"What happened?" Han Shuo was somewhat incredulous. Trunks currently had the strength of a great swordsman, and perhaps in the entire Valley of Sunshine, only the three-time berserker Laureton could defeat him in battle. But even Laureton didn't have the power to kill Trunks alone.
Trunks was a cautious man who was also very familiar with the terrain near the Valley of Sunshine. He shouldn't have run into any trouble, but now that he had suddenly disappeared, Han Shuo was truly surprised.
"After he returned from Janet's place, there was no trace of him for four days in a row. Even when there were no missions, he had never been away for that long. And even if he hadn't returned, he would have left a message, but this time there was no message. We sent people to ask Janet, and learned that Trunks had indeed left from her home. He took a dozen brothers with him, and there's no sign of them either. Dark Dragon Gilbert explained to Han Shuo with a grim face.
His eyebrows furrowed, Han Shuo thought for a while before asking, "Has Trunks had any disputes with any powers recently?"
"Ten days ago, we ambushed the Butcher bandit group together with Janet under Trunks' leadership. Trunks and Janet even killed Butcher Gustav. His bandit group can be considered wiped out from the Valley of Sunshine. Other than that, we haven't had any other disputes with other powers." It was Grant who had spoken. As Trunk's old friend, he was very concerned about Trunk's safety. Since the Valley of Sunshine was located in an area at the centre of three countries, it had become a special area over the years where the most valuable goods from the three countries could be gathered. Han Shuo had provided Trunks with the capital to form the Soul Destroyer mercenary group with the original intention of taking over the Valley of Sunshine. Otherwise, he wouldn't have given Trunks the Rebirth Pill for Trunks' reformation.
Over the past few days, the Soul Destroyer mercenary group had gradually grown in size, becoming one of the powers in the Valley of Sunshine. Trunks' sudden mishap had already affected the development of the Soul Destroyer mercenaries, which wasn't an outcome Han Shuo wanted to see. As he listened to Gilbert and Grant recount what had happened, Han Shuo had been completely silent.
"Honoured Master, do you think something happened to Trunks?" Gilbert couldn't help but ask when he saw Han Shuo's silence.
"Nonsense!" Han Shuo scolded unhappily. He thought for a moment before he said, "We don't know Trunks' situation for the time being, so everyone shouldn't act rashly. Don't take on any missions for now, let's wait for Trunks' matter to be resolved first."
"Master, we've been looking for Trunks for days, but there's no news of him. Do we keep looking?" Gilbert scratched his head as he asked Han Shuo.
"Gather everyone, I think we have run into big trouble this time. . In the Valley of Sunshine, you can count on your fingers the number of powers that dare to touch the mercenary group of the Soul Destroyers. Since something bad happened to Trunks, I think the Soul Destroyer is next on the list." Taking a deep breath, Han Shuo told the Dark Dragon and Grant.
"Right, why don't I see Odysseus' group?" Han Shuo couldn't help but ask in surprise when he discovered that Odysseus' unique little group was not here.
"They're on a mission and haven't returned to the Valley of Sunshine yet. They should still be in the Orc Empire at the moment." Gilbert replied quickly.
"Alright, Gilbert, follow me outside, the rest stay in the valley. It's best to call the brothers outside to come back. Watch this place carefully." Han Shuo glanced at Gilbert before walking directly out.
Lania the Hydra was in human form as Gilbert casually held her in his embrace. She couldn't help but speak up when she heard Han Shuo's words, "Master, I can also be of help!"
The Hydra race was also a lascivious race, no different from the dark dragon race of the underground world. On the previous trip to the depths of the Dark Forest, this Hydra had once tried to secretly kill Han Shuo and Gilbert, which Gilbert had unexpectedly enjoyed. The deadly battle between the Hydra and Gilbert had instead turned into a sex war, and the Dark Dragon had used the demonic method Han Shuo had taught him to subdue her.
The current strength of the Hydra Lania was obviously below that of Gilbert. As someone who indulged in sexual desire, she had unwittingly become the submissive one in the relationship after being conquered by Gilbert. Gilbert was Han Shuo's magical pet, so the Hydra naturally addressed Han Shuo as Master.
With a furrowed brow, Han Shuo thought for a while. Then he looked at the Hydra and said, "You stay here for now. It would be bad if there was no expert to supervise this place."
"Mhm, you stay here." Gilbert stared at the Hydra and scolded, "What the Master says goes. From now on, you're not allowed to have any objections."
Lania smiled softly in a flirtatious, sycophantic manner and chuckled, "Alright then, I'll stay here and guard this place well for you."
Seeing that Han Shuo didn't have his former ruthless appearance, the Hydra Lania slowly relaxed, her speech and behaviour no longer as cautious as before.
Han Shuo said nothing else. He looked at the Dark Dragon Gilbert and leapt into the air. Gilbert transformed right at Han Shuo's feet to catch him precisely and flew high into the sky.
"Master, where to?!" After Gilbert had flown Han Shuo high into the sky, he inadvertently asked.
"Nowhere. Just take me to a high altitude and stop there!" Han Shuo instructed. One by one, the twelve mystical demons floated out and flew in the direction of the great powers in the Valley of Sunshine.
The Valley of Sunshine was just such a large area, there weren't many people who would have the guts to attack Trunks, Only those who were afraid that he was a threat to their status. Han Shuo didn't have to think to know that Trunks' disappearance had something to do with those people.
It made sense when you thought about it. The mercenary band of the Soul Destroyers had gradually grown to the point where they had the power to control the Valley of Sunshine. For the other powers, Trunks had undoubtedly become a thorn in their side. They'd be more than willing to wipe out the Soul Destroyer mercenaries.
The Twelve Mystic Demons spread out and drifted in all directions of the Valley of Sunshine, towards the Cairo Mercenary Band, the Rainbow Sickle Mercenary Band, the Menlo Family, the Katar Orc Tribe, and even Janet's band of bandits, along with some other smaller powers. Each power was visited by a mystical demon.
With the existence of these twelve mystical demons, Han Shuo had the entire Valley of Sunshine and its major powers under his control. Since the Valley of Sunshine was only so big, the people who had laid their hands on the tribes would definitely reveal themselves, Han Shuo was one hundred percent sure of that. Deep in the forest, there was an extremely hidden cave, surrounded and heavily concealed by thick tree branches. The cave itself was very narrow and difficult to move around in.
But from the depths of the cave came the pitiful screams of Trunks. Both his hands and feet were bound with crude black shackles, while a long, thin iron chain ran through his shoulder blade.
Thunder Archmage Asa, who had followed Florida of the Rainbow Sickle mercenaries, was now glaring at Trunks. As he waved the staff in his hand, bolts of lightning struck Trunks' body like electric snakes, adding many black scars to Trunks' already badly injured body.
"Trunks, you also have such a day. When you killed my father Gustav, you didn't think that such a day would come, did you?" Thunder Archmage Asa glared at Trunks with deep hatred. He whispered a malevolent incantation as he shot lightning bolts at Trunks' body.
"Damned old dog. Ahh..." As Trunks screamed in agony, a bolt of lightning struck his mouth, leaving a black scar on his lips. Two streams of blood slowly trickled down from the corners of his mouth.
Trunks' entire body was covered in cuts and bruises, and he was tightly bound. Surrounding him were several experts sent by various powers to keep an eye on him. Asa did indeed hold a grudge against Trunks, which was why he had secretly come to take it out on him. If not for the tacit agreement between the experts of the other powers, Asa would have killed Trunks the day he was captured.
Trunks looked at Asa, who kept hitting him with lightning bolts, his heart also filled with an endless hatred. He had never expected that the Thunder Archmage who always followed Florida was the son of Butcher Gustav. No wonder the relationship between the Butcher and the mercenary band of the Rainbow Sickle was so friendly. It turned out that was why Florida thought so highly of Asa.
"Hehehe, even if I can't kill you, I'll torture you slowly. The Soul Destroyer mercenary band has developed rapidly in the past two years, but what the hell? Haha, in two days, they will be wiped out by our allied forces. After the Soul Destroyers are finished, I will peel off your skin bit by bit while you are still alive.
Hahaha, even if you want revenge, you will never have the chance. Annie, who you consider your sister, hehehe, not only Florida who rode her, even me and my father played with her. What can you do about it? Aren't you just like a dog, chained to me? Hahaha..." Asa had gone mad as he screamed loudly and struck down one lightning bolt after another.
"Ahhhh... I'll kill you beasts, I swear!" Trunks could no longer contain his rage and howled pitifully as he heard Asa's tale. The chains all over his body made metallic sounds as Trunks looked like he was going crazy.
1. Fallen Tiger in the Grassland is a Chinese proverb which describes that when the tiger leaves the mountains and is trapped in the grassland, even a dog can bully the tiger. It describes people of status and power losing their status/power.
Report Chapter Comments