CHAPTER 132: THE BROKEN CAPTAIN

His unusually good mood sent a cold, uneasy chill through Louis’s gut.

"Dominic will be released," Gabrant declared. "We are going to fetch him now."

"What? Seriously?"

"What terms did they demand?"

Louis was too shocked to speak beyond that, but Lord Quintus remained calm.

He knew full well that the Senelus side would never release a man like Dominic without some condition.

To them, the captain was a hostage of great value—something that could be used in negotiations.

"I only gave them his aide in return," Gabrant answered.

"What? You mean Shiao Yi?"

"Lord Shiao Yi?"

Voices of astonishment broke out across the room. Quintus, fury blazing, seized Gabrant by the collar.

"You acted on your own! Do you even understand what you’ve done?"

Gabrant brushed his hand away with a sharp snort.

"It’s nothing but a clerk. A single scribe. Compared to Dominic’s worth, that is a cheap price."

"Shiao Yi is no mere clerk! He is a man of remarkable talent, someone with extraordinary gifts. How can you not see that? More than that, he is someone precious to Dominic himself. And you, you handed him over to the enemy?"

"Hah! Astonishing words from you, Quintus. To think you would say such a thing. Will you now condone such disgrace? Such filth?"

Gabrant spat out the words as though they were vile, but Quintus only returned a look of pity.

"Is that how a father thinks? Then let me give you a warning—you would do better to truly look at your son. If you do not, you may well lose him."

"Mind your own business. I will never let my son lie with another man! That would be the laughingstock of the world. In fact, I have just secured him a proper bride!"

"Gabrant!"

Quintus shouted in anger, but the great general ended the conversation with his actions, striding straight out into the corridor.

Quintus followed him with a scowl, his displeasure clear on his face.

Louis, shaken and confused, hurried after them in a rush, unable to steady his thoughts.

—Captain Dominic and Shiao Yi... what is going to happen to them now? They had only just begun to show such happiness together!

Captain Dominic was being held in a room at the far end of the highest floor of the opposite wing of the castle, the one that had not been damaged.

From what Louis had heard, this part of the fortress had been built for the very purpose of confining royalty or high-ranking nobles.

Each chamber was constructed like a separate tower, completely self-contained.

It was said that the wards and barriers could be easily set, making escape impossible.

Still, since those confined here were of noble birth, the rooms were made lavish, filled with fine furnishings, designed so that one could pass the time in comfort despite being imprisoned.

So that’s how it is, Louis thought grimly.

Even when royalty is punished, they get special treatment.

Impressive, maybe—but for people like us commoners, there’s nothing left to say.

The guards standing by moved forward, unlocking the door.

The sound of metal echoed in the hall—clack, clack, clack—as one lock after another was released.

It was a triple-lock system, proof of how seriously they took the task of keeping the prisoner secured.

And when the heavy door finally swung open—

Louis froze, breath caught sharply in his throat.

The great general and Quintus both widened their eyes, speechless.

"What in the—? What is this?!"

It was the guards who cried out in shock.

Inside, the room was a scene of devastation too terrible to look at.

The expensive chest of drawers had been smashed to pieces.

The plastered walls were pitted and riddled with holes.

The long-pile, luxurious carpet had been shredded into rags.

The marble fireplace was nothing but broken rubble.

The sofa and the bed had been torn apart, reduced to stuffing, tangled cloth, and splintered wood.

Not a single piece of furniture, not a wall, not even the floor, had been left intact.

Everything had been destroyed—as if by bare fists and feet.

And the one responsible for all of it—where was he?

Louis frantically scanned the ruined room, and in the far corner he saw it—wrapped in a torn curtain, hunched over.

He could only call it that.

It looked like a man, yet it was something other than human.

The curtain, once white and embroidered, was now crumpled, soaked in blood until it was blackened and stiff.

Beneath it, with the fabric draped over his head, sat Captain Dominic—though he was no longer the same.

His cheeks were hollow. His lips were split, blood running down from them. His clothes were torn and disheveled. Worst of all were his eyes. Wide open, staring, yet empty—eyes that showed nothing. They weren’t the eyes of a human anymore.

The room reeked. The sour stench of vomit mixed with the sharp, metallic tang of blood, clinging to the dusty air.

"Dominic!"

General Gabrant’s voice rang out, shaken and unsteady.

"Louis! Lend me a hand!"

Together, Gabrant and Louis rushed to the corner, taking Captain Dominic by the arms and pulling him upright.

At their touch, the captain’s body flinched but he did not resist.

He let himself be moved forward, his steps lifeless.

Both of his hands were mangled—his fists and fingers split open, covered in blood.

It was possible even the bones had been shattered.

Around his wrists still hung the broken remains of iron shackles and chains.

Somehow, he had ripped them apart with his own strength.

Louis shivered, a violent tremor running down his back.

—What in the world happened to the captain?

His throat tightened. He was on the verge of tears.

No—his cheeks were already hot and wet.

He was crying openly, tears streaming, snot mixing with them as his body shook.

The moment they stepped out into the hallway, Louis’s entire body bristled in terror.

From the captain, an overwhelming surge of magic power erupted like a flood.