Chapter 14: Restraint

Inside the command room.

The Count and his subordinates were still discussing matters here. After Kana had left, the room had become somewhat quiet.

Everyone seemed to be deep in thought.

"Do you think my nephew's words are credible?" The Count asked, looking toward the woman sitting in the corner.

Yara looked up. "Even you, a member of the royal family, aren't sure, so how could I possibly know? Since he said as much, why don't you just find someone to test it and ask them?"

The Count thought that made sense; it wasn't a troublesome task. "Go and bring over any one of those mercenaries he mentioned earlier to be questioned."

After saying this, he looked at Yara again. "I recall I had people capture a few bloodkin for you?"

Yara nodded. "Don't worry, two are still alive. I'll go bring one over."

Saying this, she stood up and walked out of the command room.

"This matter is likely true, but the problem is, with the Fourth Prince's abilities, could he really have escaped all the way here from the capital?"

Jordan, the Count's adjutant, asked. He and the Count had visited the capital in the past and had seen the princes of various ages. Likewise, a great deal of intelligence from the capital had passed through his hands.

In his impression, the Fourth Prince was the most unremarkable and incompetent of them all.

According to the Count's understanding of the royal family, someone like the Fourth Prince wouldn't even be worthy of knowing the royal family's true objectives.

Yet now, the Fourth Prince had actually fought his way here from the capital, and that was while being pursued.

"Although he isn't strong, he carries the aura of a warrior," said Nado, the captain of the knight guard.

The Count couldn't help but nod. "Compared to a few years ago, he has changed too much; I almost didn't recognize him."

"Haha, that's what a man is—growing through blood and fire," the bearded Udo laughed heroically.

However, no one paid him any mind.

Soon, a knight brought Nickern into the command room. Before they could even begin questioning, Yara returned with two guards, who were dragging a blood slave bound in chains.

"Soldier, your name?"

Nickern appeared very nervous. He lowered his head and said, "Reporting to you, my lord, Nickern. My name is Nickern."

"I heard you arrived here with the Fourth Prince?"

Hearing this, Nickern hurriedly said in a panic, "I don't know! Forgive me, I truly didn't know he was a prince. I have been so offensive, please forgive my sins!"

Although he hadn't truly offended the prince on the road, it was clear he hadn't been respectful either. He had even wanted to run away the moment he realized the enemies were targeting Kana.

If it hadn't been for the fact that several ghouls were also coming for them, they would have truly run away.

"Very well, lift your head, soldier. Show some courage; I am not here to punish you."

The Count's voice was filled with the necessary authority.

Nickern nodded repeatedly, expressing his gratitude.

"Tell me, how did you meet the Prince, and what did you experience along the way?"

Following this, everyone in the command room listened as Nickern recounted meeting Kana and their subsequent journey.

The group asked questions from time to time, inquiring about specific details.

After listening, the Count nodded with satisfaction. "You are a brave soldier; I admire you. I grant you permission to join my army. You will receive the rank of squad leader, giving you the ability to lead a small unit."

After saying this, he turned to his guard captain. "Give them one gold coin. This is a reward deserved for their courage and duty."

"Thank you, thank you, my lord."

"Very well, you may leave."

Once Nickern had left, everyone turned their attention to the blood slave who was tightly bound.

The blood slave looked at the people in the room with the same expressionless, pale-blue face.

However, it was still evident that his condition was very poor; he seemed so thin he was practically skin and bones.

"Why has he become like this? I remember when I captured him, he didn't look this miserable," the bearded Udo asked in confusion.

"He wants blood and flesh. I don't like that, so I've been starving him," Yara said indifferently.

She then spread her hands. In one hand, she held a silver dagger that looked as if it had just been smelted. In the other, she held the remaining half-bottle of sharp-grass sap taken from Nickern.

She gripped the dagger and slashed at the blood slave's arm.

With that single cut, the wound began to turn outward like butter sliced by a hot knife, melting the flesh around the wound.

It seemed this attack was highly effective against bloodkin; the blood slave immediately widened his eyes, and his rigid expression became vivid.

"Ahhhhh!"

A hoarse, painful scream erupted as he struggled, shaking the chains that bound him tightly.

Yara dripped a bit of the sap from the bottle onto her finger and then smeared it onto the blood slave's other arm.

This time, the skin reacted as if it had touched sulfuric acid, instantly blistering and appearing to rot.

She had only used a tiny bit of sap, and the resulting wound was only on the surface, yet the blood slave screamed even more miserably and struggled even more violently.

"It seems the effect is much more powerful than we imagined. This is the first time I've seen these blood slaves, who fear neither death nor pain, in such agony."

Now that the facts were before them, the information Kana had brought was indeed extremely useful.

The Count pondered for a moment and said, "Plate all the knights' swords with silver, and have the men below collect sharp-grass and press it into sap."

"And how do you intend to arrange for the Fourth Prince?" Adjutant Jordan asked.

"Send him to Riverbend Town."

He explained, "If he has no issues, then given his strength, staying away from the front lines is a good thing for him. If he does have issues, then staying away from the front lines is an even better thing."

...

On the other side, there was finally a place for a peaceful rest.

In the bathroom of his room, Kana finally experienced the luxury of a hot bath.

He washed away the grime from his body and lay down on a normal wooden bed.

Lying on the bed, he felt the exhaustion; after the long journey, he could finally rest for a while.

Personal Attribute Panel.

【Character: Kana Safro Sate】

【Level: 1】

【Status: Normal】

【HP: 13/14】

【Mana: 10/12】

【Constitution: 7】

【Agility: 6】

【Spirit: 6】

【Evaluation: A militiaman with rich combat experience.】

His Constitution had increased by one point, and his Agility had increased by one point accordingly.

Without experience points, Kana could clearly perceive the source of these increases.

Knowing that his digitized body had extremely abundant stamina, he had frequently walked at a fast pace, or even jogged. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to travel from Rubble Village to the Count's territory in the far south of the kingdom in about two days.

His stamina was so good that even Alirise was wondering if Kana had been hiding his true strength.

At times, Alirise even thought that Kana's stamina might be better than her own.

Using Level 1 attributes while maintaining the same travel speed as Alirise had brought about the effect of high-intensity training. Coupled with the battles along the way, his attributes had improved.

"I didn't expect that even with a panel, I still have to work hard myself. I wonder if another small piece of the Genesis Stone could add experience points. Or is it that experience points simply cannot be obtained through the Genesis Stone?"

With these thoughts, Kana drifted into a deep sleep.

(End of chapter)