Kyle's unwavering confidence sent chills down the owner's spine.
The lack of fear in the young noble's eyes made the situation feel even more dangerous. The owner clenched his fists, his mind racing for a way to maintain control.
"You fools! What are you waiting for? Show him your strength! Make him regret challenging me! It doesn't matter if he gets hurt! He's someone no one cares about anyway."
The owner snapped at his guards.
The guards hesitated.
Confronting a noble, especially one from the Armstrong family, was not something to take lightly.
However, the owner was their employer, and disobedience meant losing everything.
With reluctant expressions, they unsheathed their swords and stepped forward in an attempt to intimidate Kyle.
But Kyle remained unfazed.
He kept moving forward at a steady pace, his hands still casually resting in his pockets.
With each step, the air in the room grew heavier. The torches flickered wildly as if reacting to an unseen force.
The guards, who had initially moved with confidence, suddenly felt their bodies becoming sluggish.
A suffocating pressure weighed on them, pressing down as if an invisible force was choking the very air around them.
'Is that all? How boring. I thought they would be able to entertain me a little more.'
Kyle could not help but feel a stab of disappointment as he walked toward the guards. His lack of fear reflected directly on his face.
Sweat formed on the guard's brows, and their hands trembled around the hilts of their swords. Some of them even gasped, clutching at their throats as if they were drowning without water.
The sight stunned everyone present.
"W-What is this?! W-Why can't I move?!"
One of the guards managed to choke out.
The owner's eyes widened in disbelief. He had heard the rumors about Kyle Armstrong being a useless cripple, an embarrassment to his family.
But standing in front of him now was a monster cloaked in invisible power.
"Stop acting like cowards! It's just some cheap trick! Attack him!"
But before the guards could gather their resolve, Kyle was already in front of the owner.
Faster than anyone could react, Kyle placed a single hand on the owner's shoulder.
And then—he pressed down.
A sickening crack echoed in the room.
The owner let out a strangled scream as a sharp pain tore through his shoulder. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the floor, his face twisting in agony.
The weight on his body was unbearable, as if an entire mountain had been dropped onto him.
Kyle watched him struggle with cold, unreadable eyes.
"Still think this is just some cheap trick?"
He asked, his voice quiet but carrying an unmistakable edge.
The owner gasped, his entire body trembling as he desperately tried to lift himself. But the more he struggled, the more pressure Kyle applied.
His shoulder felt like it was about to shatter into pieces.
The realization hit him like a brick—Kyle Armstrong was not someone to be provoked.
The owner stammered. His pride refused to accept what was happening.
Kyle tilted his head slightly, as if amused by the disbelief on the man's face.
"It doesn't matter how. What matters is that you picked the wrong opponent."
Kyle said, pressing down even harder. The owner let out a strangled whimper.
Kyle then turned his attention toward the butler.
"What are you waiting for? Go get the city guards. If I handle this myself, things might get… messy."
The butler, still in shock, quickly snapped out of his daze and rushed out of the building.
The owner struggled to lift his head. His guards, who had been frozen with fear, finally tried to move—only for Kyle to shoot them a single glance.
The suffocating pressure flared again, pinning them in place.
Minutes later, the sound of boots marching outside filled the air. The butler had returned, leading a group of city guards.
The soldiers stormed in, immediately assessing the situation.
They took one look at the owner, who was groaning in pain on the floor, and at Kyle, who stood over him like a predator that had already won the hunt.
"Arrest them all. Investigate this place thoroughly. You'll find plenty of evidence of illegal activity."
Kyle ordered, his voice carrying unquestionable authority.
The city guards hesitated only for a moment before complying. They moved swiftly, placing chains on the owner and his guards, who were still too shaken to resist.
The owner let out a furious cry.
"You can't do this to me! I have connections! You'll regret this!"
Kyle crouched down, his face only inches from the owner's.
"Oh? Then use those connections. Let's see who wins."
The owner opened his mouth to retort, but Kyle's smirk silenced him. This was no bluff—Kyle Armstrong had already decided his fate.
With the owner and his guards taken care of, Kyle turned to his butler.
"What about the slaves?"
The butler asked hesitantly.
Kyle glanced around at the malnourished, frightened individuals who had been trapped in this nightmare for far too long. His eyes then landed on the female slave who had started this whole mess.
She was watching him carefully, her expression guarded yet hopeful.
"Young master… That might not be wise."
Kyle gave him a pointed look.
"It doesn't matter. I made a promise. That's all that matters. Just make sure this place is taken care of."
He said making the butler look uneasy. The young master looked like a completely different person at that moment.
The butler looked uneasy, but he knew better than to argue when Kyle had already made up his mind.
The slaves were released one by one.
Some of them wept in disbelief, others simply stood in shock, unable to process what was happening. A few, too broken by their past, hesitated to leave, fearing the unknown.
The female slave who had demanded this outcome stepped forward.