Chapter 75

Chapter Forty-Eight Words as Reflections of the Heart

In the dim cellar, the fire flickered.

Duke Scalliger’s expression was grim.

He looked at the man shackled to the wall with iron chains, who could only reach the ground by standing on his tiptoes. He did not speak for a long time.

The man was covered in blood and dirt; large patches of his hair had turned dark brown. At this moment, he hung his head motionless.

The duke signaled slightly, and a hunter came forward, pouring a bucket of water over the man. The cold shock made him startle and slowly raise his head.

The dim light made it impossible to discern his expression clearly.

“…Your Grace, what brings you here…hehehe…”

A laugh escaped from his bruised and rotten lips.

A flash of anger crossed the duke’s eyes as he slapped the man’s face.

Smack!

The blow was very heavy. The man, carried by the force, lifted off his feet, instantly losing balance and falling to one side, causing the chains to clatter loudly. However, unable to fall due to his bound hands, he was half-hung on the wall.

He struggled incessantly, trembling for a while before he could stand again.

Just as he raised his head—

Smack!

Another slap, landing on the same spot.

The man fell again, taking much longer to stand up once more.

His legs were shaking.

The duke grabbed his hair, raising his right hand high, and slapped the man’s face again.

Smack!

“Is that funny?”

“Cough, cough…pfft!” The man spat out two teeth, glaring at the duke with bloodshot eyes.

“Scalliger! F*ck you—”

Bang!

A straight punch.

It caved in the man’s nose, blood and tears streaming down his face.

“……Heh heh……Scalliger, I, I regret so much—”

The duke’s expression remained cold as he waited for him to continue.

“I, I regret not killing that, that little slut, back then…hehehe…then…ha ha—cough!”

“Three years ago, was there any connection between your daughter’s disappearance and you?”

After hearing the duke’s question, the man grinned crazily.

“…Do you want to know? I’ll tell you a secret…hehehe. That little slut, three years ago…she was already dead. I saw it with my own eyes…from, from the cliff…hehehe, she fell so miserably—”

The duke frowned.

He remembered that his daughter had asked about the cliff the day after she returned.

“Which cliff?”

“Hehe, do you want to confirm the remains? Impossible…that place…was already consumed by the Abyss of Gluttony two years ago…not even ashes left…”

“Are you sure she’s dead? Did you see the body?”

“…Falling from such a height, she must have become meat paste…hehe, hehe…”

“But my daughter is still alive.”

“You mean…the one in the castle…that’s impossible. It’s your daughter…she’s already dead…it’s a demon wearing Peylo’s skin…she’s definitely not human…Hahaha! Your daughter is dead, hahaha—”

Clang—

The duke raised his metal arm, and a black blade shot out from his fingertips.

He held the blade in front of the man’s eyes and waved it lightly.

“Valar. From now on, answer whatever I ask. Understand?”

“Never…you won’t learn anything from me…if you want to, just kill me…”

The duke stared expressionlessly at Valar for a moment, then slowly pressed the blade toward his right eye.

“When did you join that assassin organization?”

“…Why? Don’t you even know when your subordinate betrayed you…do you never reflect on yourself…”

The duke released his hair and quickly punched his abdomen.

“Ugh—”

Valar’s legs went weak, and he started retching. He hadn’t eaten for two days and could only vomit stomach acid.

“Stand up.”

The duke watched him coldly until he stood upright again, then continued questioning.

“Now, answer my questions properly.”

“Cough, cough, ha…too early, can’t remember…probably, from the time you made me guard this dilapidated warehouse…”

“…You didn’t want to?”

“Want to? When have you ever…asked about my…wishes…huh, I know…the person you trust most…is always Bella…”

“And Huofo, what do I mean to you in your heart…”

The Duke’s brows furrowed even more tightly.

This question was obviously meaningless. He did not want to dwell on it any further.

“Why did you attempt to assassinate my daughter? You… or rather, your true master, what is he afraid of? Is he afraid that she might reveal what happened three years ago?”

“… You know, I won’t say anything.”

The Duke pressed Varal’s head against the wall behind him, roughly prying open his right eyelid with brute force.

The sharp tip of the blade was already stopped right before his eyeball.

“Answer the question.”

Varal’s Adam’s apple moved slightly.

“… You should ask Lafayette about this. It was him… who made me do this… hahaha—!!!”

Scarlet blood sprayed out, splattering onto the Duke’s face.

Without hesitation, the sharp blade pierced through the eyeball, and Varal let out a beast-like roar.

“Aaaaah—!!!”

He struggled desperately with his limbs, but his head was held firmly in place, unable to move.

“Do not test my patience. You still have one eye left.”

Blood dripped down his cheek onto the ground as the Duke gently pulled out the blade.

“Scaliger!! Have some guts and kill me! Kill me!!!”

The Duke was silent for a moment.

“… Varal, you’ve been with me for so many years. I believe I have never wronged you. Whether it be you, Bella, or Hoover, the three of you have always been cultivated as confidants by me. I have never shown favoritism, but you still harbor dissatisfaction. Fine, there’s no problem with that. A man having ambition is not a bad thing. If there’s a conflict, direct it at me.”

As he said this, a cold glint flashed in the Duke’s eyes. He grabbed Varal’s collar, pulling him close to his face.

“Varal, direct it at me. If you truly have the ability, raise your knife and cut off my head. See if I blink even once! You’re a man, so if you have the capability, resolve this like a man. Why harm my daughter?!”

“Pepi is still young, she doesn’t understand anything. She’s just a kind and innocent child. What has she done wrong?! You damn bastard, why harm her!!!”

Gazing at the Duke, who had lost his composure due to anger, Varal laughed like a madman.

“… Hahaha! It’s such a pity she died… Such a beautiful face, those alluring little eyes… tsk tsk…”

The Duke flew into a rage.

The emotions accumulated over three years transformed into a fist as hard as stone, pounding Varal’s face repeatedly.

“Why! Why harm her! Damn it, why harm her!”

Varal’s breath was faint, his face deformed.

Despite this, he continued speaking.

“Uh… I should’ve… enjoyed… killing her first… pfft, then thrown… her down… We… we have many… hahaha… we… have many people…”

“Bastard!”

Thud! Thud—

Suddenly, a delicate arm firmly grabbed the fist.

The Duke panted heavily and turned to look back. The woman, dressed in leather armor, with a clear and elegant appearance, showed no emotion on her face.

“Let go.”

The woman shook her head.

“I’ll say it again, let go.”

The woman parted her lips slightly, her voice slightly neutral.

“… He’s not ready to die yet.”

“…”

These words were like a sedative. The Duke looked at the woman’s face, his clenched fist gradually loosening.

Varal fell limp and was then restrained by a chain.

He had lost consciousness.

“Huuu—”

The Duke took a deep breath, wiped the blood from his face, and said to the woman, “Let’s go.”

The woman nodded, then instructed the surrounding hunters, “Watch over the person.”

“Yes.”

She quickened her pace to catch up with the Duke.

After leaving the cellar, looking at the towering chimneys of the central workshop, the Duke’s expression gradually became calm.

“Duke, are you alright?”

The woman gathered her silver hair behind her head, her gaze towards the Duke filled with concern.

“I’m fine… Bella, since Pepi came back, you haven’t seen her, right?”

“Mm… Haven’t seen her.”

“Now, she remembers nothing. We need to find an opportunity for you all to get reacquainted.”

“… Do you believe Varal’s words?”

“Hmm?”

“Pepi… is gone.”

“She’s fine, isn’t she? Why, do you think I’m old and confused, to the point of mistaking my own daughter?”

The woman named Bella smiled faintly.

“… Go wash your face and then go back.”