Chapter 65 - Prisoners and Interrogation: Part 1
Kazue’s breath trembled as she gripped the bars, her mind racing. The sight of Katya, battered and chained, was a constant, gnawing weight in her chest. She pulled herself together, forcing her hands to steady, there had to be a way out, there had to be something she could do.
She stepped back from the bars, her movements shaky but determined. Her eyes darted to her chains—the ones on her wrists, ankles, and the cold steel around her neck. She pulled at the shackles, first gently, then with all her strength, but they didn’t even budge. The metal remained unmoved, seemingly impervious to her efforts, which made Kazue grit her teeth.
“No… This can’t be it.”
She took a deep breath, her trembling fingers stretching outward as she summoned her gauntlets. They appeared in light flashes, one on each hand, so Kazue immediately activated the electric energy coursing through her right gauntlet. Sparks crackled violently, arcing across her fingers and into the chain connecting her wrist shackles. The metal hissed, and the room briefly lit up from the bright discharge.
Nothing happened.
The chains remained unscathed, as though the energy dissipated on contact, making Kazue’s frustration grow.
“Come on!”
She growled, now channeling heat into her left gauntlet. The metal glowed faintly under the intense heat, but the shackles still held strong, mocking her efforts.
“You’re wasting your energy.”
Chloe’s voice interrupted, calm but with an edge of resignation. She had moved closer to the bars of her cell, her green eyes watching her companion’s attempts, however, Kazue didn’t stop, slamming her fists together as she increased the power of both techniques.
“I can’t just sit here!”
She snapped, desperation clear in her voice.
“I know, but it’s no use, these restraints… whatever they’re made of, they’re beyond anything we can break. Even if you destroy yourself trying, it won’t matter.”
Chloe replied, leaning slightly forward while Kazue’s fists lowered, her arms trembling from effort and frustration. Her breaths were shallow and quick, her mind swirling with helplessness.
Chloe spoke again, softer this time.
“Katya’s not in immediate danger. You don’t have to panic.”
Kazue spun to face her, her voice rising.
“How can you say that? Look at her! She’s bleeding, chained to a wall like an animal. How do you know she’s not—”
Chloe held up a hand to stop her, then pointed to her own eyes.
“Because I can see it.”
Kazue’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
In response, Chloe’s pupils shifted, transforming into two distinct green crosses that glowed faintly in the dim light while Kazue stared in disbelief.
“What... what is that?”
Chloe sighed, lowering her gaze briefly before meeting her friend's eyes again.
“It’s something that happened during our training with Dr. Meiling. One day, these floating screens appeared in front of me. They said I’d naturally unlocked a skill.”
She paused, her expression unreadable.
“It’s called [Lifeweaver’s Gaze]. It’s only level one, but it lets me see the health information of anyone in front of me.”
Kazue blinked, struggling to process this revelation. Chloe continued, her voice calm but firm.
“Katya is unconscious, yes. Her fatigue is almost at its limit, and her forehead has a few moderately deep cuts. But those wounds are already starting to heal, so she’s not in any danger for now.”
A deep sigh of relief escaped Kazue’s lips, and her body sagged slightly as the tension eased.
“Thank goodness.”
She whispered, though the weight in her chest didn’t fully disappear. She looked at Chloe again, her curiosity bubbling up despite the situation.
“How… how did you manage to unlock a skill like that naturally? The only time I’ve ever seen something like that happen was with grandpa Sebastian, and his case was…”
She trailed off, searching for the right words.
“Unusual.”
Chloe shrugged lightly, her expression thoughtful.
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s something about how hard Dr. Meiling pushed us during training. Or maybe it’s just luck. Either way, it’s not exactly something I planned for.”
Kazue’s thoughts raced as she tried to make sense of Chloe’s explanation. Her own abilities had grown during her journey, but every skill she’d gained had been a deliberate evolution of something she already knew. Unlocking a completely new one from scratch? That was an entirely different matter.
Before she could dwell on it further, Chloe’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Speaking of Dr. Meiling… You were part of the same strike team as her, right? Have you seen her? Is she okay?”
Chloe hesitated, her tone shifting slightly, but Kazue froze. The question hit her like a cold wind. Images flashed in her mind—Dr. Meiling and the other vice-captains being slaughtered by the Don’s minions, their bodies twisted into grotesque zombies, just to be mutated once again by Adam’s ability before being destroyed entirely.
Her throat tightened, and her fists clenched involuntarily.
“I…”
Kazue hesitated, her mind racing for an answer. Telling Chloe the truth—how Dr. Meiling and the others had met their horrific ends—felt wrong. Nothing good would come from sharing that pain now, not when they were already struggling to stay afloat in their current predicament.
Chloe’s sharp gaze lingered on her, the green crosses in her eyes making her look all the more intense.
“Kazue?”
“I… didn’t get a clear look, everything happened so fast, and we all got separated. I didn’t see where she ended up.”
Kazue finally said, her tone carefully measured, but Chloe frowned slightly, clearly unconvinced.
“You’re sure?”
Kazue nodded, keeping her expression neutral.
“Positive. But knowing her, she’s probably holding her own just fine. You know how tough she is.”
Chloe didn’t respond immediately, her gaze lingering on Kazue as though trying to decipher her words. Eventually, she sighed and leaned back slightly.
“I hope you’re right.”
Kazue exhaled quietly, relieved that the subject had been diverted. She hated skirting the truth, but she couldn’t bear to burden Chloe with the reality of what had happened. Not yet.
The air in the cellblock was tense and heavy, the oppressive silence broken only by the faint clinking of chains and the occasional labored breath from Katya. Chloe and Kazue sat in their respective cells, talking quietly, their voices low as if afraid to disturb the uneasy calm.
Kazue leaned against the cold steel bars, arms crossed, her gaze distant but her mind racing. Chloe, still near the bars of her own cell, absentmindedly looked around. Minutes dragged by, the two women clinging to their conversation as a fragile distraction.
Suddenly, a door at the far end of the block swung open with a loud, echoing very loudly. Both girls froze, their heads snapping toward the source of the noise. The sudden sound shattered the fragile atmosphere, sending an involuntary chill down their spines as two figures stepped into the room.
The first was Don Park Zhen. He strode in with his characteristic poise, his pristine black tuxedo untouched by the grime of the prison. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his expression was the same as ever—calm, unbothered, and adorned with that infuriatingly serene smile. It was the kind of smile that seemed to promise everything and yet concealed nothing but deceit.
Beside him, Don Abbess Xinhui followed, her steps sharp and deliberate. Her beauty was undeniable, though now marred by a large bandage covering the left side of her face, obscuring one of her eyes. Her visible eye burned with fury, her jaw clenched tightly. Her movements were stiff, her fingers twitching as they hovered near the edge of her bandages.
As the two approached, Kazue clenched her fists. Her sharp gaze followed Park Zhen’s every step with her heart pounding in her chest.
Chloe, meanwhile, stood frozen, her glowing green eyes widening slightly as her skill involuntarily displayed a system window before her.
⌠Patient: Abbess Xinhui⌡ ⌠Affliction: ‘Incurable Wound Lv4’⌡ ⌠Condition: Mentally Unstable⌡
The words appeared in stark clarity beside Xinhui. Chloe stiffened, her gaze darting over the description of the status effect. A deep frown crossed her lips as she processed what she saw.
Kazue noticed the shift in Chloe’s demeanor.
“What is it?”
She asked quietly.
“Nothing.”
Chloe replied quickly, though her voice betrayed her unease. She averted her gaze, deciding to stay silent about the information for now.
Park Zhen reached the row of cells first, his pace unhurried as he inspected the prisoners. His serene expression didn’t falter as he finally stopped in front of Katya’s cell, peering in at her unconscious form.
“Don’t just stand there.”
Abbess Xinhui snapped, her tone sharp and brimming with irritation. She stormed to the front of the cell, glaring down at the young blonde girl. Her visible hand trembled slightly before she clenched it into a fist.
“Why was she even healed in the first place?”
Park Zhen turned his head slightly, his expression calm as ever.
“Such harsh words, Abbess. Surely you understand the reasoning.”
“I understand nothing of the sort.”
Xinhui spat, her voice laced with anger. Her fingers instinctively brushed against the edge of her bandages as if drawn there by memory.
“This girl… After what she did… She should have been left to die. Keeping her alive is an insult!”
Her voice cracked slightly, and she quickly masked it by raising her tone, however, Park Zhen tilted his head, his serene smile unwavering.
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“Let us not be hasty. Lord Varek’s orders were explicit. Every one of these individuals from the other world is to be kept alive until he chooses to deal with them personally. Or have you forgotten the penalty for disobedience?”
Xinhui’s hand dropped from her bandages, curling into a trembling fist. Her lips pressed into a thin line, the fury in her visible eye only intensifying.
“Do not presume to lecture me, Zhen.”
She hissed, her voice low and venomous.
“I know the penalty. But if you think for one second I will forgive—”
“Forgiveness is irrelevant.”
Park Zhen interrupted smoothly, his tone calm but firm. He turned back to Katya, his gaze briefly flickering over her injuries.
“You’re fortunate we managed to heal her to this extent. Had her condition worsened any further, you would be facing consequences far more severe than your current predicament.”
Xinhui stiffened, her entire body going rigid at the implied threat, and for a moment, it seemed as though she might lash out at him. Her hand hovered near her face again, brushing against the bandages almost unconsciously.
Kazue, still watching from her cell, couldn’t help but notice the subtle twitch in the woman’s fingers and the way her face contorted with barely restrained emotion. It was clear she wasn’t just angry—she was hurt, humiliated, and consumed by the memory of whatever had happened.
“Do not mistake my patience for weakness, Zhen.”
Xinhui finally said, her voice trembling with barely contained rage.
“I obey Lord Varek because I respect his absolute might, not because I accept his methods.”
Park Zhen offered a slight bow, his expression unchanging.
“Of course, Abbess. As long as you understand, that is all that matters.”
Xinhui glared at him for a moment longer before spinning on her heel, her movements sharp and agitated, she began pacing near the cell, her fingers once again brushing her bandages.
Kazue’s jaw tightened as she observed the exchange. Her mind raced with questions and anger. She didn’t know what this “Lord Varek” planned, but the fact that Katya’s survival was tied to his whims made her blood boil. Chloe, on the other hand, remained silent, her eyes darting between Park Zhen and Xinhui. She wanted to speak, to demand answers, but the tension in the air was suffocating. Instead, she took a deep breath and clenched the bars of her cell, forcing herself to stay calm.
However, the tension in the cellblock thickened as the girls continued to listen to the heated conversation between the Dons. Though they strained to catch every word, the details of what had transpired with their blonde friend remained frustratingly vague.
Chloe glanced briefly at Kazue, her brow furrowed.
“Do you understand what they’re talking about?”
She whispered, her voice low and cautious. Kazue shook her head slightly but kept her eyes fixed on the two figures before them. The tone of the conversation made one thing clear: Katya had been in critical condition, and it was sheer luck—or perhaps something more calculated—that had allowed her to be healed. The girl’s thoughts raced.
Why? she wondered, her anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Why would they leave her like that? None of this makes sense. They’ve been knocking them out one by one, so why did they have to go so far with her? Katya couldn’t even defend herself properly… Her fists clenched as the realization dawned. This wasn’t just an accident or oversight. Whatever had happened to her friend, it had been intentional, cruel, and unnecessary.
Without thinking, Kazue stepped closer to the bars of her cell and raised her voice.
“You cowards!”
She shouted, her voice cutting through the room like a whip. Both Park Zhen and Xinhui turned sharply at the outburst, their attention snapping to the source.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you leave her in that state? What kind of monsters do this to someone who can’t even fight back?”
Park Zhen’s smile didn’t falter as he regarded Kazue. He stepped forward slightly, his hands still clasped behind his back. His tone was smooth, almost pleasant, as he replied.
“Ah, little miss. It’s good to see you awake and well. I trust you’re feeling better?”
Kazue’s teeth ground together, her anger only deepening at his dismissive response. Before she could retort, Xinhui took a step forward, her visible eye blazing with fury.
“You should hold your tongue, girl!”
Xinhui snapped, her voice trembling with barely contained rage.
“If it were up to me, that blonde wretch would already be dead! After what she did—!”
Her hands twitched near the edge of her bandages again as her voice grew louder.
“Abbess.”
Park Zhen interrupted sharply, his voice still calm but carrying an edge of authority. Though his smile remained, the tone of his words was unmistakably firm.
“That is enough.”
Xinhui faltered mid-sentence, glaring at him with a mixture of defiance and frustration. However, Park Zhen took a step closer to her, his expression unchanging.
“You are a spiritual leader of the Shaolin faction, are you not? This behavior, this outburst, is hardly befitting of someone in your esteemed position. Please, compose yourself.”
For a moment, Xinhui seemed poised to argue, her lips parting as if to speak. But when her gaze met Park Zhen’s, she hesitated. Something in his eyes—a subtle warning hidden behind the placid facade—made her pause. Her jaw tightened, and she looked away, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.
Kazue watched the exchange with a sharp eye, noticing the Abbess’s visible struggle to rein in her emotions. It was clear that this fury wasn’t typical of her demeanor. Despite the Shaolin philosophy of detachment and serenity, something had deeply shaken the woman, driving her to act out of character to that extent.
Chloe, too, observed in silence, her glowing eyes flickering between the two figures. She didn’t need her ‘Lifeweaver’s Gaze’ to see that the Don’s anger was personal, visceral.
The truth was, Xinhui had abandoned the purer tenets of Shaolin philosophy centuries ago. The limitless power granted by Lord Varek had awakened old desires and ambitions in her psyche, including a deep attachment to her physical appearance. Her immortal beauty was a source of pride, a tangible symbol of her superiority, and now, that pride had been shattered.
The bandage covering the left side of her face was more than just a physical wound—it was a glaring reminder of her failure. The fact that the injury defied healing, even with the advanced techniques and items at their disposal, only deepened the wound to her ego. It was a humiliation she could hardly bear, and the only thing keeping her from acting on her fury was the knowledge that only Lord Varek might have the power to restore her. If she disobeyed his orders, killing Katya out of spite, she would seal her fate forever.
Taking a deep breath, Xinhui finally stepped back, though the tension in her posture was palpable. Her voice was low but still sharp as she muttered.
“You’re right… That is not how a leader should act.”
Park Zhen inclined his head slightly, his smile softening just enough to appear almost genuine.
“Good. Let us proceed with the task at hand, then, without unnecessary distractions.”
Kazue narrowed her eyes, her fists trembling as she gripped the bars of her cell.
“You’re not getting away with this.”
She muttered under her breath, her anger simmering as the two figures turned their attention away. Chloe said nothing but cast a glance at her friend, her expression grim. The cellblock fell into an uneasy silence once more, the air heavy with unresolved tension and unspoken truths.
Abbess Xinhui took a slow breath, visibly struggling to suppress her anger. Her hands trembled slightly as they rested at her sides, and her gaze lingered briefly on Park Zhen before turning to the unconscious blonde lying in the corner. A spark of fury lit up her eyes once more, but she said nothing.
“Abbess, I believe your presence is no longer required here. Lord Varek has specifically tasked me with addressing the prisoners, and I would appreciate your cooperation in this matter.”
The man said in his usual calm, measured tone making Xinhui’s jaw tighten, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her silence spoke volumes, but it was the venomous glare she cast toward Katya that conveyed her true feelings. She looked as though she wanted to speak, but whatever words were forming in her mind were quickly swallowed. With a curt nod, she turned sharply on her heel.
Her exit was anything but graceful. The heavy sound of her boots echoed through the cellblock as she strode to the door, pausing only to shoot one final, furious look at the blonde before slamming the door behind her. The loud metallic crash reverberated through the room, leaving an uncomfortable silence in its wake.
Park Zhen sighed softly, a sound laced with resignation and mild exasperation. He stood still for a moment, his gaze focused on the door as if contemplating Abbess’s behavior, before turning his attention to the prisoners once again.
His footsteps were slow and deliberate as he approached the girls’ cell. Kazue, unable to suppress her fury, thrust her arms through the bars, her chains clanking loudly as she strained to reach him. Her fingers stretched as far as they could, and for a moment, it seemed as though she might make contact, but the chains held her back, leaving her fingers mere inches from his pristine suit.
Park Zhen stopped precisely at that distance, showing no sign of alarm or even mild surprise. His expression remained serene, his calm demeanor unshaken, as if he had anticipated her every move.
“Tell me… What exactly were you planning to do if you had managed to reach me?”
He said softly, his voice carrying the unsettling combination of politeness and menace. Kazue froze for a moment, her outstretched hands trembling as she met his gaze. The calm in his voice was maddening, and she felt her anger flare again.
“I’d—”
She began, her voice shaking with frustration.
“I’d make you tell me why you’re doing this. Why Katya? Why go so far with her when all you’ve been doing is knocking us anyway? She didn’t even have a chance to defend herself!”
Park Zhen tilted his head slightly, the faintest hint of amusement tugging at the corners of his lips.
“And you believe your anger, however justified it may feel to you, would compel me to answer such questions?”
Kazue pulled at the chains again, but Chloe’s hand rested lightly on her shoulder.
“Kazue, stop.”
Said the pink-haired girl, her voice quiet but firm.
“This isn’t going to help. You know it won’t.”
Kazue turned her head sharply to glare at her friend, but Chloe’s calm expression gave her pause. Slowly, the fight drained from her posture, and she slumped back, letting her chained arms fall limply to her sides.
“You don’t understand.”
Kazue muttered, her voice low and bitter.
“I do, but this isn’t the way. Not now.”
Chloe replied, her tone soothing. Satisfied that Kazue had calmed down, Park Zhen took another step forward, his smile returning to its full, unnerving charm.
“Now that we’ve settled that, I have a few questions for you both. I’d recommend you answer honestly. Cooperation, after all, is far more productive than resistance. Wouldn’t you agree?”
He said, his tone remaining gentle, but Kazue remained silent, her jaw clenched tightly, so Chloe gave a slight nod.
“What do you want to know?”
Park Zhen clasped his hands behind his back, his posture relaxed yet commanding.
“Let’s start with the Alliance. I trust you won’t mind confirming the details we’ve already received from Shen Yue? After all, it would be quite inconvenient if he had neglected to share something important.”
The girls exchanged a wary glance before answering. Despite their brief time with the Alliance, they shared what they knew. Kazue spoke with sharp, clipped words, while Chloe tried to keep her responses neutral and focused.
Park Zhen listened intently, his expression betraying no reaction as he nodded occasionally, his eyes briefly flicking to Katya before returning to the girls, and when the topic shifted to their comrades, his questions grew more pointed.
“Do you believe your group gave their all during the battle against Bai Huolong? Or do you think they might still have hidden talents… Perhaps a trump card they’ve yet to reveal?”
He asked, his tone casual but the weight of his words unmistakable. The girls shared another glance, confusion evident on their faces. Kazue frowned.
“I don’t understand. What are you trying to say?”
Park Zhen let out another soft sigh, this one tinged with the faintest hint of disappointment. He gestured toward Katya without turning his head.
“I’m simply asking if there are others like her among your ranks.”
Kazue’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean by that? Katya can’t even fight! She’s been training with me the entire time. The most she’s done is awaken her Ki, and even that isn’t fully developed yet.”
Park Zhen’s smile deepened slightly, but he didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he regarded Kazue for a long moment, as though evaluating her sincerity. Then, with a slight tilt of his head, he murmured.
“I see.”
The silence that followed was oppressive, each passing second stretching uncomfortably as Park Zhen’s gaze lingered on them. Finally, the Don’s expression became neutral and something about him shifted. His eyes, once vibrant with a cold calculation, dulled abruptly, as if someone had snuffed out the light behind them. The sudden change was unnerving, leaving the girls to watch in uneasy silence.
“Okay, I understand.”
He said flatly, his voice devoid of the subtle charm it had carried moments before. Without another glance in their direction, he turned on his heel, the long hem of his tuxedo pants sweeping lightly over the dusty floor.
“I hope you’ll enjoy your stay in the women’s area.”
He added over his shoulder, his tone once again polite, though stripped of any real warmth.
“You won’t be disturbed until Lord Varek arrives.”
The quiet tap of his footsteps echoed as he made his way to the exit, the door groaning faintly when he opened it. He paused briefly in the doorway, as if considering saying more, but ultimately stepped out and let the door shut behind him with a low, resonant thud.
The room fell into silence once again, leaving the two girls to process the encounter. Chloe leaned back against the wall of the cell, exhaling slowly as she ran a hand through her tangled hair.
“Well… that was unnerving.”
She muttered, mostly to herself. Kazue, still standing near the bars, glared after Park Zhen as if willing the door to swing back open so she could shout at him again. Her chains clinked faintly as her arms lowered to her sides.
“He’s just playing games, none of this makes sense, and he knows it.”
She said bitterly, but Chloe didn’t immediately respond, instead letting her gaze wander around the cell. It landed on Nikolai, still unconscious on the floor nearby. A small furrow formed between her brows as she studied his face.
“Wait.”
She said slowly, her tone laced with confusion. Kazue glanced over her shoulder.
“What now?”
Chloe tilted her head, a faint smirk forming on her lips as she gestured toward Nikolai.
“Did he say ‘women’s area’ earlier?”
Kazue blinked, her irritation briefly giving way to curiosity.
“Yeah, so?”
“So…”
Chloe crouched down slightly to get a better look at Nikolai, her smirk growing wider.
“I think someone made a little mistake. Look at him. The long hair, the delicate features… they probably thought he was one of us.”
For a moment, Kazue just stared, processing what Chloe was saying. Then, despite the tension of the situation, she couldn’t help but let out a short, incredulous laugh.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Chloe grinned and shrugged.
“I mean, can you blame them? He does look kind of… uh, pretty.”
Kazue shook her head, the absurdity of the situation briefly distracting her from her frustration.
“If he hears you say that, he’s going to lose it.”
“Good thing he’s out cold, then.”
Chloe replied with a wink, settling back against the wall with a faint chuckle. The laughter was fleeting, but it brought a moment of levity to the oppressive atmosphere of the cell. Despite everything, the girls found themselves exchanging a small smile, knowing that humor—no matter how ridiculous—was sometimes the only way to endure their situation.