The voice actually laced with a mind-controlling magic that sought to ensnare their mind.
Arthur could vaguely feel that the magic power was at Yellow-Tier. Luckily, with his strength currently at Yellow-High Tier, he easily broke free from its control.
However, Sotoy, with his lower strength at White-Low Tier, was not as fortunate. The mind-controlling magic ensnared him, compelling him to walk toward the source of the voice, the colossal eye.
Arthur then decided to play along. He began walking aimlessly, mimicking Sotoy's mindless gait.
As they both emerged from the crack hole into a spacious chamber illuminated by glowing runes embedded in the stone ceiling.
He saw in the room there was only one giant cyclops that was much bigger than the guards he saw before. Inwardly, Arthur breathed a sigh of relief that there weren't more Giant Cyclopes in the chamber.
Then Arthur inspected the towering Giant Cyclopes before him.
[Name: Gorlin Tose]
[Race: Cyclopes]
[Rare-Class: Enchanter]
[Strength: Yellow-Low Tier]
The strength tier of the Giant Cyclopes in front of him was only at Yellow-Low Tier, but compared to Arthur's current strength, the raw strength of the Giant Cyclops could even on par with Arthur's current strength who's at Yellow-High Tier, due to the nature of the Cyclopes' giant bodies. However, Arthur seemed unfazed by it.
The Giant Cyclopes, Gorlin turned towards Arthur with a frown, then the transmission voice spoke once again, "~I know you weren't entangled with my mind control, little rat. Don't try to fool me, or you'll end up like that little rat over there~"
Gorlin pointed to the lifeless body of an imp in the corner of the room.
However, Arthur didn't bother to look at the body and asked, "Are you the lord of this town?"
Gorlin laughed maniacally, his voice reverberating through the chamber, "Khekekehe, wasn't it me who should asking question? What brings you here to my manor, little rat?"
This time Gorlin did not use a transmission sound but instead used his original voice.
As Arthur heard what Gorlin had just said, he smirked and immediately activated his talent.
~Swoosh
[Prompt: Individual Persuasion has been activated]
Not long after, he heard a notification sound:
~ding
[Gorlin Tose has become your subject.]
[Name: Gorlin Tose]
[Title: Lord of Tulkan Town]
[Territory: Tulkan Town]
[Rare-Class: Enchanter]
[Lord Talent: None]
[Strength: Yellow-Low Tier]
[Loyalty: 100(Temporary)]
The Giant Cyclopes, Gorlin, who had been arrogance moments ago, underwent a dramatic transformation. His posture changed from a lordly stance to one of servitude. His eyes, once filled with pride, now radiated loyalty and obedience toward Arthur.
"Now, you and all your subjects are the subjects of the Imp Town!" Arthur declared, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
Gorlin bowed his massive head in submission, his voice trembling as he responded, "Yes, my lord. I am yours to command."
Soon, Gorlin handed over his Territory Token to Arthur.
[Prompt: Do you want to make Tulkan Town as your Subsidiary Territory?(Y/N)]
`Yes` Arthur immediately accepted.
~Ding
[Tulkan Town has become your Subsidiary Territory]
[Prompt: All buff applied in Tulkan Town would also be applied in your Territory]
~Ding
[Rune Engraving Production increased by 100%]
~Ding
[Craftmanship Production increased by 50%]
[Prompt: Tulkan's Territory Token has changed into Imp's Subsidiary Territory Token]
Arthur nodded in satisfaction, knowing that he had succeeded in making Tulkan Town his Subsidiary Territory as he had planned. This was the main reason he came to Tulkan City, luckily his plan worked.
Arthur's eyes bore into the Cyclopes as he questioned, "Tell me, Gorlin, why did Tulkan Town deceive the Imp Town and attempt to seize its resources?"
Gorlin's voice, once filled with pride, now carried a weight of submission as he began to explain the events that had transpired. His story was shocking, and as Arthur listened, his eyes narrowed, and his expression darkened.
~rip
He moved towards the lifeless imp in the corner of the room and tore the lifeless imp's clothes in anger. He couldn't help but laugh at the hundreds of imp soldiers who died for this unethical reason.
~Swossh
Soon, the cold unfeeling depths of Arthur's mind began to stir. Waves of laughter filled with killing intent, swept through the massive room.
Arthur's eyes flashed with a cold gaze. Luckily his [Persuasion] talent had turned the tables in this encounter, otherwise he wouldn't have known the truth.
...
Several hours later, outside the walls of Tulkan Town.
Sotoy stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. His head throbbed with a dull ache, and he couldn't remember how he had ended up here. The last thing he recalled was a relentless compulsion to walk towards the source of a haunting voice.
The world around him seemed strange and unfamiliar. He tried to piece together the fragments of his memories, but they remained elusive.
Confusion and disorientation clouded his mind until a familiar voice reached his ears. "You finally awake?"
Then, a figure came into view. It was Arthur, his lord, standing before him, battered and wounded. Sotoy's voice was weak as he asked, "Sire? What happened? Are you okay?"
Arthur had a tired smile on his face. "I'm okay. They had you under mind control, but I managed to save you and get us out of there."
Sotoy's expression shifted from confusion to guilt. He stammered, "I'm sorry, Sire. I didn't... I couldn't..."
Arthur interrupted gently, "It's not your fault, Sotoy. Their mind control was powerful. You're safe now."
But Sotoy's gaze fell upon Arthur's torn and bloodied ripped clothes that covered his wounds, and his eyes widened in realization. "Sire, w-where do you get... that ripped clothes? It's what my father wore before he left the town."
"I took these ripped clothes from the body I found in our escape to bandage my wounds." Then, Arthur stepped closer and placed a comforting hand on Sotoy's shoulder. "Your father was a hero, Sotoy. He fought to the end, protecting you and your town. You should be proud of him."
The young imp's tears began to flow, his sobs echoing in the quiet of the night as he understood what Arthur had said.
Arthur gave him a moment to grieve, allowing the catharsis. It was a painful experience, but Sotoy needed to release the emotions that were binding him. After a while, when the sobs subsided, Sotoy spoke. "You were right Sire, things may not turn out the way we hope."
Arthur nodded and spoke. "Now, let's return to the village. Our people need to know what happened here, and we need to make the people who did this pay with their lives."
A hint of killing intent came out of Arthur, giving Sotoy the shiver down to his spine.
...
Inside the dimly lit Town Hall of the Imp Town, a sinister scene unfolded before the eyes of the Town Chancellor and the Town's Logistic Officer.
A mother and her young daughter were held captive, their hands bound tightly, fear etched across their faces. Their eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of mercy or salvation.
The Town Chancellor, his expression twisted in madness, glared at the trembling mother. "Where is your other child? You have two kids, don't you?" His voice was laced with malice and cruelty, casting a chilling atmosphere in the room.
The mother, her voice quivering with desperation, pleaded, "I-I don't know. Please, don't do anything to my daughter and son. They don't know anything. I promise you they won't tell anyone. If you want to kill me, just kill me."
"M-Mother?" a terrified voice from his daughter was heard.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at her terrified daughter, clutching her protectively. Her words were a desperate plea for the safety of her children, a plea that seemed to fall on deaf ears.
The Town's Logistic Officer, standing beside the Chancellor, sneered contemptuously. "Ckckck, we've already expended so much effort to eliminate your foolish husband and our inept lord. We simply can't allow anyone connected to them to disrupt our plans."
With a wave of the Chancellor's hand, he shouted, "Guards! Kill them both, and then search for the boy!"
At his command, a group of guards, loyal to the Chancellor and the Logistic Officer, moved forward with a chilling determination. Their weapons gleamed ominously in the dim light of the Town Hall.
The mother's pleas grew louder, her voice tinged with terror and desperation. "Please, you can't do this. My children are innocent. They have nothing to do with your plans."
Her daughter clung to her, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was too young to fully comprehend the horrors unfolding before her, but she could sense the danger that surrounded them.
As the guards closed in, the mother's eyes darted around the room, searching for any means of escape. The odds were stacked against her, and it seemed that all hope was lost.
~Boom
"Aghh---"
~Crack
But just as despair threatened to consume her, a sudden shriek rang out in front of her, and it came from the Town Chancellor.
Her eyes locked onto the chilling scene before her, she saw that the upper half of the Town Chancellor's body was gone.