Lucas watched the man's reaction with the same measured intensity he had held from the moment he stepped into the dungeon. The vial, now back in the safety of his robe, had done what he needed it to, it had awakened not just dormant Qi, but something far more potent in the prisoner: desperation. He had seen it countless times in both lives. When a man loses everything, he either breaks or becomes dangerous. But when you give such a man a glimpse of hope, even a sliver, you gain power over him unlike any chain or cell could provide.
He took a step closer, his voice low and unhurried, but carrying the weight of unspoken consequence. "If you're going to have any chance at cultivation again… if you truly want your power back… your place in this world… then you're going to tell me everything."
