Chapter 693: 12-13s Objective (2/2)
”Yes, why?” repeated 12-13.
”W-why… listen… to a man… so ugly… he permanently hides… AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!”
”Uh, uh, uh… That's not the correct answer.” wagging his finger back and forth, 12-13 sighed as he began to torment Sterfen anew.
As the assassin was again preoccupied with pain, 12-13 clicked his tongue again. ”You really are a rarity, Sterfen… Breaking and reforming you may be difficult, but it's worth gaining such a loyal, powerful pawn.
”Now, if only you knew what I know, Sterfen. You wouldn't have come here to confront Halmut, nor would you have allowed Jack to enter Glacier Keep without a proper warning… Want to know my little secret?”
The man clothed in darkness leaned in to whisper into Sterfen's ear, knowing full well that the assassin was unable to hear or interpret his voice under the mental torture. ”I know Jack's plan… I know about his double… I know his deal with Kylon… And I know she's just waiting for the right moment to rebel…
”How, you might ask? A good question… Because I'm the one in control of her mind. I'm the one who warped her mental state and has repressed all former memories of her beloved Skaryn, swaying her to do the unthinkable with Halmut… I enabled it and made her my mental slave. The moment she tries to act against Halmut is the moment that she'll turn on Jack, just like how she's turned on Skaryn in the end. What do you think of that? No comment?”
The man chuckled, enjoying the pain writhing Sterfen's face and Sterfen's lack of comprehension to anything he was told at the moment.
”Come on… I'm committing the gravest error any great villain could conceive, freely sharing my plans and abilities with you. Why not take advantage of that?”
Having had his fun, 12-13 returned to his throne while Sterfen continued to endure. A part of the dark man was legitimately impressed by Sterfen but it was the only part of him that didn't want to speak vocally.
12-13 was also curious as to why Sterfen's mind was protected to such an incredible degree. To crack it, 12-13 would either need a long time or for Sterfen's will to break. Time wasn't much of an issue but 12-13 felt the long process would be best handled outside of Kartonia where he can better hide his antics. And given that he'll soon be taking Halmut away with one of his two objectives complete, 12-13 was willing to call his Kartonia deployment a success. Adding the capture of Sterfen was enough for 12-13 to leave without fulfilling his second, less-attractive objective. Such a well-guarded mind had to know something regarding Daruun, the only person on Kartonia capable of creating such a mental barrier.
Out of habit, the man took out one of the sacred fruits. Strangely, there was some sort of glass now contorted and shaped around the fruit's soft skin. He tossed it in the air and caught it in his hand, repeating this over and over as he pondered more about his situation. 12-13 would never accept being caught or outsmarted, not if he could help it.
”I've already got a few samples, so I can leave if necessary… But let's see if Halmut can get me that as well, or if I leave him behind…” Then, a small pitch-black bead appeared in 12-13's other hand. Dark energy poured into it as 12-13 tuned in to the bead's two counterparts, letting him look through one of his victims' eyes. ”She's made it to the first door… Now the fun begins…”