Oliver walked alone through the hallway toward Mara's room.
His expression composed, and his gaze fixed ahead on the shattered door.
Teresa had fallen asleep some time ago, her body still requiring considerable rest after the exhaustion, while Kaden was undergoing a checkup with Marilyn.
Of course, he felt the pull of sleep as well, but Oliver knew better than to surrender to it now. He needed answers from Mara, and… he needed to dispose of her.
After their plan to build a rebellion from within the Settlement had been solidified, the next step was to escalate tension by allowing Teresa and Kaden to witness the source of the Flesh Fruit and water with their own eyes.
Quietly, the young man stepped into the room.
Mara's eyes settled on him with an unsettling calm before she broke into a grin. She remained bound and immobile, yet she was already awake.
Oliver exhaled softly.
'Of course. If she is a Rookie, waking this quickly is expected. If I had delayed any longer, even her broken leg might have begun to mend…'
If it would take several days for him, as an Unranked, to recover from a fractured shoulder without the assistance of a healer, then a Rookie would require only a fraction of that time. As one's Rank increased, both physical and mental capacities scaled exponentially.
That same principle extended to her recovery from the blow. Her regaining consciousness so soon was not surprising; it was entirely consistent with what he knew. If she had been even a single rank higher, incapacitating her with that strike would have been impossible.
Oliver took a seat on a chair opposite her.
Mara let out a quiet chuckle.
"It seems we have exchanged positions, have we not? So, what do you intend to gain from this? Just so you know, if you kill me, this place will turn into a nightmare for you. If I am not accounted for within a day… you know what happens. I hold a certain level of importance here, and my partner would not hesitate for even a second to kill you," she said calmly, attempting to instill fear.
Oliver did not react.
He swept his hair back and glanced toward the ceiling with a weary gaze before returning his eyes to her, replying coldly:
"Interesting. I was not even planning to kill you. I have three questions to ask, and if I receive honest answers to each, you will be released. You are free to hunt me afterward if you can catch me. I have no reason to kill you."
Mara's eyes widened briefly in surprise.
Her smile stretched further.
"Really? You are not going to kill me? Haha. Do you take me for a fool? You are quite fascinating, Oliver."
"Careful. I have never killed anyone before, so do you expect me to suddenly do so without hesitation? I cannot even stomach the thought. It is… unpleasant. No. I would rather leave you tied up here and escape than kill you. I am not like you," Oliver said, feigning unease with a faint tremor in his gaze.
The female slaver's expression shifted in surprise.
"I knew you were different, but this is beyond what I imagined… Fine. I will answer your questions, if you grant me the chance to hunt you down until your death. I will not inform anyone about this, because I intend to be the one who kills you," she replied.
'Perfect. She is unhinged. That works in my favor,' Oliver thought, stroking his chin.
He gave a small shrug before speaking:
"Alright. My first question. Who killed my brother, and how exactly did he die?"
Mara's grin twisted sharply.
"I am delighted to tell you! Hahaha! You see, your foolish brother came here of his own accord and went straight to demand an audience with the Four Dogs of the Settlement. Glassy personally granted it, intrigued by the audacity of a newcomer. I was present, and when he announced his name and the House he belonged to, I was thrilled to witness him challenge Glassy himself, the strongest among the Four Dogs, to a duel…
"But, of course, he was never given that opportunity. How could a mere rodent stand against the most powerful figure in the Settlement? Instead, my partner, Elias, the one you encountered earlier, was given the task. Within moments, your brother was brutally slaughtered, torn apart piece by piece and discarded like refuse for daring to challenge Glassy. He behaved exactly like a Rothyl. Hahaha!
"What a disgrace."
She watched him with a manic glint in her eyes, expecting some form of breakdown at the revelation of his brother's death. Yet, there was no visible reaction. It disappointed her, though not entirely, as she had anticipated some level of restraint.
In truth, Oliver had never been particularly close to his younger brother, even in the original narrative. However, Joshua had been the prized heir of House Rothyl, and his death would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the family once it became known.
Oliver fell into quiet contemplation, processing what Mara had revealed.
Joshua died after challenging Glassy to a duel, the so-called Mad Dog of the Settlement, and was killed by Elias, the male slaver. A reckless and futile end, brought about by his own arrogance. One matter settled. There is no longer any need to search for him, nor any reason to verify his fate…
He brought his hands together in a brief clap and nodded before asking his second question:
"Where is my sword kept?"
Mara blinked twice.
"Huh. What a waste of a question. Anyway, it is with Elias. So the only way you are getting it back is through death."
Oliver covered his face with his palm.
'So in the end, I will have to face that man. I still know nothing about him. Well, I have little left to ask. I already know most of what I need, so I might as well use the last question on this Elias.'
He rose from the chair and gripped it firmly with one hand.
"Tell me about Elias, your partner."
The female slaver let out an irritated groan.
"Such pointless questions. He is among the elite workers of the Settlement and is known for his strength. Glassy personally took him in. Even I do not know what his Hue is, because he has never revealed it, but I can tell you it is lethal. You would not even be able to kill his beast, let alone him. Just give up and die. Ha!"
Oliver's expression hardened.
'Facing the unknown, then… the truth is—'
"Do not worry. I will win. In this matter, I am superior," Oliver finished aloud, a wide smile forming across his face.
Then he lifted the chair and brought it down onto Mara's head with force, the impact echoing through the room and into the hallway. She collapsed backward, blood streaming from her forehead, yet she remained conscious, staring at him in shock.
"You… damned… Rothyl. You made a promise. Bastard!" Mara shouted as Oliver picked up a jagged piece of wood from the shattered chair and turned it toward her.
"Idiot. I do not keep promises. You are nothing more than words given form. I will deal with your partner next, and after that, the Settlement will fall. Goodbye."
He drove the wood down against her head, again and again, each strike heavier than the last. Blood splattered across his face, his clothes, and the room. His expression remained cold and unyielding as he continued until her body finally went still.
Crimson pooled across the floor.
Oliver let the bloodstained wood fall beside her lifeless body and straightened, stretching slightly.
'Now for the next step. But first, I need to find Rook.'
***
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