.
He headed to the Main Temple where Priestess Melinda was on her knees, praying in sincere devotion.
Only when the prayer was over did William dare to open his mouth.
"Your excellency, the suspect did not confess his crime even after six hours of intense torture. He keeps saying they were friends. That she was a kind benefactor. I think we got the wrong person," William said carefully.
Melinda opened her closed eyes and let out a sigh. It was just a sigh, yet it felt as though a mountain had been pressed onto William’s shoulders.
"You have disappointed me so much, William. We all already know that newcomer is not the culprit. He is just a scapegoat we need to win back the beliefs of the followers. Their beliefs are our strength, never forget that."
William was shocked, but he forced himself to accept the cruel reality. Sometimes, not everything shiny proves to be perfect.
"So what should we do about Apollo? Should I release him?"
"Apollo..." the name tasted like honey on Melinda’s lips, earning a beautiful smile on her old face.
"Such a beautiful name. But it is a pity, we cannot release him currently. He has to be a necessary sacrifice until we catch the real culprit. Until then, keep him locked up."
William knew this was wrong. Very very wrong. But in front of Melinda’s authority, he could only comply.
"Understood, your excellency."
Bang!
Just then, the young acolyte who was in charge of looking after Raidan barged into the room, panting.
"S-Sir William, Apollo has escaped. Forgive me. He was too fast."
Hearing him, shock and rage flashed across Melinda’s saintly face.
"Useless! Useless! You cannot even keep a newcomer in check, William," she scolded right to his face.
William bowed in shame. "Forgive our incompetence, Your Excellency. I will take full responsibility. I will find him and drag him back to the Shrine."
Melinda scoffed.
"Find him? Can you tell me how you will do that?" she asked mockingly.
William shrank in fear. Still, he replied, "He is wounded and must not have gone far. I can find him, I think."
Melinda shooed him away by waving her right hand. "Then go and do not waste any time. Do whatever you want to do, just make sure he does not drag the name of the Great Faceless God’s Shrine through the mud."
Far, far away from the Mountain Shrine, in an abandoned alley in the western district, Raidan walked like a mangy dog.
His skin was cut countless times, and blood was spilling like droplets across his whole body.
His eyes were bloodshot from all the pain he endured within those six hours.
He had used all of his Agility and Mana to escape this far, and right now he felt as though he could not hold out any longer.
He wanted to sleep. A long slumber would be good.
The physical pain was one thing, but the recent memories of Nia flashed like a horror movie.
She was so kind and always caring for him when he needed it the most.
That time when he wanted to learn about the City, that time when they fought side by side in the dungeon, and her giving him all the money from selling the monster cores.
She had called him a friend, but he could not even give a response.
Those memories only hurt him now.
Thud!
He finally collapsed onto the ground, his eyes gazing at the darkening orange sky.
"Mom, Dad, where are you? I feel so cold..."
A single tear rolled down his cheek as his eyes fluttered shut.
The creepy mask on his face lost its magic and reverted his face to his original one.
Creak!
Just then, the front door of the abandoned house creaked open, revealing the face of a young woman who had barely passed the age of seventeen.
Upon seeing Raidan’s wounded figure amid a pool of blood, she hurriedly rushed over.
After checking his pulse and carefully looking around, she dragged him inside the house with great difficulty.
Inside the house, an old-style ambiance welcomed them. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
The interior spoke of poverty and a simple lifestyle.
And strangely, around them, several pieces of medical equipment and magical potions lined a wall.
"Let’s see..."
She took a pair of scissors in her right fingers and then expertly began to cut off his tunic and pants, including his underwear.
What it revealed was both shocking and horrifying.
The knife cuts had been brutal to say the least. She even found salt in several places.
"How horrible! Who could do such a thing?" she said, with her hand covering her tender mouth.
Her eyes fell on Raidan’s handsome, chiseled face and well-developed six-pack abs from his recent levels.
What made it unsightly were those gruesome knife wounds and the dried globs of blood sticking to his skin.
"His vitality is low. Let me feed him a Health Potion first, then I will think about washing him."
She hurried over to the wooden shelf, her eyes scanning the neatly arranged glass vials.
Her slender fingers wrapped around a vial filled with a glowing crimson liquid.
It was a Low-Grade Health Potion, one she had brewed herself just yesterday.
Returning to Raidan’s side, she knelt on the wooden floorboards.
She then gently lifted his head, resting it against her soft thighs to keep him steady.
After uncorking the vial, she carefully pressed the glass rim to his pale lips.
"Please swallow this. It will ease the pain."
Since he was completely unconscious, he could not respond.
And the crimson liquid just gathered in his mouth.
She hesitated a little before bringing her sweet red lips on top of his, then prying his lips apart to force the liquid inside with her own tongue.
The scene was very sensual. Unfortunately, Raidan was not awake to feel it.
But from her point of view, she was simply being professional.
