The Lich of Glory Knight Spirit: Moving towards Krimasha!-Chapter 660 - 21: The Witch (3)

"Who are you?" Erwin leaned against the wall, slightly tilting his head, and looked at Sean weakly, stating, "What do you want to talk about?"

"My name is Sean Carlos, Kapu’s Security Chief and Castle Guard Commander. Just being able to come here to see you is enough to prove my identity. A few days ago, the ones who captured you were my men. Now I want to discuss cooperation with you." Sean said expressionlessly, "Tell me how to use that set of armor, how to replace the magic stones. I had someone look at it, and that set of armor seems a bit different from other armors produced by Giant Snake City." Erwin questioned in return.

"Why should I tell you?"

"To spare yourself some pain."

"Do you think I’m afraid?"

"Um..." Hesitating for a moment, Sean continued, "Don’t think that pain is just about suffering. I can cripple you, make you a ruined person for life. I can even drive you completely insane. In that case, not even the White Bone Holy Light Court can cure you."

Erwin quietly looked at Sean.

The two stared at each other.

The firelight flickered slightly, illuminating their faces.

After a long silence, so long that sweat dripped down Sean’s forehead, Erwin finally spoke softly, "Change your rhetoric. Threats are ineffective against knights. At least, ineffective against the Silver Moon Knight Order’s knights."

Gritting his teeth, Sean had no choice but to change his tone, saying, "I can make your life comfortable, provide you with enough food and water, and no one will whip you again. How about that?"

After hearing this, Erwin laughed shortly, "Are you joking?"

"I’m not joking!" Sean retorted with some urgency. "All you need to tell me is how to use that armor. Anyway, that armor isn’t in your possession now, so there’s almost no loss. Are you still not satisfied with such terms?"

Erwin slowly closed his eyes, and spoke softly, "Tell me what you intend to use that armor for."

Sean’s mouth twitched slightly a couple of times. He had to grit his teeth and say, "I want to use it against her."

"Her?" Erwin slightly opened his eyes in surprise.

"Dovna, I want to use it against Dovna. I need that armor."

"You want to switch sides and join me?"

Sean was stunned for a moment, and quickly said, "Yes, I want to switch to your side. She’s too harsh, I can’t stand it."

Erwin quietly watched him.

Time trickled by, and the light from the torch flickered slightly.

Despite the cold weather, Sean’s sweat didn’t stop for a moment.

"You’re lying to me." Erwin stated flatly.

"No, I’m not lying to you! What I said is true."

"You lied to me."

"I genuinely want to use it against Dovna."

Turning his face away, Erwin spoke softly, "That’s not what I’m referring to. I’m saying that you’re not really planning to join us. Otherwise, you would just need to leave here and go to White City. It’s far too simple for you."

Sean was so anxious he was about to fall ill. He grabbed Erwin by the collar and lifted him entirely, growling, "Cut the crap! Tell me how to use that armor, and it’ll be worth your while! Otherwise, I can make you die here!"

"Do you seriously think I’m afraid of dying?" Erwin coldly retorted.

That question rendered Sean speechless.

Helpless, he could only gently put Erwin back down. His whole attitude changed, his once fierce face now donned a flattering expression, "Alright... alright, I’ll speak honestly. I do want to kill Dovna; maybe not kill, just defeating her would suffice. But I can’t possibly join you; the demon is right here. I’ve seen him. He would definitely not allow it. From what I judge, if I kill his Demon Envoy, as long as I’m willing to become the new Demon Envoy, he wouldn’t mind at all. But if I were to kill his Demon Envoy and then join the White Bone Holy Light Court or the Silver Moon Knight Order, I might not see the sun tomorrow. He could very well be secretly listening to our conversation right now."

...

On the city wall facing the prison window, in an area completely covered by shadows, Purgatory Demon Alphonse slightly lowered his head, coughing dryly a couple of times.

...

"So, you want my armor without paying any price?" Erwin asked.

Sean widened his eyes and grinned, "No, I’ve paid. As long as I get your armor and replace Dovna to become the master here, I will treat you well. That’s the price I pay."

The sweat on his forehead still hadn’t stopped.

"That’s no price at all."

"Hey, buddy, you can’t think like that. Don’t focus on what I paid, you should focus on what you gained. There’s no need to suffer unnecessary hardships, right? You should treat yourself a little better."

"I refuse." Erwin replied with a smile.

At once, Sean’s expression changed again, and he fiercely threw Erwin back down, growling, "Listen, if you don’t agree, I’ll kill you right now! I refuse to believe anyone’s truly not afraid to die!"

Erwin lay motionless, closing his eyes as if he were truly dead.

Sean’s face flushed with anger yet, helplessly, he could only leave a curse behind, "Think about it! I’ll give you time; when daylight comes, I’ll ask you again! That’s your last chance! If I can’t live, neither will you!"

With that said, he turned and left.

As he closed the iron door, he slammed it heavily, causing all the bars to tremble slightly and emit a buzzing noise, reverberating in the jail.

The guard responsible for watching took down the torch from the iron stand and left as well. Erwin’s cell returned to its original darkness.

When the bar’s buzzing sound faded away, it became as quiet as a bottomless abyss.

After a while, Erwin propped himself up on the ground and sat up. He coughed violently several times, even spitting out a bit of blood.

Tilting his head back, he continued to quietly gaze at the moonlight outside the window.

"I think you should agree to his suggestion," said the guy next door, "You have nothing to lose. If it were me, I’d accept such terms without hesitation."

"That’s why you’re not a Knight, you’re just a prison guard," Erwin replied coldly.

"I don’t like that you say that. What do you mean by ’that’s why’? Do you mean because we think differently, you’re a Knight and I’m a prison guard?"

Erwin didn’t answer.

After a pause, the guy continued, "You’re wrong to say that. You’re a Knight because you have a good father, a hereditary title, which I don’t. My family is common. Being a prison guard, I already think I’m pretty great. Just unlucky to run into Dovna."

"But my family doesn’t have a title for me to inherit."

"Uh..."

"But there’s one thing you said that’s very true. I do have a good father. Without him, I’d never be a Knight."

"See! So I was right! You should listen to me, accept his terms! Best to include a clause for me to get the same treatment too. After all, I persuaded you to accept it, you should... be grateful to me. Isn’t that so?"

Silence, a long silence.

Time ticked away, and Erwin continued to quietly gaze at the moonlight.

The silence was so long the guy next door grew impatient: "Buddy, say something. You’re not dead, are you?"

"No, I’m still alive," Erwin replied softly.

"Good to hear you’re still alive. So, how about my suggestion?"

"He said tomorrow is the deadline."

"What?"

"I said, he just said dawn is the deadline, and if he can’t live, I shouldn’t think about living either. So that’s his deadline too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t risk coming to me. If Dovna finds out about this... he’d be in trouble. Maybe I can use that."

"Heavens... What are you thinking? You’re thinking of counterattacking? Attempting a counterattack in such a situation is an extremely foolish thing to do. Let any of them find out, and they’ll kill you."

Erwin slightly turned his face, looking in the direction where the guy next door was, saying nothing.

...

"Knock knock," there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Sean, who was chatting with Miller while sitting in a chair, called out.

The door opened, and in came a guard from the prison. He quickly walked over to Sean and whispered something in his ear.

Instantly, Sean’s eyes widened.

...

Just fifteen minutes later, Sean had already arrived at Erwin’s cell.

"He said you were looking for me?"

"Yes."

"Have you thought it through?"

"Yes."

"Great! Tell me quickly how to replace the magic stone and how to use it. And then... I promise you’ll have a comfortable stay here. I could even have this cell refurbished."

"No, you’re mistaken." Erwin shook his head and said, "I’m here to negotiate new terms with you, not to accept your previous ones."

"New terms?" Sean was taken aback.

"Yes, new terms." Erwin said weakly, "You join White City, and I’ll help you win."

"That’s impossible, there are demons. Even with armor, I can’t defeat a demon! Even to defeat Dovna, I might need to look for an opportunity, let alone a demon!"

Erwin smiled and asked, "You only know about the demons. Do you know, besides the demons, there’s also a Lich?"

...

Upon hearing this, Purgatory Demon Alphonse, who had been lurking all along, involuntarily looked around.

...

"How about it?" Erwin asked softly.

Sean’s heart was in his throat as he cautiously glanced around, "Are you joking? If there’s a Lich... why doesn’t it come out? And Dovna said, the demon promises to keep the Lich in check."

"And how do you know the Lich won’t keep the demon in check?" Erwin retorted, "Do you know which is stronger, the Lich or the demon?"

"Well..."

Erwin spoke softly, "Now the only path in front of you is to cooperate with me. And the condition of cooperating with us is you have to side with me. If you refuse, maybe you don’t even need to worry about which is stronger, the Lich or the demon. That would be irrelevant to you."