Part 2 Chapter 89
“Nice timing.”
Kali sheathed her sword and gave Nike a thumbs up.
I was surprised by his calm response.
“Did you know the prince was coming?”
“No, I just guessed that at this point, he would come to secure the young lady’s safety before following through with the plan.”
“……”
That wasn’t exactly praise.
But it was true that things went smoothly because Nike ignored my request.
“Darling… ugh.”
I rushed over to Nike, and he awkwardly embraced me, pressing my face against his chest with one hand.
With the other hand, he quickly pulled out a gun and smoke grenades from his coat and spoke to Kali.
“I’ve blocked the entire eastern exit and subdued all the guards at the door. You can escape straight through this way. I’ve cleared all obstacles.”
It seemed like he realized that Kali had already noticed the depleted ammo when he handed over the gun. She took it with a chuckle.
“I was wondering why the guards on the 8th floor weren’t visible. Looks like you took care of it from below. You must’ve come straight here from the beginning.”
“I’ve secured the entrance as well, so no need to hesitate.”
Nike diverted the topic.
“Is our army fighting a lonely battle without the commander who was supposed to clear the eastern back path?”
“……”
But when Kali pressed him for an answer, he sighed heavily and gave up.
“After infiltrating, I assessed the difference in strength and left it to my deputy. JabJab and PangPang’s power is beyond imagination, so I haven’t even had the chance to use any other weapons.”
Nike’s serious expression when talking about JabJab and PangPang almost made me laugh.
They were support weapons that caused binding/cutting effects and smoke/sleep induction, respectively. The developer, Rivan, had insisted on using those names.
“Let’s go.”
Finally, Nike detached me from his arms, lightly brushing my cheek with his thumb as he spoke.
“And the prince?”
“I need to go straight in here.”
Nike showed me a key that looked like it had been stolen from the guards and pointed to the closed door on the 8th floor.
That door led to the meeting room.
Under normal circumstances, entry should only be through the center, but the rules had been completely disregarded by now.
“I’ll catch the Duke first. As soon as the power block is lifted, enter through the shadow and move. Got it?”
Nike quickly warned me and turned away. Kali spoke up swiftly.
“Your Highness, didn’t your brother tell you to bring the Duke alive so he can bleed him dry?”
“…… Oh, I know. I know.”
Nike glanced back at me with a look that seemed to be contemplating, clearly bothered by the state I was in.
It seemed he was eager to quickly kill my father and lift the power block, but…
‘He’s not going to listen.’
I raised my hand.
“Attention, everyone!”
Everyone looked at me.
I first grabbed Krista’s hand and made my request.
“Krista, promise me you won’t tear father apart even when the power block lifts. We have to do it later, not now.”
“Okay, I understand.”
After making that request, I confidently pointed to the 8th-floor door.
“Then let’s go together!”
“What are you talking about?!”
Nike immediately got angry.
Bang!
Bang!
“Dammit!”
Ryan cursed.
Even after saving him with a healing potion, David lost consciousness after just a few blows.
“You’re so weak, you bastard.”
Ryan clicked his tongue as he looked at his brother’s battered face and then turned away.
“Sister!”
“Ugh, aaaaah!”
Diana screamed as if she had heard the call of death.
She had her five guards firmly positioned in front of her while covering her ears.
“I only brought one healing potion. From now on, you have to heal him. Otherwise, he’ll die.”
“Ugh… ugh…”
Why didn’t she try earlier?
This was the power I had poured out dozens of times for the dying David.
Of course, Elliot was also relentlessly attacking Ryan with his <Dragon’s Fury> and <Dragon’s Fury>, but for some reason, the moment Ryan stepped into this room, everyone went into a power-blocked state.
Why?
It was as if my father knew this was going to happen, as he silently remained without issuing any orders.
Without any response from the head of the family, everyone in the meeting room could only freeze.
Blocked by Ryan’s soldiers, they couldn’t escape, only watching as David was assaulted.
“Strip him.”
Ryan grabbed his half-conscious brother by the collar and dragged him up onto the table.
David was laid down like a display.
The two soldiers blocking the door quickly rushed over and began to strip him.
“Umm…”
Ryan hummed as he fiddled with his holster, choosing from a number of knives.
His actions made it clear.
Something even more horrific was about to unfold.
“Hey!”
Elliot couldn’t hold back and shouted.
“Hey?”
Ryan glared at Elliot with cold eyes.
“Don’t you know my name?”
“Ra, Ryan…”
“Yeah, don’t be so clueless. Don’t talk too much. Your brother is dying for you, so you should pray that he holds on a little longer.”
Ryan, who had been laughing, suddenly turned serious, nodding his head towards David.
“If he dies, you’re next.”
“……”
Everyone fell silent. They couldn’t stop him, nor could they get angry. In this powerless state, Ryan was the one in control.
“Ugh, bastard. Get some exercise.”
Ryan clicked his tongue as he approached David, who was now bare-chested.
“Look at how weak you are from sitting all day, throwing out lightning bolts. A man needs what? His body! And his fists!”
He mocked leisurely while pulling two swords from his holster.
“Aaaah!”
“Ha, don’t do it! Ryan!”
Diana and Elliot screamed in horror.
“Phh.”
And then, laughter burst from them.
The moment of silence that followed was chilling.
All eyes were on one person.
“Heh, heh.”
It was the fourth, Gabriel.
With an angelic face, he had silently been watching the situation. But as soon as Ryan drew his sword, he started laughing with glee.
“Ahahahaha!”
“…You’re crazy.”
Ryan scowled as he looked at Gabriel, who was enjoying himself.
“Are you getting excited in your area of expertise?”
“Phh. Hahaha. Ah, Ryan. You’ve really grown… I could’ve been a great family member for you…”
“Wow, that guy hasn’t changed a bit.”
Ryan sighed and looked over at his soldiers.
“See? This whole house is full of lunatics.”
And then, as he picked up his sword again, he turned to Edgar, who was in the high seat.
“Ryan!!!”
“Ah, damn it! Stop yelling!”
Elliot clasped his hands together and pleaded.
“Don’t, don’t do this. Let go of him. Let’s talk. Huh?”
“If you want to talk, get permission from your father.”
Ryan gestured to Edgar. Elliot looked at him in silence.
No words, no actions from his father.
“Please, please. What’s the reason you’re doing this?”
“…?”
Ryan looked at him in confusion.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“……”
Elliot hesitated.
Yeah, asking was a shameful question. There were so many reasons. So many.
“I heard… I heard that you killed my younger brother…”
At those words, Ryan froze.
Max, who had been listening, clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘What an idiot. Why bring that up now?’
Elliot fumbled for words, as if trying to buy time.
“Well… I know he was someone you cared about. I heard it was a mistake. Your younger brother… I mean…”
“‘Your’ younger brother?”
Ryan chuckled as he placed his hand on the table and then leapt over it.
“Is he really ‘your’ younger brother?”
He approached Elliot, who was on the opposite side, and spoke.
“He’s not just your younger brother. He’s our father’s child too, isn’t he?”
“……”
They stood face to face. Elliot, intimidated by his brother’s imposing physique, kept his mouth shut and lowered his eyes.
“Selective family love? If you can’t stand watching me peel his skin off, do you want to take the punishment instead?”
“……Okay.”
“Huh?”
Ryan seemed surprised and then casually slapped Elliot’s cheek.
Slap.
Slap.
Smack!
The slaps grew stronger, but Elliot bit his lips and endured.
Ryan, frustrated, finally punched Elliot with full force. Elliot collapsed.
“Aaaah! Brother!!!”
Diana screamed.
Elliot didn’t even groan but got back up and knelt before Ryan.
Thud!
Thud!
The beatings continued, and Elliot kept enduring it, gritting his teeth, for David.
“……Ha.”
Ryan, truly, was becoming more and more unpleasant.
Elliot, unchanged as always, was truly sincere when it came to his family.
Ever since the day he was abandoned, Ryan had longed for this. Love. Affection. He was the kind of person who freely gave such things.
“Hey. Let me show you just how shallow that is. Let’s finish this. This is so damn boring.”
Ryan, excited, drew his sword from his holster again and turned to march directly towards Edgar, sitting at the head of the table.
Edgar’s eyes widened in surprise.
The two guards in front of him rushed to block Ryan. But their resistance was futile. Ryan quickly stabbed them with precision and forced them to kneel.
Now, with Edgar’s last layer of protection gone, Ryan raised his arm to stab the sword into his head.
At that moment…
“Elliot!”
Edgar screamed.
‘Good, do it.’
Ryan glanced back.
Elliot, realizing what was happening, quickly stood up.
But in this time-sensitive fight, Elliot couldn’t win, even if he died.
<Dragon’s Fury>
‘Huh.’
Ryan chuckled and turned back to Edgar, who was trembling.
“Are you trying to fool me? Do you want to die?”
Thud!
The sword that had stopped earlier pierced Edgar’s shoulder.
