Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 793 - 137: Elemental Shaper Ethan Challenges You_2

And his companion, another servant of Master Fabius Simple, was firmly fixed to the torture chair. His eyes were forced wide open by fish hooks, compelling him to witness the execution of his comrade.

His wrists and ankles were bloodied from his violent struggles, the metal restraints cutting into his flesh, pressing against the bone.

"They weren't lying, they truly don't know the identity of that woman, it seems she came from elsewhere."

The person in charge of the interrogation wore a pitch-black cloak, her half face shadowed beneath it. "Red hair is not a feature of the Imperial People; she might be from the same place as Cedric Thorn. But as far as I know, Cedric's village was destroyed when he was very young."

"Capture her, bring her to me alive."

"I'll make sure she draws her last breath."

The woman cloaked in black revealed a bloodthirsty smile, she looked towards the other person strapped to the torture chair. "So this person..."

The executed man's mouth was tightly bound with black cloth, he glared at Duke Ash, mumbling as he tried to speak.

"Is no longer valuable."

Upon hearing this, the interrogated man trembled violently, and a stench filled the air of the interrogation room. Duke Ash averted his gaze in disgust, turning toward the door without looking back.

He had another important matter to attend to.

"My Lord, I have located the camp of those refugees."

The voice from the crystal on his chest was almost identical to that of the woman in the black cloak. "How do you wish to deal with them?"

"Leave no one alive."

"What about Lance and Solan?"

"Bring them back to the Imperial Capital, the Holy Mage wishes to see them."

"What a pity."

The female voice on the other end of the crystal sighed, then declared, "I will bring them back."

"Meow~"

The communication was cut off.

Duke Ash frowned in bewilderment, he seemed to faintly hear a cat's meow as the call ended.

Meow?

The woman cloaked all in black also heard the meowing from nearby. She looked in the direction of the sound, spotting a small black cat with beautiful mismatched eyes gazing at her with its head tilted.

The woman immediately thought of the report from the nobles in Gear City. They mentioned that the Rebel Army had kidnapped one of their members, and the young man's characteristic was that he always carried two adorable cats, one black and one white.

The woman tightened her grip on the dagger hidden in her sleeve. She forced a kind smile, bent down, hiding her arm holding the dagger behind her, and gestured amicably towards the little black cat with her other hand.

The sudden appearance of the cat inevitably stirred memories of their unforgettable training as Skinners — the first lesson was to start with these small animals.

This was a skill that required finesse; they first had to ensure the entire pelt was removed intact, while also ensuring the subject did not die before the skin was completely peeled off.

Cats, compared to humans, were warier.

Perhaps it was because she had skinned too many cats that they seemed to smell something on her, arching their backs and hissing, striking whenever she drew near.

So she couldn't allow this little cat to return to the camp. As for the young man the nobles mentioned, and the two cats he had... They hadn't come here to rescue the missing person; it wouldn't be strange if that unfortunate person had died in the battle with the Rebel Army.

Duke Ash had granted them the authority to make decisions based on the situation in their mission.

Therefore, not only did they not plan on conducting any rescue, but if the noble youth displayed the arrogant attitude of typical nobles upon being encountered, they would obtain a complete noble skin.

The opportunity to execute a noble, even in an allowed manner, was rare in the Silver Radiance Empire.

"Come here, come to sister, sister has something tasty for you."

She tried to make her voice sound as gentle as possible.

Let's start with this cat.

However, this black cat seemed somewhat different. Though they weren't far apart, it didn't immediately go on alert, but instead craned its neck to peer behind her.

The woman glanced behind her.

A wounded female was bound and fixed to a clearing in the woods; her sword and gun were long rendered into a pile of scrap parts. The gagged woman could only desperately signal to the black cat with her eyes.

She was probably warning the cat to flee at once.

"You know that woman? Let me think... Evelyn, that's her name."

A foolish woman, she only made a bit of noise to lure her away from the camp, and her combat skills were purely terrible, reduced to her current state after merely a face-off.

The only reason that foolish woman was still alive was because she would soon need an intact human skin to use the face most familiar to these ragtag bandits to swagger into the camp.

"Be quiet."

The woman shot Evelyn a glance. "After I skin this cat, it's your turn... come here, little cat, come to sister, don't make sister come catch you, or you'll only feel more pain." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Senzi! Call Senzi!"

???

The cloaked woman was startled by the black cat, instinctively drawing her knife and guardedly holding the dagger before her.

This black cat actually spoke?

So it's a kind of magical creature?

"Indeed."

A youth's voice emanated from deep within the forest, his footsteps approaching. Seeing the bound Evelyn, he sighed in relief, "The people in the camp said you disappeared, so I knew something went wrong."

Luckily, Little Dark's searching ability was superb, finding Evelyn before she became a bloody corpse.

With his years of experience, Ethan knew nothing good would come of disappearing at such a critical time.

Lance was overly focused on the Imperial Army, ignoring the impending threat so close at hand.

"Are you the young man who keeps cats?"

The woman scrutinized Ethan. She couldn't see any signs of coercion or abduction on Ethan's part, plus he seemed acquainted with that foolish woman named Evelyn.

"Don't tell me you heard of their plight and felt sympathy for them."

The woman wore a face full of disdain, yet it was the only possibility she could think of.

Occasionally, extremely 'sympathetic good nobles' would appear in the Silver Radiance Empire, which she found nothing more disgusting than this. "You're not planning to speak for these people when you return to the Imperial Capital, are you? If so, I'd definitely slice your throat."

"I don't have such grand ambitions."

Ethan shook his head. "I'm just here to hitch a ride."

"A ride?"

"The Imperial Army will surely attempt to bring Lance and the warrior back alive to the Imperial Capital, saving me a lot of trouble. If I became a fugitive, with wanted posters on every corner street, I probably wouldn't even be able to buy an airship ticket..."

Ethan explained his plan.

Traveling along with Lance and the Imperial Army was undoubtedly his plan to stride into the Imperial Capital.

"Are you what they call a Skinner? Although I know it's a futile request, could you spare these refugees? They'll leave the Empire and never return, which should not cause any loss to you."

"I knew it, you're just the type I despise most."

The woman sneered, "I've decided, I'll save you for last. I'll make you witness their fate with your own eyes."

"I expected as much. Seems I'll have to go with plan B then."

Ethan was a forthright person, and he was also curious about the combat styles of high-tier Transcendents of the 'otherworld'.

The dreaded Skinners, Death Warriors trained by Duke Ash, what tactics would they employ in battle?

He stepped forward.

—"Elemental Shaper Ethan, challenges you!"