821 Sub Guilds
“I… I did not… do anything…” said the researcher with a labored breath, and Lyle pressed the dagger deeper into his neck, making the man sob while shivering.
“Was that something I asked?” said Lyle as he held the man’s chin and raised it, ensuring the slightest press from his dagger spilled blood. “I told you to tell me what is going on here. Why are you doing these trials on humans?”
“The… the emperor,” said the researcher as he tried to breathe, “decreed us to do these researches. The head is the Sun Emperor Workshop, and we are no more than physicians. But, please, sir, please….”
“Beg more, and your neck will roll,” said Lyle as he pulled the man backward by his hair and glared at him. “I read some of these reports. What is their purpose?”
“The empire… they want to know how much life force extraction would kill a human. Our lab is one of many; we are not even the main division in this camp. The main workshop is….”
“Go on,” said Lyle while pressing the dagger harder, almost cutting the carotid artery. That vessel separated the living from the dead, and the researcher knew it, so he made haste to reveal what he knew.
“We are creating a transmission network to extract mana and lifeforce from the empire. I swear, that is all I know. So please don’t kill….”
Before the researcher could finish his words, Lyle slit his throat and pressed on the wound, ensuring no blood spilled over the evidence. Then, he threw the researcher over to the ground, making him bleed.
The researcher’s legs jerked as the blood drained from his body, and his movements slowly decreased until they disappeared. Lyle cleaned his hand while staring at the man with disdain, having seen his inhuman treatment of the patients.
As the researcher slowly died, Lyle started transferring the reports and whatever evidence he could find to his storage ring. Then, as he took the last pile, the door was kicked open as an older researcher entered.
“As I said before, I…” started the old man with a flushed face, “I am not your underlying! But, if you want some of my patients, bring a royal decree!”
The researcher was talking to a guard, and Lyle pulled out his dagger and threw it toward the armored man. His blade pierced the guard before they realized Lyle’s existence, and he bounced to s.n.a.t.c.h the old researcher’s neck.
“Wait! Wait! I will cooperate and give you whatever you need!” shouted the old man, making Lyle stop. “I know you want nothing but to kill me, as you have killed my coworker, but I’m one of the first people to join this place!”
“And what would that give me?”
“A blueprint, history, and whatever you came here to seek,” said the old researcher. “I will sell down this empire for another day of living.”
“You are quite stubborn for an old man with one foot in the grave,” said Lyle as he threw the man to the ground. “I want to bring down this project, so are you willing to sell your employer?”
“Employer? I haven’t seen the light for over a year,” said the old man as he rubbed his neck and rose. “I will help you destroy all of this as long as you take me out of here, alive, not like that!” said the old man as he pointed at the corpses.
“Tell me how to destroy this place, and I will consider taking you with me,” said Lyle, gauging this old man’s knowledge. Then, picking up the cue, the researcher started spewing all secrets related to this place, even showcasing blueprints. “…take it easy old man. You seem to have prepared for this.”
“Spies from other nations held us captives before, and my son died,” said the old man as he folded his blueprints. “We were loyal at that time, and all the empire did was spare our lives. I couldn’t even call my wife.”
“Playing me the world’s smallest violin, old man?” said Lyle as he pointed at the door. “Look outside and see the countless lives that you’ve taken. Your tragedy is laughable in comparison.”
“I committed atrocities beyond redemption, and you can claim my wife after I get out of here! I want to tell my wife what fate befell my son and me. This is the closure that she needs,” said the old man.
“It might be, but not the one you deserve,” said Lyle as he took out his blade. “It just so happens that we have some use for you. After that, I will kill you when no one is looking and throw your body down a river, never to be found.”
“Then you have my grat.i.tude, son,” said the old researcher as he sighed in relief. “I just want this to end, too. Let me show you how to destroy this place.”
***
Inside the Runic Dome’s kitchen, Julia met Arthur, who was having his breakfast. Lilo was sleeping beside the table, like a pet that guarded its owner, and the vice-master brought her papers before sitting opposite Arthur.
“Our numbers are down,” said Julia while looking through her report. “The applicants that we used to have before are dwindling. We took too long even to give a response, Arthur.”
“I always hesitated about letting people into our guild since the world’s secrets pa.s.s around here as chatters. A large number can mean spies. Thus, I came up with a solution.”
“Oh?” jerked up Julia with surprise, seeming expectant. “What is it?”
“We will create sub-guilds, ones loyal to us. And the guilds will do the recruiting and dungeon clearing in our name. Then, anyone who stands out will join the main guild. As for weapons and money, we will provide them.”
“I know that we have no shortage of weapons, given that we have goblin smiths and your abilities, but money is tight at the moment. We have no way of selling our merchandise in auction houses.”
“This is the beautiful part. We will supply the rebellions around the world, which I have caused with my speech. No matter how small, powerful weapons will fuel them, and more will follow their cause.”
“This is akin to giving strength to a stranger, Arthur,” worried Julia. “We have no idea who will be buying these weapons. If the time comes and we fight against them, we will have shot ourselves in the foot.”
“When I first awakened this extraordinary power, I had to make my weapons look like artificial runes instead of genuine ones. Then, I learned I could close the runes’ gates like an on-off switch.”
“…then, you can….”
“I can do the opposite, and artificial artifacts to genuine ones. And a step further, I can even make them cease working. No one will be able to go against us at that time. This will give us bargaining chips when I force the rulers to submit.”
“…this plan is just marvelous. There are no downsides to it,” said Julia with admiration. “We will weaken our enemies and have control over their enemies while racking enough money to build our forces.”
“However, we will not give them genuine artifacts alone. If we flood the market, they lose their value, and causalities may ensue. Limit ten genuine artifacts for each buyer for now, and increase that limit depending on their actions. As for our guilds, they will all enjoy genuine artifacts.”
“We will have an army of overpowered warriors!”
“That is not the only thing we will provide them with,” said Arthur as he presented Julia with a necklace. “This artifact can increase stats, and it’s stackable. In addition, it does not require mana to work.”
“…what?”
“I mean it.”
“You have to be kidding me,” said Julia as she trembled and reached out toward the artifact. “There is no artifact that does not require mana unless genuine and high-level. Even then, it would be one in thousands.”
“Ironically, this is one of the first runes that I learned. I strengthened Oriole and my goblins using it, allowing them to break through their limits and reach higher realms. If we arm our men using them, we will have an army like no other.”
“How many guilds are we going to create, and what would their names be?” asked Julia while examining the artifact. “I want to create them this instant and start accepting recruits.”
“We will create ten guilds. Their names can be whatever you find fit, but make them pride-worthy. I want these guilds contending against each other, and their merits will be rewarded with money and weapons.”
“I have never been this excited,” said Julia with a wide grin as she placed the artifact down, and her smile slowly disappeared. “However, some will see you as a terrorist, and guilds will hunt down our own.”
“Have we ever shied from a battle or cared what others think of me?” said Arthur with a smile as he caressed the table. “I lived in the shadows of the doubt for too long. This is when I come hunting these rulers down, not the other way around.”
“If that’s what you wish for, I shall carry out your commands. The world is in for a storm, and it will tear down its common sense.”