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nSylvester didn’t dare to look up, as he could smell the emotions, and that was enough to check everything. They were enraged and particularly smelled of death. Sylvester knew the brute-looking men could easily kill him if they wanted to, but he was more valuable alive now.

nBam!

n“Argh!” Sylvester was suddenly kicked in the ribs out of nowhere, instantly fracturing two of them.

n“You think we are buffoons? We live in the mountains, so we won’t see through your schemes? There is no way the King would agree. He has the church sitting above his head, and we are heathens in the eyes of you sun**ers. Chief Koruk and I had an agreement beforehand. He gets to live in the Duchy of Normani, and my younger brother becomes its King. Why would he break the oath when he knows I can kill him instantly–Just like this!”

n“Argh!” Sylvester cried in genuine pain and unloaded a thousand curses in his head in English and Russian.

nZelfim stepped on Sylvester’s ribs, which had just been broken. He looked down at Sylvester’s creased face with much delight, as apparent by a smile. “We shall attack the Duchy as planned and kill every single one of you sun**ers!”

nSylvester gritted and replied. “Then you’d be playing in the hands of the church. This is an official… argh!… peace offer that you are rejecting. Once you take the Duchy, the Holy Inquisition will be automatically triggered. There are nearly a million soldiers in the Inquisitor Army and two million in the Holy Army, not counting the other millions of staff members who know how to cast magic or battle. Y-Your highnesses, I do not lie… Ugh…”

nA vein popped on Zelfin’s forehead, and he pressed Sylvester harder.

nCrack!

nMore ribs broke apart, cracking into small pieces. But Sylvester tolerated and gritted his teeth, letting his saliva fall out and turn him into an ugly mess.

n“I feel you are not telling me the real story. Perhaps, I should give you our famous Barbarian hospitality treatment. Fralan! Chop all his limbs… Including the fifth one.” Zelfim ordered his younger brother.

nSylvester quickly tried to stand up, albeit faltering. “I… I came here as an envoy for peace, your hi… highnesses. There is a profound reason behind the sudden movement of the Storst faction and the Duchy! I reckon you know about the undead in the North?”

n“What of it?”

nSylvester coughed up blood profusely and took long breaths. “We found out who the mastermind is. It’s an Emperor Lich, your highnesses! Rumoured to be a Supreme Wizard. The Duchy stands no chance against it, nor does the Storst faction. Everyone wishes to go as far away from the North as possible. So that when the Holy Land sends their millions of troops, no innocent shall die!”

nCough!

nSaying his last few words, he fell into a puddle of his own bloody mess.

nThe two barbarian brothers looked at each other’s faces, knowing very well what Emperor Lich meant. Were they confident enough to fight an undying Supreme Wizard, likely a few centuries-old, if not a millennia-old Lich?

nSylvester still yelled a few words. “I-It can not be beaten! If we battle, the more of us will die, and the more undead the Lich will acquire.”

n“Guards!” Zelfim roared. “Throw this pathetic weakling into a pit. Don’t take his clothes. We need him alive while we crosscheck everything he said. Fralan, come with me to the North. We shall ensure the state of the undead. Captain Maddok, you head to the Duke’s castle and confirm everything directly with the Duchess.”

nThen, the tall, six-foot-eight wild barbarian looked at Sylvester near his feet. “Let’s see how blessed you are by your so-called Solis! If anything proves to be a lie, you die.”

nSylvester nodded his head only and let himself be dragged away by the soldiers. He smelled many emotions coming from the two brothers. Doubt, fear and, above all, anxiety. This was enough to reveal that they did believe in his words.

n‘As long as the Duchess does as I’ve advised, this shouldn’t be a problem. That foolish Prima won’t be able to exert any pressure either, as Aurora is now the Duchess’ guardian. But, if these two fools went to see Chief Koruk, then… Fuck! I didn’t instruct him about this… I hope they attack sight.’

nSylvester was soon brought out of the fort and dragged to the back flatland where the snow had ravaged the grass. There were many closed pits in the ground, all with metal doors at the surface.

nSylvester looked towards the one where Felix was kept and wondered how he was. But he didn’t cause any commotions as he’d have plenty of time later on.

n“Hjms dumba saka puta lod!”

nSylvester understood their curses but didn’t react and let himself be thrown inside an open pit. After that, the soldiers closed it and left.

nThud!

nHe touched the ground. It was wet, almost as if it was all mud. It was utterly dark, and the only light was the small window in the gate ten metres above. The sun was also setting, and soon it would get pitch dark.

n‘They should be gone by now.’ He thought and made a tiny source of light on the tip of his index finger.

nHe looked around. The hole was merely a metre wide, not even enough to spread his arms wide or lie down. Moreover, the ground was muddy and filthy. But his gaze soon fell on a decomposing body half turned into a skeleton.

nHe checked it closely since the clothes were still on it. He looked and reckoned it was an old man, tall and strong like a warrior. The man appeared rich from the clothes, as silk was present with golden embroidery.

n‘Wait a second!’

nHe quickly looked at the button on the tunic underneath the robes.

n‘Ah… So this is what happened to him. I finally found Duke Iceling’s body. I should take it along. The Duchess will become more faithful with this.

nSylvester kept himself silent during that time. He didn’t even dare to speak with Chonky as he knew that the whole inner part of the pit was filled with various magical runes. He didn’t know if one of them was some sort of a spy rune. So it was better to be quiet.

nThere was nothing to do for him the entire time. Thanks to Chonky, he had food, and with magic, he solidified the ground to make it livable. He just sat and slept while consuming healing potions and eating Solarium crystals. His ribs were broken, and he had to get them automatically healed before anything significant happened.

nSo just like that, he spent three days inside the cold and harsh pit. At night, the temperature went dozens of degrees below zero, and even during the day, it didn’t change much.

nHe had no regrets until now, though. Getting beaten was a part of the plan, so his last revelation seemed more realistic. After all, easily attainable intel is usually fake, something he had learned the hard way as a spy.

nThankfully, when the morning light shrouded the sky on the fourth day, the guards returned to his pit and opened the gates.

nThey said no words and threw a rope ladder down. He climbed up and was again escorted to the throne room.

n‘The moment of truth is here. Solis, bless me!’

nSylvester kept his senses sharp and tried to smell the emotions when he entered the throne room. The two Borzol brothers were sitting in their seats as usual, but there was no proud or rageful expression on their faces anymore.

n‘Yes! The fear has intensified by many degrees. This is good. But I sense a lot of hope too, so did they verify the Duchess too?’

n“Kneel! You little insec–”

nAs Fralan tried to shout at Sylvester, Zelfim raised his hand and spoke calmly. “We have confirmed everything, envoy. As you said, the Undead Lich, the Duchy, the Storst–All of it was true. Here, I have placed my royal seal on the letter you brought.”

n“B-But! What about me, brother?” Fralan complained. “Are we going to let that Koruk keep the whole Duchy of Normani? You promised me! You said you wo–”

n“Enough!” Zelfim angrily erupted. “Sacrifices have to be made, Fralan. Don’t forget what we saw in the North. We may dislike Koruk, but he’s keeping his people safe–Our people safe. We can always kill Koruk, but we must only strive to absorb all the tribes of the Storst faction into our faction.”

nSylvester’s heart bloomed and released all the gloom. He saw the cracks appear between the two. As told by many, the two brothers were eccentric, prideful and greedy. There was no way the little brother would just accept the status quo after being shown the juicy candy.

nActing timidly, Sylvester bowed his head and took the letter back. “I-I thank your royal highnesses. I shall return and give the news to the Duchess.”

n“Wait!” Zelfim stopped him and asked in a somewhat nervous tone. “When will the Holy Land send an army to deal with the undead?”

n‘And that’s a hook! Hell yes! He’s scared!’

nCough!

nSylvester made the ugliest face possible. His brows furrowed, eyes narrow, and face contorted. He rubbed his fake bearded chin and mumbled to himself. “I believe that the holy army should be on the way already. But it will likely enter the North through shipping routes or the North Road. As for the Duchy, it shall be emptied after I return, perhaps in three days. But the faraway towns will take at least a month.”

n‘Fear! Anxiety! Death, rage, hope and doubt! Hah, is his mind broken?’ 𝑜𝑣𝘭.𝘯𝑡

nSylvester knew what was going on in the other man’s head. The barbarian King was confused and unsure if his actions were right. But he felt there was no other choice since Emperor Lich would come after them at any cost.

n“Then… We shall move our entire population and storage to the Duke’s Keep and the surrounding town. We won’t be kind if we find any of you Solis preachers there.” Zelfim warned him, regaining his rageful look and deadly aura.

nSylvester bowed his head.

n“Still standing here? Move, pest! Run back to your Duchess!” Fralan roared while laughing madly. The man seemed crazier than his elder brother.

nSylvester had a reason, however. “Your highnesses, I’m afraid you forget something. If you truly want the church not to harm you, you need to return what’s precious to them.”

nZelfim seemed confused, and his eyes turned red in anger. “What in the Mother Dimos’ name are you blabberi… Ah! That preacher we caught? Felix was his name?”

nSylvester nodded, kneeling. As disgusted as he felt, he knew he had to keep the persona of a weakling going on. He had nothing to worry about either, for he knew his day would come soon.

n“Yes, your highness. Felix is an important clergyman, close to the Pope and many Guardians of Light… Please show mercy.”

n“Fine!” Zelfim instantly replied and sat cross-legged, proudly looking down at him with a big smirk.

n“Brother! No! He’s our col–”

nZelfim shut his brother again with a hand. “I will free him, envoy, but I must see your sincerity first. You wish to take my goods, so you must pay the price.”

n‘Ugh! I don’t like the feeling of this.’

nSylvester rubbed his palms to show nervousness. “Of course, we can provide as much gold as you desire.”

n“Hehe! Gold is useless. What I need is more symbolic. But I am benevolent, so I am letting you choose.” Zelfim grinned.

nThis time Sylvester genuinely sweated. “W-What may it be?”

n“Envoy, give me one of your fingers as a tribute!”

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