Chapter 6

This notion was pretty novel, as if the victim were guilty.

But Lynn didn’t argue; although he appeared weak, he nodded in agreement: “If it weren’t for that night with your mother, you wouldn’t be sitting here all high and mighty.”

He was trying to provoke him, to make him lose his cool.

Upon hearing this, Rhine indeed took a deep breath: “It seems the lesson earlier wasn’t deep enough.”

He turned and walked away again.

A moment later, Lynn was greeted with another round of beatings.

Why can’t people learn from their lessons?

Outside the prison, Rhine leaned against the wall, resting with his eyes closed, listening to the sound of punches and muffled grunts coming from within.

Just then, he suddenly heard a commotion of footsteps from afar.

Rhine immediately opened his eyes and looked towards the distant stairs.

A group of people entered the Underground Prison of Augusta Manor.

At the forefront was a long-haired woman dressed in military attire, draped in a military coat, radiating an atmosphere of iron and severity.

She was tall, elegantly curved, commanding and grand, her long legs encased in knee-high boots.

Like an emperor ruling over the world, she made everyone avoid direct eye contact.

Unfortunately, her face was obscured by a black patterned mask, making it impossible to see her appearance.

“Your Highness.”

Even someone as proud as Rhine couldn’t help but kneel on one knee and pay his respects upon seeing her.

“Get up.”

The woman referred to as Your Highness stepped over Rhine in her high boots, approaching the prison door. Upon hearing the commotion inside, she couldn’t help but frown deeply.

“I remember clearly saying that he must not be harmed in any way before I see him.”

Her voice carried a cold edge.

“I apologize, Your Excellency.” Rhine bowed, “But you also granted me the authority to act unilaterally at times.”

“Based on my assessment of the situation, I thought that if he met you directly, it could lead to some unpleasant happenings, so I took the liberty to subdue this clever little guy.”

In Rhine’s view, violence and fear were the best way to teach someone submission.

Lynn was no exception.

“Just a clever little guy? Is that your evaluation of him?”

Hearing his subordinate’s explanation, her cold voice softened a bit.

“Yes, he’s quite decent compared to ordinary folks, enough to provide some help for Your Highness’s cause.” Rhine nodded, “But merely decent, nothing more.”

Upon hearing this, she fell silent for a moment before speaking, “Open the door; I want to see him myself.”

After the second beating, Lynn could barely muster the strength to sit in the chair.

His hands remained shackled under the table, and his head hung weakly over the edge, utterly spent.

Shortly after, the door was pushed open again.

He expected to hear Rhine’s disdainful words once more.

To his surprise, the first thing he sensed was a fragrance of roses and the crisp sound of women’s boots touching the ground.

Unfortunately, he had no strength to lift his head.

A moment later, a clear and pleasant voice suddenly sounded.

“Lynn Bartleon, 17 years old, former student of the Holy Roland Royal Extraordinary Academy.”

“During your time at the academy, you excelled in grades and displayed remarkable talent, advancing to a Fourth Stage Transcendent merely two years after enrollment.”

“Moreover, you frequently requested practical combat missions, and after passing the assessments, you were allowed to participate in the battlefield against the Demon race as the lead of a group of Fourth Stage students, achieving several accomplishments and earning the rank of Captain at a young age.”

“You were supposed to become the youngest officer in the history of the empire, further advancing with the support of Marquess Bartleon.”

“You even had a beautiful fiancée, caring teachers, and respectful classmates; your future was supposed to be bright.”

“But ever since that incident, everything has been completely destroyed.”

“.”

Lynn remained silent.

Seeing this, the woman with the melodious voice didn’t seem angry: “Since you’re not speaking, then I’ll continue.”

“A year and a half ago, during the thirteenth assault operation of the Holy Sword Legion against the Demon race, you received an order to collaborate with your elite squad and the legion commander to carry out a highly dangerous assassination mission.”

“After the mission ended, you believed you had sensed certain battle opportunities and did not obey orders to return to camp; instead, you ventured deeper into the battlefield for personal glory.”

“During this time, members of your squad repeatedly urged you to turn back, but you ignored them and gambled the lives of the whole squad for your own military achievements.”

“According to reports, you later encountered an ambush from the Demon race, resulting in heavy casualties, and in the end, you alone escaped back to the camp with the lives of your entire squad as the cost.”

“Afterward, you were brought before a military court. Though your father managed to save you, it angered the entire Imperial Capital.”

“Even your faith abandoned you; the Archbishop of the Church of Heavenly Justice personally stripped you of the divine factors within you, leaving you utterly reduced to an ordinary person, unable to step back onto the path of transcendence.”

“And your family regarded you as a sinner, exiling you from the Imperial Capital to this distant border.”

“Am I right, ‘Noble’s Shame’ sir?”