"Of course I know, I can't defeat you." The Mercenary Corps leader adopted a fighting stance, appearing prepared for battle.
"Oh, really?" Violet rhythmically tapped her small folding fan in her hands. The way she did this suggested she was deep in thought, and wasn't in a rush to fight.
Thinking kept her lucid. Given enough time, she would almost instinctively do so.
Thinking about the purpose of the man in front of her, thinking about what she should do next, sometimes she didn't even need to come up with an answer.
Because thinking kept her lucid, and being lucid was the true purpose of her contemplation.
Only with a clear mind would she clearly understand the current situation, and then make the best decision.
Whilst in her contemplation, she discerned the Mercenary Corps leader's intentions. A moment later, she revealed a gruesome smile. She rested her closed fan on her chin, turned her head and questioned the leader before her.
"You don't really think that I won't actually kill you all, do you?"
The grim smile, regardless of who saw it, would send chills down their spine.
He gazed blankly at Violet's horrifying expression. It appeared as though his plan had been seen through, leaving him at a loss for what to do.
All of this was caused by Violet's smile. Upon seeing it for the first time, all the mercenaries subconsciously went on the defensive.
It was as though a greedy demon had finally revealed its true face, shamelessly exposing its bare intentions.
This caused him to swallow hard, subconsciously. His battle axe had become heavy in his hands.
Could it not be the case? How could this be...
He thought to himself then glanced back at his mercenaries. These were the people who relied on him for their meals. He had anticipated this situation when he accepted this task.
If strong opponents did exist, knowing that the Bronze Shield was exploring Black Crow Castle and still decided to break in, then how could a few of his cats and kittens stop them?
But what he didn't expect was that the opponent was not another large mercenary corps like the Bronze Shield, but a girl.
He had indeed been cautious enough, but in the end, he was defeated by his own carelessness.
The soul within Violet, Lin Xiaozheng, wasn't a soft-hearted individual since he had figured out the other party's true intentions and weaknesses. Of course, he would not let the people in front of him off easily.
She opened her folding fan. Amid the noise of the opening and closing, a Skeleton Soldier dressed in divine armor wielded the Crimson Spear in its hands. It easily severed the battle axe in the Mercenary Corps' leader's hands, then placed the weapon at his throat.
The cold blade pressed against his skin tightly, even making his pores contract.
The Mercenary Corps leader didn't dare to budge, he had not even seen how the Skeleton Soldier attacked just now.
Bitterly, he thought, this fight was simply on different levels.
The magic this little girl used, and this Skeleton Soldier's fighting capacity, they essentially belonged to the level of monsters. What were they planning to do here?!
"So... Should I kill you next? Hehe, I personally enjoy shattering people's expectations!"
Violet smiled, her voice cold and emotionless.
He had guessed wrong. Completely utterly guessed wrong. This was a monster who didn't care whether they lived or died! The Mercenary Corps leader gritted his teeth, only to realize sorrowfully that he could do nothing.
His life was in her hands now, he was just a piece of meat ready to be slaughtered.
"However, as I recall, there is a specific law in the Empire that clearly stipulates..."
As though she just remembered something, Violet chimed in playfully,
"If you beg for your life, I might spare you."
The law of the Empire, huh...
Right now, under the circumstances where he did not know what he could do to survive, Violet threw out her suggestion.
If begging could save his life...
Thinking about his unfinished business, he couldn't just die easily here. He had to survive, even if it meant living with humiliation.
He finally unclenched his fists and knelt down in front of Violet.
"Chief!"
Despite being kicked and in pain, Angras, a man who curled into a ball, was still a formidable figure. Being formidable usually meant enduring beatings like he did.
Even after bleeding out on the ground, he still had the energy to call out.
The moment the Mercenary Corps' leader knelt down, this man couldn't control his emotions anymore.
His shouting, however, provoked a roar from the man kneeling on the ground.
"Shut up! Do you want to do us all in?!"
The kneeling Mercenary Corps' leader didn't dare to look up or turn around to look at his subordinates.
Because he had a compelling reason to survive, he had to keep struggling for his life!
"Hmm, it seems that some people are still resisting." Violet put her hand on her hip, stepping forward until she stood in front of the Mercenary Corps' leader. After a brief pause, she hesitated but eventually extended her foot.
The black shining boots gleamed in the light. Even under the watchful eyes of many, the Mercenary Corps' leader took a deep breath and respectfully kissed her boots.
According to the laws of the Empire, If the losing party willingly endures the humiliation, and if he can bear it, then the victor shall lose the right to kill the loser.
That was the choice he had made. If the man really wanted to live, to survive, he must kiss the victor's boots as a sign of submission.
And he really did it.
The sharp spear from his throat was withdrawn. Violet raised the corner of her mouth and extended her hand towards the man before her.
At this moment, the Mercenary Corps' leader lifted his gloomy face and saw her smiling face. It was as though the smile was branded deep into his heart.
"You must go on living, even if you have to endure humiliation. You must still have unfinished business, right?"
"As it happens, it seems I'm running short on manpower. But don't worry, I'm not one to force others to make decisions they aren't keen on."
"However, if you don't agree, I'll just have to kill you!"
Violet's face beamed with a dazzling smile but everyone's hearts dropped like they'd plunged into an ice cave.
This woman... was nothing short of a devil!