Free Web NovelChapter 81: Loyalty Or Life (2)
As Shinon moved closer, a flicker of doubt crossed Drake’s eyes. He weighed the consequences of his defiance against the unknown horrors that Shinon promised to unleash upon him.
Drake’s mind raced, contemplating his options. He had been captured, his flames extinguished, and he was at the mercy of his captor. It seemed there was little choice but to answer the man’s inquiries. Swallowing his pride, he nodded reluctantly.
Drake’s voice quivered slightly as he spoke, his defiance giving way to a hint of desperation. "Wait... Wait! I’ll tell you what you want to know. Just... just promise me that you won’t harm my comrades. They’re just following orders."
Shinon paused, his piercing gaze fixed upon Drake. The silence lingered for a moment before he finally nodded.
"If you cooperate fully and provide me with accurate information, I will ensure the safety of your comrades." Shinon sighed, putting his torturous devices away. "But remember, Drake, if you try to deceive me or hold back any vital details, the consequences will be severe."
Relief washed over Drake’s features as he realised his plea had been heard. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the forthcoming confession.
Shinon circled the bound man, his gaze unwavering. "Who do you work for? Who is the Bandit King?"
Drake hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting around the room. The urge to protect his leader, the bandit king, wrestled within him, but the realisation of his vulnerability outweighed his loyalty.
"Everyone refers to him by Widow." Drake finally revealed, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"Widow? He’s a ’him’ and goes by Widow?" Shinon could almost smell the bullshit as he went to grab the needle. "If he’s a he, shouldn’t he go by Widower, eh? Do you want to die by lying to me!?"
Drake violently shook his head, pleading innocence. He swore up and down that he wasn’t lying.
"Argh, alright. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt this time." Shinon’s words resounded inside the room. "Tell me everything you know about this Widow. His plans, his strengths, his weaknesses, all of it."
"The bandit king’s hideout is deep within the northern mountains. It’s a heavily fortified stronghold guarded by his most loyal men. You’ll need to navigate treacherous terrain and overcome traps to reach him."
Drake continued, "However, he also has a few other hideouts. I’m aware of seven of them. If you give me a map, I can mark them for you."
Shinon listened attentively, absorbing every word. He more or less already knew if this Widow was waging open war against the Phoenixes, he would be intelligent enough to secure several places to hide if and when things went south.
"As for his forces, they are scattered throughout the surrounding territories. Many bandits operate in smaller groups, conducting raids and terrorising nearby settlements. But Widow has a core group of loyal subjects who oversee different sectors."
"Which of these groups is responsible for targetting the shipment from the military case?" Shinon asked.
"That... I don’t know."
"Do you really expect me to believe that?" Shinon’s eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. "Remember, I have ways of making you talk, Drake. Ways you won’t enjoy."
Drake’s bravado wavered, his resolve crumbling as the weight of his situation settled upon him. He swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly.
"B-Believe me! I’m just a lieutenant, and lieutenants have no idea about each other’s day-to-day activities!" Drake frantically replied. "We just follow the orders we receive through our assigned radios!"
"Alright, then," Shinon’s expression remained impassive, his eyes locked with Drake’s. "What about his strengths? You must know something about that as well, right?"
Drake hesitated momentarily before responding, "The bandit king is not to be underestimated. He possesses incredible strength and is a skilled combatant. Rumour has it that he has the ability to control the elements, allowing him to harness the power of fire and lightning."
"So he’s an Elementalist, interesting," Shinon mumbled, scratching his chin.
A hint of excitement sparked in Shinon’s eyes. The challenge of facing an opponent with such formidable abilities ignited a fire within him.
He knew that defeating the bandit king would require him to tap into the full extent of his own powers. Which, in turn, might help Shinon to discover some of his own latent abilities.
"But that’s not all," Drake interrupted Shinon’s train of thought. "Everyone under him also has some of his ability... like I possessed the fire element, but we need a medium to access those abilities-"
"Like your brass knuckles." Shinon nodded.
Shinon knew a couple of dungeon divers who shared a similar ability in his world. They could impart some of their strength to others. But, the effect was temporary and often faded in under a minute. However, that was not the case for Widow, which made him special.
Slowly but surely, the more Shinon learned about Widow, the more he wanted to meet him. Even though they might start off on the wrong foot, Shinon knew if he somehow got Widow to join him, his creations would attain a level they had never before.
’Let’s keep my dreams on hold for now,’ Shinon shook his head before turning again towards Drake. "What about his weaknesses? Does he even have any?"
"He’s blinded by his ambition," he admitted reluctantly. "He underestimates his enemies, believing his strength and numbers are enough to conquer all."
"Good. Now, before we continue, I need something else from you." Shinon nodded, processing the information, before producing Drake’s prized weapons. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"What are you planning to do with my knuckles!" he exclaimed, a mixture of anger and frustration seeping into his voice.
Shinon’s lips curled into a smirk. "Consider it a temporary inconvenience, but I’ll be keeping these to keep you in check. Betray me, and you won’t get them back. You know what that means, right?"
As the weight of his predicament settled, Drake’s defiance waned, replaced by a begrudging acceptance. The knuckles were proof of him being Widow’s lieutenant and his loyalty.
If he showed up before the higher-ups without the knuckles to report Shinon, he’d be the one to get killed first! The loss of knuckles would show them that Drake had lost a fight, making him a liability to their safety.
"Fine! I’ll do as you- where is he?" Drake mumbled, frantically looking around.
While he was lost in his thoughts, Shinon disappeared from the place, along with the shackles holding Drake down.
"DAMN IT!" Drake roared, crushing whatever he got his hands on.
