Liam finally spoke, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. Each word was measured and deliberate, carrying a chilling undercurrent that sent shivers down her spine.

His words hung in the air, heavy with his disapproval. It was clear that he did not take kindly to her defiance, and his icy tone left no room for argument.

Undeterred by his cold demeanor, the woman stood her ground, her chin lifted defiantly as she met his gaze with steely determination.

She refused to cower in the face of his intimidation, her resolve unbroken despite their palpable tension.

"I am a captive brought before you, my Lord."

She replied, her voice steady despite the fear lurking beneath the surface.

"Surely you have questions for me."

Her words were met with silence from Liam, his expression unreadable as he regarded her with a piercing gaze.

It was clear that he was not easily swayed by her attempts to assert herself, his cold demeanor a stark reminder of his authority.

With a sense of unease gnawing at her insides, the woman braced herself for whatever might come next, unsure of what fate awaited her in the hands of this enigmatic Lord.

Despite the woman's attempt to maintain her composure, a sense of unease lingered in the air as Liam remained silent, his piercing gaze unwavering.

The tension between them seemed to thicken with each passing moment, suffusing the room with an almost tangible weight.

Sensing her discomfort, Liam finally spoke, his voice cutting through the silence like a sharp blade.

"You will answer my questions truthfully."

He stated his tone firm and commanding.

"Failure to do so will have consequences."

His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of his authority. It was clear that he brooked no defiance, and the woman could feel the weight of his gaze bearing down on her like a leaden cloak.

Summoning what courage she could muster, the woman nodded in acquiescence, her expression tense as she awaited his questions.

"Where do you hail from?"

Liam inquired, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

The woman hesitated momentarily, her mind racing as she debated how much to reveal.

Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I come from a distant village, my Lord."

She replied, her words careful and measured.

"A place far from here, beyond the reaches of your domain."

As the woman responded to Liam's question, he scrutinized her, his keen eyes picking up on subtle cues that betrayed her deception.

A flicker of unease crossed her features, confirming his suspicions.

"You lie."

Liam's low voice resonated with a chilling intensity that reverberated through the air.

His gaze bore into her with an unwavering intensity, pinning her in place as if she were a mere insect caught in a spider's web.

With a sudden surge of power, immense pressure emanated from Liam's body, enveloping the room in an oppressive aura that seemed to suffocate the woman.

It was as if the very atmosphere had grown heavy with his displeasure, pressing down on her with an almost physical force.

"You are quite bold, woman"

Liam's words were measured, each syllable laced with an icy coldness that sent a shiver down her spine.

The woman's breath caught in her throat as she felt Liam's wrath bearing down upon her.

Panic welled up inside her, threatening to overwhelm her senses as she struggled to maintain her composure under his relentless gaze.

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With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she realized that she had underestimated the severity of her situation.

Liam was not a man to be trifled with.

"W-wait, I am from the Golden Leaves City"

She stammered in fear, and her hand grasped against her chest as she tried to calm her undulating heart. Seeing that Liam was motionless upon her words, she could only brace herself and continue.

"M-my father is the City Lord, d-dont you dare try to harm me, or else my father won't ever let you go!"

As the woman's panicked words spilled forth, Liam's gaze turned even colder, his expression hardening into a mask of disbelief.

The sheer audacity of her lies only served to fuel his suspicion, and he regarded her with a withering glare that made her shrink back in fear.

"You dare to lie to me, woman?"

His voice was like ice, each word dripping with skepticism.

"You claim to be from the Golden Leaves City, yet your trembling betrays the truth of your words."

The woman recoiled under Liam's scathing scrutiny, her facade crumbling under his relentless gaze.

She could feel the heat of his disbelief radiating off him in palpable waves, pressing down on her like a suffocating blanket.

"I see through your deception, and your attempts to intimidate me with empty threats only further reveal your cowardice."

Liam's voice was low but filled with an unmistakable authority that brooked no argument.

"You will answer my questions truthfully or suffer the consequences."

With a sinking feeling in her stomach, the woman realized she had underestimated Liam's resolve. There was no escaping his judgment, and she could only hope that her next words would be enough to appease his skepticism.

Summoning what little courage she had left, she met Liam's gaze with a steely determination, her voice trembling but resolute.

"I... I apologize, my Lord."

She murmured, her words barely above a whisper.

"I spoke out of fear, but I swear I am telling the truth now. Please, have mercy on me."

Liam regarded her with a measured gaze, his expression unreadable as he weighed her words. After a tense moment of silence, he finally spoke, his voice soft but filled with a quiet intensity.

"Very well,"

He said, his tone betraying none of the disbelief that had simmered beneath the surface moments before.

"I will give you one more chance to speak the truth. Where do you come from, and what is your purpose here?"

The woman took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

As the woman's trembling voice filled the throne room, Liam's demeanor remained guarded, his expression betraying no hint of sympathy or emotion.

He regarded her with a cool detachment, his eyes piercing as he listened to her tale.

"You claim to be the daughter of the City Lord,"

Liam stated flatly, his tone devoid of warmth.

"Yet you stand before me now, a captive of bandits. Your story seems... convenient."

The woman's gaze faltered under Liam's scrutiny, her composure wavering as she struggled to maintain her facade.

"It is the truth, my Lord,"

She insisted, her voice quivering with a mixture of fear and desperation.

"My father, the City Lord, he... he fought to protect our home, but we were overwhelmed by the beast horde. "

"My mother and I were forced to flee, but we were ambushed by bandits on the road. They... they killed my mother and captured me."

Liam's expression remained impassive as he listened to her tale, his skepticism unwavering.

"I see"

He observed, his gaze lingering on the intricate embroidery of her garments and next to her face as he pondered the true story behind her words.

After repeatedly confirming that she was telling the truth, Liam finally let the woman off the hook.

His piercing gaze softened slightly as he observed her, sensing the genuine desperation in her plea for mercy.

"Very well"

He said, at last, his voice carrying a note of finality.

"I will give you the benefit of the doubt for now. But be warned, any further deception will not be tolerated."

The woman sighed in relief, her shoulders sagging with the weight of the tension that had gripped her.

"Thank you, my Lord,"

She murmured gratefully, her expression one of profound gratitude.

Liam nodded in acknowledgment before turning his attention back to his questioning.

"Now,"

He began, his tone businesslike as he delved deeper into the conversation.

"Tell me more about your city and the surrounding area. Is it close to my territory? Are there other lords similar to me there?"

The woman hesitated for a moment as if deliberating how much to reveal.

"My Lord,"

She began cautiously, her voice measured as she chose her words carefully.

"Our city, the Golden Leaves City, is not far from here. It lies to the north, beyond the Great Forest."

Liam's interest was piqued by her words, his mind racing with possibilities.

"And what of the other lords in your city?"

He inquired, his gaze intense as he awaited her response.

The woman's expression darkened slightly, a shadow passing over her features.

"My lord,"

She replied solemnly, her voice tinged with bitterness.

"We had long known that the true human lords had descended upon our world several days ago. "

"Originally, our purpose was to provide convenience to the lords of the human race."

"Though some of the aboriginal city lords rebelled against the world's will and began to plunder and seize their heritage to become a city lord of their own."

Liam listened intently to her words, his mind whirling with the implications of what she had just revealed.

"So"

He mused, a thoughtful expression crossing his features.

"The aboriginals decided to take charge of their fate. How interesting"

The woman nodded in agreement, her expression grave.

"Indeed, my Lord."

She confirmed, her voice tinged with regret.

"Some city lords have succumbed to greed and ambition, forsaking their duty to the world will in pursuit of power and wealth."

"Say, do they have the basic ability of a true lord?"

Liam asked the most important one among the many questions within his mind. Hearing his words, the woman shook her head and replied.

"No, my lord. They don't, including my father. They do not possess the gift of the world."

"Instead, we possess the supernatural force to cultivate and enhance our strength. My father is a level 8 swordsman."

"I see... "

Liam contemplated her words.

'They are not a true lord, though they still possessed the ability to gain supernatural strength through cultivation. And judging by the level system to gauge their strength, it should be the same system that a true lord uses.'

Liam mulled within with his hand on his chin.