So, let's resume what happened post-Libertarian attack. All of the goons got imprisoned with Philomeu, then the dickless guy will go through a court, but only in the future, when the king returns. Now, he is right above my feet, probably being tortured by Duke Moonlight and Leonhardt.
He's well behaved, considering the situation we're in, and also all that fervor to kill noble people. It gives a strange feeling, you know, it's like he lost all the will to fight, becoming a type of dog who barks too much.
I walked past the cells once and heard a lot of swearing. I even thought it was the other goons or survival nobles who are in the death corridor, but to my surprise, Philomeu was calling Leonhardt by different types of names that even I couldn't pronounce, but surely would if I had a chance.
"You're a pathetic being of the Church. How someone like you, with this absurd power, can lower your head to someone so corrupt like them?"
Well, I'm exaggerating a bit, but this has a similar sound for me. Later, some screams echoed in the dungeons. These guys are reckless, holy fuck.
I happily decline any involvement, thank you! My time with Moriah, Ravena, or Elizia is much more pleasant with them, even having sex is so good. Also, thinking about it, I didn't get any lately, because I'm stuck in something called bureaucracy, resolving issues with heavy paperwork.
After the attack, Father ended up trusting me a little, which makes me regret the choices I made about helping others and that discourse of saving people. Why did I put myself through this shit? If I shut my mouth back then, I could be stuffed between Ravenna's breasts.
Hell, this is the most boring thing, it's remembering the taxes in my old world. It would be so good to see something happening, so my ass can stop sweating so much.
"Lord Darius."
The voice catches my attention. One of the servants stopped by the door. Who is the small dick noble bothering me now?
"Talk, I'm listening."
"Yes, Lord. Duke Moonlight asked me to call you. He's waiting in the dungeon this exact moment."
Wait, you're serious? What does he want now? I'm not continuing this boring work anyway, better check it out. I push myself back with a kick, jumping out of the chair and leaving behind a bunch of paper scattered on the floor.
The servants bow before I quit the room, quickening the pace to arrange the mess left.
I'm thinking of what to say or do when I see him. It's a bit terrifying.
The dungeon is always a bit colder than the rest of the palace. It clings to your skin and seeps into your bones, giving a very agonizing sensation when walking through all those large corridors.
My boots echo through the stairs, making this whole thing feel way more dramatic than it probably is. Still, when I reach the final step and see the torches flickering in that grim hallway, something in my chest tightens.
Father stands beside Leonhardt. Both of them look... different. Well, they are different than most characters, for sure, but I mean about the posture and also the way that they show off some frightening aura to scare away the bad guys. They're not in their usual "I can kill you with a snap of my fingers" vibe.
There's a lot of blood on the sleeves, dried in a way that suggests this wasn't a clean process. Philomeu is on his knees, hands tied and head down. His shirt is torn open, revealing purple bruises across the ribs and cuts that look more surgical than torturous.
This guy might pass out if no one helps soon.
I step forward with a lot of repulsion and disgust, glancing at Leonhardt. He's wiping something from his knuckles, probably more blood that was drained from Philomeu after that intense beating.
Father finally speaks: "He tried biting his tongue off. We stopped him."
What the fuck?
"We didn't ask anything important yet, and he's saying that nothing matters anymore. He wants to die, but still isn't willing to open his mouth and talk. Also, we're trying to discover how he changed his sex, since it's a strange phenomenon for the Magistracy of Sages. Initially, one mage came and theorized if this could be a contract or pact effect, but when we brought Ravenna, she said that spirits and otherworld beings can't change the spiritual or the biological structure of the being that much."
"Wait, wait, wait, that's too much information. Slow down a bit. Let me see if I understand, Philomeu was a man and changed sex by magic, but you don't know how he did that, and now that you're subjugating him, the guy doesn't want to talk?"
"Yes."
"Why is knowing that guy's preferences or what he did to his body so important?
"Son, you might be unaware, but Philomeu was a noble who lost his title in a fight in the North. After being 'betrayed' by his own country and considered dead, he formed the Libertarians to seek revenge against the crown. As you can see, that plan did not work, but by then, we had records about his career and achievements. If he found something that correlates to magic, we could link and investigate."
"And why did you call me then?"
"I thought you might have an idea of what we do."
Really? I'm not a sadomasochist, freak! Also, this scene gives me goosebumps, let me out!
Even so, it's strange seeing Philomeu wanting to go out like a tragic hero who lost his way in the fire of revolution. The only problem is that he failed and now he's just a mutilated fuck with a superiority complex, which now doesn't make a damn difference.
Leonhardt looks at me, looking for some salvation. Sorry, but I'm not your saint, so chill, dude.
Ok, let's think about it. How to make a criminal talk 101: medieval tutorial. He kept his mouth shut after much torture, so it's not a good response… I need to recall something useful from Sword of the Iron Maiden, there must be one or two things that attract someone like him.
A magic that changes your sex? This is new, yes, but he said that it was all for achieving maximum combat potential. If he is a lunatic who likes to fight, so maybe, just maybe, I can make him speak.
"Give us some space. I want to talk to him alone."
Leonhardt nods. Father just stares at Philomeu like he's a riddle with one piece missing, eventually leaving.
Alright, Darius, get some of that shining act skill cheat you had previously.
I approach him. Something hits my nose like a punch in my stomach. A faint scent of something floral, like someone tried to perfume the area once and failed miserably. I squat just enough to meet him eye to eye.
"He-Hey, good day! Do you hear me?"
Philomeu opens his dry lips. His eyes roll upward slowly until they lock on mine.
Dang, you're looking so bad. Just please don't break those chains and try to bite my neck.
"Remember when you said about achieving combat perfection? Sooo, you don't wanna try a bit more? I have something that could help you even defeat Leonhardt without breaking a sweat."
His eyes shine when I stop talking. Yeah, this guy is a freak for mortal battles.
"I know a method and someone who can train you to something unimaginable. Imagine defeating all the Imperial City guards, the king, Duke Moonlight, that damn inquisitor, or destroying me in the process. Think about it, you want it, no?"
First, feed up a little the imagination and let it run wild.
Philomeu's eyes remained locked onto me and didn't blink. Have they broken the bastard beyond repair?
"You're lying."
Oh, still not. I tilt my head, offering a half-smile.
"Of course not. I'm offering you a way to get your revenge, and a certain someone is trying to take credit from me. Does the name Brenan ring a bell?"
Philomeu flinched, just barely. Perfect.
"You know what's terrifying?" I continued, lowering my voice. "It's not dying here, it's the idea that you might have been right. That the Empire really is rotting from the inside, but you fucked up the whole plan so badly, nobody will remember why you rose in the first place. Another madman who burned out for the list, what a tragedy."
I lean in, almost close enough to touch our foreheads.
"Cooperate, Philomeu. A master called Brenan will be happy to know that someone like you exists, you can even learn the sword technique that shatters the sky… or do you prefer to die equal to a dump rat? The choice is yours."
I get up, slowly turning away, but in time to his voice comes off.
"I speak! I speak… everything you want."
And problem solved, just one more favor for the list that I'll forget.