Free Web NovelChapter 85: Taken Hostage (1)
One day later...
The rhythmic sound of metal against metal filled the air as Shinon diligently worked on fulfilling his latest orders. He meticulously crafted a set of daggers, his hands moving with practised precision.
"Twelve more, and I’ll reach the 300th forging mark," Shinon mumbled as sweat dripped down his face. "It better be worth it..."
The daily quest Shinon received this time around was quite weird. He was asked to create 300 things within 48 hours, and if he was successful, a surprise awaited him.
As he was no longer worried about Rico, he could spend a lot more of his time focusing on getting stronger and hoped crafting stuff would be one such way to increase his strength.
"Another one," Shinon whispered, keeping his latest creation: A kitchen knife aside.
The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow upon his workbench, but Shinon remained focused, absorbed in his task.
"What with all the noise?"
Suddenly, a cacophony of voices broke through the usual calm of the settlement. The commotion outside grew louder, the distant echoes of raised voices and hurried footsteps reverberating through the air. freewebnoveℓ.com
Shinon’s ears perked up, and he set down his tools, his curiosity piqued. He knew something was amiss. After all, the settlement was usually eerily quiet.
"Everyone is gathering at the gates?" Shinon curiously headed the same way as the crowd grew larger and larger.
Leaving his work behind, Shinon swiftly made his way toward the source of the commotion, his steps purposeful and quick. As he approached the gates, a sight unfolded before him, leaving him speechless and dreadful.
The settlement’s inhabitants, including the imposing figures of the Phoenixes, had congregated near the gates. Their expressions were a mixture of shock, anger, and sorrow.
At first, Shinon was pleased with the dismayed look on the Phoenixes’ faces. But as his gaze swept across the crowd, his heart sank.
Shinon pushed through the crowd, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of security, but there was none. It was then that he noticed the gruesome sight that lay before him—headless corpses strewn about, their lifeless bodies bruised and battered.
Each body bore the unmistakable spider tattoo engraved upon their flesh, symbolising they were the members of the team Selena often led outside the settlement. The atmosphere was heavy with grief and disbelief.
Dread settled like an anchor in Shinon’s chest as he realised the significance of the macabre display. Selena had mentioned 17 of them were leaving for the mission, and there were 16 corpses in front of them. Fortunately or unfortunately, Selena wasn’t among them.
Shinon gaze shifted as he looked around for someone to explain to him what was going on. Then he saw Marcus, standing at the forefront, clutching a blood-soaked letter.
The weight of the message seemed to hang heavily in the air, shrouded in a cloud of tension. With furrowed brows, Marcus read the letter to himself, his face contorting with anger and despair.
As the last words of the letter echoed in Marcus’s mind, he crumpled the parchment in his hands and flung it towards Nova, his current second-in-command of the Phoenixes. The gesture spoke volumes as he sped away in anger. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
The crowd murmured in anticipation, their eyes shifting between Marcus and Nova. It was clear that the letter’s contents held great significance. After all, they had never seen Marcus so enraged before.
Shinon’s curiosity burned within him, his mind racing to uncover the contents of the letter that had sent such shockwaves through the settlement.
He edged closer to where Nova stood, the crumpled letter clutched tightly in her hand. She caught Shinon’s eye with a quick glance, and an unspoken understanding passed between them.
Nova, her face a mask of grief and determination, unfolded the letter with great care. As her eyes scanned the words, her grip on the parchment tightened. Her gaze flickered towards Shinon, and she nodded subtly, beckoning him to join her.
With cautious steps, Shinon closed the distance between them, his heart pounding with anticipation and dread. Nova handed him the letter, her voice barely a whisper.
"Read this, Shinon. You need to know."
Nove had to be the only Phoenix who had no issues with Shinon and did not see him as a threat to herself. That’s why she allowed him to read the letter alongside her.
Taking the blood-soaked letter into his own hands, Shinon’s eyes darted across the words scrawled upon it. The ink, stained with the weight of the bandits’ deeds, revealed a chilling truth. His breath caught in his throat as he absorbed the sinister contents.
"What kind of bastard is that Bandit king!?" Shinon screamed through gritted teeth.
The Widow, the infamous bandit king, had claimed responsibility for the deaths of the soldiers sent by the Phoenixes. The mention of their brutal demise sent a shiver down Shinon’s spine.
But it was the subsequent revelation that struck him to his core. The Widow’s words confirmed that they intended to keep ’the girl’ alive for their dark desires.
In the meantime, the guards forced everyone else to disperse on Sable’s order. She wanted Shinon to be escorted away as well, but Nova interjected, and since Nova outranked her, the soldiers left Shinon alone as anger rose up inside him.
Shinon’s grip tightened around the letter, crumpling it slightly, his knuckles turning white. He had thought he was over Selena, but the thought of losing her made him feel the opposite.
He blamed himself for her predicament. His mind replayed their last encounter, their coldness, and the bitter words exchanged. Now, those words felt like shards of glass piercing his heart.
"They took her," Shinon’s voice trembled with rage and guilt. "They took her because of me. I should have accompanied them, and none of this would’ve happened."
"This is not your fault, Shinon," Nova spoke in a deep, authoritative tone. "The bandits are ruthless and will stop at nothing to exert control. Don’t worry... we’ll find a way to rescue her. She’s an important part of the puzzle, and we can’t just let her go."
