The captured scions of nobility were brought forth before Revensol, handcuffed and on their knees. The handcuffs rendered the use of Qi impossible, making them even worse than ordinary citizens in strength. Facing a humiliation they never had experienced before in their lives filled them with anger but most managed to restrain themselves from hurling insults. Their faces, though, were marred with expressions that made it clear to their Revensol what they wanted to say. Some, however, could not hold back their outbursts.
"Release us now, or you'll face dire consequences!"
"You peasants think you can get away with this!!"
"You damn bastards! Let us go this instant!"
"How dare you, you lowly peasants! Don't you value your lives? Just wait until I get back from here, I will make sure you and your families suffer a hundred times more!"
Hearing the outbursts, some of the other scions, more aware of their precarious situation, clicked their tongues, inwardly happy to see others testing the boundaries and gauging the reaction of their captors.
"Eni, mini, mani, mo… Who’s son is that?” Revensol asked.
“Vissbl Pobis Noyb, sir,” replied Harlev who was standing behind him.
Revensol turned his attention to the scion who had shouted the most creative insults, his smile stretching wider, taking on an eerie quality. "Ah, the son of that pig bastard! I can certainly see the resemblance!" His smile turned into something inhuman as he continued, "To answer your questions, son of a pig bastard, no, we don't care. As for our families, your families really did make sure they suffered before death but don't you worry. You are safe here. we won't harm you. It will be an exciting journey rather, so sit tight."
He then addressed Harlev, who stood behind him. "Let's start with the pig bastard."
"Yes, sir. Should I start with the preparation? It will be a long and difficult journey."
"Do so and make sure to leave some behind to operate the market, just in case. We don't want unnecessary suspicion on this place. Make sure everyone who holds a grievance within that settlement is included."
"Yes, sir," Harlev replied, his gaze fixating on one of the kneeling children. His face twisted momentarily, his finger twitching. "Calm down. Haven't you endured this long? Why act out now, of all times?"
"Sorry, sir," Harlev replied.
"No need to apologize. Endure and don't let this fire be extinguished," Revensol said as Harlev exited the room. He then turned his attention to the young scions, none of whom wore happy expressions. "Ah, why the long faces? The real part is just beginning, my dear children, and you must relish it. After all, you will be the catalyst."
"What do you want?" a calm voice inquired.
"You will soon find out. Or maybe. Bye-bye," Revensol said, before leaving the room as well.
***
[ Halt! IDs, ] a voice commanded.
They shared their IDs, something they had looted from those they had killed for an easy job for Meelion.
[ Purpose? ]
Meelion responded [ Armor repair. ] Their armor really did look the part. They had allowed the monsters to damage the stolen armor suits while heading towards this place to make the story more plausible. Meelion knew it would not be enough to allow them entry but that did not matter. They just needed some time to plan out how they would take care of all of the people who were present in this place and hopefully gain a clue to something precious enough that they could return.
[ You will be granted access to the repair facility, ] the voice informed them.
"Thought so," Livian's voice echoed in the minds of the others.
[ Where is the repair station? ] Meelion inquired.
[ Follow me, ] one of the guards directed, leading them around the laboratory and toward the mountain. Hidden behind a door that blended with the ice-covered rocks, they discovered another door. As they passed through, another sealed door came into view. They proceeded deeper, crossing multiple doors, each progressively increasing temperature until it was possible to exit the armor suit safely.
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Exiting their armor, their appearances completely transformed thanks to the jinns contracted by Jionic, they sat together while Livian closed her eyes, sharpening her senses.
"One has undergone 4th Shedding, two are at 3rd, a few at 1st and 2nd, and the rest are normal just as I sensed previously," Livian announced. Absorbing all the gathered lifeforce would greatly aid their healing, but their injuries prevented them from acting recklessly. While each one of them would have been capable of overpowering them if uninjured, their year-long struggle had seeped them of their strength. Killing their captors would only worsen their injuries to an extent that the life force they will gain will not make it up for it.
Suddenly, Livian exclaimed, capturing the attention of the other two. "I found something amazing," she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
"What is it?" Jionic asked, while Meelion remained silent, focused on her recovery.
"How do I describe it? It is like a human but not at the same time. The Qi is so in sync with the ice aspect that even the life force is dyed by it, if she had been outside, it would have been impossible to sense her. I have never seen something like this before," Livian explained, barely containing her excitement, "even without undergoing a single Shedding, I believe she could walk outside this massive formation without being affected by the cold temperature, maybe even empowered by it."
"Are you absolutely sure?" Jionic asked, her excitement evident in their mental conversation.
"Yes!"
"Can it be the Eternal Frost physique?" Asked Meelion.
Livian reviewed memories related to the physique she had been able to extract until now and nodded after a while, "It does appear to be like that."
"Change in the plan then, we will quickly secure the physique and teleport back," Meelion said.
"But we need to gather the lifeforce too, your condition is not good and it will only worsen if we don't do something!" Livian argued only to be met with an intense glare.
"Livian, are we here to play? Or have we forgotten about the imperial dogs that will be upon us any moment now? Or have you forgotten about them? Word of our failure will have reached them by now and we have to hurry if we are to avoid the punishment."
"But–"
"No."
"Cool down both of you," Jionic suddenly says.
"Sorry, Livian. It seems the injuries are starting to have an effect but we have to do this still. You control that man and extract information about the individual with the Eternal Frost physique. Jionic, send the jinns to scout the area once Livian has finished."
"Okay."
"Roger."
***
Inero-ie opened his eyes, finding his body covered in gooseflesh. The sensation had arisen suddenly and forcefully pulled him out of the meditative state.
Qi threads spread out from his body, their numbers limited to a few tens, but each individual thread elongated to hundreds of meters. They spun and provided him with an awareness of everything they encountered. He sensed the presence of numerous harvesters as well as the newly arrived elders engrossed in heated debates. He detected something foreign entering through the laboratory's air vents that circulated fresh air throughout the building, as well as the presence of the three newcomers. However, he refrained from allowing his threads to approach them, having learned his lesson from the man accompanied by children. He sensed a resemblance among the three individuals, a feeling of fear and danger not unlike what he had felt from that man.
As the gooseflesh on his body intensified and his instincts screamed at him, he swiftly severed the threads, immediately exiting his room the moment he sensed their awareness spreading toward his direction.
He hoped they had come with bad intentions just as his instincts told him, he hoped he would finally die because if even people this powerful could not, then who could? But regardless of his desires, he had promises to fulfill, and his most recent one compelled him to follow the foreign being that seemed to move with a clear objective. It led him to stand in front of a familiar door.
He knocked lightly on the door. "Enter," Sline's voice granted him permission.
While Sline stared at him, Inero-ie remained silent, focusing instead on the entity that ventured deeper into the hidden laboratory. His threads continued to follow, guiding his awareness through the room filled with various equipment until he found the princess.
Standing there in silence, he maintained his focus on the being, despite the weight of Sline's gaze. Only after the being departed did he begin to explain.
"That will pose a problem. Wait a moment."
Inero-ie sensed Sline picking up a device and engaging in conversation with someone, and soon Knrama entered the room.
"How powerful are they, Harvester Inero-ie?"
"Only one other sensed my ability. The newcomers did not, but only because I learned from that lesson and was cautious."
"Who was the one who detected you?"
"Another man, who arrived in the capital at the same time as I did."
"Was it a person accompanied by children?"
Inero-ie nodded.
"Then we have a problem. Sline, prepare Cile. Harvester Inero-ie, I entrust my granddaughter to you. Ensure her survival at all costs."
Inero-ie nodded again.
"We will create a distraction. Be ready to move out. Sline, lead them to the emergency teleportation station."
"Yes, my lord."