CHAPTER 87: DESTRUCTION OF THE PRISON AND THE COMPOUND (4)

Creak!

The office door was pushed open, and few warriors and magicians walked in.

On their faces, there were looks of confusion, uncertainty, and doubt.

The leading warrior, who was the lv.2 warrior that had refused to follow the attack order back in the compound, opened his mouth, trying to say something, however, and before he manages so, the leader spoke first: "Marlon, before you say anything, let me speak first…"

The leader then let out a deep say, before continuing: "You were absolutely right by refusing to follow my order back then. According to the development of events in that battle, I should have been the first one to realize the severity of our situation, and order a complete withdraw… sigh, if you had only disobeyed me earlier on…. Then, my son would have been alive by now…"

The leader spoke in a reminiscing, sorrowful voice… there was not a tinge of grudge or hatred in his tone, or his expression. One, could easily sense that the leader didn't hold them any responsibility for anything, at all.

The group stared at the leader with shock, they had never seen him act this humble before… slowly, their defenses were all lowered, and their intentions to fight him out to death wavered to the point of vanishing…

"You idiots, he's just lying at you…! He's as cunning as snake; don't believe anything that comes out of his mouth! He's just trying to separate us and finishes us off one at a time…!"

Curtis, who was breathing raggedly, shouted out in panic.

'If those idiots lost their resolve… then I'm doomed for sure…!'

Everyone in the group started looking at each other, to see what the others were thinking. Hesitation filled their faces.

Truth be told, even though they knew that the leader was the cunning type, and that there was a good chance that these words of his were a maneuver, to turn the table to his favor… however, in the end, they really didn't want to fall out and engage in a fight to the death scenario against him…

The moment they agreed on uniting against the leader, they all made a pact that whoever survives the confrontation, would have to take responsibility for the families of those that falls in the fight.

However, and truth be told, this was only a verbal agreement, with no way to enforce it whatsoever… as such; everyone hoped that things doesn't escalate to that point. No one here was really willing to trust his family to others.

Hence, when the leader said that he'd let go of the matter, that he'd no longer force them to fight the compound people… their already wavering will to fight him scattered in but a moment.

Seeing things spiral out of the devised plan, Curtis's countenance became deathly pale. This was literally the worst case scenario coming to pass.

In actuality, he didn't really blame these people for their choice. If he was in their shoe, he would have made the exact same choice in a heartbeat.

Unfortunately, the leader has already singled him out for the retaliation against the compound… there was no way for him out from this dilemma.

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However, Curtis was unresigned, he wasn't willing to stand like a spectator while the leader throw him at the edge of the sword.

With an agitated tone, Curtis barked at the group: "can't you see, he hasn't let go at all…! He's planning to isolate me and then use me to exact his revenge on the compound…! If this fails, do you think that he'll just let go? Impossible…! He's a vengeful man… if I fail to do it, then he'll just turn on you and force you the way he's doing with me now…!"

The warrior's and magician's expressions wavered for a second, before they resolve on their decision.

"Shut up Curtis! Your attempt to drive a wedge between us isn't going to work!"

"Yea shut up! If the leader said that it is over, then it's over!"

"Curtis, just do as the leader said. You have to pay us back for providing you with food and place to stay… you have to use your spell to eliminate the compound bastards…!"

In a moment, everyone turned on Curtis, barking at him.

Right now, Curtis was so furious, his heart was about to explode out of his chest.

"Shut you doggy mouths you low lives…! A day ago you all were so determined to kill this piece of shit… now however you act as though it didn't happen at all…!"

Roaring these words, Curtis's face turned savage: "Jason; haven't you said that you'll kill the leader's wife, and take her gemstone!"

"Shad; haven't you said that the leader's gemstone will belong to you, that you'll allow no one to take it from you…!"

"Theo; haven't you argued that we should take the leader's wife as a prisoner, and force her to make potions for us…!"

Hearing Curtis's words, every one's faces turned aghast. Even the leader's facial muscles started twitching.

"You accursed bastard…! You venomous snake…! When have any of us said these words…?" with flabbergasted faces, the warriors and the magicians in the office started shouting in panic at Curtis.

In actuality, no one said these words or anything like that.

This was an attempt to escalate things, and shatter the thin understanding between the group and the leader.

Curtis was trying to sabotage the situation, and mixes all the cards on the table, as the current situation was taking a course very unfavorable for him.

"Hehehe… Curtis, oh Curtis… Do you take me to be as stupid as to believe these words of yours?" The leader said with a chuckle.

The group of warriors and magicians heaved a sigh of relief, before barking spitefully at Curtis.

"You devil! You lying bastard…"

"You're ungrateful animal! We have accepted you here, yet… dare scheme against us…!"

"That's enough…! There is no point of cursing at each other." The leader raised his hand, putting a stop to the verbal attacks that were raining at Curtis.

The leader turned to look at Curtis: "I have no feud with you at all. Escaping from the battle was the right choice. I really wish that my son was as smart as you, and escaped before things spiral out of control…

Curtis, it's not that I mean you harm… but, you have to see things from our perspective… you are the only one here capable of resolving our conflict with the compound.

We have accepted you in your time of need, shared our resources with you, offered you food and shelter, even though we could have just chased you away, and saved ourselves the trouble…

Now, all we ask of you… is to pay us back a bit, and take care of the compound problem. Actually, when you consider it, resolving the matter with these people would make the prison a whole lot safer for both everyone and you, as you are yourself a resident here… Also, if you took care of them, well give you all the rewards you ask for, and add more."

As the leader finished his words, the rest all felt so emotional, that they started throwing all kinds of words at Curtis.

"Yea Curtis, when you think of it, this is beneficial for you too."

"That's right… we'll give all kinds of reward."

"Yea Curtis, you've been living under our wing and eating our food… now, it's time for you to make a contribution."

Having been completely surrounded, Curtis's terrible expression actually returned normal. All signs of anger and agitation vanished away.

Truth be told, with the leader close by, his chances of escape was reduced to almost zero.

However, this wasn't the reason why he didn't try to escape…

If he tried to, and failed, he'd give the leader an excuse to kill him, and take his gemstone to his wife, to consolidate his authority inside the prison.

Hence, even if was to be thrown at terrible odds, by being sent to the hive, where there was a large chance of him dying… he'd still accept it.

To him, it was still better than letting his enemy, the leader; enjoy leveling up at his expense.

Curtis closed his eyes for a while, before opening them again. He looked at the prison leader with still gaze, and said: "Enough useless words… You have accepted me here because I had given you my deceased brother's gemstone, thus allowing your younger son to level up. Also, don't think that I wasn't aware of your intention to kill me for the sake of obtaining my gemstone…

You are stronger than me… as such; you can drive me to a dead end for the sake of obtaining your revenge on the compound…! There is no need to say anything extra… it's pointless…

You are stronger; hence, regardless of my unwillingness, I have no choice but to bend to your order, even if I was being sent to death… heheh…"

Finishing his words, Curtis let out a self-deprecating, dry laugh.

'My own brother died, and I'm still unable to exact avenge on the killers…

Now, my own life is being used by others…

What a joke… no matter how hard I plot … in the end, before real power, no amount of schemes can do a thing…'

Raising his head and gazing the ceiling, unspeakable amount of hatred and rage welled up in Curtis's soul.

'All of you here, all of the bastards in the compound… you all better hope that I die in the hive…'

…