Chapter 73 - Interrogatory (1/2)

In an abandoned building, a man laid powerless as he was being squeezed by the grip of a black snake with golden patterns. His arms were blocked, and blood was coming out of his neck. A sign that he had been bitten and had begun to feel the effect of the poison.

During these months, Ye had once accidentally eaten a paralyzing plant. However, she had discovered to her surprise that she could produce a new type of poison with a paralyzing effect. Upon her discovery, Hei made his little sisters eat all kinds of poisonous plants and observe the changes.

Ye was able to digest any poisonous substance to create a new type of poison in her body. It was like some alchemical reaction, only, instead of using a cauldron, she used her stomach. Xing was unable to do such a thing, but with each new ingredient, the toxicity of her poison increased, far exceeding that of Ye.

So, if it was about killing the enemy, Xing's poison was the ideal. If it was about paralyzing or getting other kinds of effects, Ye's was more appropriate.

Shortly after that, Xing arrived too. Behind her, tied inside a spiderweb, was the carcass of a crow that was being dragged to the ground.

At the sight of the crow, the man's eyes sank, and he gritted his teeth.

”You bastards, you killed him.”

Hei, to the man's words, answered coldly.

”It is you who have followed us. Tell me why.”

The man, at Hei's question, answered him by spitting in his face. Ye and Xing made a series of angry sounds as Lian prepared to strike. However, Hei raised his hand and motioned them to stop.

”You don't want to speak? All right. I usually prefer not doing this kind of thing, but I have no other choice. Ye, use the platypus venom, please. ”

'Are you sure? The poison is so strong that there is the possibility that he faints as the poison takes its course.'

”It will be fine if you adjust the injection dosage. Xing, first tie him up with your web.”

'Okay, big brother. As you wish.' Ye said as she untied her grip on the man and let Xing tie him up with her web.

Then, Ye proceeded to bite her victim's neck by injecting the platypus poison. This type of poison wasn't lethal, yet it produced a pain so excruciating to render the victim helpless. Furthermore, this pain led to the development of a phenomenon called hyperalgesia. In this state of hyperalgesia, the victim developed an abnormal increase in pain sensitivity that would last for months after the injection.

To prevent his screams from being heard or that he tried to bite his tongue, Hei tore off a piece of his tunic to gag him, and then he let him squirm in pain.

Lian looked at the scene without expression. Even if a living person was being tortured in front of her, she didn't flinch. This vision should have aroused in her old nightmares of when she was locked in the cell. However, she had already overcome her fears in the dream trial. So, now, she could look at it without being disturbed. In any case, she would certainly not condemned Hei. Whatever he decided to do, she would always support him.

Meanwhile, Mi had returned from her reconnaissance lap. She hovered in the air for a few moments, before settling on Hei's shoulder.

”Welcome back, what did you find out?”

Mi emitted a series of sounds. She told Hei that there was another flying-type spirit beast that had fled as soon as the man was captured. Chasing it, she saw that the creature had headed for the Chestnut Forest. But she decided to make a report rather than go inside to avoid possible ambushes.

”Well done, You did well to stop. Surely that bird is another spirit beast of this man. If it disappeared into the forest instead of going to save him, it means that his other companions are in the forest. The problem now is to know how many there are and if they also have their spirit beasts.”

He then waited several more minutes before turning to Ye.

”Inject him the opium to make it calm.”

Opium. It was a substance derived from a flower known as Opium Poppy. By cutting the immature capsule of the flower, which was nothing but a type of dried fruit, the latex could be extracted after having been dried.

Opium, although it had various effects, including reducing the sensation of pain, was treated with caution by the sects. It was part of a group of substances called drugs called. Such drugs, although they could be used in various ways, were addictive through constant use. Consequently, they were entrusted only to alchemists who knew the danger in dealing with these types of substances.

Hei, although he was young, had shown tremendous talent in alchemy, and was therefore allowed to deal with this type of substance as well. Knowing the dangers, he wouldn't have used them so lightly but only if strictly necessary.

Fortunately, Ye, in addition to being able to digest various plants, was able to regulate the effects to produce a poison that reproduced one specific effect. In this way, she was also able to isolate the harmful effects of such drugs and concentrate on only one type of effect.

However, this didn't mean that Hei could abuse this feature. Even with Ye's ability, prolonged use over time would create addictive effects. He would certainly not allow himself to be reduced as a slave with a continuous need for drugs. He considered them as objects, that's all.

With the injection by Ye, the body of the captured man relaxed, and his tremors ended. Hei took off his gag but stuck his palm into the man's mouth to prevent that he bit his tongue.

”Now, do you want me to talk?” Hei asked coldly. His eyes focused on those of the prisoner who shivered with fear. How could such a young boy make such an impassive look?

”Here... I ...” the man tried to speak with difficulty. With Hei's hand in his mouth, his words were indeed difficult to understand.

”Don't worry, talk like that. I understand you anyway,” Hei assured him.

By concentrating sufficiently, it was possible to distinguish a sense in the subdued sound series. The man therefore surrendered and revealed to him that they were a group of mercenaries. Five people in total; each of them was a beast tamer.