'What if he is a good person. Maybe he would let me go as he promised?'

Evelyn's mind had turned muzzy so much that she couldn't think straight. She had forgotten about the countless people she had killed so far. Even the holiest individual would choose to kill her instead of forgiving her and keeping her alive.

Ever since she had found her ability she had felt liberated, she felt to be in control of her situation. She had felt like she could do as she, please. She came to believe that no one could trap her anymore… not even her stepbrother or stepmother.

But that was the naivety of a newbie.

It was true that 90% of the newbies didn't have any classes and abilities which made her rise to the top of the food chain. But hell was but a small place, it was but a matter of time before she met the remaining 10% above her. And today was such a day.

"I don't want to die…

" she whispered again.

Her will was broken. She had come to believe that no matter what she does she cannot escape her fate to be entrapped.

"Please release me. It's really cold. I will tell you what you want to know…

"

There was nothing else she could do. She could only go with the flow.

But Klautz scoffed, denying her plea.

"I think you are misunderstanding something here. We are not business partners. We are not making a deal here.

"

Klautz shrugged.

He walked closer as he stared into her dimly lit emerald eyes.

"You were but a mere pawn to the ninjas and now that you have fallen in my hands your status is the same. Either you start talking or stay put and get frozen to death.

"

Klautz was no fool. He knew that the only thing holding her back was that trap of his. If he releases her what was the guarantee that she wouldn't escape without telling Klautz anything?

"They were…

" Evelyn whispered.

She wanted to end her struggle trying to get the information out of her mouth.

But alas! Before she could continue, her vision became blurry as the world around her turned white.

*Thud*

She collapsed on the snowy floor with the viridescent barrier still coving her on all sides.

Klautz sighed.

"So you chose to die in the end?

" Klautz thought.

It was just too late for there to be any hope for the girl. At least that's what Klautz thought. But Verona thought otherwise.

"Klautz! She fainted. Do something.

"

"Why should I do anything? She had killed many. Keeping her mouth shut and dying here was her own choice. Do you think there is any hope left for people like her?

"

Evelyn had lost all hope but Klautz hadn't. So what if his plan A had failed? That didn't mean he didn't have a plan B in store. He was always prepared. In hell, your plans can go astray anytime. The important thing is to win the war even though you might have lost a battle.

Klautz himself had never expected the girl to be resilient. He had believed that a threat or two would have been enough to break her will. But alas! Before her will was broken she had already fainted, There was no hope for her.

'It was a miscalculation on my part since I assumed her to be like an average newbie. But it's okay, let's go along with Plan B for now.' Klautz thought.

But when it came to planning A there was no way that he could fix it now. Evelyn refused to reveal anything and even if Klautz were to help her out of the cage and warm her up, there was no guarantee that she would tell Klautz anything after gaining her consciousness. It was better for her to just die inside the barrier.

'In fact, she would run away with the first chance she gets.' Klautz thought.

The trap itself was a once used item and Klautz didn't have the money to buy a second one. He was already in debt after buying the first one.

But by no means did this mean that Klautz was poor. He might not have any gold on him but the monster materials he had in his inventory were worth hundreds of gold. It was just that he couldn't sell them in the market yet for fear of revealing his skills.

Not everyone would come to Ice post to hunt for serpents.

But Verona didn't seem to agree with Klautz. She shook her head.

"No, Klautz. I agree that she deserves the death sentence for what she did. But according to you, wasn't she forced to do it? I had seen it in her eyes. They were empty. She had lost all hope.

"

"Verona… you are being emotional. Emotions won't work in a game of life and death,

" Klautz replied nonchalantly.

His nonchalant attitude as if spoke out that 'I am right!'. Had it been someone else Klautz would even bother to stand beside them let alone giving a proper reply.

"Ugh… I am not. Look at it a bit objectively. If you let her die here, you won't get anything out of it. But if you let her live there is a slight chance that she would tell you something once she wakes up. It's not like she can harm us anyway. You and I both have higher stats than her.

"

Klautz didn't say anything as he pondered on it for a moment. Indeed what Verona told him had some substance on it. It went along the lines that it is better to have something than to have nothing at all!

Both Klautz and Verona were right in their own place. It was just a conflict of different values. But unlike Klautz who was sure of his stance, Verona had her own internal conflict plaguing her,

***

Author:

Creation is hard for authors. Cheer me up with your power stones.

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter in the comments sections.