Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

Chapter 137: The Duel (1)

Today was the day of the duel, but it was only morning now. There was still time for it, yet all the people in the fortress were busy as hell.

Wrik was explaining his plan to Anton, Jacob, Michelle, and Tanya when the door of his room was knocked. 

"Who is it?" Wrik asked, loud enough to reach the other side of the thick door. 

"It's me," Lily's voice came in from the other side. "And Dairyl. We need to talk to you about some matter."

"Wait a minute," Wrik said and shifted his focus onto the four. He opened the dimension pouch and brought out the cube he bought from Ryat. "Ton, take it."

"What's the use of this in the plan?" he asked, taking in the Omega cube. As far as he was concerned, it was only used to decode data and communication. Communication might be needed, but they only had one cube to his knowledge. How would he communicate with Wrik then? 

"That was not the one you bought from Ryat," Wrik explained. "It is an upgraded version I bought a few days ago. Other Than the usual stuff, it could make a sound and sight proof barrier as big as twenty square metres. It would make your job easier."

"Cool." Anton nodded. The job they were given was not life threatening, but quite difficult to complete. Wrik's entire plan was dependent on the success. Of course, he would be extra careful with everything. 

"I already left a link with my cube," Wrik added. "You can call me after the success."

Anton nodded and exchanged glances at Michelle and Jacob as both of them nodded. They got up from their seats and Anton said, "We are going then."

Wrik nodded. "Ton, Jake and Michelle, be careful."

The three of them departed while Tanya stayed with Wrik. The job needed the skills of Anton, Jacob and Michelle; Tanya might well be useful, but he needed her some place else.

Lily entered the room with Dairyl, giving a sharp look towards the leaving trio. Wrik gestured to them to take their seats as the two women sat across from them. 

"Why don't I see any nervousness in you?" Lily asked. 

"I am nervous. A little, but more than that I am excited," Wrik said. "So everything is prepared?" 

"No," Lily shook her head. "I already sent a team in small numbers containing Aeriel, Seriel, Sapiel, Davin and others to the mountains in the dawn. They should follow orders well and probably already took their spots. The problem I am talking about is here."

"What is it?"

"Theiron," Lily said, squinting his nose. "That stupid outlander is making all the mess. He started causing problems the moment he saw we were transferring the rations and ordered all of them to leave the fortress. That guy was asking too many question now. It seemed he was inclined to leave his fortress as ordered." 

Wrik raised an eyebrow. The reason he ordered to leave the Fortress was because of Scythe. It had been two days since Scythe's right arm was held here. The only news they had in the meantime was that Scythe was dealing with Harthanother powerhouse of the test who monopolised the south. It brought him some time, but there were still chances of that guy coming here with his army.

"Anything else?" 

"Yes. About the guy you captured yesterday. What will you do with him?" 

"I thought about exchanging him with Kevinone of our friends, but it is not time yet," Wrik said. Then he pondered for a brief moment, frowning. "I was so busy with all the work these days that I did not have the time to talk with the crazy guy yet. I have some time now, I shall meet him now."

Wrik stood up, and so did the three ladies. 

"Are you guys thinking of coming with me to meet the crazy fellow?" he asked, walking. 

Tanya and Lily nodded. Dairyl, who was the only one left out, followed as well. As they walked through the Fortress and saw people in a much lesser number. Most of them were under Theiron, who was causing problems.

Just as Wrik was thinking about the guy, the noble son appeared in front of him. Behind him were his loyal soldiers in numbers of dozens.

"I was thinking about you just now," Wrik said to the noble son with a broad smile. 

"What's the meaning of this? Therion asked, glaring at him. "You took away all the ration and the men and even asked me to leave the fortress. Do I have to tell you again that this fortress is mine? I only let you stay here with the truce." 

"Why are you yelling?" Wrik said, still with a broad smile.

"I'm yelling because I have no fu*king clue about what you are planning?" he shouted louder than before.

In the contract they signed, he was supposed to know everything and have his opinion counted, yet Wrik left him out on the most important occasion, saying it was not a part of the contract.

"Why did you send away so many men with no one finding out? Why are abandoning it taking every advantage from here?" 

"You ask too many questions," Wrik said, sighing. 'Is this poor fellow acting, or he did not have any clue?' he thought and tried to test it out. Wrik moved closer to Theiron and whispered into the noble son's ear, "We are leaving because Scythe will be here any moment." 

Theiron first look confused then, a horrifying expression appeared in his eyes. If this guy was acting, then he needed an applause. 

"What? What did you do?" Theron yelled again with many questions, but Wrik put no ears to it, and moved with the three ladies to the interior of the fortress. 

A couple of guards were guarding an entirely locked room with rigid expression when they saw Wrik and others approaching the bow. 

"Your job is finished here," Wrik said to them. "Join the others below."

The two guards bowed again and left silently. Wrik watched them go, before bringing out a bunch of keys from his cloak. To open the lock with the key was quite tricky even to the ones who had the keys. It was designed by Dairyl. Only very few in their group know the correct way to open the door. It was always good to have a designer with you.

Wrik put the key into the look and infused mana into it. He followed the mana through the lock to a specific order before the lock opened. He did the same for the other three locks and finally, the door opened. 

Wrik led the three ladies inside and lit up the limelight in the room. The room was not big. In the middle of it was a chair holding a man with shackles. Other than that, nothing present there. Even the ventilator was so small that it might have problems letting out carbon di-oxide.

Ben lifted his head, hearing the noise. His face was pale red, having a problem with the air, but without that there had been no torture other than when Anton broke his nose, ribs and a couple more places. 

"I hate you," Ben said, eyeing Wrik. 

But his next words he uttered flabbergasted everyone there, even the ladies.

"Why do you have three beautiful ladies without like some protagonist of a novel?" Ben said. "I hate you. Why do you have to be popular with the ladies?"

"Does the room make him crazy or something?" Lily asked, frowning. 

"No, he was always this crazy," Wrik added. He came closer to the fellow and said slowly. "I have a few questions for you."

"What a coincidence, I have some too." Ben laughed out in glee. "How about we make an exchange, then?"

Wrik frowned. There was no way this guy would let anything go easily. In the end, he had to compromise a little. 

"How important are you to Scythe?" he asked. 

"You asked a question, that means you agreed." Ben was more than contented with the exchange.

"Answer it quickly." 

"Very well," Ben said and sat straight with the shackles. "How Important is I am to Scythe? I would say pretty muchbut that won't satisfy your thirst, will it? 

"I suppose, I'm following Scythe as long as my memory goes. Scythe is as important to me as your brother is to you." 

"I asked about how important you are to Scythe, not the other way around," Wrik repeated his question. He was thinking about using this crazy guy, knowing his value to Scythe will solve the problem about how he will use him.

Ben turned silent at once. He pondered for a while, closing his eyes. "I don't know actually," he opened his mouth truthfully. "If it was before, then I'm pretty sure he saw me as a brother, but it was years ago. Maybe one I only think that now." 

Wrik found Ben to be quite sorrowful. And it was not acting. This guy genuinely cared for the masked fellowhe could not fake Wrik about this.

"I answered your question. Now it's my turn," Ben continued. His eyes gazed at Wrik, then at each of the ladies, scrutinising head to toe. Then he focused at Wrik again and asked his question that made everyone in the room dumbstruck again. 

"Have you boned any one of them?"

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