If the classes were in the afternoon, everyone’s health would be much better.
And just now, those thirteen lambs all asked for leave from him, and Ethan had no reason to refuse.
"Don’t worry, Mr. Wilson, such trivial matters shouldn’t concern someone of your stature, right?"
Ethan interrupted him, knowing Wilson’s real purpose for being here, "Let’s talk about the topic you’re most interested in, like your son, Aisoke."
Wilson’s pupils constricted, and veins bulged on his face.
He couldn’t stand Ethan’s calm tone, it made him want to tear Ethan apart.
But this was not the place for action.
"In that case, follow me then."
As he mentioned at the start of the invitation, he had something to show Ethan.
In the basement of his mansion, it had been made into a dungeon, filled with countless instruments of torture.
The smell of blood hit them, while burning torches illuminated the path deeper into the dungeon, the two of them descended the wooden stairs step by step, each step making a sound that grated on the teeth.
Wilson kept a sullen face throughout the journey, not saying a word.
In the torchlight, Ethan saw the source of the bloody scent.
A chunk of flesh that had lost its limbs and head was fixed to the torture device like garbage, thick red liquid continually oozed from the closed iron maiden.
There was still a naked man locked in a cell, his body covered with burn marks, the wounds had begun to fester and pus, at the first sight of Wilson, he cried out in terror, but with his mouth stuffed full of cloth, he couldn’t make much sound.
Wilson stopped not far from Ethan, introducing voluntarily, "They are all investigators from Gear City’s Reception Bureau, who participated in the Red Death case investigation, look, this gentleman, although I’ve forgotten his name, revealed to me an interesting piece of information."
He was referring to the chunk of flesh on the torture device that had lost its head.
Judging from the color of the blood, the interrogation seemed to have taken place not long ago.
"This gentleman said that on the day the Red Death occurred, there was an investigator with a cat perched on his shoulder at the branch office, code named ’Chicken Keeper’, later promoted due to the achievements in Haywood Mine, the branch chief thought ’Boy Who Survived a Disaster’ suited him better."
Wilson said, "You see, if you’re willing to investigate, this isn’t difficult at all. Not long after, someone with a white cat on their shoulder also came to the capital, named Ethan, now probably every Imperial citizen knows his name."
Saying this, he walked towards the bleeding iron maiden.
The seams had been welded shut, and there was no movement inside anymore.
"This is an employee of the fireplace bay consortium, in principle, she shouldn’t have told me anything about her clients, but with some effort, her mouth could be pried open, Mr. Heisenberg, although you’ve always worn a mask, someone noticed your closeness with a cat, she even helped tend your store."
As Wilson narrated, the dungeon’s structure changed.
A circular array burning with black flames was illuminated, the ceiling above inscribed with indecipherable symbols.
But Ethan couldn’t yet discern the specific effects of this trap.
"Mr. Heisenberg, or should I call you Ethan? After all, there’s not many powerful Elemental Shapers like you in the Empire."
On this point, Flor was right.
In any place within the Empire, he would never reveal the opponent’s identity.
But this was the Abyss, a world created by the Old Gods, and he had been setting things up here for months.
He had long struggled to find a way to trap Ethan here, yet didn’t expect the opponent to fall into the net voluntarily.
"You’ve complicated things, Wilson."
You kidnapped investigators from the Reception Bureau, harmed so many people, it’s taken quite a long detour, "If you asked me directly, I would’ve told you what happened that night."
Wilson made a gesture of listening intently.
"If you’ve inquired enough, you should know we warned Aisoke before he broke in."
"That’s what he said."
Wilson glanced mercilessly at the flesh on the torture device, "He said you tried to dissuade Aisoke."
"But he refused." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novelFirｅ.net
The same conversation had happened here before, it wouldn’t solve anything, Wilson chuckled lightly, "You’re implying it’s not your fault."
"It’s definitely my fault, I was actually very worried."
Ethan paused, "I was very worried Aisoke would change his mind and really heed my advice... otherwise, it would be hard for me to kill him without guilt—luckily, your son is a stubborn person, just like you."
He looked directly into Wilson’s eyes, "Mr. Wilson, is there anything else you want to know? Do you need me to describe Aisoke’s death to you? But you probably already know, he was treated as a monster, shot countless times, all with weapons manufactured by your factories."