13. Life Burns, So Does Hope

A sphere of fire levitated in the air like a handleless torch, hovering just above Gomut’s hand. Despite the absurd amount of heat the fireball had displayed moments before, it didn’t seem to burn Gomut in any way. With his left hand slightly raised, cradling the floating blaze, he raised his voice and spoke with a flat, commanding tone.

“You have seen what I can do. It is better that you abide by my rules, or else there will be nothing but your ashes remaining here today.”

Hearing this, Violet turned to look at Edward, whose back had just been heavily charred. With a look of genuine concern, she asked in a low voice, “Are you hurt?”

Edward chuckled softly. “What do you think?”

Violet’s expression relaxed slightly upon hearing Edward joke about the situation. She continued in a low voice, barely above a whisper, “What do you think we should do?”

Edward, who had been staring intently at the man holding the levitating blob of fire, immediately turned his gaze to face Violet. He began to stand up, replying, “What else? We surrender if we don’t want to die.”

Violet opened her mouth to argue, but she couldn’t find the words. Pushing the immediate tactical dilemma aside for a moment, she looked at his shirt and asked again, “How is your back?”

Edward stood fully upright and answered without a hint of jest, “It’s fine. I am graced by an angel.”

Hearing his last words, Violet frowned slightly in confusion. However, she didn't press him with further questions. As Edward walked forward, she followed closely behind him. Staring directly at the fabric over his charred back, Violet’s eyes flashed with a sharp spark of curiosity.

She opened her mouth to ask him how his skin was completely intact, he had just suffered burn marks, but Edward—like a prophet who already knew exactly what she was about to say—interrupted her without turning around.

“Don’t say anything.”

Seeing the duo approach the rest of the group, Gomut—who had already easily subdued Stuart and the remaining captives—pointed toward the short guard wearing a black shirt and matching shorts. He looked at Edward and said, “Mr. Edward, you were in the army. Gen, take a look at this. See how lucky we are.”

Gen, who looked incredibly grim as if he had just learned of the death of someone incredibly close to him, retorted in a sharp, angry voice. The fury made him look like an irritated little chick. “Sir! Lucky, my foot! He killed Ma, and the woman behind him killed Gunther. We should punish them! Yes, let’s strip her naked and smash his balls first!”

Edward let out a quiet, internal sigh. Not again... I should never have spoken so much in front of Stuart earlier. Look how much this is coming back to bite me.

Edward shot a side-eye glance at Violet, silently wondering what terrible fate was about to befall them both. Then his thoughts drifted to Robert, wondering what would happen to him if the guards found him still asleep.

Seeing Gen stepping aggressively toward Edward, Gomut thought for a moment, a hint of cruel joy spreading across his face. “Wait! I have a better idea. First, let’s go down to the storage room.”

Gen wanted to retort, but he didn't dare cut off his superior's orders. Gomut added, “Take a flask with you as well.”

Gen didn't argue. He walked over to a nearby workstation and picked up a glass flask from the table.

The guards lined everyone up to march back down toward the storage room. Dan—the man Violet had previously knocked unconscious with a kick—had fully woken up. He was the one politely barking orders to keep the line moving, his civil tone completely betraying his criminal profession.

As they marched, Edward repeatedly glanced at Stuart, trying to catch his eye. However, Stuart deliberately avoided his gaze, refusing to look his way.

Tap… tap… tap…

The sound of multiple heavy footsteps echoed down the stairwell as the entire party descended back into the basement.

Seeing the door open, May, who had been waiting quietly in the dark, stood up. In a cheery, hopeful voice, she greeted Stuart, who was the first to step back through the entrance. “Welcome back! Did you capture all of them?”

Stuart forced a strained, empty smile and immediately stepped to the side of the doorway, revealing Betheny and Soya right behind him. As the rest of the group filed in, May found herself staring directly at a guard wearing a white shirt and tight jeans, holding a gun.

The man spoke in a remarkably polite tone. “I am Dan. Miss, would you please put your hands where I can see them? Your friends' plan has failed. There is no point in resisting.”

Hearing those words, May fell entirely silent, her mind spinning into a dark train of thought. … What happened upstairs? How did we end up here? Why did this have to happen to me?

She had been so happy just managing the bar with Robert. Why had things turned this bad? She just wanted to wake up, open up the tavern, and wait for the customers to arrive while listening to Robert crack his terrible jokes.

But Robert had shown absolutely no signs of waking up. Waiting here completely helplessly, she finally realized that the very last shred of her hope of escaping this place had been utterly crushed by men she didn't even know—and in a conflict she hadn't even played a part in.

Suddenly, her downward spiral of thoughts was shattered by a sharp voice echoing in her ear.

Noticing the young woman who had been left behind to watch the cellar, Gomut asked May in a flat, monotone voice, “Where is Ma?”

May was jolted awake from her thoughts, reacting as if she had suddenly been snapped out of a deep sleep. In a thoroughly confused voice, she replied, “Who? Ma? I don't know who that is.”

Gomut raised his eyebrows, tilting his head back slightly. He then turned his gaze directly toward Stuart.

Seeing Gomut's face, Stuart instantly realized who "Ma" was. He extended his finger and pointed directly toward the upper-right corner of the room where the storage boxes were heavily stacked.

Gomut began walking toward the corner Stuart had indicated. He walked past Edward, Violet, Kai, Betheny, Soya, Quin, Gen, and Dan.

Upon reaching the stacks, he stepped around the crates and found the towering, lifeless body of Ma. The giant lay completely naked with a broken neck, his eyes and mouth frozen shut. His feet had already turned a pale, sickly yellow due to the lack of blood circulation, and his face had turn deep purple. Ma lay there completely still, devoid of any movement.

With a heavy sigh, Gomut shook his head. He closed his eyes and began to chant.

“Condensare…”

“Formare…”

“Emittere…”

A massive tongue of flame erupted behind the boxes. The blaze licked the stone ceiling, rapidly incinerating Ma's large corpse until nothing but a pile of ash remained. Watching the cremation, Gen—the short guard in the black shirt and shorts—lowered his head, his dry eyes growing slightly wet with tears.

Soon, a stern expression settled back onto Gomut's broad face. Stepping out from behind the boxes, he spoke in a flat voice completely devoid of any human emotion.

“Everyone, line up. It’s time for your punishment.”