"Hmm, they look unkempt," Kael muttered with a sigh as he grabbed the man's palm.
The man tried to speak, mumbling incoherently, "Hnm… bjh… bjhj..." but Kael swiftly covered his mouth with one hand, gripping a knife in the other.
"Shhh. Don't shout unless you're ready to talk to me," Kael said with a grin, his eyes shifting to the bloodied hand. Blood was smeared across it, some of it beginning to dry.
Kael stepped back, and the man let out a shaky sigh of relief, but his face paled at the sight of what Kael held.
"Alcohol," Kael declared with a wicked smile. Without giving the man time to react, he poured the liquid directly onto the wounds.
"Aaaaaaah! Stop! Stop! Stop!" the man screamed, thrashing wildly. Kael ignored the cries, emptying the jar before tossing it aside with a satisfied smirk.
The man's face twisted in pain, his will teetering on the edge of collapse.
"Now that's better," Kael said, inspecting the man's trembling form. "You know, I've always wanted to test a theory. Here it is: the larger the surface area of pain, the less intense it feels. But… what if the pain is concentrated?"
Without waiting for a reply, Kael grabbed one of the man's fingers and began slicing a thin layer of skin where the fingernail had been.
"Argh!" the man groaned, his face contorted in agony. Kael methodically peeled the skin, dragging it back toward the man's forearm.
Screams erupted, echoing through the underground chamber like the wails of a slaughtered animal. The sound continued for several minutes, muffled only by the thick walls and sealed door.
Eventually, the man's cries faded into weak, ragged breaths. Blood now flowed from a jagged wound stretching from his fingers to his shoulder. Kael casually cut away the dangling strip of skin and discarded it.
"Why won't you talk?" Kael asked, his tone almost casual. "Who are you protecting? Have you been threatened?"
Reaching for a pouch, he continued, "This here is salt, and this is ground pepper. What happens when we mix these with open wounds?"
The man's eyes widened in terror. "I… I… I..."
Kael poured the salt onto the wounds.
"Aaaaaaargh! I'll talk! I'll talk! Please, stop!" the man screamed, his voice cracking.
Kael smirked, his eyes gleaming. "Nah, we can't forget the spice." He sprinkled the pepper on top. The man's body convulsed violently before he passed out from the sheer agony.
Kael sighed, his grin unwavering. "Oh well."
*********
The man woke up to a dull, throbbing pain. Surprisingly, his wounds had been treated, and his body was wrapped in bandages like a mummy. He noticed his hands were free and carefully sat up, his movements sluggish.
Then, his eyes fell on Kael, sitting calmly across from him, and his heart nearly stopped.
The man tried to speak, but his voice failed him.
"Now," Kael said coldly, his eyes sharp and murderous, "who hired you to kill me? What kingdom are they from? And who housed you?"
The man stammered, his will broken. "F-Finland Kingdom… the royal family… I… I was housed by William," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kael smirked. "Good. You should have told me earlier."
Rising to his feet, he called out, "Nurses, treat him and get him some food."
Kael turned and left the room without another word. Moments later, several figures entered, tending to the man's wounds and giving him herbal remedies. He fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
***********
When the man woke again, his condition had improved slightly. Though still weak, he could now sit and move with some effort. A table laden with food sat before him.
"What is he planning?" the man thought nervously. "He healed me, gave me food… I feel even more scared now. He won't release me. Those eyes… they looked at me like I was already dead."
Despite his fear, he ate cautiously, needing to regain his strength.
An hour later, the table was cleared, leaving him alone in the dimly lit room.
The sound of a gate opening startled him. A beast resembling a lion emerged, its predatory gaze fixed on him.
The man froze, his breath hitching. In his current state, he was no match for this peak Martial Disciple-level creature.
"Aaaaagh! Crown Prince! I told you everything! Help! Help!" he screamed, but his cries faded as the beast lunged.
*********
In Kael's chambers, the Crown Prince stood dressed in an intricate, luxurious outfit. Garrick and Jake stood before him, while Ash guarded the door.
Kael addressed Garrick first. "I want you to observe the palace. Inform me immediately if anyone approaches my quarters or the dungeon."
Garrick nodded and vanished.
Kael turned to Jake. "Now, go to the dungeon. Kill the beast that devoured the assassin. Then, eliminate every guard and maid who knows about it. Burn their corpses."
Jake bowed. "As you command, my lord."
Kael's expression darkened. "Take my maid with you."
Jake hesitated. "Why, my lord? I thought you wanted no witnesses."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Just obey. Don't kill her. Let her return here alive and unharmed."
Jake nodded and left.
Once alone, Kael frowned, deep in thought. His mind churned with plans, schemes, and the weight of his next move.
Kael, in his past life, had dealt with countless assassins—cunning and hard-willed individuals who often required torture to reveal their secrets.
With that experience, Kael wasn't fazed by the gruesome scene of interrogating the assassin before him.
Now that he had the information he sought, his mind was restless. The memories he'd inherited revealed that Garrick would succeed the throne in the normal timeline, but they didn't explain how. However, Kael had his suspicions.
Someone from the royal family must have aided Garrick. But who?
A male? Unlikely.
It had to be the second heroine—one of his stepsisters. Perhaps she had fallen in love with Garrick.
Kael reasoned that this heroine might have struck a deal with Finland, promising them a portion of Eryndor Kingdom in exchange for their support when she ascended the throne. Yet, meeting the Son of Destiny could have changed her plans. Love, after all, had a way of altering even the most calculated schemes.
The assassin's confession heightened Kael's wariness. If the assassin had been sheltered by the Williams family, how had he entered the kingdom undetected? A royal family member had to be involved.
Kael frowned deeply, frustration gnawing at him. His previous behavior had alienated all his sisters—they despised him. This made uncovering the truth even harder. Yet, he had no choice but to act.
The first step was to locate the Williams family. Through them, he could identify the culprit. To avoid alerting his enemies, Kael ordered Jake to eliminate the maids and guards privy to this matter.
As for why Jake had taken Ash along?
It served as a warning to her.
Kael was now being drawn into the main storyline. He needed to tread carefully, acting both cautiously and unpredictably.
*************
"Darius," Kael called out, his voice firm and commanding.
An old man materialized and bowed deeply. "Crown Prince, I am at your service," Darius said respectfully.
"Prepare yourself. We're heading to the Williams estate. We leave immediately," Kael commanded, wasting no time.
**********
In the palace, within a dimly lit room, a slightly muscular, middle-aged man knelt on the floor, trembling with fear. Opposite him was a large bed, concealed by red curtains. Behind the drapes sat one of Eryndor Kingdom's princesses, her silhouette faintly visible.
"William, why are you here?" a soft, feminine voice asked.
The man stopped trembling momentarily before speaking. "Princess, we're in danger. The assassin… he's been captured by the Crown Prince. I heard this from a spy at the prince's residence," William said hurriedly.
The princess chuckled lightly. "Oh, don't worry. My brother is a fool," she said confidently.
"But… what if the assassin was tortured? The prince might have forced him to talk, or perhaps another of Kael's guards intervened," William asked nervously.
The princess sighed. "Relax. The assassin is under Finland's control; his family is at stake. Besides, he's a Martial Master. What could my brother possibly do to him? You have me. Calm yourself and lose that anxious expression by tomorrow."
William hesitated before nodding. "Thank you, Princess. I hadn't thought this through," he admitted, visibly relieved.
"Understandable. You may leave," the princess said dismissively.
As William exited, her expression turned cold.
"Kill him before he reaches his house," she commanded.
A shadow flickered and disappeared from the room.
The princess reclined on her luxurious bed, her face veiled. Her figure was captivating—graceful curves and a presence that exuded power and allure.
"Brother," she muttered to herself, her tone mocking. "You've grown smarter—and more dangerous. But being the firstborn doesn't guarantee the throne. Everyone knows Father favors you."
She sneered, her thoughts darkening.
"How did you capture him? It must be that mysterious commander of yours. That bodyguard of yours is only at the peak of the Martial Warrior realm; he couldn't have done it alone. Sigh… you're becoming a real headache."
Her lips curved into a smirk. "But it'd be too boring without a worthy opponent. So…"
She yawned and closed her eyes, the smirk still lingering.
"Let the game begin"
*****************†******************†************