Codename: Traitor

The lingering romantic atmosphere was utterly dispelled by a knock at the door. Hals frowned, rose, and walked to the door. Through the wood, his soul flame saw a blazing fire of soul flame and one that was somewhat wilted.

After a moment's thought, Hals bowed to Bibi Dong, opened the door, stepped out, and closed it behind him.

"Sir." Shi Jisheng bowed respectfully.

The expression beneath Hals's hood was unknown, but his voice carried a chill.

"The person?"

Hearing Hals's question, Shi Jisheng quickly gestured for the Enforcers to bring forward Niya, who was tightly bound.

Hals looked at the girl before him, limp and disheveled, and the flames in his eyes burned brighter.

He extended his right hand, covered in faint scars and countless runes, and mercilessly grabbed the girl's hair, forcing her head up. Shi Jisheng glanced at Hals's hand and quickly lowered his gaze, not daring to look further.

Ignoring Shi Jisheng's small movements, Hals fixed his flame-lit eyes on Niya's. He could see a trace of resentment in her gaze.

"Heh heh heh." A hoarse sound came from his throat. The corner of Hals's mouth beneath the hood curled high. "Niya, good. I actually noticed you a long time ago."

He casually released her hair, and the girl's head drooped heavily again.

"Do you know, back then I suggested to my master that we kill you early, but she stopped me. Do you know what she said?"

Niya remained silent. Hals didn't mind.

"She said you were just a little girl blinded by power and status, that your heart wasn't truly bad. She said she would compete with you fairly herself. But she never expected you to do something like this. Still, I don't believe you're someone who would launch an attack so decisively. So, can you tell me who really came up with the plan?"

Hals turned to look at the girl. Niya kept her head down, still silent.

After a long silence, Hals suddenly laughed. "It's fine. I haven't met someone as interesting as you in a long time. I have plenty of ways to make you tell me what I want to know."

Niya finally reacted. She struggled to lift her head. Her face, which could be considered pretty, was twisted, her eyes blazing with fury. She spat at Hals.

"Pah! The victor is king, the loser a bandit. Since I've fallen into your hands, do as you will. Kill me or cut me up, I have no complaints."

Hals reached up and touched the spot where she spat. His expression darkened. "Good. I hope you can still be this tough later."

Just as Hals was about to signal Shi Jisheng to take Niya to his room, Jiabulin, who had been squeezed to the outskirts from the start, fought his way in.

"Lord Hals, I need to see the Holy Maiden." Jiabulin panted heavily, speaking rapidly.

Hals, who had turned halfway, turned back at the sound.

"Jiabulin, if you have something to say, tell me. My master is tired and not seeing anyone." Seeing it was a familiar face, Hals's tone softened somewhat.

"I... have urgent business with the Holy Maiden. Just a moment." Hals's long-established authority made Jiabulin's voice shrink a little when speaking to him.

"I said," Hals spun around sharply, staring directly at Jiabulin, "my master is resting. Tell me."

"But..." Jiabulin grew anxious.

"No buts..." Hals was about to reprimand him when he noticed the door behind him open.

Hals turned. Bibi Dong had somehow gotten out of bed and walked to the doorway.

"Master." Hals bowed.

"Mm." Bibi Dong nodded, looking at the crowd before the door, then at Niya, who seemed half-dead, and Jiabulin beside her.

After a moment's hesitation, Bibi Dong said, "Speak your mind, Jiabulin."

"Yes, Holy Maiden." Jiabulin shot a grateful look at Bibi Dong and quickly stated his request.

After listening for a while, Bibi Dong seemed thoughtful. She looked at the disheveled girl, pondered for a moment, and said, "I can grant your request and spare her life. But she must be imprisoned. Death may be forgiven, but punishment cannot be escaped." Her expression was calm. When she turned to Hals, her face softened slightly. "What do you think, Hals?"

"As you will, my master."

"Good. Then there's no issue. I'm still injured, so I'll go back to rest. If anything comes up, find Hals. He represents me fully. So many people crowded here make the air stale." As she spoke, she turned and went back inside, closing the door.

Outside, Hals bowed his head in salute, and all the Enforcers did the same.

Hearing the door close, Hals raised his head and turned to walk toward his own room. "The rest of you, go back. Shi Jisheng, bring the prisoner and follow me."

"Ha..." Jiabulin opened his mouth but didn't finish. Hals didn't look at him, simply turning and walking away.

In moments, the crowd outside the door dispersed. Only Jiabulin stood there, dazed, wondering if he had done something wrong.

This was Shi Jisheng's first time in Hals's room. He had imagined a elder's room would be luxurious, but he never expected it to contain only a plain white bed and an oil lamp.

Hals waved his hand, and the door closed on its own. Behind him, a blood-red soul ring flashed briefly, so fast Shi Jisheng thought he had imagined it.

Hals made no move, but a Frost Force coalesced in the room, forming a cross.

"Tie her up."

The green flames in Hals's eyes grew brighter in the darkness.

Watching Shi Jisheng busily binding Niya, Hals spoke calmly: "Shi Jisheng, do you know why I had you bring the person here?"

After hastily tying Niya up, Shi Jisheng quickly turned and knelt on one knee before Hals. "This subordinate does not know."

"You don't know? Heh heh heh." Hals let out an eerie laugh. "If you didn't know, why would you call yourself 'this subordinate'?"

A bead of sweat rolled down Shi Jisheng's forehead.

Hals paid no attention to the kneeling Shi Jisheng, instead focusing on using Frost Force and Soul Force to condense a set of torture instruments.

"You performed well in this matter. I will reward you for it afterward."

"Thank you, my lord," Shi Jisheng said, head bowed, eyes fixed on the ground.

"Her nature is kind. She cares too little about the scheming and deceit between people. She has never suffered a loss, so she doesn't take it seriously. I am different. But that's fine—if possible, I hope she never loses that innocence and kindness." Hals tested the sharpness of the small blade he had condensed with his finger. "So, I need someone to secretly build a force that belongs to her, to clear obstacles in her way."

"Yes, my lord. Your subordinate will do everything in his power to help you expand the force." Shi Jisheng's face flushed with excitement, his body trembling slightly.

"Her, not me."

"Yes!"

Without continuing the topic, Hals raised his left hand slightly. A faint green light drifted out from the lantern at his waist, landing inside the oil lamp and igniting a flickering green flame.

Hals looked at Niya, who had already been jolted awake by the Soul Essence in the air.

"My master ordered me to spare your life, so you are fortunate—you will not die. But you are also unfortunate, for you will suffer endless torment. So, don't be in a hurry to name those people. Savor this a little longer."

Hals casually picked up a small knife, his tone carrying a hint of excitement, his voice hoarse: "Do you know? These instruments contain Soul Force. They will make your soul endure pain far harder to bear. At the same time, there is a substance in the air called Soul Essence. It will keep you awake and sharpen your senses."

As he spoke, Hals abruptly drove the small knife deep into her.

"Ahhhh—"

A piercing scream filled the room, yet it never reached Bibi Dong's chamber, separated by only a single wall.

After an unknown stretch of time, bloodstained torture instruments lay scattered everywhere. Niya's throat had gone hoarse from the torment, unable even to scream anymore.

Seeing this, Hals stopped his movements, walked up to Niya, and asked in a slow voice:

"Do you know why you ended up in this situation?"

"Yes. Because I plotted against the Holy Maiden." Niya murmured weakly, her voice raspy.

"No, no, no." Hals shook his head, the flames in his eyes flickering with a strange light. "You suffer because of Jiabulin. He chose to betray you. He could have let you go—I wouldn't have killed him—but he betrayed you for his own future. Do you know what you should do?"

A glimmer of light returned to Niya's eyes.

"Revenge!"

"No, no, you're wrong again. What you need to do is not revenge, but betrayal." Hals whispered hoarsely, his voice coaxing.

"Betrayal?"

"Yes, betrayal. Others betrayed you, so you can betray them too. That way, everyone becomes the same."

"Yes... yes, I want to betray. I want them to pay the price too!" The fire finally reignited in Niya's eyes—a flame called vengeance.

"Good." Hals smiled more genuinely than ever. "Now, start by naming those co-conspirators. Taste the flavor of betrayal first."

"Yes... yes, my lord."

"Shi Jisheng." Hals turned to leave.

"Here, my lord." Shi Jisheng, who had been silently waiting nearby, stepped forward.

"Write down the names she gives, then take the men and arrest them one by one."

"Yes, my lord," Shi Jisheng said respectfully.

Just as Hals was about to push the door open, Niya's voice suddenly rang out:

"My lord, can I betray you too?"

Hals paused slightly, a hint of amusement curling beneath his hood.

"Of course... if you can."