Amanda tortured the six people to get the information out of them. She was brutal and cruel to the people who got in the way of her goal. Just like how she has been in the Red Witch that she established. At that time, to complete the demon summoning ritual she didn't even hesitate to kill hundreds of people for sacrifices.
"I-I'll talk..." The S-rank expert glanced at Souta. He was covered in wounds and his left eye was plucked out. His skin was peeled off and all of his nails were gone.
Ordinary people would die if they had his injuries. The only thing that's keeping him alive and conscious was the vitality of an S-rank expert.
"I never expect that I will torture Annihilation Realm master in my entire life. This level is already at the top brass of Numan Country.
"Okay, tell us everything that you know. Why are you here in this place and what's your connection with the Witch Clan?" Souta said in a cold tone. He was expressionless. He didn't have that brutal look or mad smile. It was as if the man in front of him was just an insect.
"I'm from the Union Peace. Everything in this place is owned by Union Peace." The man said.
Souta and Gragas frowned when they heard it. Just like what they have expected this was related to that giant organization that controlled most of the land in the central continent. Facing this organization, they felt pressure on their shoulders.
"Continue," Amanda said.
"Decades ago the Witch Clan gave up the right of this hidden base to Union Peace. This hidden base is a mining site. A site where people could mine mana stones."
Mana stones. It was a stone that contained a vast amount of mana. It was divided into three grades; Low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade mana stones. It was effective in trying to increase a person's mana pool capacity. It was also used as a fuel to activate various machines and devices.
In short, it was a low-quality monster orb.
But why would the Witch Clan give the hidden base to the Union Peace?
"I don't know why but the Witch Clan isolated their main territory. This is the reason why the public didn't have news about them. I only know that the Witch Clan and Union Peace seems to have an agreement decades ago." The S-rank explained in a low voice.
"So the Witch Clan isn't extinct? They are just hiding from the public's eyes." Souta glanced at Amanda.
"Yes, they are still alive. At that time, there's a big battle that occurred and I'm still a low-rank agent of Union Peace when that happened so I didn't receive much information."
"Witch Clan must be involved in that big battle, right?"
"Yes, a lot of powerful witches battled against each other. The other giant organizations are involved in this matter too. So if you want to know more about this matter I suggest that you should find them." The S-rank expert said.
"If you know it then you must have heard about the other hidden base of the Witch Clan?"
"The Union Peace controlled five hidden bases including this one and they are all mining sites. People at my level are guarding those places. Perhaps, if they knew what happened here then they will dispatch the other Annihilation Realm masters to guard the hidden base." The S-rank paused for a moment before he looked at Souta with a serious expression. "I don't know why a monster like you wants from the hidden base but don't anger the Union Peace if you still wanted to live."
"Why?"
"The Union Peace had ten rulers and they are all Extinction Realm masters. Also, their right-hand men are at the level of Extinction Realm. In total, the Union Peace had twenty Extinction Realm. They aren't called the strongest organization for nothing. Even the Night Watch only had five Extinction Realm and that's the second organization next to Union Peace."
"Well, I don't want to fight the Union Peace. I just wanted to know the current situation of the Witch Clan." Souta shrugged his shoulder.
"You will find it here." The S-rank used his finger to write the location of the Witch Clan's main territory. "I don't know if they are still here but you will uncover the truth if you go there."
"I thought that you couldn't give us some good information but it seems that you're better than I imagined." Souta smiled faintly.
"It's nothing. It's just some minor details of that incident. The reason of the battle is still unknown to me. Even my superiors didn't talk about it." The S-rank laughed and blood came out of his mouth. "I told you everything that I know so end my suffering right now."
"You're good. What's your name?" Souta asked.
"Eztein... Eztein Hamalton." The S-rank said his name to Souta.
"Eztein Hamalton. Don't you want to live?" Souta asked.
"Of course, I want to live but I already told you the information so the Union Peace will hunt me down and torture me for several years until I died. So it's easier if you just kill me, isn't it? Also, my injuries are severe and life-threatening. Even if you spare me, it will take a few months before I could recover from my wounds even if I have high-grade health potions." The S-rank was confused why Souta was asking about it.
"Good. I'll spare your life."
The S-rank opened his eyes widely. He glared at Souta and said, "You! You want me to suffer even after I said all those information to you!"
"I'll let you live and from now on, you will follow me until I die. You will become my minion for the rest of your life." Souta said and he grabbed Eztein's head.
"What do you mean?" Eztein stared at Souta in the eyes. He was quite confused and doubtful about what's happening.
"Open your pores and directly shut down all the defense of your body," Souta said. Even if an S-rank was at death's door, his body would subconsciously reject the parasite and the parasite wouldn't be able to do anything about it. The parasite didn't have combat power if they didn't have a host so they were easy to kill.
"Why are you doing this? What's your plan?" Eztein gritted his teeth.
"Do you want to live right? If you accept my offer then you will live. The only downside is that you have to follow my commands but don't worry I will not restrict your movements." Souta smiled devilishly.
"I... Do you have the confidence to go against the Union Peace?" Eztein asked.
"No... But my target isn't Union Peace. Union Peace will be busy with Monster Dungeon so we have all the time in our hands." Souta explained.
"I see... Cough! Cough!" Eztein coughed a mouthful of blood. "I will accept your proposal." He said.
"Oi, are you really going to pick this guy? He will become our burden! Even if he recovered there's no guarantee that he will not betray us!" Gragas said from the side.
"I have a method so don't worry." Souta simply waved his hand to Gragas. He knew that Gragas didn't have an idea that he could control parasites. Until someone told him about it, he wouldn't know that Souta could control Yenxa and Amanda's life and death.
He ignored Gragas and told Eztein to shut down all the defenses in his body. Just simply accept everything so that the parasite could enter his body.
Eztein closed his eyes and he followed Souta's instruction. He slowly felt the parasite entering his body and it started to fuse with his cells. It was an uncomfortable feeling as a mysterious creature was invading his body freely.
He could repel it right now but if it completely fused he guessed that he wouldn't be able to remove it from his body. This mysterious creature would become a part of his body.
After a few minutes, the parasite transplant was complete.
"This..."
Eztein was surprised when he saw that his injuries were closing too fast. His skins and nails which were gone had recovered.
This must be the reason why this monster could recover at high speed? He said inwardly while admiring the ability of the parasite.
Gragas opened his eyes widely when he saw this scene. He didn't expect to witness a scene like this.
'That regenerative power is inhumane! It's passable? So that's the reason why these two girls haven't died while fighting several Extermination Realm masters.' Gragas glanced at Amanda and Yenxa. This type of ability felt like it was an ability of a monster. He wondered if Souta was turning his followers into monsters.
"Okay, we've finished our business here," Souta said as he clapped his hand. He turned his head and saw Amanda's expression. He said, "Amanda, just hold it in for a while. I'm here with you so don't worry."
"Y-Yeah..." Amanda nodded her head.
She ignored Eztein who she just tortured a few minutes ago. She didn't even care if this guy joined their group or not as her head was filled with the information of Witch Clan. She couldn't believe that her clan, the Witch Clan, was still alive. But from her memories, she saw them getting killed one by one. She didn't know what to believe anymore.. She couldn't only place her trust to Souta.