ebookslot Chapter 23: Sources of Corrosive Pollution
Chapter 23: Sources of Corrosive Pollution
The man in the linoleum hat was still rambling incoherently, trying to bluff his way out: "What listener? I don't know anything about that! Sir, I'm just a necromancer who likes to tinker with some dark experiments!"
Manager Mike said nothing more and threw the two heads to the ground. They were two evil followers of the Corruption Cult from Amber Town!
The man in the linoleum hat, who was their direct superior, was obviously very familiar with them.
"Confess willingly, and I'll let you die a quick death! Otherwise, you'll suffer a fate worse than death..."
Manager Mike's voice sounded like it came from hell!
The man in the linoleum hat, a resolute glint in his eyes, said: "Ujigula..."
He clearly intended to commit suicide, but Butler Mike had anticipated this and would not allow these evil men to succeed.
Two court knights skilled in torture used a huge gag to clamp down on the throat of the man in the linoleum hat, leaving him only able to groan.
In addition, several magicians had already placed various "binding spells" on the man in the linoleum hat, and at the same time, all the strange and unusual items that the man carried with him were stripped away.
At this moment, the man in the tarpaulin hat had no chance of committing suicide.
"You evildoers, you're always so stubborn and unyielding!"
Manager Mike spat and waved.
A series of horrific instruments of torture were brought over: iron brushes with barbs and spikes, rotating gallows covered with inner cones, finger bone grinders that could slowly apply pressure, and several sets of intricate and complex hooks and bone forceps specifically designed to peel off skin or pry open joints.
At the very back, there were dozens of bottles of strangely colored potions and rune-inscribed irons imbued with a dim magical glow.
"For heretics and evildoers, punishment is the best redemption!"
"Death itself is not frightening; what is truly terrifying is the unprovoked suffering that penetrates to the very marrow of your bones, to your very soul, to your very nerves!"
Chief Steward Mike began his masterful interrogation, and after half an hour, the interrogation room was already stained red with blood.
The tarpaulin hat was now twisted and deformed. If it weren't for the fact that he was a dual cultivator of magic and martial arts, possessing both the magical power of a novice mage and the battle aura of a high-level fighter, and having an extremely strong body, an ordinary person would have been dead long ago.
Of course, this also brought him constant pain, and allowed Steward Mike to unleash all sorts of tortures.
"It's been a long time since I've felt this good! Most evil people are weak and feeble! Torturing you makes me extremely excited!"
Manager Mike laughed heartily.
The man in the linoleum hat, his eyes filled with fear of Mike, spoke in a weak and weary voice: "I confess, I confess everything! My name is Longfellow, and my position within the Corruption Cult is 'The Listener.' Within the capital, there's also a 'Webweaver' in charge of leadership..."
The clerk in the interrogation room recorded every single confession.
But Manager Mike was rather uninterested. This "Listener" Longfellow wasn't exactly a tough nut to crack; he'd confessed so quickly.
According to Manager Mike, he still has a room full of torture instruments to continue using.
Longfellow's confession was quickly compiled, and Steward Mike presented it to Leon.
After reading it, Li Ang gave a cold laugh: "It seems there's a big fish in the Corruption Cult within our capital!"
According to Longfellow's testimony, the highest-ranking clergy member of the Corruption Cult in the capital was a man named Sahudin (The Web Weaver)!
The Webweaver is a high-ranking clergy member within the Corruption Cult, holding a very prestigious position second only to the four core clergy members, the Pittors, and the cult's Pope!
The source of corruption has now been settled by Sahudin and his band of evil followers in Flower Town, a satellite town outside the capital.
"Your Majesty, the Corruption Cult's invasion of the capital began years ago. According to Longfellow, there are no fewer than thirty members spread throughout the [Listener] capital alone, and the number of other lower-level evil cultists is in the thousands!"
"To ensure the success of this operation, I recommend that Commander Edmund lead the garrison regiment to participate!"
"I am the steward," said Mike calmly.
Longfellow, as the "Listener," was not weak. Moreover, he was proficient in both magic and martial arts, being both a court warrior and a court magician. With his prior planning and preparation, he was able to subdue him.
That "Net Weaver" Sahudin is definitely a powerful warrior of the level, or even a great mage.
The palace guards under the command of Chief Eunuch Mac were still somewhat overwhelmed.
"Edmund needs to participate in the war, but this time the garrison troops are unnecessary. The Ash Knights and the Capital's First Criminal Inmate Corps will suffice!"
Li Ang pondered for a moment.
The Royal Capital's First Criminal Inmate Corps has been training under Edmund's tutelage for some time now, and it's time to put them to the test with the "Corruption Cult" heretics!
When Nidik, the acting deputy commander of the corps, received the combat orders, he jumped up with excitement.
From a death row inmate to a respected acting deputy commander of the corps, Nidik knew that many people questioned him!
Perhaps it's a questioning of his abilities!
Or perhaps it's a questioning of his command abilities!
Even worse, some mocked his impoverished background!
Whatever the reason, Nidik needs a "big battle" to prove his strength!
Meanwhile, the tens of thousands of soldiers in the entire corps, after days of intense training, were all like they had been injected with "chicken blood," and they also needed a release!
The warriors' longswords and greatswords were already itching for a fight!
Edmund glanced at Nidik, whom he had been mentoring for almost half a month, and solemnly said, "This operation is of paramount importance! According to His Majesty the King's decree, not a single heretic can be allowed to escape!"
"The various districts within the capital are to be cleared by Chief Steward Mike's palace guards!"
"You will lead the First Criminal Inmate Corps to spearhead the attack on the villainous lair in Flower Town. My personally led Ash Knights will not engage in direct combat; their sole purpose will be decapitation."
"Nidick, you have a heavy burden on your shoulders!"
Edmund reminded him.
After a pause, Edmund added, "Remember, this is His Majesty the King's personal arrangement! Even at the cost of our lives, there can be no mistakes! All heretics must be captured; not a single one can escape!"
Upon hearing that it was His Majesty the King who had personally arranged it, Nidik instantly perked up, clenched his fists, and declared with unwavering resolve: "Your Majesty, Commander, rest assured! Nidik will not fail in his mission!"
Edmund nodded. In fact, in his own opinion, he should be the one to lead the charge, followed by the Ash Knights, who would then fight the evil ones head-on.
However, Li Ang's meaning was very clear: this battle was the first battle for the [Criminal Criminals Corps], and they were the ones to take the lead. Whether the acting deputy commander, Nidik, could handle the credit was up to them!
The palace guards numbered nearly 10,000, while the criminal convicts corps numbered over 40,000. Such large-scale troop movements had to be carried out in secrecy.
To provide cover, Li Ang once again instructed Fuye to mobilize hundreds of thousands of slum dwellers to travel between various satellite towns under the guise of working for the factory, transporting food and supplies.
Among these poor people, the criminal convicts personally led by Nidik were divided into thirty or forty groups and mixed in with them, entering designated locations to await orders according to the established combat plan.