[Ren Hilton's POV]
As I was about to knock once again, someone abruptly opened the door. Though I couldn't see the face of the person, my eyes caught sight of a squirming figure of a woman, desperately covering herself with a small blanket.
"I surrender-" Tiga began saying something, but before he could finish, I swiftly flung the sword that I held in my hand into the room. The blade whizzed past Tiga's face and struck the woman.
"Ack!" A small, painful cry echoed behind him, and he instinctively turned to see the lifeless body of the prostitute he had been with, her right eye pierced by the sword.
"That prostitute makes a lot of noise, so it's better to keep her silent for a while.... maybe forever, ain't it?" I immediately grabbed Tiga by the throat, tightening my grip around his neck.
If I remembered correctly from the documents I found earlier, it was stated that Tiga was around as strong as me, if not slightly stronger.
His long nails reached for my wrist as I stepped forward and warned, "I have a whole paladin of Knights with me, so don't even try anything funny." I pulled out a mana-imbued dagger and pressed it against his abdomen, silencing him.
"I said I surrender, sir. I surrender..... mmph?!" I covered his mouth, preventing him from making any further noise.
"Shut the fuck up. If I hear your voice get high, I'll stab you right here and now," I warned, pressing the dagger a little further to make him realize I meant business.
"..." His eyes widened, and he nodded in fear.
Well, that was easier than expected. The file had portrayed him as more sinister and potentially resistant, but it turned out he was quite meek.
After a few minutes, we entered his room. I made sure he remained under control, though upon closer inspection, it seemed he was more scared than meek. His hands trembled, and his feet continued to tap restlessly while he sat, his eyes darting nervously towards the corpse of the prostitute lying beside him.
"I am from the Grav Kingdom's Knight Paladin. I received a tip that you'd be traveling by sea, so I came here to arrest you," I informed him as I scanned the room, but there was nothing worth noting, not even the bags he might have used to store his belongings.
Tiga swallowed nervously, his eyes still fixated on the lifeless body beside him. "I-I didn't think they would find me here," he stammered, trying to compose himself.
"Well, you underestimated our intelligence network," I replied coldly, keeping the dagger pointed at him. "Now, slowly stand up and put your hands behind your back."
Tiga complied, slowly rising from the bed with his hands trembling. He kept glancing nervously at the dagger and then back at me. I could see fear and regret in his eyes.
"I didn't want to do any of this," he muttered, "but I had no choice."
"You always have a choice," I retorted, my grip on the dagger tightening slightly. "You chose this path, and now you must face the consequences."
As I moved closer to him, he winced and backed away, his back now against the wall. I seized the moment to bind his hands with sturdy ropes I had brought with me for this very purpose.
"Please, don't kill me," he pleaded, desperation evident in his voice.
"I'm not here to kill you," I said, trying to sound as composed as possible. "But you will be brought to justice for your crimes."
Tiga's face contorted with a mix of fear and anger, his eyes darting nervously around the room as he struggled against the binds that held his hands. "You don't understand," he spat, his voice tense and shaky. "You don't know what it's like to be hunted, to fight for survival every day."
I maintained a stern expression, my gaze locked with his. "You're right, I may not fully understand your situation, but that doesn't justify the harm you've caused to others," I replied firmly, trying to remain composed despite the tense atmosphere.
With his hands still bound, I cautiously led Tiga out of the room, my senses alert for any sudden moves. However, as we stepped outside, I stopped, contemplating my next move.
"Huh?" Tiga looked at me with confusion, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"Well... I can help you get out of this situation, if you want," I said, lowering my voice to almost a whisper.
"Help me? How?" Tiga's expression changed to one of surprise and curiosity, but he remained cautious.
"It's easy... you have to bribe me, and that's all," I said, maintaining eye contact, trying to put on a confident front.
Silence filled the air for a moment, and I could see Tiga's mind working as he weighed his options. Finally, he smiled ironically, a mix of resignation and defiance in his eyes. "Hoho... how could I forget that Knights like you also exist in this world, haha," he scoffed, and his previous fear seemed to vanish, replaced with a certain boldness.
"There are... but I don't want money," I declared, my tone firm.
Tiga's eyebrows were raised in surprise. "Umm....Then what do you want?" he asked, now sitting on the bed again, kicking the corpse off it and crossing his legs.
With the tension still hanging in the air, I took a moment to gather my thoughts. I couldn't believe I was about to make this offer, but something inside me told me that it might be the only way to uncover the truth and prevent further harm.
"I want information," I stated firmly, my eyes boring into Tiga's. "Tell me everything you know about the slave trade and the people involved. Help me dismantle the network of those who profit from the suffering of others, and I'll do what I can to ensure you get a fair trial."
Tiga's eyes widened in surprise at my proposition. "You... you want to take down the entire operation?" he asked, disbelief evident in his voice.
"Yes," I replied, my voice steady. "But I can't do it alone. I need someone on the inside, someone who knows the ins and outs of this business."
Tiga hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. "And if I refuse?" he asked, his voice shaky.
"Then you'll be handed over to the authorities, and you'll face the consequences of your actions," I replied bluntly.
For a moment, Tiga seemed torn, his mind clearly racing. I could see the internal struggle as he weighed the risks and benefits. Finally, he sighed heavily, as if he had come to a difficult decision.
"Fine," he said, his voice resigned. "I'll tell you everything I know, but you have to promise me one thing."
I raised an eyebrow, curious about his request. "What is it?" I asked.
"Promise me that you'll let me off here," he said, his eyes pleading.
I nodded solemnly. "You have my word. I'll do everything in my power to ensure your safety."
Tiga took a deep breath and began to recount everything he knew about the slave trade operation. He revealed names, locations, and key players involved. As he spoke, I could see the pain and regret in his eyes, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him. It was clear that he had been driven to desperate measures, and I wondered what had led him down this dark path.
As the information poured out, I took notes, making mental plans of how to use this newfound knowledge.
After what felt like an eternity, Tiga finally finished speaking. He looked exhausted, emotionally drained from reliving the events and revealing his involvement. I could see the weight of his actions weighing heavily on him.
"Thank you," I said sincerely, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I promise you won't regret this decision."
ραndαsΝοvεl ƈοm Tiga nodded, a mix of relief and apprehension in his eyes. "Just make sure I am safe," he said, his voice soft.
"I will," I assured him, but then something hit me suddenly, and I asked, "What about Devon?"
Silence fell once again, and the air seemed to grow heavier with the unspoken words.
"What happened to him? He broke out of the prison with you, but his whereabouts are still unknown," I pressed on.
"That... I-I don't know, I haven't seen him since then," Tiga answered, his voice faltering.
"Tiga," I said, dropping to one knee and passing something near his left leg. I looked at him earnestly and said, "If you have any information about Devon, I strongly advise you to tell me now. It could be beneficial for you, and I promise to help you in any way I can."
"H-he... no, I don't know where he is," Tiga stammered, shaking his head.
"Are you sure you've told me everything?" I asked, giving him another chance to reconsider.
With a heavy sigh, Tiga confirmed, "Yes, that's all the information I have."
I got up, feeling a mix of disappointment and concern. "Alright, then. Just remember that it's not too late to come forward if you remember anything else," I told him, hoping he would understand the importance of being honest.
As I walked towards the door, I peeked outside to check if anyone was nearby. Satisfied that the coast was clear, I turned back to Tiga and whispered, "Parasite, now."
With a swift movement, Blaze transformed into his Winged Pardus form and tore into Tiga's body, efficiently silencing him forever.
'Damn these hairs! What are you making me eat, princess?!' Blaze grumbled in my mind.
"Want me to skin that bitch for you then?" I asked, amused by Blaze's reaction.
Blaze paused for a moment before replying, "Nah, I got it covered."
"Lily!! Don't wander around so much!!" A feminine voice was heard as I backed off the
door and closed it.
"Mama!! Look at the moon hehe," A childlike voice was heard, it's the same kid I met at the stairs.
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