The houses in Mucktown were short, small and barely hanging on in harsh weather. Their roads were muddy. Their town was dying. Meat was scarce and even plants had a difficult time to survive.

But none of that concerned the Bailiff. He lived in a two-story complex that had many rooms and space. The manor was smaller than Jude's estate but still way better than any structure you could see in Mucktown.

It had a stable, a big courtyard, and many places to waste your time for entertainment.

When Siderius arrived at the manor, it was guarded by five soldiers in the front. The gate was made of steel, reaching higher than all the helmets of the soldiers.

The guards in Mucktown had no armor. But that wasn't the case for the Bailiff's personal soldiers. They were all equipped with armor.

Their armor had very low quality but still, it could save them in the grave situations.

The soldiers didn't have a full set like what Siderius was wearing. They each only had a cuirass, a flimsy chest armor that dangled freely on their upper body, a pair of gauntlets to protect their hand, and a pointy helmet with an open face.

They were clearly more well-trained than the previous guards as they stood in formation when Siderius appeared and aimed the spears at him.

"Who are you?! State your business!" The soldier roared.

Siderius passed the reins to Ashe. "Take my place."

He then jumped down from Red and grabbed his blade in one motion.

The soldiers stood their ground.

"I said! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" The soldier screamed again.

Siderius didn't bother to reason with them. These were the Bailiff's most trusted men. Their loyalty wouldn't be swayed easily.

He flipped the fire switch over, letting it rest on his blade and then he pulled.

The blade ignited on its way out and drew a fan of flame in the air. The scorching heat of the orange flame barked at the soldiers. The Dull Steel blade of dark gray went over the bodies of their spears.

All were broken in half in a blink of an eye.

The soldiers repulsed back. Their eyes widened as they saw the black burning tip of what remained as their weapons.

"You?!" A soldier threw his broken spear and grabbed at the sword on his waist.

Siderius loaded his left knee up high and released it like an arrow on a bow string. The side kick smacked on the soldier's lower abdomen, where his armor couldn't protect. He bent over and vomited.

He connected the kick with a diagonal slash, aiming at the right hand of the soldier right beside.

The soldier was trying to pull out his backup weapon as well, a sword. Siderius' flaming blade smashed his fingers into a mush as he was screaming in pain. Another strike from the blade going up from below, connecting flawlessly from the previous strike. The strike went over the second soldier's face, peeling off his skin and burning into his skull.

The soldier went down on his knee. His face burned black as his cold body fell flat to the ground.

The third soldier flanked Siderius from the side, trying to get him on his blind side. Siderius simply stepped back, creating distance to keep himself safe, and thrusting the flaming blade at the soldier's neck.

The soldier went all in and wasn't even considering protecting himself. The thrust got through easily. The thick hot blade smashed into his throat like a hammer. The third soldier wasn't able to breathe as he felt the pain of his broken neck.

Siderius flicked his wrist, slamming the blade onto the side of the soldier's neck. His fractured bone completely broke and he was sent to the afterlife.

The remaining two soldiers trembled in place. One had successfully unsheathed his sword but his legs buckled like jelly. He couldn't hold his sword right.

The other one threw his spear on the ground and ran as fast as he could.

"Fuck this!"

"Wait! Don't leave me!" The last soldier screamed out in desperation.

Siderius' tall body seemed even more intimidating than before. His shadow towered over the trembling soldier like primordial darkness.

"HELP ME!"

The soldier's last scream spread far and wide. The other soldier lost all the blood in his face. He didn't dare to turn back and just continued running.

Half an hour ago. Inside the Bailiff's manor.

Germort De Beauvoir was the Bailiff of Mucktown for twenty long years. He was the only descendant of his minor clan in his generation. Everyone else was either dead or unable to birth an heir.

All hope was lost until he found his true calling, his desire. He loved to see the smaller people struggle, to barely hang on for dear lives. It made Germort feel alive.

Every time an ant had to strip its integrity to live, he smiled.

He liked to play with them. And he liked to make them suffer. It made him feel like a god.

And Snow, the forgettable actor with a pretty face, was simply a gesture of goodwill from him toward the Starcrow Clan.

A year ago. Lyara Starcrow, the youngest heir of the Starcrow Clan had come to him for help. She wanted that boy for herself.

His soul, his body, and his love. In a way, Lyara also played with these ants the same way Germort did. The only difference was their preferences.

Lyara wanted their love, their lust, and their eternal loyalty.

Germort simply wanted to watch them crawl.

In the present. Germort sat in his empty manor hall and grinned widely. In front of him was a girl with a fairly desirable complexion. She was his newest victim.

Germort licked his lips and gazed upon the girl from top to bottom. He just raised the farmer tax a little bit. Just enough to make her family die this winter.

Her father, a useless man with no power, came to him for help.

"Who do he think he is? A simple human peasant dares to ask me? A high lord for favors? That act alone is heresy."

So Germort had imprisoned the man and here was his daughter.

"I... Do I really have to do this..." The girl trembled like a reed in the wind.

"You know the deal, peasant. Do it and your stupid father goes free."

The girl reached to the shoulder of her shirt and slowly peeling it down.

"HELP ME!"

The scream spread throughout the manor. It froze the girl mid-motion and caused the Bailiff to stand up in fear.

That scream. It was a scream of a dreadful soul that experienced utmost desperation.

Germort didn't know what to think. His good mood went out of the window.

"Who dares disturb my household!" The Bailiff screams.

A soldier barged into the hall. The girl yelped in shame as she pulled her shirt back on.

The soldier glanced at the girl but ignored her. He came before the Bailiff.

"My.. My lord..." His lips were trembling.

"Yes? What is it? Speak normally, you swine. I can't understand a word you're saying."

"Someone is attacking the manor!"

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