Chapter 180 - A Cowards Stand (2/2)

The Emperor then proceeded to break the man's fingers one by one, completely deaf to the man's screams and pleas. When he was done with the fingers on the hand, he grabbed the other hand, despite the man's struggle, he yanked it and dislocated that as well and proceeded to ruin his fingers. When he was done, he dropped the arm and let the man scramble to the corner as he wailed in pain.

The Emperor then kicked the head of the other one on the ground, causing his head to bash into the bars again. The Emperor then turned his attention to the short beat-up man who had yet to move from where he was pushed to the ground by his unconscious comrade. The man gulped and shakingly shuffled to his knees and kowtowed as he pleaded again, ”I really didn't touch her. I would ne-”

”So you never touched any of the women?” The Emperor asked with raised eyebrows and a cold stare.

The man froze and then glanced up at the Emperor and said with conviction, ”I never did! I swear-”

”So you were simply the lookout?” The Emperor interjected again.

”Yes, exactly! I was scared, they forced me into it! I had no choice...But I never touched any of them! I swear!” The man frantically pleaded.

The Emperor quietly assessed the man's ”sincere” tearful gaze and then flatly said, ”I don't believe you.” The man's face fell and you could see the fear on his face, but before he could begin pleading again, the Emperor continued, ”...And even if all you did was look, I still consider you responsible. At any time, you could have done something to stop them or alerted the authorities...You have proved to be useless.”

The Emperor then turned and left the cell and it was promptly locked behind him. Then he scanned the three men in the cell, his gaze settling on the lookout, ”Your eyes and mouth have proved to be useless...But I will be merciful, on the account that you say you were led by fear...”

The man's face lit up with hope and then the Emperor gave his orders, ”...Cut off his tongue and blind his eyes. He has no need for them...For the other two, cut off their fingers and then their wrists. Castrate them all and make sure they are all awake for the whole process....In the last two weeks, there have ten r.a.p.es so far and two of the young girls passed away during the assault. I don't care whether or you are responsible for all of them or not. Ten girls, ten days...If you are not dead from your injuries in ten days, then you will be pardoned with death...”

With that said, the Emperor and Commander An left the scene. As the sound of the lookout's pleas and then screams reverberated through the prison as the guards mete out his punishment.

When they arrived outside, the Emperor looked up at the night sky and then closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh air, as the muffled screams carried through the prison doors behind him. He was finally able to let out some anger, but it did not do much to better his mood...It was not enough.

”Do you feel better now?” Commander An asked observing the Emperor's face.

The Emperor slightly opened his eyes and stared forward at nothing and then responded, ”No.”

{...Not in the least...}

The Emperor walked forward and the men followed his lead, got on their horses and sped off behind him.