“Damn… it’s really dirty in here…” Northern muttered with visible disgust playing across his face.
The dungeon cell that held him had a murky floor; it seemed like the underground sewage system was somehow leaking, and it was penetrating the floor.
This made the place filled with a terrible odor. One that made Northern want to consider breaking out of the cell.
Ellis was behind him, sitting on the mattress that laid glued to the wall, his head bowed, his legs nervously tapping the ground.
Northern held the rusting iron bars of the dungeon cell, stood silent for a while.
It had been a couple of hours since they got here, and he had been silent.
It was not like he lacked the power to break out of a cell or refuse to be arrested.
Northern knew he was already not so smart with how to handle troubles like this without resorting to violence.
Actually, he would have preferred violence, but he thought carefully about things.
If he fought his way through this, it would only make Ellis’s condition worse and make it seem like whatever Braham was proposing to them was right.
He didn’t know the extent of what had happened, but he could make a few guesses from the things Raven said.
‘It’s at least clear that they think Ellis used an illusionary spell on the others and tricked the entire stronghold into thinking he is dead.’
Northern paused his thoughts for a second and gritted his teeth, clenching tightly the iron bar.
‘Ah, I’m pissed! They think my Dark Terror is a mere illusion?! And why would they even think that when there are others that have seen him? I’m sure it’s all Gilbert. That man must be playing at something.’
‘But it’s infuriating that they think my Dark Terror is an illusion…’
“Sir Northern,” Ellis’s voice, weak and waning, sounded from behind.
Northern turned around with a grin, the kind you give after causing a disastrous situation by accident.
“Yo… you have decided to come back to life.”
“I don’t understand why you are grinning. Is there anything funny about our situation right now?” Ellis projected to him with a stern tone.
He drew a breath and glared at Northern.
“You could have fought through the crowd. We could have escaped!”
Northern’s face contorted with pity, “And then what?” He breathed before his next statement, “Be labeled as criminals even in a desecrated land?”
Northern shook his head sympathetically.
“I’m sure there are better ways to go about this than bulldozing our way. What I’m trying to do is permanently help your situation, not make it worse. Now, you either have to trust me… or you fear me. Which would you prefer?”
Northern placed his hands on his chin, “Personally, I don’t want you to trust me. I don’t need those worthless human expenditures. I’d prefer fear, at least it’d keep you from raising your voice against me like you just did.”
Northern’s facial expression swiftly transitioned into a blank glare.
Ellis, at that moment, gulped and looked away with a drop of sweat on his head.
Northern then nodded with a sweet smile and turned to his front.
“Oh, someone is coming!” He said, immediately [Sense] picked up the presence.
And the familiarity of the semblance that the person gave off. Northern already knew who it was.
A couple of minutes later, a woman with rebellious vermillion tresses donning a large brown coat arrived in front of the cell that held Northern and Ellis.
Annette stood in front of the cell for a couple of silent seconds before she sank her face into her palm and let out a tired sigh. She then looked at Northern in the eyes.
He was smiling. freёwebnovel.com
“You are smiling?” Her brows furrowed; she clenched her fist and really wished she could hit him hard in the stomach.
“What do you think you are doing? Why are you in the stronghold? Why did you beat up Braham Lockson, and why are you harboring a criminal?”
Northern playfully waved his hand away, “Don’t be so worried. This matter isn’t all that…”
Annette’s features became dark, “Seriously, what is wrong with you? I’m being serious. If not for anything, assaulting a party leader is equal to signing a death warrant with Raven and Gilbert. Of all people, it had to be Braham Lockson!”
Northern squinted his eyes, then spoke after a few beats.
“Something sounds very wrong with what is coming out of your mouth. You’re saying the so-called party leaders, who are supposed to be the strongest around here, are being babied by Raven and Gilbert?”
“When did I ever say that?” Annette inquired.
“Just now. Why should there be trouble because I assaulted a party leader? If he is as strong as he claims, then we should settle the score within ourselves. If I’m able to beat up a party leader, it just means he isn’t that strong. Why should that be much of a problem?”
Annette retracted her head a little. She placed her hands on her waist and sighed.
She probably could understand the point Northern was trying to make; it was valid.
She too had no reason why, but that was how it had been — whenever anyone had troubles with the party leaders, Raven most especially took it very seriously.
And right now, it was the case with Northern’s matter.
“It doesn’t matter; what I’m just trying to tell you is that you’re in big trouble… these guys are considering sending you out of the stronghold.”
Northern downturned his lips.
“How is that trouble?”
Annette’s frown deepened; at this point, she felt like her brows were already aching from all the furrowing.
“It is a wilderness of monstrosities outside this place.”
Northern looked at the lady in front of him squarely and chuckled like an insane bastard.
“Instructor Annette, I belong to the wilderness of monstrosities. In fact, I thrive there.”
Annette’s expression froze, then grew pale.
She just didn’t know what to do about this guy anymore.
‘Why is he being so arrogant?’
Northern stared at her for a while before a sincere smile crawled across his face, his words sincerely rolled out.
“See, Instructor Anne, I know you’re worried about me. And I am genuinely grateful for it. But you don’t have to be… I have everything in control. But if I were you, I’d be worried about my safety; whatever that monster is… those guys weren’t lying about it. Ellis didn’t cast any illusionary spell.”
Annette raised her head slightly and observed Northern’s face keenly.
“What do you mean?”
Northern shrugged.
“Who knows… just words of a reckless brat locked in a dungeon cell,” he chuckled before retreating to sit on the mattress.