Zerra nearly broke out of Cassias’ barrier if not for him grabbing her. She stared anxiously at her mom, whose face had gone pale. When her gaze landed on Henry’s sickening face, she sent him a murderous look.
This puny human dared to threaten him ... just wait. Even if she had to go through hell and back, she would get him if he dared to lay a hand on her mom like that.
She would torture his little soul!
"All of you, stop what you are doing!" Henry commanded. "Let go of my men!"
"I have to go there, Cassias. Let go of me!" Zerra hissed at Cassias, desperation etched on her face.
Cassias squeezed her hands. His voice was soft, soothing her. "Just wait a little longer, alright? Everything will be fine."
Still, her rationality snapped again soon. Henry was such a lunatic. If her mom was in his hands, it was hard to guarantee what he could do to her.
They were too careless, letting the parents without supervision like that. From the way they had interacted, the Brown family spies must have told Henry how close they were and how much they valued each other.
Zerra pursed her lips. She couldn’t tell whether Cassias already had a plan or he was merely consoling her.
Her heart was telling her to trust him like always; he had proved himself to be reliable in this reincarnation, but... her brain told her otherwise.
Nyra gritted her teeth when she saw what Henry was doing. Her heart stung a little. If only she had kept Henry busy, he wouldn’t have had the chance to sneak up on their parents!
She knitted her eyebrows, thinking deeply. Since she was worried about what Henry could do to Nerith, she stopped fighting his men. A murderous intention, however, still seeped through her heart.
Henry smiled when he saw these people stop fighting. They were his last loyal subordinates. He couldn’t afford to lose them.
His subordinates didn’t know whether they should continue fighting and took the chance to strike, but seeing Henry didn’t order them to make use of this opportunity, they also stayed put.
Most of them were already injured anyway.
They watched as Henry threatened the ability users from the Valez family with the life of a mere ordinary woman. Their hearts were filled with disdain, but since it worked, it was also good.
"Now, now..." Henry smirked.
Alaric was near them, yet he couldn’t get close. Because every time he tried to take a step forward, Henry’s knife would graze his wife’s neck. It was a threat!
If he dared to get close, Henry would sink his knife into Nerith’s neck. Hence, although he was extremely anxious, he couldn’t afford to force his way and made a gamble with his wife’s life.
He really hated his own hopelessness and weak power at this very moment. His fist clenched; he couldn’t even protect his wife and children!
If only he were a little stronger...
"I don’t expect that a little ordinary human is worth so much to all of you, holding on to such a weakness..." He clicked his tongue, his eyes filled with mockery.
"Release her!" Alaric gritted his teeth. Thɪs chapter is updated by NoveI(F)ire.net
"Hmm?" Henry raised his eyebrows, glancing at Alaric briefly before he turned to the crowd. "How about we make this into a little fun game?"
"She is only an ordinary person, so..." he drawled. "If an ordinary person offers their life to me, I will release her."
All the ordinary people here didn’t have a deep relationship with Nerith. Although most of them had sobered up because of Zerra and Cassias’ efforts and felt thankful, they still wouldn’t sacrifice their lives for a stranger like that.
This so-called game on Henry’s part was just his attempt to tease them.
"I will count. If no one offers themselves, I will sink this knife into her neck." Henry gave a crooked smile.
Zerra glared murderously at him. Her mind had already cooked a thousand ways to torture his soul.
"No one is willing to sacrifice themselves for her?" Henry let out a loud chuckle. His voice reverberated in the place that was now full of curses toward him.
"Henry, let go of Mrs. Sylvaris!" Darren clenched his fists.
Henry clicked his tongue. "Why are you all so impatient?" He rolled his eyes at Darren before he faced the crowd again. "Although her daughter saved your life, you are not willing to help her back?"
He turned to Zerra. "Look, little girl. Saving strangers is pointless. They don’t know how to be grateful to you."
All the ordinary people in the area avoided Zerra’s eyes, a little ashamed. However, they also didn’t expect Henry to turn out to be such a villain... threatening them like that.
Zerra knitted her eyebrows. Why did this man talk so much? Was he trying to sow discord between them? It didn’t seem so.
Her eyes landed on the other side of the area. Henry’s men were retreating...
So, he was trying to buy time for his men to evacuate safely. Because of Darren’s order, none dared to attack them unless they attacked first. Thus, Henry’s men slowly disappeared from the place.
He did seem well aware that after today’s episode, he couldn’t stay at the base anymore. The low-level ability users and ordinary people no longer trusted him. Most of his force was also gone; the rest of his men were injured.
"I have changed my mind." A blooming smile decorated Henry’s face. "How about we change the rules of the game?"
Others stared at Henry in a rage, knowing he would say yet more outrageous words.
"Don’t be nervous. The last one is impossible to fulfill. But this time, one of you might be able to." Henry glanced briefly toward the base. All his men were already gone.
"How about we exchange her life for one of her children?" He mocked. "Since you all treasure her so much, one of you should be willing to do that, right?"
"The rule is simple. Whoever arrives here first between the three children, that person can replace her position!" He raised his eyebrows, his gaze swept over Zerra, Nyra, and Laziel.
"I will count to three."