CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 61: TORTURE

The Earth Wolves of Black Mountain had just experienced a failure. In Black Mountain’s view, the reason for this failure was tough to attribute to any ordinary cause. Their whole team had been all but annihilated in this operation and, to this day, they still had not been able to figure out the fundamental reason for their defeat.

Only a few days had passed since the failure, and already, the Crows and Rats were laughing themselves silly.

The Crows laughed, HEE HEE HEE, ordinarily these arrogant, self-important Earth Wolves could be led astray by mere sweet-talk! This was simply unbelievable; such a rare and comical sight was so ridiculous it had turned the Earth Wolves into utter fools.

The Rats laughed, HAHAHA, the Earth Wolves had it coming! They couldn’t even capture all of the generally acknowledged fools. This was a tremendous joke! They couldn’t help but wonder how these wolves still had the face to leisurely descend Guru Mountain.

The Earth Wolves themselves were also bewildered. Failing to capture all Three Fools without letting a single one slip was, according to legends about them, indeed a disgraceful affair. And if some ill-intentioned onlooker were to recount the bizarre and convoluted details of the whole incident, it would only make them lose even more face.

As it stood, the mission had failed. Their team had been unable to retrieve the Spirit Book, much less capture the "New Fool." Calling them useless wouldn’t be an exaggeration. However, they had at least managed to capture two of the "fools," which somewhat salvaged a shred of their reputation. The "useless" label could be set aside for now, as long as no meddling gossips mentioned the strange incident they encountered just before they all descended the mountain...

The legendary "Two Fools," Liko and Pita, had their hands bound behind their backs and were locked away in a secret "cave" used by Black Mountain—the cellar of an unknown tavern on Guru Mountain.

For the time being, the mouths of these two guides from Guru Mountain were stuffed with strips of torn cloth, muffling their attempts to speak into incoherent mumbles.

An Earth Wolf guard rummaged around in the cellar and, after some effort, found a carrot. He wiped it off and began to munch on it.

The sight prompted the other Earth Wolves to start chatting, their words laced with mocking laughter.

One said, "With so many onions and potatoes around, you choose to chew on a carrot. You really are a rabbit."

Another said, "Good thing I didn’t go up the mountain with you. Look at the pathetic state you’re in now! You don’t look like you’re from Black Mountain at all."

Yet another added, "I heard from Musa that these two guys can conjure a Spirit Power Helmet."

One more chimed in, "And he also said they just vanished into thin air while walking..."

The carrot-chewer replied, "Usually, keeping an eye on these hostages only required one or two of us working in shifts. This time, however, the boss assigned five of us."

Unbelievable. It seemed these two were hiding some deep secrets.

A moment of silence ensued. All that could be heard was the CRUNCH, CRUNCH of the carrot and the muffled, distressed sounds from Liko and Pita.

"Hey, do you guys ever wonder what the boss is thinking?" one of them said, breaking the silence. "If we just string these two up and interrogate them, we’d find out everything."

The carrot-muncher didn’t respond. In his eyes, the boss possessed an unshakeable authority that no one could challenge. In his mind, whatever the boss did was justified.

Another, who shared the carrot-muncher’s viewpoint, said, "The boss naturally has his reasons. Not everything can be found out through interrogation."

Another, less interested in this topic, chimed in, "I heard the others have been sent on a new mission..."

"If Black Mountain runs out of missions, then we’re truly finished," the last one quickly chimed in, evidently still shaken from the previous failure.

The five of them chatted sporadically, completely oblivious to the commotion coming from above the cellar.

Above the cellar, Bruce, beaten unconscious, was being supported as he was moved step by step towards the cellar entrance.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP! There was an urgent knocking at the cellar door.

After a quick look, the five Earth Wolves promptly opened the cellar entrance. Shortly after, a hooded figure was thrown down by two other Earth Wolves. Clearly, this unlucky soul was Bruce.

Following this fellow, who was limp as a rag, down into the cellar was Black Mountain’s leader, Aliusan.

"Quick, make some room! Tie that slob on the ground to a chair. You, get a basin of water. And you, light the lamp, but not too bright. Hurry up! The boss is standing right here; instead of finding him a chair, you’re still nibbling on that carrot?!" The short, skinny Earth Wolf beside Aliusan clearly held a higher status within Black Mountain, as he directed the others in arranging the small cellar.

In no time, a space was cleared within the small cellar. Liko and Pita were shoved into a corner by the Earth Wolves, ending up among sacks of potatoes, onions, and carrots. They watched everything unfold with astonishment. It was clear this cellar had been transformed into an interrogation site, only they were not the ones about to be interrogated.

The unconscious Bruce was swiftly tied by a few Earth Wolves to a chair that was missing an armrest. Opposite him was another chair, occupied by the Earth Wolf who had just been giving orders.

Aliusan chose the corner stacked with sacks. He leaned casually against the burlap sacks, wearing the relaxed expression of someone watching a show.

"We generally don’t torture people," Aliusan said, seemingly to himself but loud enough for Liko and Pita to hear. "But so many people don’t understand the value of cooperation."

SLAP! SLAP! The Earth Wolf beside the chair was smacking Bruce across the face, trying to awaken him. However, perhaps the blow Bruce had taken to the head was too severe, as the two slaps were not enough to rouse him.

"I’ve always detested violence. In fact, many unnecessary conflicts can be avoided through cooperation. Don’t you agree?" Aliusan said, glancing at Liko and Pita as he spoke.

SPLASH! A basin of cold water was dumped over Bruce. The winter chill instantly spread through his entire body. He groggily awoke, feeling not only cold but also pain everywhere.

"Cooperation often brings pleasant outcomes. Refusal to cooperate... well, it only leads to situations like this," Aliusan remarked, jutting his chin to signal Liko and Pita to watch closely.

THUD! An Earth Wolf landed another punch on Bruce’s stomach. Bruce, still dazed, had no idea why he had been captured.

"Do you know why we grabbed you, Crippled-Hand Bruce?" It had to be said, as an underworld force, Black Mountain was quite professional; in a short time, they had already figured out Bruce’s general background.

"N-no... no idea..." The agonizing pain in his abdomen left Bruce so weak he couldn’t even muster the strength to grit his teeth.

"Think again!" After those words, THUD! Another punch landed on his stomach.

"AAARGH—" Bruce screamed in agony. He was at a loss for what to say. "Wh-what do you want? I have gold coins..." Offering money seemed to be the only way he knew how to cooperate.

"Not bad. But we’re not short of gold coins. What we lack are ways to earn them." This time, the Earth Wolf didn’t punch Bruce again. Instead, he scooped up some water with his hand and let it trickle down Bruce’s neck.

Bruce shuddered, the pain from his stomach spreading through his trembling body. "B-but I... I don’t have any ways..."

"Oh, really?" The Earth Wolf raised his hand. Someone behind him understood the signal, drew a dagger, and began heating it over the flame.

"You see, pleasant cooperation can prevent these shameful incidents from happening. These methods aren’t fatal, but they are certainly threatening," Aliusan continued meaningfully.

In the time that followed, Liko and Pita witnessed the entire interrogation. In the dim light, they watched, aghast and trembling, utterly helpless and not knowing what to do.

Cold, wet towels; red-hot daggers—the torments were applied in turn to the poor fellow.

Liko and Pita suddenly realized that interrogation involved more than just fists and feet; there were so many other methods. Of course, they had never seen Fireballs being flicked or onions being smeared on someone before...

Poor Bruce, merely for a few careless words blurted out while boasting in a tavern, had brought upon himself the ruthless torture of Black Mountain.

Bruce, his eyes, mouth, and nose smeared with onion juice, was repeatedly slapped with a soaked towel. He seemed on the brink of death.

Aliusan was very pleased with the results of the interrogation. Although this fellow Bruce was only a puppet, the puppet had ultimately given up his master, even if the name sounded like an alias.

"Hmph," Aliusan smirked with satisfaction. Now it’s time for those other two idiots, he thought to himself.