Novel Full Chapter 297: Not Torture
Chapter 297: Not Torture
“You work for the Maugrim.”
It wasn’t a question, nor did it sound like one. Malakai uttered the words with obvious certainty.
The trembling Whiteshade quickly stepped away from the other Sutrex, as though he were a plague. He resigned to watch the scene play out from the side.
The man was taken aback, but Malakai didn’t miss the cold glint that passed through his eyes.
’He’s reading us,’ Malakai realized. It was an important skill for a spy, especially an agent of the Maugrim. They had to be able to read the room and assess situations faster than anyone. They needed to be able to adapt.
The man was trying to comprehend the situation and find a way out of it. Malakai would allow no such thing.
“Release the disguise.”
He felt the hold on his blood vanish and his face began to shift and contort until it reverted back to normal.
The man lost his composure for a moment. His eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.
“N-ninth v-vein!?” he exclaimed.
But before the man could wonder just what Malakai was doing here, he cut in.
“I need information. Tell me everything you can on the Fourth Pulse.”
Malakai saw the man’s eyes constrict. The words seemed to reset his brain, and he began to process once more. The Fourth Pulse wasn’t someone that could be brought up so casually.
He of all people knew the sort of hold she had over this city.
The man finally understood what was happening, and Malakai didn’t miss the way his tensed body relaxed.
“I-I think you’ve mistaken me for someon—”
“Hold him, Nyx.”
The man felt his blood freeze and his movements pause. He couldn’t even move his mouth.
The bright green light of a vita weapon being activated lit up the dark night. The man glanced down to see Malakai holding a small scythe, its glowing blade humming.
Before the man could comprehend the events, Malakai closed the distance and shoved the blade right through his stomach.
A squelch reached the man’s ears, followed by unimaginable pain. He wanted to scream in pain, but couldn’t.
Malakai’s cold voice sounded next, “I’ve just pierced through your stomach. I’m sure the Maugrim trained you in methods to withstand torture, but I’d like to assure you, I’m not trying to torture you.”
The sound of his insides sizzling made Malakai’s words sound like a joke. But he didn’t seem to care.
“I’m giving you two choices. Answer my question, or I kill you.”
“W-wait— wait! I don’t kn—argh!”
The man’s pleas were met by the brutal raise of Malakai’s blade. It moved up, tearing through his stomach and organs.
“I-I become a grade three!”
The man didn’t get a response to his threat. He was a synergy stage evolved, and his death would spawn a grade three, but Malakai didn’t seem to care.
Blood gushed out from his mouth and the blade hovered inches from his heart.
Nothing could heal his heart getting split. The man realized it, and it sent a chill through his body.
The Maugrim had trained them to withstand torture, no doubt, but that was torture. During it, they’d have time to think, to plan. Torturers couldn’t kill them unless they got what they wanted. That gave them control.
But as the man met Malakai’s detached, glacial gaze, he knew, Malakai wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.
“W-wait!”
The blade froze, but Malakai didn’t retract it. He fixed his cold eyes on the man and waited.
“E-even as a direct descendant of the Sanguine clan, y-you can’t offend the Maugrim!”
“The Maugrim ambushed me months ago. They’re already my enemies.”
The man felt a chill crawl up his spine. He gulped. He was a synergy stage evolved, and yet he couldn’t believe how rattled he was.
“I-I can’t betray the organization…”
“I know.” Malakai didn’t seem surprised. It was obvious the Maugrim would have taken precautions to prevent betrayal. Delmas’ death back in the clan was proof enough.
“I’m not asking you about the organization,” he added, causing the man to gulp again. Even now, Malakai hadn’t retracted his blade.
“Tell me everything you know about the Fourth Pulse.”
The man could feel his life flashing before his eyes. If anyone found out he did this, he’d be as good as dead. But… better later than now.
He began speaking, saying everything he knew.
This was the same man Whiteshade had reported visited the red maw, the one he suspected to be Maugrim. Their organization centered on information, and if anyone knew where Renlo was, it’d be them.
Unfortunately, Malakai had overestimated this man’s position in the Maugrim. He didn’t have the information he needed.
All he knew about the Fourth Pulse was that she had an interest in Murkroot Hollow, and that her hold over the city was as hard as iron.
The only valuable detail was about the Sutrex clan.
“The clan head of the Sutrex clan is at odds with the Fourth Pulse,” the man said.
Malakai thought he heard wrong. Who in their right mind would oppose such a person? That was a death wish. Malakai could be considered different, he at least had the clan’s name. But others…
And as it turned out, he was right.
“I heard something’s going to happen at the birthday party tonight.”
Malakai frowned. He glanced toward Whiteshade, whose eyes had widened. Whiteshade had also mentioned something was going to occur at that same party, days prior.
Malakai didn’t give a shit about the Sutrex clan’s wellbeing, despite Whiteshade’s obvious care. Rather…
’I need to know why they fought.’
Malakai finally retracted his scythe. The wound was so burned and seared that for a moment, there was no blood.
As the man staggered back and the blood began to leak, Malakai turned toward Whiteshade.
“Clausebane,” he said, stretching out his hand.
Whiteshade hesitated for a moment, then cleared his throat and pulled it from his robe.
The Maugrim man was still unsure of what was happening. He took an instinctive step back as Malakai approached.