104: Chapter 104 Intelligence

It would have been fine if he hadn't checked, but once he did, he uncovered a major problem.

Although the two individuals who had been enhanced by the strange power didn't look any different on the outside, and even after being injured they didn't seem as weak as ordinary people—they were actually quite spirited—

their bodies were riddled with holes inside, much like those of fifty or sixty-year-old elders, lacking any vitality of a young person.

Furthermore, the life force that young people should possess had dropped significantly.

Based on these findings, the conclusion was easy to understand.

Using that strange power was not without a price, and the price was quite steep—it came at the cost of consuming their life force.

Perhaps after invoking that power once or twice more, the two of them wouldn't even need anyone else to finish them off; they would simply die from the exhaustion of their life force triggered by the power.

However, if it were only because of this, it wouldn't have caused Byron's expression to become so gloomy.

The strange power within the two had vanished.

That's right. After Yaze and the other finished using it, the power that had been coiled around them did not resurface; it had simply vanished, leaving not a single trace behind.

Regarding this situation, there could only be two outcomes.

The first possibility is that this power was merely a disposable item that could only be used once, and would need to be replenished to be used again.

The second possibility—and also the worst one—

is that the deity behind these two had already noticed and proactively retracted the power.

However, apart from these two possibilities, there was actually a third.

That is, the power was one-time use, and the deity behind Yaze and his companion learned of the situation through some unknown channel.

Regarding these three outcomes, Byron always prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Byron turned his head to look at the two individuals still lying on the ground, shivering, and said coldly:

"Time is tight, and I do not wish to waste it on such tedious matters."

"From now on, you will answer whatever I ask. If you know, say you know; if you don't, say you don't."

"If you wish to stall for time, or keep your mouths shut, then all I can do is..."

"We'll talk, we'll talk! We'll tell you everything, my lord! Just ask!"

Before Byron could finish his sentence, Yaze, who had been groaning in pain on the ground, spoke up repeatedly without a hint of hesitation, completely unlike his previous demeanor.

Byron didn't mind the interruption and nodded. "Fine. If you had been this cooperative from the start, none of this would have happened."

As for the other one, Charles, who was clutching his arm and looking dazed and foolish, Byron paid him no mind.

He only needed to know the information about that deity; it didn't matter who told him.

Hearing this, a bitter expression appeared on Yaze's face as he complained internally.

Who knew you were this powerful? If you had said you were this strong earlier, he guaranteed he wouldn't have even twitched.

Byron ignored what Yaze was thinking and immediately began his interrogation.

"How did you obtain the power you used just now?"

Byron's words carried no emotion, causing Yaze to involuntarily shiver and answer in a trembling, hurried manner.

"It was given by a god—no, wait, an evil god."

"I was originally doing some small-time goods smuggling in Sevi City, barely scraping by, though it was easy to get beaten up. I—"

"Enough. I have no interest in hearing about your past; get to the point!"

Seeing that Yaze wanted to give a long-winded speech, Byron's eye twitched slightly, and he interrupted him directly, his tone becoming heavier.

He certainly didn't want to waste time listening to this guy's insights on thievery.

Yaze nodded repeatedly. "Right... right. I heard people saying that Baron Veilla was kindly providing relief to commoners, and wanting to get a meal, I went..."

"But to get fed, I had to worship that evil god, so I did... Afterward, I was somehow selected and joined an organization called the War God Church, and obtained this power."

After listening to Yaze, Byron pondered slightly.

Baron Veilla, War God Church, bestowing power.

After extracting the key information, Byron did not waste any time and continued asking.

"Then what about the power in your bodies—why does it disappear after you use it?"

Yaze: "I don't know about that either. It's just that before every mission, we must pray before that evil god, and then we can leave."

"And what do you usually do?"

"When we aren't needed for work, we are usually in the Baron's castle, praying to that evil god every day..."

"Do you know when that evil god appeared?"

"I'm not clear on that, but I heard from the servants in the Baron's castle that the evil god descended from the sky and landed directly inside the castle."

"..."

Afterward, Byron asked Yaze for specific information about Baron Veilla, how many people were in the castle, the security situation, what the evil god's statue looked like, and what the content of their prayers was...

After asking all his questions, Byron nodded, stood up, and turned to look toward the east—that was the direction of Baron Veilla's castle, and also the location of the evil god.

Seeing this, Yaze wore a fawning smile as he looked at Byron. "My lord, since you've finished asking your questions, I wonder if I can leave now?"

Hearing this, Byron retracted his gaze and nodded slightly. "Very well. I have finished my questions; you may go."

Upon hearing this, the anxiety in Yaze's heart instantly dissipated, and he became ecstatic.

Thinking about the reward he would receive once he delivered news of this person to Baron Veilla, Yaze felt increasingly excited.

Looking at Byron's handsome, youthful face, and then thinking of the injury on his leg, his resentment toward Byron grew even stronger.

He even began to think darkly that once this person was captured by Baron Veilla, he would definitely...

"However, seeing as you were so cooperative, and I am not an unreasonable person, I will see you off."

Yaze was stunned. The smile on his face instantly stiffened, and he said dryly: "That won't be necessary, right? We'll be home in a few steps; we won't trouble you, my lord."

A playful look appeared on Byron's face. "No, I insist on seeing you off."

As he spoke, a bright flame appeared on Byron's palm, dancing continuously in the air.

Although he couldn't read minds, he wasn't blind; Yaze's thoughts were already written all over his face, honestly.

Seeing this, Yaze's eyes became filled with extreme terror. He pushed himself back along the ground with his hands, shouting: "No, don't! Please, don't do this, I just..."

But before Yaze could finish his sentence, a ball of flame immediately landed on him.

In an instant, before he could even let out a scream, his entire body turned into a pile of ashes.

Seeing this, Byron turned and walked toward the room he had been staying in.

Although time was very tight now, he still had to make the necessary preparations.

Moreover, he wouldn't do something as foolish as charging into the enemy camp alone; it wasn't as if he had no one behind him.