Chapter 43: The Contents of the Sack

Clang!

Deo barely blocked the sword swung by Beric. No matter how much his skills had improved, with the holes in his side, the wounds seemed to have balanced the scales between the two.

"Ow."

"Beric, are you okay?"

At Ian's call, Beric turned around. His smile was unusually joyful.

"Of course. So, don't talk to me. Master."

Spit, the saliva he spat was mixed with blood, but if he said he was fine, who could say otherwise? He lunged at Deo again like a bolt of lightning. The sword drew a large semicircle, relentlessly aiming for Deo's vital points.

Clang! Clang!

"Milord!"

Deo, while barely dodging, was still preoccupied with protecting his master. Seeing this, the smile on Beric's lips slowly faded.

Derga attacked Ian without hesitation.

"Die! Ian!"

Swoosh! Swish!

The curse from the viscount served as a signal. The warriors of Chilrye shot their arrows in unison, and those who held swords instead of bows leaped over the mossy rocks.

He was a predator with his prey right in front of him.

Each step was powerful, precise, and destructive. The atmosphere was one of relishing the joy of slaughter, which was quite alien.

Swish!

Thud!

"Aaaah! Save me!"

"Indeed. You run well. Try to run even more."

"Drive them, drive them that way!"

"Gendal! That one is mine!"

The warriors easily cut off the breath of the scattered soldiers. After all, these were just expendable pawns, unlike Derga. The damp soil, moistened by the dew, soaked up the blood.

"Oh, we should take the bodies, right?"

"Just the heads. We can't carry the bodies. It's too troublesome."

The scrawny ones were quickly dealt with. The elite knights were surrounded by the warriors of Chilrye, who circled them like a pack of wolves eyeing their prey.

Meanwhile, Derga was gasping for breath, drooling. Shu only defended against the viscount's attacks, making no counterattacks. He was simply exhausted and worn out.

"Ian...! Ugh."

"You are quite something, Father."

"How... how did you...?"

Shu grabbed Derga's hair and slammed his head into the ground. Derga, now at the feet of Ian, struggled with a flushed face, but to no avail.

Ian knelt on one knee and smiled brightly.

"Don't worry. Father's place of death is not here."

Shu then put a black mask over Derga's head and tied it tightly.

Smack! Smack!

"Aaaah!"

The relentless beating began. The warriors who were cleaning up the bodies also stepped on Derga's back and spat curses.

Smack! Smack!

"Damn, how dare you... to Lord Wincen."

"When will we execute him, Lord Ian?"

"Why not just do it now?"

Derga had already fainted, his lower body soaked, and his hands trembling. It seemed Chel had inherited her father's traits.

Ian glanced at Kakantir and replied.

"First, we'll hand him over to the center and then look for an opportunity."

If they could gain control, they could execute Derga as Chilrye wished. But first, it was important to gain the trust of the palace. Not Erica, but the centers in Bariel, a month's distance away.

Unlike the warriors who were licking their lips, Kakantir stood a distance away, nodding his head. It meant he understood.

"Everyone, clean up."

"Yes, Kakantir."

"Kakantir! I can see the traces of the central army in the distance."

"We're too late!"

Beric chuckled and wiped the blood from his sword onto his pants. It seemed to be a satisfying warm-up, as his expression looked much lighter.

"Beric, how about your injuries? If they worsen here, it will be hard to treat them."

The medical staff were limited, and there were too many injured residents from the battle. Adding Beric would be problematic.

But Beric, as if it were no big deal, wiped his nose and showed his shirt. The bandages wrapped by the Chilrye doctor were still intact.

"I'm really fine?"

"...How?"

"I don't know. Every time I slash, it relieves my stress, so maybe that's why my recovery is faster? Stress is the root of all evil!"

Swish, swish! Unlike his disciplined sword swings, his words were incredibly playful. Ian carefully examined Beric's wounds but couldn't figure out anything.

"Let's go down!"

"Be quiet! We need to let the central army pass quietly!"

"You're the loudest. Hahaha."

The warrior carrying Derga in a sack shouted. Ian walked past the decapitated bodies toward Bratz's mansion. Over them, the eagles of Chilrye continued to circle.

* * *

"Milady Erica, Milady Erica!"

"The Chilrye have returned!"

Bang bang bang!

Erica immediately went to the window and pulled back the curtain at her subordinate's shout. The crude barbarians were entering the main gate, all covered in blood and carrying mysterious sacks.

"What about the central army?"

"A messenger bird flew in. They seem to be camping in the forest. They found traces of Derga and his soldiers."

Click. Erica bit her nails and frowned. Her premonition was not good. The returning group's unusually bright expressions seemed to confirm her fears.

Bang bang bang!

Ian dismounted from Kusile and entered the main building with a few warriors.

"Just a moment, seek Lady Erica's permission-!"

"Be quiet. Did we rent this mansion?"

"Show some respect! We are the palace investigation team!"

"Is that so? We are the centers of the Great Desert. Get lost."

From the hallway, the commotion suggested that the subordinates were trying to block Ian's group. Erica swallowed her sigh and opened the office door. The wide hallway was bustling with men.

"What's the commotion?"

"E, Erica Milady."

Ian lightly整理了被汗水浸湿的头发，低头行礼。尽管动作礼貌，但完全没有表现出尊重或敬意。

"I asked what the commotion was about. Ian."

"Since we returned after chasing Derga, what else could it be?"

At Ian's gesture, a warrior threw the sack to the ground with a thud. The hallway震动得如此剧烈，以至于发出了一声响亮的回声。Erica的下属犹豫地走近，用刀割开了 sack 的口。

"Ah!"

Inside were士兵们的头颅。有的被撕扯下来，有的被整齐地割下。Erica掩住了嘴，感到恶心，而战士则嬉皮笑脸地说道：

"Oops. I apologize. I thought you were used to this, having turned Bratz into a sea of blood."

"Shut up! Just because you show these... things..."

"Ah, the real one is here."

Thud!

Another sack was thrown. The sound was different.

This time,Erica亲自打开了口，检查里面。Derga被彻底捆绑着，脸上戴着面具。

"D, Derga?"

"Is it real?"

"It seems so."

He was unconscious but似乎没有生命危险。调查团成员犹豫地看向Erica，不知如何是好。

"Do you believe me now?"

"Hmph. You're not as useless as I thought. Move Derga to the underground prison!"

"A, yes!"

The members tried to pull Derga, but his fat body纹丝不动。好不容易把他扛在背上，刚迈一步就向前摔倒了。

"Careful, careful!"

"Aaaah!"

Thud!

Seeing this, how could they not laugh? The Chilrye laughed and shouted:

"Need help? If you keep going like this, he'll roll all the way to the basement and die before you get there."

"Hahaha!"

"We did well to catch him. Otherwise, how would you have brought him here? After nursing him, we might have asked him to walk on his own two feet."

Even Kakantir, who had been silent, couldn't hide his laughter. Erica's face turned red with anger, and Ian subtly changed the subject.

"Well, now that we've caught Derga, what do you plan to do? If possible, I hope you can quickly hold the execution and leave."

"Your words are quite presumptuous, Ian. My mission isn't over yet. I need to execute all those who bear the name 'Bratz.'"

"What do you mean?"

"I haven't found the key figures, Lady Mary and Chel. If you have free time, you can go down to the village and look for them. You can stay there while you search."

"Is there a possibility they left the area?"

"Almost none. I can pinpoint the day they disappeared. No women left the walls that day."

Erica then turned around and walked back into her office, her tied-up hair swinging confidently. She was subtly asserting that this was her place. Her subordinates, left in the hallway, struggled awkwardly with Derga.

"Help them move Derga."

"Yes, Kakantir."

Kakantir gave instructions to his subordinates and then nodded at Ian. His gaze suggested he wanted to talk. Ian hesitated for a moment, then followed him to the back of the hallway.

"Why?"

Beric had joined them without noticing.

Ian pretended to look around, turned his head left and right, and then instructed:

"Don't follow me. Go see Filia."

"Ah! Right! Your mother?"

"Yes. Since you helped her hide, you know the way."

"Of course I do."

Despite his confident answer, his expression looked flustered. Surely he hadn't forgotten? Before Ian could add anything, Beric quickly ran out of the mansion.

"Sir Ian."

"Yes, Kakantir."

Ian left Beric and faced Kakantir. His expression felt unusually stiff.