Chapter 162 - 161: Playing the Loyal Dog?

Nolan Crawford’s mouth twitched. ’So, in their eyes, this is all just "no big deal"?!’

’No matter how you look at it, this has nothing to do with being gentle, right?!’

’Why was he the only one acting like some sheltered country bumpkin? He felt like he couldn’t keep up with these "city slickers".’

But in the end, curiosity got the better of him. "So what are her interrogations usually like?" he pressed. "Don’t tell me they’re even more brutal than this?"

He’d already heard from Ian Lynch that Yvonne Lowell was the weapon designer Lila and that LY also belonged to her. It wasn’t that surprising that she would be involved in something like this.

Nina Jennings smiled enigmatically. "Better not to ask about things like this. You don’t want to know."

With that, she went back to watching the show, ignoring him completely.

Meanwhile, Yvonne Lowell pulled out the dagger.

Along with the blade came the bullet and a chunk of mangled, bloody flesh.

"Pathetic." Looking at the man who had passed out from the pain, Yvonne Lowell pursed her lips. "Old Man Jennings, help me wake him up, will you? Splashing water will make the floor dirty."

Ian Lynch glanced at the blood-covered floor. ’A little water doesn’t seem like it would make much of a difference at this point...’

"You got it." Nina Jennings hiked up her pant leg and pulled the longest, thickest silver needle from an acupuncture kit strapped to her calf.

She walked over to the man and viciously jabbed the needle into some unknown pressure point, muttering, "Let’s get this over with. Taking this long on one little scrub... I’m still waiting to get a midnight snack."

The man’s eyes flew open, and he started taking huge, gasping breaths.

Yvonne Lowell’s lips curved into a smile as she pushed the bullet in front of him. "You’re awake! See? The bullet is out. My technique is pretty good, huh?"

The man felt as if a chunk of his thigh was gone. He turned his head to look, and sure enough, what lay on the floor wasn’t just the bullet.

"Hold on now, we still have the other side. This will be quick." Yvonne Lowell plunged the dagger into his other thigh and began to twist.

"There’s an old saying in Aurelia: amateurs watch for the thrill, but experts appreciate the skill. See your two wounds? Not only were the bullet entry points symmetrical, but the ’incisions’ I’m making are symmetrical too. How about that? Pretty amazing, right?"

The man: ’Amazing my @$$! Who the f—... cares about symmetry for something like this?!’

"If you’ve got the guts... then just... kill me!" the man screamed, his energy spent.

Yvonne Lowell remained unmoved. "Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. We’re all law-abiding citizens. We don’t do all that messy killing stuff. I’m clearly saving you. You bullied my man, and I’m returning evil with good. Isn’t that magnanimous of me?"

Hearing this, Leo Grant’s lips curled into a pleased smile.

’That’s right. He was her man.’

’That’s right. His darling was returning evil with good. She was as beautiful as she was kind.’

The man: ’Are you sure you’re "returning evil with good"? And not just getting revenge for your boyfriend?!’

This time, it took Yvonne Lowell nearly half as long to dig out the bullet, and she didn’t even give him the chance to pass out from the pain.

"Practice really does make perfect. See? That was much faster."

Yvonne Lowell wiped the blood from her dagger on him. "How about it? Still not planning to tell the truth?"

The man turned his head to the side. His face was pale, but he remained silent.

Nina Jennings rolled her eyes. "Seriously, why are you being so damn stubborn? Did your boss put a hex on you or something? You’re still protecting him when you’re in this state? Now that’s what I call true love!"

The man let out a sneer, his voice a broken, hoarse rasp from shouting.

"I’m not... an idiot. If I talk... are you... are you going to let me go?"

’The mission failed. Whether I get caught here or go back to the organization, it’s a death sentence either way.’

’In that case, I might as well be loyal to him one last time.’

’His only regret now was that he hadn’t died sooner. Then he wouldn’t be here, suffering at the hands of this crazy woman. Why couldn’t he have been in the group that died this afternoon?!’

Yvonne Lowell sighed lightly. "I was trying to be fair, seeing as you’re just a regular person. I didn’t want to resort to an overwhelming advantage, but you forced my hand. This is frustrating for me too, you know?"

In addition to hatred, the man’s eyes were now brimming with fear. He stared at her, eyes wide. "What... what are you going to do?!"

’Is this psycho going to burn me with that fire?’

Yvonne Lowell met his gaze, and at a speed visible to the naked eye, the man’s eyes glazed over.

Yvonne Lowell’s lip twitched. ’Hilarious. So much for his iron will. Putting on a loyal dog act... What a waste of my time.’

Then, Yvonne Lowell began to question him:

Yvonne Lowell: "Who sent you?"

The man: "The X Alliance leader, Lawrence."

Yvonne Lowell: "Why try to assassinate the Pavilion Master of the Shadow Pavilion?"

The man: "Because the Shadow Pavilion’s power on Continent R is too great. We can’t seize it from them openly, so our leader wanted to take advantage of the Pavilion Master’s death to absorb some of their power base while they were leaderless."

Yvonne Lowell: "And was it Lawrence’s idea to frame Moonshadow for it?"

The man: "Yes. Our leader had previously approached Moonshadow to propose they cooperate in taking down the Shadow Pavilion, but they refused. So he bore a grudge. If we were caught, the plan was to let them fight it out."

Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow and looked over her shoulder. "Anything else to ask?"

Leo Grant’s eyes were sparkling, shining with an extraordinary light.

He shook his head quickly. "No, that’s enough."

Alright. Yvonne Lowell snapped her fingers, and the man’s gaze slowly refocused.

"You... How did you just do that?"

Recalling what he had just said, the man’s eyes filled with despair. His face was ashen. How could someone perform hypnosis without any tools?!

"A lady has her secrets. It’s none of your business. I’m not your dad; I don’t have to tell you everything." Now that she was bored of the game, her previously amiable expression was gone.

She shot him an indifferent glance, then stood up and casually handed the dagger to Ian Lynch.

Ian Lynch hurried forward, accepting the dagger with both hands, his eyes filled with awe.

’At first, when he saw Miss Lowell pull out a knife, he assumed it would be just like their usual interrogations—brutal torture to force a confession.’

’He never expected that was just the appetizer, a way for her to let off some steam on behalf of her "bullied" master.’

’This was his first time seeing Miss Lowell use a Spiritual Ability. No, in his entire life, this was the first time he had ever seen anyone use a Spiritual Ability!’

’He was officially declaring Miss Lowell his new idol. Spiritual Abilities were the most badass thing ever!!! And count him in as a supporter of the master being a kept man!!!’

Leo Grant scurried over like an eager puppy, disinfectant wipe in hand, and carefully began cleaning her hands for her.

He didn’t say a word, but everyone around him could feel his joyful mood.