The night had been long and exhausting for Seun-mi Ho. Trapped in this energy cage, he had spent hours trying to find a way out. He attempted every technique he knew, every skill he could summon, but to no avail. The cage's magic was too powerful, his mana blocked, his abilities neutralized. Each effort met the same cold and implacable response from his Interface.

[Error: Skill blocked.]

[Current status: Mana neutralized.]

[Warning: Energy depletion risk.]

Frustration had mounted, but Seun-mi knew he couldn't waste any more strength. By dawn, he had no choice but to temporarily accept his fate. For now, his only option was to wait and carefully observe his captors. He knew an opportunity would come, and he would be ready to seize it.

Morning came, and the mercenaries began preparing for the escort. Their Interfaces, deactivated the previous night, were reactivated for the journey. Aven, still a bit nervous, seemed to have regained some of his confidence, though his eyes still betrayed some fear towards Seun-mi Ho. The other mercenary, the one with the scar, remained stoic, but a constant smirk lingered on his lips.

"Get up in there," the scarred man called out, kicking the energy cage. Seun-mi didn't flinch. He simply stared at the man with a cold gaze, his eyes burning with suppressed anger.

"You don't look too good, buddy. Rough night?" the man continued with a chuckle. "Must be exhausting trying to break a magic cage all night. But hey, you're not the first to try, and believe me, you won't be the last."

Aven stepped closer, visibly more at ease now that daylight had arrived. He glanced at Seun-mi before turning to his partner. "We should hurry. The client doesn't like waiting."

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry," the other mercenary replied as he deactivated the cage's secondary protections to move their prisoner. They then fixed a glowing energy ring around Seun-mi's wrists, a sort of magical shackle connected to the cage, preventing any escape even once he was out.

"Let's go."

They started walking along the path, Seun-mi slightly behind, his hands bound by the glowing cuffs. The energy cage hovered behind him like a menacing shadow, ready to reactivate at any moment should he resist.

The path was long and winding, and the morning sun rose slowly in the sky. The mercenaries, now more relaxed, began chatting among themselves, their voices growing more casual as they moved farther from the campsite.

"Did you see the guy we're working for this time?" Aven asked, a mocking smile on his lips.

The other mercenary burst out laughing. "Oh yeah. A real character, that one. You'll see, he's quite the show. He has… peculiar tastes, let's just say." He glanced at Seun-mi, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You're in for a treat with him, that's for sure."

Seun-mi ignored their laughter, continuing to walk, his mind focused on every detail of the landscape, searching for any opportunity to escape. But the road was clear, the trees too far away to offer cover, and his powers still blocked by the cage.

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"You think he likes men like him?" Aven asked, feigning innocence before bursting into laughter. "Because, honestly, he seems to prefer well-built guys, like our friend here." He nodded towards Seun-mi, his smile dripping with disdain.

"Oh, I'm sure he'll love this little piece," the other mercenary replied, a lecherous look in his eyes. "With those muscles, he'll be a hit. Maybe he'll even give him a stage name!"

The two men roared with laughter, trading increasingly vulgar and racist jokes as they walked. They mocked Seun-mi's skin color, his origins, and the "services" he might offer their client.

"You know what they say about guys from the East, right?" Aven said with a wink. "They're all super flexible. I bet he's gonna love that."

Seun-mi kept his composure. Every insult, every homophobic and racist remark was like an arrow hitting a steel wall. He'd heard worse, and he knew reacting now would only give them more reason to gloat. But inside, he was boiling. Every moment with these men fueled his resolve. Soon, he would have his revenge.

After several hours of walking, they finally arrived at the meeting point. It was a secluded clearing, hidden from prying eyes. A small cart awaited, drawn by two black horses. Next to the cart stood a man, arms crossed.

Seun-mi squinted as he spotted the client. It was a man with delicate features, far more effeminate than he had expected. He wore a crop top that revealed his flat stomach, and tight leather pants that accentuated his slender figure. His face was flawlessly made up, with brightly colored eyeshadow and vivid lipstick contrasting with his pale skin. His hair, styled in perfectly symmetrical curls, glistened under the sunlight.

"Ah, my dear friends!" the man exclaimed, waving a hand adorned with glittering rings. His voice was soft, almost sing-song, and he approached them with a calculated grace, every step measured. "You're right on time. Such a rarity in this profession."

The mercenaries exchanged knowing looks before smiling at the effeminate man.

"Well, we do our best, sir," replied the scarred mercenary, his tone syrupy. "And we've brought you exactly what you asked for. A first-class specimen."

He gestured dramatically towards Seun-mi, as if presenting a trophy.

The man stopped in front of Seun-mi, examining him from head to toe with an appreciative gaze. He circled him, his fingers lightly brushing the glowing shackles that bound him.

"Oh my God," he murmured with a satisfied smile. "He's even more beautiful than you described. Those muscles… that aura of contained power…" He let out a small laugh, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "He's perfect."

Seun-mi stared back, unflinching, his piercing eyes locking onto the man's. He felt neither fear nor shame. This client, with his extravagant appearance and affected mannerisms, didn't intimidate him in the least. But he knew this man posed a real threat—not because of his strength or skills, but because of the influence he seemed to wield over men like these mercenaries.

"I'm glad you're pleased," Aven said with a sycophantic smile. "Now, let's talk business. You know, specimens like this don't come around every day."

The effeminate man nodded. "Oh, I have no doubt. And I'm prepared to pay top dollar for such a treasure." He pulled a small pouch from his pocket and tossed it carelessly at the mercenaries' feet. The sound of gold coins echoed in the clearing.

"As agreed," he said lightly.

The mercenaries bent down to pick up the pouch, their eyes gleaming with greed. The transaction was almost complete.

Seun-mi clenched his fists. He knew the time for action was approaching. He couldn't remain passive any longer. His mind raced, searching for a weakness in the situation. He might not have figured out how to break the cage yet, but he knew he wouldn't be chained forever.

"I won't stay your toy," he thought, glaring at the effeminate man who continued to inspect him with a satisfied smile. Soon, that smile would disappear.

End of Chapter 15.