711 Demon Worship Ritual (1/2)
The voice which sounded like cold wind chuckled. ”Is there any point in recognizing me? You will eventually die here. I was going to kill you to eliminate all the leads, but you went to the frozen land on a mission and could not be localized. That's why it has been postponed to this moment.”
Before Yakov replied, he burst into laughter. ”You should hate your Boss Yakov instead of me. If he hadn't got involved in this, you would be enjoying your life, but right now, even if you don't know anything, I will not let you go. Cry, tremble, and be devastated while you enjoy the last episode of your life!”
After the cocky laughter, the prison cell fell into utter silence again. Yakov's curses, mockery and begging had no replies at all.
”…I will escape out of this place. I will tear your heads off and feed them to bears!” Yakov did not stutter at all at this moment, but gradually, his was the only voice in the whole prison cell. The mercenaries who cursed with him became quiet.
Under their weird eyes, Yakov stopped 'taunting' and looked around at the mercenaries, only to see their indifferent if not hateful faces.
Chilled, his voice became low. ”Do you hate me for involving you in Duke Duda's matter?”
”We didn't do anything, but we've been caught and may be killed any moment. Boss Yakov, do you not think we should be angry? You should at least let us know what it's about?” Hack, Yakov's right-hand man, asked bitterly.
”Why didn't you mention that you pissed off Duke Duda? I wouldn't have stayed if you said that!”
”Ass*ole, you should answer for what you did alone!”
”Enough! That's enough!” Anna suddenly shrieked in fury. ”What did you say when Boss Yakov became knight? Boss Yakov never wanted to get us involved. It's only because Duda is too vicious a villain!”
In tears of anger, she could not accept that the peaceful and happy team became this!
”Is Sister Katrina right that one's real personalities will never be revealed until the most dangerous and desperate moment?” She somehow recalled something that Katrina said to her earlier.
Anna's shriek and accusation silenced the prison cell. Then, Yakov's dull voice echoed again. ”It's alright if you resent me, but are you going to abandon the hope of survival by fighting amongst ourselves?”
”But there's a grand knight…”
”Duke Duda hasn't taken action yet. He must be even more horrifying!”
”It's hopeless!”
Yakov said calmly but firmly, ”Only after you try will you know if there's a chance of escape. Duke Duda said that obviously to stoke discord. As far as I know, he revels in the pain and desperation of other people. So, I wouldn't let him get what he wants even if I die. What about you? Are you going to die being mocked?”
”Well said!” Somebody applauded outside. Duke Duda said with a smile, ”Yakov, I remember that there was a very beautiful lady in your team. She was more gorgeous than most noble ladies, and you seem to like her very much, don't you?”
”What do you want?” Yakov clutched the bars.
Anna shouted in anger and fear, ”It has nothing to do with Sister Katrina! She joined us halfway and doesn't know anything!”
”I love destroying what people like bit by bit in front of them while I enjoy their countenance and reactions. That reason is good enough.” Duda laughed even more crazily. ”Two adult werewolves have been sent to capture her. They are both very strong. Maybe, she wouldn't be able to bear them. Hahaha.”
”Ass*ole!” Yakov shook the iron cage hard, his eyes bloodshot.
Anna shook her head in horror. ”You are a demon! A real demon!”
In tales, demons loved slaughter and destruction most.
”That's the greatest compliment for me.” Duda was not infuriated at all but laughed in satisfaction. ”Right, I'm in a good mood, but I've decided to advance your time of death to right now. In such a way, you will never have the chance to escape.”
Hearing that, the mercenaries all lost their momentum. The morale that was just boosted by Yakov turned into desperation.
...
Thanks to the sparse population of the Schachran Empire, the manors here were much larger than Rentato's, and the quiet manor before them was even more so.
”This is Duke Duda's manor.” On an evergreen, Viscount Carendia stood on the end of a branch as if he were weightless, his black cape shivering with the twigs.
Katrina floated next to him without saying a word. She summoned her spiritual power, and a black-and-white eye appeared before her. It looked mysterious and creepy.
She followed the sorcerers' code of conduct and tried to avoid unprepared battles.
”Secret Eye?” Viscount raised his head and looked at it. A few illusionary bats flew out of his body and snuck into the manor with the Secret Eye.
A moment later, most of the view in the manor was unfolded in their 'eyes'. The open and secret sentries, the traps, the number of enemies, their distribution, and their average ability were all manifested.
”Several places are protected by mysterious powers. We have to approach them for reconnaissance.” Katrina had always been concise in battles. Then, her body turned transparent, and she disappeared into the night sky.
”The patrols and guards outside cannot discover us at all…” Viscount Carendia said lazily and casually, his body melting into the darkness. ”Right, take care of the savage werewolves' senses.”
The defenders and traps in the manor were knights and reverends at most, nothing worth mentioning for the two experts. It was actually the few wandering werewolves that called for wariness.
They soon entered the manor. As if they were walking among a bunch of puppets, they reached the main hall of the manor!
Feeble waves flashed, and Katrina performed the Secret Eye again, letting it enter the main house through the gap.
...
An altar made of unknown materials appeared before the mercenaries, while swords, daggers and other weapons were placed randomly on the ground.
The altar was completely black, engraved with hideous faces in all directions. They had horns on their head and twisted faces. From their protruding teeth, red blood was dripping nonstop.
After the blood reached the complicated runes at the bottom of the altar, a vague bloody mist was raised, spreading a stinky but sweet smile.
At the center of the altar, a fuzzy human-shaped statue was placed, but it had two pointy demon horns on the forehead.