“To avoid trouble, the four guards must die,” Mulder said bluntly.
The four Red Legion guards instantly turned pale upon hearing that.
Even Warrick frowned, his face darkening.
“What nonsense are you spouting? They are my personal guards, my brothers-in-arms. How could they possibly betray me?”
“You never really know who you can trust. Betrayal happens all the time-even between comrades. For your safety, we can’t take that risk,” Mulder said solemnly.
“A warrior can be killed but never disgraced. We’ve followed Sir Prescott for years, through life and death. No matter the cost-even if it’s our lives-we would never betray him,” Geralt said.
“That’s right. Don’t judge loyal men by your own petty standards,” Kalen snapped.
Hmph! Scum like you could never understand the bond between men who have fought and bled together,” another added.
They responded to Mulder’s words with a mix of anger and disdain.
These men were Warrick’s personal guards -battle-hardened and fiercely loyal. They had faced life-and-death trials and wouldn’t hesitate to lay down their lives for him.
From the day they joined the Red Legion to the moment they were chosen as Warrick’s personal guards, one belief had been drilled into them-his safety came before everything.
Not just their own lives-even if all their families’ lives were added together, they still wouldn’t measure up to Warrick’s importance. Loyalty and duty bound these Red Legion guards, but so did the unforgiving military code.
If Warrick fell, they were expected to take their own lives in atonement, and their families wouldn’t be spared either. That was why betrayal had never even crossed their minds.
“I may not care for your so-called brotherhood, but I understand human nature-and pain,” Mulder said coldly.
He continued, “If any of you get caught, no matter how tough you think you are, you won’t withstand the tortures inside Grimhold Keep. So, don’t bother arguing with me because I used to work there. I’ve seen too many real-life examples, and there has never been a single exception.”
The punishments in Grimhold Keep were beyond what most people could imagine.
Anyone who hadn’t experienced them could never fully grasp the depth of suffering and despair.
Plenty of so-called tough guys went in cursing and acting like they had nothing to lose, but those were usually the first to break and rarely made it past half a day.
In that place, dying was a privilege, but most prisoners weren’t given that option. They couldn’t live, but they weren’t allowed to die either.
One of the most infamous cases ten years ago involved a serial rapist who had assaulted over 100 women and even murdered the daughter of a high-ranking official.
He had been imprisoned in Grimhold Keep for three years, tortured beyond recognition, and eventually turned into a living corpse. His suffering only ended when the official’s rage had subsided.
Having witnessed so much bloodshed, Mulder had no faith in human resilience. He didn’t believe anyone could withstand the interrogation techniques used in Grimhold Keep.
At the mention of that place, the Red Legion guards fell silent, and their earlier defiance faded. Though they had never seen the place themselves, they knew well enough how terrifying it was. It wasn’t a place where anyone walked out whole.
If they were truly captured and sent there, could they endure the torture? None of them could say for sure.
“Sir Prescott, for your own safety, make a decision,” Mulder said.
Warrick lowered his head, and his face was clouded with uncertainty.
“If you can’t do it, I can take care of it for you,” Mulder added.
“No need.” A cold glint flashed in Warrick’s eyes. “They’re my men. I’ll do it myself.”
He drew his blade and swung it at the four men before him. The blade swept across in a blinding arc, fast as a lightning strike.
The four guards shuddered as red lines bloomed across their throats.
“Sir Prescott… you…”
Kalen’s eyes widened in shock. He barely had time to speak before the red line on his neck split open. Blood gushed out, and his head tumbled to the ground.
The other three met the same fate, their eyes filled with disbelief even in death.
They had never expected Warrick to be so ruthless-to kill them without hesitation.
They had been prepared to die for Warrick, but they had never expected to be killed by him.
“I’m sorry,” Warrick murmured as he looked at the lifeless bodies at his feet. “I owe you in this life. In the next, I’ll repay you double.”
Mulder smiled. “Fast and ruthless-just what I’d expect from a man like you, Sir Prescott.”
Men like Warrick, hardened by war and countless battles, never showed mercy. They carved their way through blood and death.
Mulder hadn’t expected Warrick to be so ruthless. He’d assumed Warrick would leave the dirty work to him. However, Warrick had handled it himself.
“Save your breath,” Warrick said coldly. ” If I don’t make it out of Celestria today, none of you will.”
“Don’t worry, Sir Prescott. Everything has been arranged,” Mulder said with a smirk. “If all goes according to plan, you will be out of West Lucozia by tomorrow morning.
“That better be the case.” The murderous glint in Warrick’s eyes gradually faded.
“Sir Prescott, this way.”
Mulder signaled his men to open the courtyard gate. Then, he led the group out in an orderly fashion.
Now wearing a City Defenders uniform, Warrick blended in seamlessly with the patrol. As long as they didn’t run into anyone who knew him, no one would question it.
