I Level Up Dragons with My Evolution System-Chapter 66: Silas Merchant

Edward could still feel that image vividly in his mind... Two people, dead in seconds, suffocated by water and blinded by shadow... He was so stunned that he couldn’t understand how they had died.

"Stop thinking about it," Aurora whispered. "Death is normal when you’re dealing with traitors, Edward."

Edward nodded and clenched his teeth. He had only been living in this world for a year and this was barely his first mission... he wasn’t used to death.

He shook his head. ’They’re traitors, Edward. They deserve to die,’ he told himself, before beginning to walk steadily through the basement corridors.

There were no traps in the place, except for the few that had been set at the entrance, which had not been activated.

"It’s a big basement, for a mansion," Aurora whispered.

Arnold nodded. "...This place is not just any basement," he replied.

They both looked at him, curious as to why he said that.

"You’re too young..." Arnold sighed as he shook his head. Although he wasn’t referring to their age.

"There are various cells here," he said, pointing to what appeared to be rebuilt offices. "Don’t think they’re offices, it’s just a facade."

"Although there are no smells beyond the dampness mixed with dirty places, I can see old traces of blood on the walls. This was a torture center... at some point. Now the cells have been transformed into offices that became obsolete years ago, but they serve to cover up what happened here at some point."

Although both of them had trouble finding the similarities Arnold mentioned, his words made sense considering the size of the place.

"Except for that one," he said, pointing slightly toward the back. "There’s someone chained up there."

Edward finally focused his attention on the front and nodded. His caterpillars moved quickly and traveled to the spot to illuminate it.

"It’s Silas Merchant," he replied, before hurrying forward.

The three soon arrived in front of the cell.

Silas Merchant was almost unrecognizable, lying on the floor, chained by his hands and feet. His body was deathly thin, clearly malnourished, and his darkened countenance, not from the dim lighting but from abuse, revealed a lifestyle that not many could endure.

Edward destroyed the cell and approached Silas.

Silas Merchant was not asleep; he was awake, but he did not look up.

"I am not your abuser. I come on behalf of your daughter, Clara," said Edward, when his shoes appeared at the edge of Silas’s vision.

Hearing his daughter’s name mentioned by an unrecognizable voice, he slowly raised his head. Even that movement brought pain and spasms throughout his body.

"Y-you..." A hoarse voice sounded. "Cough..." He felt a strong urge to cough, hurting his throat, and fell silent.

’He can’t talk...’ Edward took out a bottle of water and made him drink it. "At least drink before you talk."

Silas seemed to have found the Cup of Immortality from the legends... He took big gulps and emptied the leather water bottle in a matter of seconds. Edward took out another one and gave it to him... until he was satisfied.

Silas’ eyes sparkled again, albeit slightly. "You... Who are you?" Although the rough, thick voice was still there, it was no longer painful to speak.

"I’m here for the traitor," Edward said suddenly.

Silas frowned and suddenly snorted. "Traitor... so now you, damned Varhat, use my daughter’s name to give me hope... You have me in your power, why don’t you just kill me?" He slumped down, finally losing all hope once again.

Edward seemed to smile. His deliberate words bore more fruit than he had anticipated. He gained a glimpse of confirmation of what he was doubting, just from Silas’s reaction.

Arnold stepped forward and grabbed Silas by the hair to make him look at him. "Our masters in Linnava sent us here to kill you, Silas Merchant. Because you have caused harm to the kingdom, allying yourself with the empire to destroy border towns."

"Masters in Linnava?" His eyes flashed... "Linnava, Linnava... Linnava." He repeated the name three times, as if remembering the past.

"Damned traitors... Linnava, nest of rats... Just like Varhat. If you want to kill me, go ahead..." His eyes were devoid of any urgency. Devoid of the need to live.

If he had to die right now, he would only regret not having given his little daughter a proper future... And not having given the traitors a painful death.

Arnold could see that in his eyes, which made him frown and loosen his grip. Suddenly, he found himself in an alley he had never been down before. He didn’t understand why he had loosened his grip...

Silas stared at him as he felt his grip loosen and found something curious in his eyes. Something deep. Something... familiar.

His lips moved slightly, as if he were speaking. But it was something that neither Edward nor Aurora could hear.

Spiritual Whisper.

’This man... Is he a beastmaster?’ Edward frowned... ’No... he was in the past.’

Arnold suddenly let go of him.

"We don’t intend to kill you... Not for now," he said. "I don’t know what kind of situations you experienced in the past with Linnava, but this time we were sent to assassinate the orchestrator of selling information to Varhat to destroy border towns. According to your daughter, Clara Merchant, it was your twin brother who did it."

Edward then stepped forward to speak. "If you can bring us proof that it was him, we will not only save you and your family, we will also kill Scylas and his men." To that end, he threw a small flash of fire backward, illuminating the hallway in the distance.

Silas could see the two guards who had been talking for a while, dead.

He didn’t know how to react. It was strange. For the first time in an amount of time he couldn’t calculate... he felt his heart beat.

"You..."

"Our words are true, Mr. Merchant." Aurora stepped forward. "I promised your daughter earlier that if she helped us with this matter, we would grant you protection."

Silas frowned, looking slightly more animated. He knew that the people standing before him were young, but not just any young people.

They were powerful. Very powerful.

Especially the woman... she was astonishingly strong.

"I have plenty of evidence that it’s him. But I’m only going to need you to protect my daughter, the rest doesn’t matter." Silas replied suddenly, completely determined. "Scylas isn’t a smart guy and he doesn’t know all my secrets, even though he’s been trying to figure them out for years. I’ll guide you so that you can obtain that evidence yourselves," he said.