Butcher spoke, his voice raspy and slow.
With his hands behind his back and his waist slightly hunched, he paced the room slowly.
“I am Level 4,” his voice was very soft, almost as if he were talking to himself.
“I know exactly how vast the gap between Level 4 and Level 3 is.”
He stopped, turned, and looked at Cold Wind.
“If I wanted to kill the four of you…” He tilted his head, his lips curling back to reveal those crooked yellow teeth.
“You wouldn’t even have a chance to resist.”
Cold Wind’s breathing hitched slightly.
“In a single encounter, four Level 3s—all dead.” Butcher held up a finger and wagged it gently in the air. “Not one would escape.”
He resumed his pacing. His steps were still slow, but each one felt like it was stomping directly on Cold Wind’s heart.
“But what about that person?” Butcher’s voice held a hint of amusement. “He didn’t kill you.”
“He lured you into the Non-Safe Zone and used the Blood-Scythe Ant swarm to wipe out your unit, yet he specifically spared you Level 3s.”
Butcher stopped. Those yellowish-green vertical pupils stared straight at Cold Wind, an indescribable emotion swirling within them.
“Don’t you think… that’s very strange?”
Cold Wind was silent for a moment before saying calmly, “Perhaps… he just didn’t want to reveal his strength.”
“Didn’t want to reveal his strength?” Butcher repeated the words, his smile deepening.
“A Level 4 Ability User needs to hide their strength in front of four Level 3s?”
He shook his head, letting out a short, piercing laugh.
“Before I came here, I reviewed the entire situation regarding the annihilation of the 3rd Mobile Brigade.” Butcher held up a finger and wagged it in front of his eyes.
“The commander’s explanation, your testimonies, the unit’s casualty reports, the activity range of the Blood-Scythe Ant swarm… I looked at every piece of intelligence I could find.”
He stared at Cold Wind, his gaze like a viper’s tongue licking every inch of Cold Wind’s skin.
“And then I found that in this entire matter, there is one part that doesn’t make sense.”
Cold Wind remained silent.
Butcher tilted his head, his lips curling back. “It’s you…”
“No, not just you…” He shook his head. “It’s the four of you.”
“If that person really is from the Terminal Station, why would he spare you?”
Butcher’s voice grew softer and slower, as if he were hypnotizing him.
“You are the elite combat force of the City Defense Force. Four Level 3s are a force that cannot be ignored in any city.”
“By killing you, the Terminal Station would have four fewer powerful enemies.”
“But he didn’t kill you.”
Butcher stopped and stood before Cold Wind, hands behind his back and waist slightly hunched.
“Why?”
Cold Wind looked directly into those yellowish-green vertical pupils, his voice devoid of emotion. “I don’t know.”
“Don’t know?” Butcher tilted his head, took a step back, and resumed pacing the room with his hands behind his back.
“I thought about it for a long time and came up with a possibility.”
Butcher’s voice was very soft. “If I put myself in his shoes, why would I do that?”
He stopped and turned to look at Cold Wind.
“I lure the City Defense Force unit into the Non-Safe Zone and use the Blood-Scythe Ant swarm to wipe out the ordinary soldiers.”
“I let those few Level 3 Ability Users go back, specifically so they can deliver a message—that the Terminal Station has a Level 4 Ability User.”
Butcher’s voice grew softer and slower.
“And then?”
He tilted his head, his lips curling back to reveal his crooked yellow teeth.
“The City Defense Force learns that the Terminal Station has a Level 4. Whether that news is true or false, the City Defense Force will definitely send a real Level 4.”
“And at that point—”
Butcher didn’t finish his sentence, merely giving Cold Wind a meaningful look.
Cold Wind’s breathing hitched slightly.
Butcher laughed, the short, piercing sound echoing in the small room.
“Do you understand what I mean now?” Butcher stared at Cold Wind, a cruel excitement surging in those yellowish-green vertical pupils.
“The four of you are more like bait.”
“The reason you returned alive was simply to lure a Level 4 from the City Defense Force there.”
Cold Wind was silent for a while before saying calmly, “That is just your speculation.”
“Speculation?” Butcher tilted his head, his smile deepening. “Perhaps.”
“But what if I’m right?”
“If that Level 4 really exists, and if he is waiting for a Level 4 from the City Defense Force to show up—”
“Then wouldn’t my going there be exactly what he wants?”
Cold Wind didn’t say a word.
Butcher stared at him for a few seconds and then laughed.
In that smile, there was amusement, cruelty, and an indescribable… excitement.
“Therefore, I need someone to help me share those risks…”
Butcher’s voice grew softer and softer.
“Do you understand what I mean?”
Cold Wind’s pupils constricted slightly.
Butcher smiled and pointed a finger at Cold Wind. “You, come with me.”
“To the Terminal Station.”
“To meet that Level 4 Ability User.”
Cold Wind’s heart nearly stopped at that moment.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Butcher had already turned and started walking toward the door.
“Don’t think about refusing,” Butcher’s voice drifted back from ahead, every word carrying a bone-chilling coldness.
“You don’t have the right to refuse.”
Cold Wind stood where he was, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
He took a deep breath and followed Butcher.
In the corridor, two guards stood on either side, their heads bowed, not daring to spare Butcher a single glance.
Butcher ignored them, walking toward the end of the corridor with his hands behind his back and his waist slightly hunched.
Cold Wind followed behind, his gaze sweeping over the closed iron doors on both sides of the corridor.
Then, he saw Iron Bone.
Iron Bone was standing before a door at the end of the corridor under the watch of two guards.
Seeing Butcher approach, Iron Bone’s body instinctively tensed.
“Are you Iron Bone?” Butcher stopped in front of him, his yellowish-green vertical pupils sizing Iron Bone up from head to toe.
Iron Bone gritted his teeth and said nothing.
“You’re coming with him.” Butcher pointed at Cold Wind behind him. “Come with me.”
Iron Bone’s expression shifted, his gaze subconsciously turning toward Cold Wind.
Cold Wind gave a slight shake of his head, signaling him not to resist.
Iron Bone took a deep breath and slowly unclenched his fists.
Butcher stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the two of them as his smile gradually faded.
“I am not a man who likes wasting words.” His voice was raspy and slow, carrying an indisputable pressure. “So, I will only say this once.”
“Follow me and obey my orders. Do not ask what should not be asked.”
Butcher paused. “If you dare to try any tricks—”
He didn’t finish his sentence, merely raising his hand and giving a gentle squeeze in the air.
Cold Wind and Iron Bone simultaneously felt their necks tighten, as if an invisible hand were crushing their throats.
The force wasn’t overwhelming, yet it made even breathing difficult for them.
Three seconds later, the invisible hand let go.
Cold Wind and Iron Bone both gasped for air, their faces pale.
Butcher looked at them, his lips slowly curling back to reveal his crooked yellow teeth.
“If I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t even have a chance to struggle… understood?”
“Understood…”
Cold Wind and Iron Bone gritted their teeth, their eyes downcast in resignation.
Butcher nodded in satisfaction.
Rate on N.U.
