Chapter 1766: Bait
A few minutes later, Pell still didn’t get it...
It was just beyond his comprehension. Even though he was a step above Kiek and Mongul in terms of experience as a Divine, what had happened was something even he hadn’t seen before.
His mind lagged. Mongul’s death was still seared into his memory. It wasn’t because he recalled every fine detail of it, however. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It was how Mongul’s death had been faster than either Pell or Kiek could comprehend that made it so striking.
A Divine dying so quickly against a mortal who was not even armed with a Treasure...
Pell had never seen or heard of that. He wished he could have glimpsed Mongul’s corpse at least. Perhaps that would have given him some closure, but not even that remained after Kintar was done with him.
"Are eyeballs supposed to sweat like that?" said Yuyui, eyeing Pell as she squinted for focus. She was crouching and careening on her side as to get a better look at the eyeball’s iris.
Grim, who was next to her, was more interested in Kiek. He ran a finger on her stone-like skin. The woman said nothing.
"Wow. That’s tougher than it looks."
"Would you not treat them like they are some exotic pets?" Savast said with a sigh before he turned to Kintar. "Why did you even spare them?"
"Novelty," said the Unlimited Star, grinning. "No, that’s a lie. I’m just reaaaally curious about their intentions. I know grunts when I see them." She stared at the two prisoners.
Subduing them after she empowered her Magecraft with Fundamental Barter had been far easier than she’d imagined. She’d been just as surprised as Pell when her Infinitesimal Division had been completely eradicated Mongul. It took activating seven times in rapid succession, which eviscerated the Divine’s already damaged body and then his soul. To Pell, it seemed to have happened instantaneously, though. The catfish Fiend had been scared off by the energy output.
It had helped that Mongul didn’t have an Immortal Physique. In fact, the Troops only fared as well as they did because of that.
Pell was wise enough to realize that continuing to fight without a defense equivalent to a Realm rank Immortal Physique was foolish. Thus, he had surrendered immediately after Mongul’s demise. Uyuniya and Elita had helped Kintar bring him and Kiek aboard Amanas into the Metgard. The Troops and Stars had then gathered to study the two.
Kintar drew a breath. She didn’t like how weak her body felt. There was a price to using Fundamental Barter – stamina. What she’d accomplished against Mongul had drained her immensely.
’It’s a start, and it’s probably worth it,’ she told herself before ridding herself of every sign that she felt fatigued at all.
Kintar signalled to Uyuniya. "Translator."
Uyuniya threw a funny-looking contraption at her. It looked like a plain little mechanical box. A Treasure. Forcing Pell to surrender it had been no challenge. The last wisps of resistance in his eyes, of pulling some last move to get one over on his captors, had died when he felt the promise of extinction that radiated from Elita’s Broodweiler – a Realm rank Treasure that could pierce directly into the Broader Existence.
Kintar spoke into the translator, even though that wasn’t necessary for its activation.
"Let’s get this over with, shall we? Answer me carefully, and I’ll send you to oblivion with grace." The translator shimmered, and her voice resounded in a different language. Pell’s pupil dilated. "You three seemed awfully desperate. Why is that? A wise leader would have retreated after realising the quality of our ship."
Kiek turned to Pell. Even through the rough contours of her face, her horror was easy to see.
"Well?"
"You...you’re right. We are desperate," Pell said.
"Go on..." said Uyuniya, folding her arms in front of her chest. Like Kintar, she’d also been convinced that something was strange about the three pirates, but frankly, she just wanted them dealt with quickly so that they could resume the journey to Zelozeld.
Elita noticed her impatience, but said nothing.
"We belong to a small group..." said Pell.
"Pirates?" Yuyui asked.
"Scavengers. Like anyone, we’re just trying to get by. We don’t get to be picky or overly cautious. Especially in our current circumstance."
"And what would that be?" Uyuniya frowned.
Pell might have choked on his next words. It was unknown where exactly his voice came from.
"O-our leader recently found a habitable territory for us, to serve as our base. It just so happened that the place had a lot of resources we could use for our livelihood and trade. But as good as it is, its location is dangerous, and going in and out is very tricky. We practically crash-landed there, and our ship was destroyed."
"Curious!" said Kintar, not bothering to hide her sarcastic tone. She turned to Savast.
The Mind Caster was staring at Pell intently. Slowly, Savast shook his head, a suspicious light in his eye. Kintar twisted her lips in disappointment.
"Go on," said Uyuniya.
Pell quivered. "With our leader’s powers, leaving the territory wouldn’t have been the hardest thing to do, but, well, as I said, there were valuable resources. The need for transport became a secondary concern. Our leader feared that if we all escaped, or left only a few to guard the place, someone else would find it."
"And that’s why they sent you three to procure some form of transportation?" said Elita skeptically.
"Like I said. We are a small group," stressed Pell. "We three were the most expendable. And it’s not like we expected to find something like... this." He looked around the Metgard. "We were going to return with that Fiend we were riding, but..."
"...Right," said Kintar. "And you three looked all battered because..."
"Escaping the territory was difficult. Even with our leader paving the way, we suffered immensely," said Pell. He stared at Kintar, then Uyuniya. "And all for valuable treasure."
At once, the two women locked eyes. They were thinking the same thing.
He’s trying to bait us.
Pell kept stressing the idea of these resources his group found, how they were more valuable than loyalty. It was an obvious ploy to lure them to this mysterious territory. Perhaps Pell knew he was overselling it a little, but then again...
’They really are desperate,’ Kintar thought. ’Ha. And he’s getting frustrated that we aren’t asking any specific details about this place, the so-called resources, and what exactly is stopping his little group from leaving.’
She found it amusing. In a way, she and Uyuniya were baiting Pell as well. If they continued to let the pressure build, perhaps he’d fumble on his words and reveal everything he was hiding.
...Yuyui wasn’t following the same thread these two women were, though.
"What exactly is this territory you found, and what is it that’s stopping your people from leaving?" she asked.
Kintar sighed exasperatedly, and Uyuniya almost facepalmed. Pell, on the other hand, could have smiled.
"Well... I wasn’t sure you’d believe me," he said, looking around, "as most of you seem to be mortals."
"Try us," said Elita sternly.
Pell gave a dramatic pause.
"Er, it’s the severed, rotting head of a Deity..."
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