Adrian and Eve made their way to the base, their expressions steely as they prepared for the task ahead. Adrian, now fully immersed in his role as Darian, adjusted his posture and facial expressions to mimic the man he had studied so closely.
The base itself was a nondescript building, hidden deep within the woods. It was small and fortified, designed to be easily overlooked. As they arrived at the entrance, two guards stood watch, their eyes narrowing at the sight of Adrian and Eve.
"Lord Envoy," one of them said, nodding in recognition. "We weren't expecting you to be back so soon."
Adrian nodded curtly, adopting Darian's stern demeanor. "Change of plans. Gather everyone inside—we need to discuss something urgent."
The guards exchanged glances but obeyed without question. Adrian's authority as Darian was absolute in this setting, and they had no reason to doubt him.
Within minutes, the remnants of Baron Mortimer's forces had gathered in the main hall, a dimly lit room filled with the scent of stale air and burnt wood.
Adrian stood at the front, Eve by his side, her eyes betraying a mix of tension and resolve. Activating his Appraisal skill, Adrian quickly assessed the room's occupants.
They were mostly low-level fighters, averaging around Level 4, along with support staff such as cooks and cleaners. These were not elite forces, but they were loyal to Baron Mortimer.
Adrian cleared his throat, drawing the attention of everyone present.
"I've returned with news. Adrian Everhart has fallen for Eve, so there's been a change of plans. He's agreed to surrender in exchange for her. I've brought her back to ensure her safety until we finalize the deal."
The men in the room murmured among themselves, unsure of what to make of this development. Could it really be that simple?
"However," Adrian continued, his voice growing colder, "there's a problem. Too many of you know about this plan, and with this many people aware, the risk of the plan leaking is too great." His voice trailed off ominously.
As the men shifted uneasily, Adrian glanced at Eve, who nodded imperceptibly. The signal was given.
In a blur of motion, Adrian drew his enchanted dagger, the blade gleaming wickedly in the dim light.
At the same moment, Eve whispered the incantation for her spell, Dark Binding. Shadows around the room twisted and stretched, forming dark, ethereal hands that emerged from beneath the men, clutching their ankles with an iron grip.
Panic erupted instantly. The men began to scream, their voices high-pitched and desperate as they struggled in vain against the shadowy restraints.
"Please! No, I have a family!" one man begged, his eyes wide with terror.
"Don't do this! We're loyal! We swear!" another pleaded, his voice trembling as he tried to free himself from the shadows clutching his legs.
But there would be no mercy.
Adrian moved with lethal precision, still embodying Darian's ruthless persona. His dagger flashed through the air, finding throats and hearts with unerring accuracy.
Each strike was swift, brutal, and final, cutting off the screams and pleas as quickly as they began. The enchanted blade, honed to a razor's edge, sliced through flesh and bone effortlessly, leaving no room for resistance.
One man, his voice choked with fear, tried to reason with Adrian as the dagger neared his throat. "Please, Lord Envoy! You don't have to do this! We—we're your loyal followers!"
Adrian's expression remained cold as he drove the dagger into the man's chest, silencing him instantly. The man's eyes widened in shock before the life drained out of them, his body crumpling to the floor.
Eve, standing beside Adrian, maintained her focus on the Dark Binding spell. The men, trapped and helpless, were unable to do anything but watch in horror as Adrian moved from one to the next, their fate sealed by the deadly coordination between the two.
"Please, spare us!" another man cried out, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to escape the shadowy hands holding him in place. "We'll do anything! Please!"
But the pleas fell on deaf ears. Eve's face was emotionless, her hands trembling slightly as she continued to channel the dark magic, but her resolve did not waver. She knew what had to be done.
In a matter of minutes, the chaos subsided. The once-noisy hall fell silent, the only sound now the dripping of blood pooling on the cold stone floor. The lifeless bodies of Baron Mortimer's men lay scattered around the room, their faces frozen in expressions of terror and despair.
Adrian, his breathing steady despite the carnage, wiped the blood from his dagger. Eve, her hands finally lowering as the last of the adrenaline faded, looked around at the aftermath, her face a mix of horror and relief.
"We did it," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Adrian gave a curt nod, his expression grim. "It's not over yet. We need to report to Baron Mortimer."
He then acted out Darian's mannerisms for Eve to give a final check. Once satisfied, Adrian took a deep breath and activated the communication device—a small, enchanted mirror that Eve had provided.
As soon as the mirror began to shimmer, Eve's expression shifted. Fear crept into her eyes, and her hands trembled slightly and she bowed down her head with pale face.
The mere thought of facing Baron Mortimer made her heart race with dread. She instinctively lowered her gaze, her breath catching in her throat as the cold, calculating visage of Baron Mortimer appeared, his eyes narrowing as they took in the scene before him.
"Darian," Baron Mortimer greeted, his tone flat. His gaze flicked over Adrian's blood-splattered form and the bodies around him and Eve. He raised an eyebrow, clearly questioning the status of the mission.
Adrian, maintaining his disguise flawlessly, bowed his head slightly in deference. "Lord Mortimer, I bring good news.
We ambushed Adrian Everhart with the intention to kill, but he surrendered and had one condition. It seems he's taken an interest in Eve. We've returned to our base and have eliminated any potential leaks."
He continued, "The rumors of his incompetence and hedonistic lifestyle were indeed true. He took an interest in Eve in a single glance. He's even willing to hand over his mother and sister as a sign of goodwill as long as his safety is guaranteed."
The Baron's eyebrow arched further in intrigue. "Didn't you ask for permission to kill him before? What changed your mind?"
Eve had already informed Adrian that Darian had mobilized the manpower to kill Adrian after receiving the Baron's permission.
With this knowledge, Adrian replied smoothly, "Of course, I wanted to tear that brat to pieces, but seeing him beg me for mercy and even suggest his surrender, as well as his apparent interest in Eve, I thought of a brilliant plan to torture him for insulting me."
The Baron's eyes narrowed with interest. "Oh? Go on, tell me your plan."
Adrian continued with a dark smile. "Since he wants Eve and desires to be her slave owner, let him have that privilege. Once we're done with him, let him watch as you defile his entire family—and then, you can deflower the girl he's taken a liking to."
His voice turned even more sinister as he continued, "Then we can have him crippled and put him in a dungeon, repeating the process for a long time."
Although Adrian hated uttering these words, he masked his disgust at Baron Mortimer and, more importantly, towards himself.
Baron Mortimer's cold eyes narrowed further as he scrutinized Adrian. The Baron's face remained unreadable, the silence stretching for several agonizing seconds. Then, he let out a low, mirthless chuckle.
"You've always had a twisted mind, Darian," Baron Mortimer said, a cruel smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Very well. Proceed with your plan. As your reward, you can have both Eve and her mother once I am done with them. I know you have been eyeing them for a while now."
Eve who had her head bowed down the whole time felt a tinge of pain and chill as her own father decided her fate as if some kind of object.
He then paused as his gaze lingered on Adrian, as if searching for any sign of deceit. Finally, he gave a slow, approving nod.
"Good. But remember, Darian, this plan must be executed flawlessly. If there's even the slightest hint of betrayal, you'll wish for death long before I'm through with you."
Adrian bowed his head lower, masking the tension that coiled in his chest. "Understood, my Lord."
Mortimer then turned his head to Eve and said, "Make sure that you don't let that brat defile you. If I find that you are no longer a virgin, you better believe I will make your mother's life a living hell."
Eve, who had her head bowed since Baron Mortimer appeared, replied in a scared voice, "Yes, Master."