Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 183 Kaboom

[So, I am going to make a deal — let go of Rhys Wilder right now…

…or I will set the Secretary on fire.]

"Rhys Wilder!"

And without even a second later after the words of the individual in the video, Captain Leary barged inside Rhys's hospital room; practically kicking it down as he and the rest of his men quickly surrounded Rhys's bed.

"Put your hand behind your head and surrender yourself now, Rhys Wilder!" Captain Leary raised both his hands, and as he did so, a rifle that was probably almost the size of a rocket launcher appeared in his hands, "Surrender, or we will use lethal force!"

"Stop it!" "Try it," Katarina and Ayesha were the first to stand from the bed, with Katarina moving in front of Rhys and Ayesha moving in front of her, "Tell your men to calm down or I will rip off all of your balls, and let you eat it before you could even blink."

"Commander, please move," Captain Leary did not budge as he looked Ayesha in the eyes, "You are protecting a terrorist. If you're really willing to kill us for someone like him, then all I can say is that I am truly disappointed in you. Me and my men are following orders…

…our lives are in your hands now. I hope you make the right choice."

"Hm…" Ayesha's left eye slightly twitched as she looked at Captain Leary and his men. It is true that these men probably knew they were going to die if they even tried to take even a single step forward; even without her, Rhys was surrounded by other women who were completely on a different level in terms of strength — not to mention there were two Nobles too. But still… they have made their choice…

…and so has she.

"...Try even moving closer, and all of you are going to die."

"For a Lowborn…?" Captain Leary let out a very long and deep sigh as he closed his eyes, "Very well, just remember that our deaths are your—"

[Well, time's up.]

[Graah!]

And before Captain Leary could even finish his words, a loud scream suddenly shrieked throughout the entire room; causing everyone to just sucked in a deep breath as they all looked at the tablet that Rhys was holding; its sudden increase in brightness, now strong enough to reflect on everyone's skin.

Captain Leary only glanced for a few seconds, before quickly turning on the TV in Rhys's room. And as soon as he did so, the horrifying scream almost deafened their ears with dread. It made even him, who had seen many deaths throughout his missions, slightly shiver where he stood; his eyes, glowing as they reflected Secretary Karen burning… alive.

Everyone could really just stare at the TV, and perhaps the worst part of it all was that they all knew Secretary Karen would be alive for a few more minutes while the flames melted and ate through her flesh.

Vicky almost wanted to puke there and then — and she truly might have if she didn't look away. But fortunately, Secretary Karen's screams soon stopped; not because she died, but because her lips already melted together and closed shut. But… not even seconds later, screams once again resounded as the Secretary's melded lips ripped apart as she continued to shriek.

Vicky could really only move closer to Rhys and bury her face on his back; even though she was older than most of Rhys's women, she was probably the most sheltered among them — seeing something like this… was not something she ever truly expected to see.

"Rhys Wilder!" And once again, Captain Leary pointed his colossal rifle toward Rhys as he let out a roar, perhaps hoping to drown out Secretary Karen's shrieks, "Stop this right now! End it!"

"I… can't," Rhys breathed out, "I've already told you a thousand times, I and my guild are not involved in this."

"Men, apprehend the—"

[Hahahaha!]

And before Captain Leary could give the order that would mean the death of his squad, Secretary Karen's screams were replaced by the sound of a somewhat maniacal laughter. Everyone once again turned their focus back to the TV, only to see the masked individual standing in front of the camera and covering the burning Secretary Karen.

Her screams were still there, but they were now being drowned by the masked individual's voice.

[I didn't really have a plan on releasing the dear Secretary,] the masked individual then said as he pulled away a part of the mask that covered his hair, revealing a long, lush, and vibrant silver color; not glowing, however,

[I'm here to make a statement, not make a deal or whatever. I'm not even a part of Mr. Rhys Wilder's fancy guild. I would have loved to be…

…but the fucking bitch decided I wasn't good enough!]

"Rhys, could it be…?" Lina turned to look at Rhys, who just squinted his eyes in response.

[But I'll calm down. I apologize for calling you a fucking bitch, Mr. Rhys,] the masked… woman placed her hand on her chest before bowing her head, [But look, look!]

The masked woman then stepped to the side and gestured to Secretary Karen, whose flesh was now completely melted and her bones slightly revealing themselves for everyone to see — and perhaps the worst part of it all was that she was still showing signs of movement, of life.

[I did this,] the masked woman cackled, [And see? See how fast they judged you, Mr. Rhys!? Just because you are a Lowborn, they immediately believe that you're guilty. They immediately believe that you will do something like this, even though you've shown them nothing but kindness. Even though everything you've done was to free your fellow Lowborn…

…they treat you like a criminal. It doesn't matter if you really did it or not, it doesn't matter if you are guilty or not…

…they want you to be.]

"Fuck…" Lina closed her eyes, "...It's a fucking fanatic."

[It's fine that you didn't recruit me, Mr. Rhys,] the masked woman once again laughed, [You're right. I… I don't belong there, not yet — not until I've proven myself. Do you know why… why I wanted to join in the first place?]

The masked woman then grabbed the camera, rotating it and pointing it back to the Amerkan flag she was previously standing in front of.

[Because this…] The masked woman frantically pointed at the flag, [...This killed my brother and sister. Unlike me, they were… they were born Lowborns — a genetic defect, they said. They lacked the blood. And that's okay, they were beautiful, my beautiful baby siblings…

…but one day I came home, and I found them in front of our house... dead. Someone…]

"Oh no…" Katarina covered her mouth and closed her eyes as she saw tears seeping out from the woman's mask.

[Someone burned both of them alive in front of our house. They were 10 and 12,] the masked woman laughed, [And later…

…I found out my parents did it. My parents did it because they were ashamed of having Lowborn children. Funny, right?]

"Zeus fucking everyone," Ayesha could not help but breathe out a curse, "This is…"

[Well, thankfully social media wasn't a thing then — if not, they might have also posted it on the internet like with Mr. Rhys,] the masked woman then stood in front of the flag and grabbed it, [You see, Mr. Rhys — you and I are the same, and we have the same goal. My methods are just…

…a little more extreme.]

The masked woman then pulled down the flag, and as she did so, several more masked individuals appeared on the screen as the flag slowly danced and dropped from the air. No one was focusing on them, however, as everyone's eyes were on the insignia that replaced the Amerkan flag.

[We are the Dregs of Society…] The masked woman then placed her palm on her chest again. But instead of the left hand like the Wilder's Harem, she and the rest of her compatriots were using their right hand,

[...And we are only just beginning.]

[...Live? Are we live again!?] And with the so-called Dregs of Society ending their broadcast, the feed once again returned to the President's address, with the President and his assistants quickly collecting themselves as he faced the camera again.

[Citizens of Amerka,] the President slammed his fist on the podium, causing the entire stage he was standing on to quake and tremble, [We have just been declared war by a most heinous and evil organization. I will not even give them the pleasure of uttering their name! But I am telling all of you now, this will not be tolerated! I will—]

"!!!"

And before the President could finish his address, a violent light suddenly exploded behind him; a thunder, erupting and causing even the TV to tremble due to the bass it produced. And not even a second after, the feed was completely cut off.

"Sweet baby Zeus…" Ayesha turned to look at Rhys, "Did…

…they just bomb the President?"