Cashim felt exhausted dealing with Akan. He had been with them when the little Emperor declared war, sieged many kingdoms and citadels surrounding the Adiand Empire, and made it his own before he stopped when the conflict was over.

"Thank goodness Lakis is not present."

He mumbled. The three were once friends, and both currently served the Emperor.

He indirectly assists on the sideline, but the Emperor does not know him. Even in battle, he could only look at the Emperor from afar. While his two friends were directly helping the Emperor, he was on the side, as if the shadow, the back alley, unbeknownst to the Emperor.

He sighed.

"Now's not the time to reminisce about the past."

So what if he had made friends with two well-known advisors of the Emperor?

The important thing is he had two friends who remember him, Cashim. That was the most sentimental thing he could ever have. Crushing his father won't take too much time. Once he accomplishes it, joining the ranks and reuniting with his friends more openly won't take time.

Cashim got up and went to the underground basement where the five people and now only two tortured people were staying. One of his men opened the cell and prepared a chair for him as he sat in front of the illegal traders like a punisher. The smile on his lips changed to something more wild and savage.

"I just left you for one day, and you seem so full of life."

"…"

They were all beaten black and blue, bleeding toenails and fingernails, and even some of their nails pulled out! If he's mocking them for being unable to attain death, he has done it well!

"Why are you guys so silent? I didn't cut off your tongue, though?"

"…"

Cashim took a horseshoe from one of the boxes in the torture compartment.

"Since it couldn't fit your feet, how about I nail it into your hands?"

"!!!"

"Ah! The mouth could also be possible to those who won't say a thing."

"You're…."

They can't even say, 'Just kill us!' this monster makes it worse. Heaven prevented them from killing themselves.

"Such a good way to die, right? Who goes first?"

Cashim stopped at the first man, who seemed to be the older one than the two. "Is your loyalty more honourable than your life?"

"You would kill me anyway."

"Then let me reword it. Do you like being tortured so much?"

The man gritted his teeth.

"We've already told you everything."

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"I don't think so."

Cashim turned to the other man. "Do you think so, too?"

"Then what kind of answer do you want to know?!"

"If it's a boy or a girl."

"What?"

The two traders cannot understand.

"Haven't you two said you saw a hooded man take away a child?"

"Well, that's…yes."

"I want to know if the child is a girl or a boy."

"I do not know. I can't see the child; that time, it was too dark to see as smoke was spreading around."

"Me too. I just caught a glimpse of the child's feet. It was pristine, white and unblemished. The child looks like a noble. That's it."

"Alright."

Cashim nodded, signalling that his men would come closer. "Place this guy on the table; the horseshoe will be done on his hands."

"Hey! I'm not lying at all! I really do."

"I'm not saying you're lying."

His men already prepared the table and dragged the struggling guy on the table, tying him tightly.

"Please…just let me die already. I have enough of this--!"

Before he can—at the nth time even attempt to bite his tongue, a horseshoe is forcefully pushed into his mouth.

"I did not say you could die."

Cashim coldly uttered.

As someone who could intrinsically know if the person in front of him is lying, he knows this guy isn't lying. Still, he smiled. It's not wrong to torment him. His brain could squeeze more genuine ideas to realize who the child Akan is carrying.

"Put it in his mouth."

"Yes, sire."

"!!!"

The man panicked. "He's, he's a boy!"

"A boy?"

Cashim smirked. "Really?"

"Y-Yes!"

"Are you sure?"

"I…I yes! I'm sure that child was a boy!"

"Oh. Do it."

Cashim ordered his men to start, but the man made his last struggle. "A girl! Believe me, she's a girl. I'm sure this time!"

He beseeched.

"Are you truly sure now?"

"Yes, I truly am. Her built! Yes!"

As if he was boosted with too much vigour, he shouted, "She has a small body, and judging by how she is carried, she's rather frail!"

"I'm sure I truly am!"

Cashim nodded, understanding his words as if convinced. "Shut him up."

"Hey! What are you doing?! I---!"

The man couldn't even faint, nor was he allowed to sleep as they pulled all his teetha and fit the horseshoe in his mouth. He had a bloody mouth as tears welled up dripping down his cheeks, looking up whilst lifeless and pale. Gradually, the dim light of his eyes extinguished, and he died.

"Such a short pause,"

It was hours! Hours of torture! His companion wanted to scream, gulping his ire rather than knowing it was his turn.

"How should we discard him?"

"Incineration."

Cashim uttered, Ash is the only helpful thing; it's as good as chicken's manure for the vegetables to grow healthy.

Cashim turned to the other man. "Now, you're left."

"I told you don't know either, and it's no use guessing if that child is a boy or a girl!"

"I know."

"What?"

"I said I know."

Cashim repeated.

"You know…?"

"That, that child is a girl, or was it a boy? Oh, I don't know. Now, I'm confused as well! What to do?"

"Girl… then!"

This monster! He was just playing with his friend all along! The man was about to go green, red, then purple.

"Don't worry, I have a different question."

Spill it, monster, and just let me die!

"Seeing you're eager to die and looking tamed, tell me something interesting enough that will let me kill you in one strike."

"I've already told you everything you've asked for."

"Then think of something intriguing or something that can catch my eye; I'll give you time. Still, don't let me wait for hours."

The man began to ponder. He was really thinking of different intriguing topics to be able to die a quick death. What could possibly make this madman interested? Who should he talk about? There must be something that…ah!

"Haven't you ransacked the Second Boss's lair and basement?"

Cashim nodded; nothing was interesting there.

"Although I'm not present in that place, you shouldn't miss seeing another Han Herb."

Cashim acted surprised, "There were two Han Herb?"

Finding one is hard enough, but is there another one?

"I see, so you didn't see it. No wonder your reaction is like that. Then that means that child took it."

The man thought deeply, looking back at the incident as hard as possible.

Two Han Herbs were taken; are they working together? At that time, the smoke was thick enough only to see a silhouette, and he needed to narrow his eyes just to see the child and whoever carried him. He paused. At one time, he didn't hear just one person's step. There were actually two.

Seeing as if the man had just realized something, Cashim smiled. "What else?"

"There…there was another person there before the hooded guy took the girl."

"Are you telling me three people were involved in that incident?"

"I can be certain, although not fully, but yes. The footsteps from that child tell me so."

"And you didn't know who the one with her is?"

"Yes. But if you may find the first culprit who killed the first boss, then the third person may be with him."

"Is that all?"

"Is it not interesting enough?"

"Indeed it is."

The man sighed in relief. Finally, he can die quickly!

"Just like a while ago. This time, let his hands be adored with those horseshoes."

"You! You said you'll let me have a quick death!"

Cashim frowned as if confused.

"Oh, I did?"

"You…"

The man gulped. "You're not going to break what you said, right?"

"I'm sorry. Did I promise?"

Cashim smiled. "I don't know."

"Bastard!"

"Fufufu, make sure to let him die 'properly' I'm leaving."

"Understood, Sire."

"You…you…"

The man fell in utter despair; as he looked at Cashim, he was filled with hatred. He wanted to curse him. If only it could come true…if only it can truly work on a monster like him.

"Heh."

That side glance coupling with his smirk is just too abominable!

"Farewell~"

Cashim strode away in contemplation.

He was not sure. Lack of authenticity, and Akan had blocked most of the way. What was he hiding? The child he took was the Emperor disguised as a girl, and all were just an act to confuse the people?

"What to do? There was no child found alive, too."

Really, he has so much job to do.