The shifting silhouettes gradually came into focus.
Rodney and Dan appeared in Qin Ran's field of vision, both bound tightly to a special prison cart fitted with posts.
Three "Arbitrators" pushed or pulled the cart.
Soon, the prison cart stopped in front of Qin Ran.
Facing the immobilized Qin Ran, the three "Arbitrators" let out several sinister chuckles. One held a leather whip, another a barbed club, and both approached him with vicious expressions.
But the remaining one was faster.
This "Arbitrator" ran up to Qin Ran empty-handed and grabbed the dagger embedded in his lower abdomen.
Squelch!
The dagger was pulled out.
Then it was plunged back in hard.
Compared to the dagger moving on its own, having someone wield it inflicted even greater pain on Qin Ran.
"Stop!"
Rodney shouted.
A flurry of lashes immediately answered him.
"Rodney, do you still think you're some high-and-mighty Knight?"
"You're just a prisoner!"
"His Majesty Jun's prisoner!"
The two "Arbitrators" hurled abuse at Rodney as they whipped him.
"You traitors!"
"You'll all be burned at the stake!"
Even through the pain of the whipping, the Knight continued to curse them.
"The stake?"
"Who do you think is the prisoner here?"
"And another thing!"
"What gives you the right to call us traitors? You hypocrites controlled us through despicable means. What's wrong with submitting to His Majesty Jun, who gave us our freedom?"
The two "Arbitrators" challenged him.
"You're just making excuses for your cowardice!"
The Knight raised his voice another notch.
"So what?"
The "Arbitrator" who had been bent over Qin Ran, busily stabbing bloody holes in him, raised his head and challenged the Knight.
Before the Knight could answer, he kicked him in the lower abdomen, forcing him to swallow the words before he could get them out.
Seeing the