Chapter 373: The Most Dangerous

Kai reclined back.

He was expecting the woman to be someone really loyal to Spissos—which was why she was sent here to keep an eye on this. But in reality, she was nothing more than someone who was forced to do what she was told.

Only the people with power have a say.

As for the weak, they could only keep their heads down and obey.

Even without needing to ask, Kai could tell that Spissos also had the same hold on her parents, exactly like how he almost had control over Abigail’s parents. It seemed the man always focused on where it hurts.

Kai exhaled lightly.

Just as he expected, the strong would have full control over the weak.

And this only made him even more determined to grow even stronger.

Slowly, the tension in his shoulders dropped as he decided to get to the real questions.

He leaned forward again while maintaining eye contact with the trembling woman.

"Kartina..." He said; the name dropped into the silence—like a stone into calm water. "Tell me more about this woman. Tell me the truth and only the truth." He paused, letting the choking silence close in around the woman tighter. "If you lie, I will know."

Hearing the name, the woman froze—the blood drained from her face.

She became as pale as a corpse.

It was a dreadful, suffocating fear that shaded her features. One that was far more intense than the terror of dying—at the hands of Kai, Bree, and Matilda. Something that couldn’t flee Kai’s notice.

"Y-You don’t understand..." She whispered—her voice was shaking violently. "He is a really dangerous man, but he would be even more dangerous if Katrina is involved. If you lay your hand on her... things will get really ugly."

Bree snorted from the side.

She wanted to laugh at what the woman said.

"Those who choose a sword as a weapon shouldn’t complain when others also choose to wield it." She said with contempt, finding what the woman said ridiculous. "If he was brave enough to attack one of us, then he should also be prepared to have one of his—attacked."

"I’m sure he understood it," Matilda added. "And if he doesn’t, then he is a fool."

Kai shook his head.

Of course, he agreed with what the two were saying, but he had another reason.

"Our paths will cross—inevitably. He already wants to kill me, so what’s the point of fearing his anger?" He paused—then gestured lazily toward Bree and Matilda with his finger. "And I am afraid that we are also dangerous people. But I’ll let you decide.

"Who do you think is more dangerous? Us? Or him? If you pick wrong—there won’t even be a body for your family to mourn."

At the threat, the woman swallowed hard.

A dry, clicking sound that seemed to echo in the suffocating silence of the room.

She knew about the Phantom of Ixos. Spissos told her to read the intel documents about him, so she knew. And in there, as a Supernal of Moros—he has the power to erase anyone. No blood spilled, no trace of mana, and no body.

Many in the Blood Rite against the Phantom of Ixos were erased.

It was what made him truly terrifying.

Her gaze darted frantically around the room.

Even though she was terrified of what Spissos might do to her and her family later, at this exact moment, she couldn’t help but shudder at the auras locking onto her from all sides. They were pressing against her skin hard, making it impossible to draw a full breath.

She was cornered completely, like a rat trapped in a rapidly flooding cellar.

No way out for her.

Spissos was a looming, distant nightmare.

But Kai, Bree, and Matilda were the immediate, razor-sharp reality standing in the room.

And eventually—under the crushing weight of their combined killing intent, she realized she had no other choice but to comply. She had to answer the question—lest she really be entirely erased from the face of the world.

Moments later.

Matilda approached Kai as he stood up.

"This is somewhat a good thing."

"Hm? Why is this a good thing?"

"Spissos is certainly not a good guy," She stated flatly. "So—you won’t need to feel bad about humiliating him or even attacking him."

A small smile crept to Kai’s lips.

She was right.

Just after he was given the new task—he was hoping that Spissos wasn’t going to be someone good who simply wanted to perform well so that his family would be living better. He was scum who liked to blackmail others.

All guilt would be nullified knowing what kind of man he was.

On the other side, the woman stared at Kai in surprise.

She heard what Matilda said and couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

"Follow me," He ordered the woman while putting the wooden chair aside—and walking out of the safe room. Since there was no need for him to feel any guilt—he could go all-out. "Grab your things and follow me."

"Kai, wait!" Matilda chased after him. "What are you going to do by aski—?"

Inside the room, the woman hesitantly stood up.

Her legs were shaking from simply carrying her own body weight.

Dread washed over her as she didn’t know what Kai wanted her to do now, but she dragged her feet forward—towards the staircase. ’I have done many things to survive. No matter what he wanted me to do, I can take it. As long as I can survive, then I can take anything.’

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Just then, the woman’s heart skipped a beat.

She stiffly glanced to the side and saw that Bree was still sitting there in a refined posture.

’What...?’ The woman’s eyes widened. ’I thought she had already left. I didn’t sense her there.’

It felt like the same Legacy Imprint that Kai used earlier.

And it was uncanny to think about it, considering that she shouldn’t be a Supernal of Moros.

"How are your first impression on Kai?"

"I... I’m not sure how to answer that."

"He is scary on the outside, but he is a good man inside. I’m sure you already realized that."

Hearing this, the woman recalled what Matilda said earlier.

She said that Kai didn’t need to feel guilty for going against Spissos after this.

Bree lowered her left leg and crossed it with her right, planting an elbow on the table directly beside her, and letting her cheek rest lazily against her hand. No matter what movement she made, her sharp eyes kept focus on the woman.

"He said he saw no use in killing the finger; better to kill the brain." A small chuckle escaped her lips. "Unfortunately—I don’t share that fantasy. Personally, I’d rather cut the finger to make a statement and then finish the brain."

Instinctively, the woman took a step back.

Her heart began to pound against her ribcage as Bree’s killing intent pierced through her.

"You see, I am the daughter of a politician. Who? You don’t need to know." Bree watched the woman’s fright and smiled sinisterly. "My father taught me that it was mandatory to dip one finger into the mud to rise to the top, but never let your whole hand be soaked in it. He preferred to do things legally, but would use many would consider grey areas if he needed to. You know, the thin line between what was permitted and what was merely overlooked.

"But I’m not my father. Since I could be a Demon but chose to be an Angel instead—you could say that I’m... rebellious." Bree stood up—and then began inching closer slowly. "Really open to other quite extreme measures."

Bree stopped when she was only a step away from the woman.

Due to whatever the woman used to make her smaller, Bree was towering over her.

Like an Angel looking down at a normal human.

And even at such close proximity—the woman kept her head down, staring only at Bree’s flat belly. Just earlier—she felt relieved that Kai was going to spare her instead of killing her as many others would.

But now, another threat loomed over her.

"I’m a Supernal of Eileithyia, and he still owes me many children. Since even the firstborn has yet to be conceived, he is both my man and my son." Bree leaned in until her lips were beside the woman’s ear. "I hope you understand what I mean, but to make it clear, if you try anything at all against him, I’ll make sure you pay dearly for it. As long as you stay obedient and listen to him, then I will not harm you."

"I-I won’t," the woman nodded her head repeatedly. "I won’t do anything."

"Have you seen a baby belong to a monster?"

"No..."

"Do you want to give birth to one and see?"

"N-No..."

Naturally, the woman believed that Bree would actually make it happen.

As the Supernal of Eileithyia, the Goddess of Childbirth—she has reign over who gets to be born into the world. Bree could easily have a beast ravage the woman and pray to the Goddess to have her birthed a monster child.

It was within her domain.

If Bree wanted to, then the woman could be forced to bear a child of anything.

And the thought of that alone made the woman shudder in absolute fear.

At this moment, the fear she had toward Bree surpassed even the fear toward Spissos.

Every fiber of her being was shaking.

Earlier, the woman thought the most dangerous of these three was the Red Prince.

He was notorious—an enigma, terrifyingly powerful, and the leader of them all. But hearing the threat that had just slipped from Bree’s mouth, she realized the truth. The most dangerous one among them was Bree.

Not because she was the strongest, but because she had the least mercy in her.

"Good." Bree straightened her posture again, and the suffocating air coming from her vacated like it was never there. Her eyes curled upwards—betraying the sweet smile behind her mask. "Go on, then. You don’t want to keep him waiting."

Only then did the woman nod and continue.

She really wanted to run, wanted to get away from Bree, but refrained from doing so.

Just as she reached the staircase, she stopped again.

"Oh, I have one more thing to ask," Bree said; her voice was vibrant and warm.

Completely the opposite of her voice before.

It was as if she had two personalities that were opposites.

"Y-Yes?" The woman looked over her shoulder.

"Don’t say anything about this to Kai, alright?" Bree pressed her index finger against her lips. She did not want the woman blabbering anything to Kai—about this. "This would be our little secret. Only between you and me."