Chapter 324: Blackmail (1/2)

Chapter 324: Blackmail

“De…demon, just kill me! No need to humiliate me like this!” The weakly starving beauty spoke in a weak voice upon seeing Han Shuo approach. She wanted to put on a fierce front, but didn’t have the slightest bit of energy to do so, even just talking alone had exhausted all of her strength.

“Eh… I’m very sorry. These past two days I had to go out for something, but forgot to instruct my people to bring you food.” This time Han Shuo was genuinely embarrassed this time. He explained with all sincerity as he looked at Helen Tina.

Helen Tina had been barely able to mouth a few words. When she heard Han Shuo explain, she pointed her finger at him, her pale lips trembling as if wanting to say something. However, whether she was too hungry or angry, she actually fainted without another word.

“Aii, mages are truly fragile, unable to hold up after two days of hunger.” Seeing Helen Tina fall unconscious, Han Shuo spoke with a sigh and involuntarily shook his head.

He’d forgotten that last time along the way he’d brought Helen Tina back, he’d only let her eat one meal during those two days. She’d been locked up in Brettel City for two more days, meaning it’d been four days in total since Han Shuo had captured her. For Helen Tina, who’d eaten only one meal on the way here, for her to still be alive, her body was already much better than that of an ordinary mage’s.

Han Shuo hauled Helen Tina up and carried her out of the cell. He handed her over to the two maids in the city lord’s mansion with the following instructions, “Prepare some food for her. Wait until she recovers before putting her back into the cell.”

The two maids looked at Helen Tina’s pale face in shock, then turned to Han Shuo with a strange gaze before withdrawing with the unconscious Helen Tina in trepidation.

When they’d completely cleared the room, the two foolish maids started chattering in a low voice as they thought that Han Shuo couldn’t hear them talk.

“Two days! The city lord disappeared for two days! I can’t believe that he ravaged a beautiful woman until she’s this weak. The city lord is really a brutal, perverted evil demon!!

“Mm… two days in a row! How could the city lord hold up? No wonder he could kill all of those hateful bandits. His endurance is terrifying!”

“Aii. Poor woman, she must have been so devastated, being ravaged for two days!”

“Yeah, you see how she haggard she is. I can’t believe she’s become like this in just two days!”

The two maids whispered as they went. Han Shuo’s sensitive hearing having involuntarily caught all of their conversation. He was torn between laughter and tears, his eyelashes constantly trembling. Han Shuo wanted to explain but didn’t know where to start.

After roughly half an hour, Faulke arrived along with Dick and Chester after hearing the news. The three stood before Han Shuo, looking at him somewhat strangely. Faulke was a true knight so he didn’t say anything. The one in charge of the Dark Mantle here, Dick, was a subordinate so he kept silent all the same.

However, Chester had long been familiar with Han Shuo, so he had no reservations between the two. He complimented with a slight smile upon arriving, “My lord is really intense alright! I only knew about your powerful martial skills before. Only now do I know that not only your martial art is superb, your other aspect is even more terrifying. Two days, my gosh, two days in a row. This little one has no words to describe my admiration for you!”

Faulke and Dick seemed to share the same thought as they nodded solemnly at Chester’s words. The good-for-nothing Dick even exclaimed with a deep sigh, “Comparisons really will be the death of people, ai! I utterly concede!”

Han Shuo’s brows jumped constantly at their words. He suppressed his anger, before opening his mouth to explain to his so-called three subordinates, “The truth isn’t like what you’ve imagined. Don’t listen to the drivel of those servants. I only left that prisoner hungry for two days. You guys shouldn’t think nonsense.”

The three dirty minded fellows didn’t believe a word. However, as subordinates, they naturally understood the need to maintain some dignity in the surface. Therefore, they earnestly nodded, admitting that they had misunderstood, saying that the lord wasn’t that kind of person. But their eyes was filled with envy and admiration. They obviously didn’t believe Han Shuo’s explanation.

“This woman is Grand Duke Helen Tina of the Helon Duchy. Has anyone come to negotiate with you guys for her release over the past two days?” Seeing the three refused to believe him, Han Shuo had to reveal Helen Tina’s identity, inwardly wondering if they would believe him now.

“What? My lord, you actually dared to eat even Grand Duke Helen of the Helon Duchy!” Chester blurted out without thought.

Faulke and Dick’s expression abruptly changed. Dick was especially solemn as he said loudly, “My lord, we’re in big trouble this time! I think Brettel City will face crazy retaliation from two other grand duchies. Once people know that this poisonous beauty is in your hands, many from the seven grand duchies will become interested in Brettel City again.”

“There’ll naturally be a solution for any troubles that come. What are you afraid of? If the seven grand duchies dare to come, they will be just in time to taste our magic crystal cannons. All six magic crystal cannons have been installed at the city’s wall. Any duchy that wants to invade the Brettel City will have to pay with their blood.” Faulke was indeed obsessed with battle. He coldly snorted with an air of arrogance.

Stopping for a bit, Faulke suddenly thought of something as his expression somewhat changed. He turned to speak to Han Shuo, “But if the seven grand duchies attack repeatedly, our supply of magic crystal ores will be far from enough. Once it’s not enough for our operations, it’s simply impossible to resist the attacks from the seven grand duchies with the Brettel City’s current defenses.”

Magic crystal ores were formed by nature. They could be used for refining various magic equipment, and were needed in some transportation matrices as well as magic weapons. Magic crystal ores were different from creatures cores. The energy within the former couldn’t be directly absorbed by human or beasts, and could only be used via tools. As for the creatures cores, the majority of them could be directly absorbed by magic creatures, while a few could be absorbed by human who had the same kind of element. Therefore, creatures cores were more valuable than magic crystal ores.