Chapter 143: The ‘Parrot’ (1)
t1wNPFBIn the royal tavern, there was a secret space accessible only to Falcoa, even within the Freeman organization.Z58Cz
PgWrThis place was the Lupe manufacturing site.jTWdf
AZor82X“Those insolent brats! Think this is the end?”oXu
5HXyBStanding beside Falcoa, Zis’s heart was racing. He had witnessed Falcoa’s eccentricities for a long time, but the current situation was far from normal.9EQF
2f8M‘What is he planning? Why did he suddenly bring me here?’xmO87uo
5lJZhOZis, who had just finished his usual day of beckoning customers at the port, was grabbed by Falcoa’s men and brought here.iqOSwsA
jXXhNA day had passed since Shirone’s group caused a stir in the tavern and left, yet Falcoa’s anger seemed to have not subsided.NTiu
e7PO“Ha, just wait and see. I won’t let them get away with this.”quqLl
E3A3eZHFalcoa laughed ominously, his face twisting into a grimace. The faces of the infuriating Shirone and his group haunted his mind.FDR
o7SUWpAmy was, of course, the one he despised the most.efp3
ppEk08SFalcoa nearly drew his sword on the spot when Amy defiantly downed the drink laced with Lupe and flaunted her red eyes.Q6WM0
NEMbZis glanced at Falcoa, feeling terrified.ELy5O
KNKOKFalcoa was fiddling with a device that ground Lupe into powder.jCOB
dBMvBy compressing the roots of Lupe and extracting the juice, then grinding it until all moisture evaporated, only a fine powder remained.zGV9Ma
VjNBut could this really be called a drug?Kba4XbG
qGVXTraditionally, the proper use of Lupe was to chew the root and neutralize it with saliva. However, what Falcoa was creating was nothing short of a potent chemical toxin, designed solely to maximize its effects.Lhvw3
lMt“Zis, we need to make another visit.”mwcV231
9qus“Where to?”WnN
B34ki“To that girl, Amy. It worked once, so it should work again. Don’t tell me it’s impossible. You’ve seen my condition; you know what I’m capable of.”V0caU
UxTtMlZis swallowed hard. He had anticipated Falcoa’s desire for revenge, but he hadn’t expected it to go this far.xws
ml6LZis suspected Amy belonged to a prominent family. If Falcoa targeted her, it wouldn’t be long before Galiant Island itself faced dire consequences.NHXk
M4PvQ9P“Are you planning to get her addicted?CQd
Xcf49“Addiction? Foolish boy. That girl will never become addicted. As if the Red-eyed Ruler of the continent would fall to something as trivial as Lupe.”gMkG
4VvamLl“Then why bother? It’s just stirring up trouble for nothing.”l3o07g
g4ksCUZis tried to persuade Falcoa, clinging to a sliver of hope.JaK4jj2
nxpkMPkBut Falcoa seemed beyond reasoning.O1zsfh
jwS“You imbecile. Can’t you see? Because she won’t get addicted, this plan will succeed.”1HeJh
5VC7mmOFalcoa packed the refined Lupe powder into greaseproof paper and poured it all into a pre-prepared cup of water.8MoofTa
CMOo0Zis’s breath caught in his throat.1qd
mp72vvHe had never used Lupe, but he knew how it was consumed.e7a5W
GLfZ5Typically, one root was enough for two hours of chewing. But Falcoa had just mixed in three times that amount into the water.udM
8uQMoreover, being in a liquid form meant that the effects, which would normally take six hours to manifest, would hit all at once.oZWS8q
h2SiiFP“You can’t mean…”LAqmwp
PLPU“Yes, that’s exactly what I intend. I’ll make her drink this again. She’ll confidently accept it, thinking it’s harmless. But with this amount of Lupe, she won’t stand a chance. You understand, don’t you?”NhgNg
FvX7“Why would you do that? If she dies, you can’t sell her.”JupSbar
i6533“Haha, it doesn’t matter. Just bring me her corpse.”ae2jJC
9yNaFalcoa bottled the Lupe solution. When the solution mixed with the soda in the bottle, it took on the appearance of a pretty jade-colored cocktail.TX1E
fQR“Here, take it. It’s simple. Just lure her out saying you have something to discuss, then make her drink this. Load her into the carriage and bring her here. Can you do that?”CL9
1GYupZis stared at the glass bottle with bloodshot eyes, trembling with fear.84lw
P5ErAmy wouldn’t refuse it. And if she took even a sip, it would be over.xK1
cxe42I“What are you waiting for? Don’t want it? Or do you want to drink it yourself?”lM98T
ISbFalcoa’s murderous intent weighed heavily on Zis, feeling like a tangible hand gripping his throat.F2nSXg
DY7Fsb“Stop it, you filth.”R7md
OWfxO61“What?”pXFym
udrpqFalcoa doubted his ears.enu
DDgszKWas the effect of Lupe still lingering? That couldn’t be. He had become desensitized to Lupe’s effects, thanks to his constant use.gCnIteH
Z45B1kZ“What did you just say? Say it again.”Vza1
8zcmYSometimes, when faced with an utterly absurd situation, one might find themselves eerily calm. That was Falcoa’s state now.fGXg
pZxdXHis anger was secondary; first, he needed to confirm if this greenhorn really meant what he said.O3aRLDl
iIMCRZis found himself unable to repeat his words.BJqXXcV
zVUzX2This might have been his last chance. If he apologized now, he might get away with just being half-dead.3zQxk
Wn8kj‘But…’OCona
aXWZis couldn’t bring himself to kneel before Falcoa.aVxE6yZ
I0L“I don’t dislike kids like you.”FBHSgkX
PxgDjZThe words Amy had said to him in the carriage, smiling, rendered Zis immobile.wF8lm
z4cWhy? All he had to do was admit his weakness.z1YCzm
FgpD9The moment he begged Falcoa for forgiveness, it felt as if he would be betraying Amy, turning her into a liar, so the words wouldn’t come out.OIpA9
Hv3“Stop it, you disgusting creature. You’re not even human anymore, drugged up and unable to distinguish right from wrong! You’re such a piece of trash that calling you trash would be a compliment!”Y4utp
wVUIKUZis felt dizzy. The mix of euphoria and fear was overwhelming, making it impossible to maintain his composure, and his consciousness began to fade.6BW
FlIYet, he spoke out.RSkkon
LM5X2hMJust like Shirone would. Like someone who believed they had no future.1B4K
qcIFalcoa’s fist swung towards Zis’s delirious face with lightning speed.GSzcBzQ
DjUFyQ“Ugh!”zgS
rGeLLuDarkness enveloped him, and he finally grasped his reality. A grim future awaited Zis, one that could only be described as hellish.RC9fiR
m5clOHW“You crazy bastard! What’s wrong with your head!”HUxpG
lRJgiFalcoa finally showed his true colors, brutally beating Zis.cFkY
QBLy4It wasn’t just a beating to intimidate; he was kicking Zis’s body as if he truly intended to kill him.QRlgu
de6Had Falcoa activated his Schema, Zis’s body would have been mashed like meat hanging in a butcher’s shop.XKGD
s5Mie“Die! Die! Die!”wCyUVi
MauZis couldn’t even scream.XRAbY
sl688The feeling of his body being smashed was fleeting; soon, he felt nothing. Only the shock beyond the realm of pain reached him.0gzOnp
2AVLZS7“Huff, right. Killing someone like you wouldn’t even be fun.”wLNL
T0uSFalcoa regained his composure, but this only signaled greater misfortune for Zis.nu8
2RPN6Q“Cough! Cough!”9JtUrx
5xiuuLFalcoa grabbed Zis by the hair and lifted him up. The sensation of his neck vertebrae cracking was the least of his concerns, given his battered state.r6uQo
rl8IIxO“Alright, then I have a plan too.”mx5Z8t
DH0Without Zis, Falcoa couldn’t trap Amy, but he had grown tired of considering such trifles.02Ekx
XG4WW8k“Touching, Zis. To think a lowlife like such courage. Seems like you’ve taken a fancy to that girl, but I’ll grant your wish. I won’t touch her. How about that? Are you happy now?”jtbO7TM
Wp1nq“Please… just this once, have mercy.”qGyo
vma5tZis was in tears. He knew what Falcoa was planning.LB2Or
FA72W“Yuna, was it? Your sister’s name. From now on, you’ll regret the decision you made today for the rest of your life.”I3r
3lz“Please, not Yuna… just spare her… Cough!”bSfuBm4
3oMApmFalcoa threw Zis’s head to the ground as if he were discarding a useless toy. Zis’s face bounced off the floor with a thud, then plummeted down again. That single blow knocked him unconscious.2H1YE3
eqMrv3“Ha, this turned out to be quite entertaining.”zp3B
GNGFalcoa had no intention of sparing Amy even though he had shifted his target to Yuna. He planned to bring Yuna to his hideout and torment her, then use her to blackmail Zis. Threatening him with his sister’s life would leave Zis with no choice but to comply.OdIi
pM4wuPA“Bring that girl Yuna to the hideout, now!”Bjy3
AeoGFalcoa roared at his subordinates with rage, then bit into a whole root of Lupe, chewing it viciously.qtoJk
NPa***tWTTPc
RLEtBy the time Shirone and his companions arrived back at the villa, midnight was drawing near. Given the distance, they had stopped for dinner on their way back.bOAIIs
H3Z8C9NAlthough they didn’t achieve their primary goal in the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice, they learned a lot.w4eaQl
SvAZTheir conversation never waned, and soon they began to share stories close to their hearts.cJXLR0F
N2v0“Oh, you want to become a soldier?”juut
XHYHearing about Amy’s aspirations, Tess was surprised, having never imagined that Amy would aim for a military career.p4S
e09Given that Amy was a fire mage and had honed her sniper mode, she was perfectly suited for a combat mage role.BzAs
zFXPaHowever, Tess knew Amy as someone who, contrary to appearances, was delicate and kind-hearted. The thought of such a person heading into battle and taking down numerous enemies was unimaginable.3f0Zb5K
HT6NHz“I’m actually worried. I thought Amy would be more suited for a feminine profession.”4qk
D4pI“Eh? Me in a feminine job? I’ve never heard that before, not even in school.”gZHqDsO
jhjJTess could guess how spirited Amy must have been in her school days. But being good at reading people, she knew Amy’s true nature.oxADw
ca5“Hehe, I have a knack for espionage, you know. The girl Amy is actually very delicate and feminine.”GAt9gh
gAfzHAmy smiled subtly. She had never considered herself feminine, but she couldn’t completely deny it either.cXwK77
5JBFhqTNo matter how spirited she was, the military was predominantly male, and she wasn’t sure she could adapt.72qsFb
qjrW“To be honest, I’m not sure. I chose fire magic because targeting is my strength. That led me to the most suitable profession given my major. Of course, I have a positive view of the military. Being a soldier isn’t just about fighting on the battlefield.”6rsQMFN
EKgf99“That’s true. There are supply officers, and if you join the strategy command, your future is bright. Wait! What about this?”0UpH
k8fa14uTess clapped her hands as if struck by an idea, and Amy looked at her curiously.3plczK
XNRgy“Yes? What is it?”l10Cwn
pkKTTess extended her index and middle fingers, mimicking someone walking on a beach at night, targeting someone.Illy3d2
OcwK6“What about becoming a spy? With your cognitive skills and long-range attacking as your forte, Amy? Plus, you have the most important weapon for espionage.”iPe
vzc08“The most important weapon? What’s that?”8zNE5M
GLCedAmy’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Considering her career worries, learning about an unknown strength was exciting.0dlUB
FGKv8WE“Your beautiful face. For a female spy, beauty is essential. No man in the world dislikes a beautiful woman.”pA5T
saY1NGTess teased with a mischievous smile, causing Amy to turn her head away, looking dejected.E8B
iran7pd“Ah, that’s it? I got my hopes up for nothing.”pFF2
D45“Hehe, sorry. But it wasn’t entirely a joke. Appearance is a priority when selecting national spies. Your look would definitely work in dealing with people. So think about it seriously. I’ll strongly recommend you to our family.”svp
zPhAAO“No, that’s okay. I’ll trust in my magical abilities.”6GU
npSqeAmy’s face flushed red. Though she responded gruffly, she didn’t seem entirely displeased by the compliment.Hxb
PuP‘Aw, how cute. See, how feminine she is?’Ae1GYyr
n6fDV8To Tess, Amy was a friend who provided endless amusement. She pondered how to tease her more when a genuine question crossed her mind.aX6G
XWE“But what happens after graduation?”jVDZm
Ppe“Ah? We take the official exams and look for jobs, of course.”t57sI
5B45y“No, I mean Shirone.”Ptp
p8Hsx“Shirone? Why bring him up?”LUCSZB
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