Liam and Rin hid in the cage, waiting for the guards to go away. Liam hoped that the guards didn't find the dead bodies of their fellow guards. However, what Liam feared the most happened.
The dead bodies were found, and the guards alerted each other. And chaos erupted. The guards called the commanders and gathered all the hostages in the training ground.
Liam put his and Rin's sword back into his inventory and joined the hostages heading to the training ground.
The commanders presented the four dead bodies of the guards and asked the culprit to come out on his own. But of course, no one would be dumb to do that.
Thunder Palm then announced, "If the killer doesn't come out, we will start killing each and every hostage one by one."
The hostages protested, screaming their innocence and swearing that they weren't the killer. The training ground was filled with chaos and desperation.
The commanders talked with each other using the 'whispering technique,' a method that allowed them to communicate privately without being overheard by others. They asked for each other's opinions on the situation.
One of them said, "Ten guards were killed another night and four more were killed today. We need to do something before it gets worse."
Lin Xueya defended the hostages, saying, "The guards were trained and strong enough to defend themselves. None of the hostages are strong enough to kill them."
Crimson Shadow agreed with Lin Xueya and said, "It could be done by someone else and not the hostages."
Stone Ox remarked, "It's impossible for anyone to infiltrate our area."
Thunder Palm asked, "Is there any animosity between the guards? Could they have killed each other?" But then he shook his head and called it ridiculous.
Iron Fang said, "The killer is surely one of the hostages."
While the commanders were discussing through the whispering technique, Crimson Shadow was looking straight at Liam, who was mixed in the crowd. And sure enough, Liam was looking at him too.
'Come on. You know it was me.' Liam uttered inwardly. 'Why don't you rat me out to your fellow commanders? What is it that makes me special in your eyes?' he asked himself.
Liam glanced at Rin, who was standing beside him with a pale face filled with worry. He gave her a reassuring nod, trying to convey that everything would be alright. But deep down, he knew that they were far from safe.
If the Crimson Shadow called Liam out, he was dead. No one could save him from the commander's wrath. Liam felt his adrenaline raging inside his body. Even though he was practically at death's door, he was feeling thrilled.
Rin leaned closer to Liam and whispered, "Lee, what are we going to do? They're going to start killing people."
Liam looked at her, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "We stay calm."
The commanders continued their discussion with solemn looks on their faces.
One commander remarked, "The other night, some guards were killed differently—some with swords, one with a crossbow. It's clear the killer used the guards' own weapons against them."
Another added, "Yes, and it seems the killer is skilled enough to use whatever weapon is available. This isn't the work of an amateur."
Crimson Shadow interjected, "It's impossible for anyone lower than the Intermediate Realm to fight against multiple guards and win. The killer must be at least in the Intermediate Realm."
Another commander remarked, "It could be multiple killers working together."
Lin Xueya rebuked that idea, saying, "If multiple killers were involved, we or the guards would have noticed something by now. It's more likely a single, highly skilled individual."
Stone Fox suggested, "We should start killing the hostages. That will force the killer to reveal themselves."
Lin Xueya strongly disagreed. "Killing the hostages is useless. No one will come forward if we start executing people. We need a smarter approach."
Iron Fang then suggested, "We should give an incentive to the hostages. Announce that whoever names the culprit will be freed and can take up to three people with them."
Finally, Thunder Palm broke the silence. "Alright, we will give you an offer. Whoever names the culprit will be freed and can take up to three people with them. But if no one comes forward, we will start executing the hostages one by one until the killer reveals themselves. Remember, you are disposable to us. We can abduct more of you so it doesn't matter even if we kill all of you."
The commanders' offer hung in the air, and the hostages exchanged nervous glances. The tension was noticeable, and the silence was deafening. Suddenly, someone from the crowd raised their hand.
"I know who the killer is!" the hostage shouted and pointed at a man nearby. "It's him! He did it!"
In an instant, the crowd moved away from the accused man, leaving him standing alone, his face a picture of shock and disbelief. "No, it wasn't me!" he yelled, his voice desperate and pleading. "I didn't do it! Please, believe me!"
But his cries fell on deaf ears. The hostages backed away further, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and suspicion. The commanders exchanged a glance as though they were deciding their next step.
Thunder Palm stepped forward and raised his hand. A crackle of electricity sparked in the air as he summoned his power. The accused man looked around frantically with his eyes wide with terror. "Please, no! It wasn't me! You have to believe me!"
But his pleas were cut short. With a thunderous strike, a bolt of lightning shot from Thunder Palm's hand, striking the man squarely in the chest. The force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground, his body convulsing as the electricity coursed through him.
Within seconds, he was reduced to a charred, lifeless husk.
The hostages gasped in horror, their eyes wide with shock and fear.
The commanders glanced at each other, some sighing, others shaking their heads. They realized they had been played. If the man had been the real killer, he wouldn't have begged like that—he would have tried to fight or flee.
Stone Ox, enraged by the deception, leaped forward and crushed the accuser with a single, brutal strike. The sound of bones crunching echoed through the training ground, sending a shiver down the spines of the remaining hostages.
The commanders huddled together, their frustration visible. They began to discuss their next move.
Iron Fang growled, "We should just kill them all. It's the only way to be sure."
Thunder Palm nodded in agreement. "Yes, wipe them all out. We can't risk another incident."
Lin Xueya, however, opposed the idea. "We can't do that. The 'day' is near, and we don't have enough time to find 'suitable' replacements."
Crimson Shadow remained calm, his eyes glancing at Liam from time to time with a thoughtful expression. He didn't seem as frustrated as the others.
'What is he planning? If he exposes me… let's stop thinking about that. First, I need to make sure Rin doesn't interact with me. I can't let them find out Rin is with me. I have immortality skills. I will be fine if they kill me, but Rin…'
"I can't let anything happen to her for as long as I am alive." He muttered under his breath.