Chapter 49: Ch 49. Threats and Threats

After the discussion about Vylen’s issue concluded, they went their separate ways to attend to their own affairs.

"Your Majesty, didn’t you mention our problem to the Queen?" Bork asked as he greeted Stevan upon his exit from the dining hall.

"There’s no need; we can still handle this on our own. Selena is dealing with something very significant—perhaps something that affects the entire population of Eldoria. So it’s better if we resolve our own issue first; that way, once this is settled, I can help her," Stevan said in a calm tone that made Bork nod.

They walked away from the dining hall, heading toward the palace.

"I also overheard the discussion from outside. It seems that among the kings, the Fox King’s problem is indeed the most troublesome. It looks like this will be difficult to handle as well," Bork replied, causing Stevan to let out a soft sigh.

"Actually, we all have our own difficult problems to deal with. Have you done what I ordered?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I’m holding his son and wife in a room. What should I do next?"

Stevan gave a small smile. "Make sure to take good care of them—his wife just gave birth, and his child is still very young. Don’t get them into trouble; that would only derail the plan I’ve devised. After this, I’ll tell you what to say. First, let’s see how the Green Traitor reacts when he realizes his wife and child are gone," he replied, causing Bork to nod in understanding.

"All right, I understand. What exactly are you going to do now, Your Majesty?"

Stevan smiled again, this time with an expression that openly revealed his desire.

"I want to return briefly to the main dragon palace, open the treasure vault, and choose some valuable items that Selena will like. She’s already given me a potion that strengthens my body without affecting the limits of using the Dragon Core. I must repay her many times over so she’ll be happy and care more about me than anyone else," he said with a beaming expression, as if he were in love.

Bork nodded in understanding. "Why not just give the Queen a gold bar? That’s also very valuable and would be appreciated by a woman, Your Majesty," he said, causing Stevan—who was already seated on the throne—to look at him. "Gold is also easy to use if the Queen ever wants to use it in a transaction. If the Queen wants to turn it into jewelry, she can simply find a skilled jeweler, so it won’t be too much trouble."

"That’s a good idea too. I’ll see if there’s anything more valuable than gold. Prepare the carriage—let’s return to the main palace first, and I’d like to see how things are progressing there. It’s been a few days since I’ve been back, and I want to check on the Dragon Clan’s people and the businesses operating there."

Bork nodded, then took his leave. "Very well, Your Majesty."

***

"We’ve found Briella on the verge of suicide several times, Your Majesty. But we managed to stop her, and now we’re tying her hands and feet so she can’t do anything. She also often flies into a rage when we interrogate her, though she eventually cowers when we threaten her with a red-hot iron," Kev reported.

Selena let out a soft sigh. "She isn’t providing any more useful information?"

"She says she hates the Fox Royal Family intensely, but she refuses to say why and keeps her mouth shut. We keep trying to question her and bait her with the information we’ve gathered. The woman said she only intended to kill and destroy the entire Fox clan that sided with the Old Fox King and the current Fox King.

"Every time she spoke of her hatred for them, her eyes flashed with anger and emotion. She also occasionally looked like she was about to cry, but then she’d get angry again, and a few times she even cursed at you," Kev said, sounding a bit hesitant as he uttered the last words.

"Cursed at me?" Selena repeated in disbelief.

"That’s right. She also hates you because she says you can cure the Fox King and everyone else she’s influenced with that powder. That’s why she tried to run away and even threatened to kill herself—as if that were a threat or something. She sent Amena Cots to kill you, too. But Amena failed, and that just made her even more emotional," Kev explained, causing Selena to take a deep breath.

It was still a little odd; Briella seemed incredibly stubborn. Selena hadn’t had time to question her herself yet—today alone, she was planning to visit the isolation facility where that woman had turned the Fox clan into monsters, and she also had an appointment with Dali Hawksen.

"Make sure she stays alive until I meet her myself later," Selena said firmly, causing Kev to nod.

Selena was silent for a moment, then opened the box containing the medicines she’d concocted and took out a box of Briella’s narcotic powder, which she’d previously modified.

"Is she still eating and drinking? Mix a little of this powder into her food and drink, so she’ll be more cooperative later when I question her myself," Selena said as she handed him the item.

"She refuses to eat or drink what we’ve provided, Your Majesty," Kev said, but he accepted the packet anyway.

"Use another method to administer it—for example, light an air freshener and put a little of this powder inside it. None of you should be in the room to be on the safe side; let her inhale the smoke on her own. There’s no need to interrogate her anymore; constantly questioning her isn’t effective either. I’ll think of another way to make her confess," Selena said, causing Kev to nod.

Selena stood up, about to walk away, but then she turned around.

"Is Amena Cots still okay?"

"Still, Your Majesty. Now she just stares at the wall like a madwoman most of the time, and we’ve had a hard time getting any information out of her, so we’ve been interrogating her ever since Briella arrived."

Selena let out a heavy sigh. "There’s still so much I have to do, including finding and creating a remedy to alleviate the side effects of the powder Briella gave them. I remember Amena used to be such a kind and innocent girl—we grew up together. I’m certain Briella must have given her something to make her betray me," said Selena, prompting Vee to nod in agreement.

"If Briella could make even a king like the Old Fox King obey her with that poisonous powder, doing the same to a girl who has nothing like Amena Cots would certainly be easier, Your Majesty. Especially if she was promised to become the Fox King’s bride—that’s very suspicious because, in reality, it couldn’t possibly happen without arrangements made by the Fox Palace itself. I’m certain Amena Cots is being manipulated," Vee said, causing Selena to nod.

Briella was an expert in these matters; Selena knew she had to be careful.

Suddenly, the door to her room burst open, and Coxy, who had opened it, stood there in a panic before dropping to his knees in front of Selena.

"Coxy? What’s going on?"

"Your Majesty, please help! The Old King is choking His Majesty the King! We’ve tried to pry him off, but the Old Fox King won’t listen! It looks like the Old King is being controlled by someone!"

Selena’s eyes widened in shock at Coxy’s words; without wasting a moment, she immediately hurried toward the Old Fox King’s cell. Kev, Vee, and Coxy also hurried after her to see what was happening.

But just as she was about to turn into the room where the Old Fox King was being held, Selena stopped in her tracks because she sensed something different about Briella’s cell. There was a dark, oppressive heat that made her instinctively close her eyes to see what was happening through her vision as a Healer of Extinction.

Vee, seeing Selena stop, grew a little anxious. "Your Majesty, is there a problem?" she asked softly on behalf of the group.

Meanwhile, Coxy looked increasingly anxious, worrying that their king might still be being strangled at that very moment. If left too long, there was no guarantee the Old Fox King would survive. Deaths by strangulation were quite common; it was entirely possible that could happen to Vylen as well.

"Damn it!" Selena opened her eyes and cursed, startling them all; they immediately moved quickly to follow her toward Briella’s detention cell.

"Your Majesty, what’s going on? The Old Fox King’s detention cell is over there!" Coxy said anxiously, continuing to follow her.

"There’s no point in going there because the one we need to control is that woman! She’s actually controlling the Old Fox King from a distance!" Selena exclaimed as they finally reached the room’s door. "Break down this door!"

Kev quickly transformed into a massive bear and smashed through the prison door, which appeared to be shrouded in a black aura. As soon as the door was opened, the black aura inside burst out, nearly knocking Vee off her feet, but Coxy caught her just in time.

"Kav!" Kev shouted, rushing over to his brother, who lay unconscious inside the room.

Soon after, a rather terrifying laugh rang out, causing Selena to walk in and see Briella clutching something that appeared to be emitting black smoke in both her hands.

"Selena Grece..." hissed Briella, her face looking terrifying—as if she weren’t the same person they’d captured the night before. "You finally showed up after locking me up all day... You foolish woman, why were you so worried when I was about to kill your husband, who didn’t even value your life?!"

"Becoming the Healer of Extinction hasn’t made you any less foolish! You’ve even ruined half of my plan! You shouldn’t have come back to this palace at all—let me destroy them all!" she said in a fierce voice, deliberately meant to intimidate.

Selena stared at her expressionlessly. "You lowly fox, on what grounds do you interfere with what I’m doing?" she retorted, but Briella merely laughed—the kind of laugh that revealed her anger.

Vee swallowed hard, terrified by the sight of that woman.

"I’ll give you one chance to leave before I destroy this palace—"

"I’m the one giving you a chance, Briella," Selena interjected coldly, fixing her wide-eyed gaze on her. "Release your hold on the Old Fox King, who’s choking his son right now, or I’ll choke you to death!"