Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 318 Hostage

"My wife… did she suffer when you killed her?"

Time stopped after that. Millions and millions of thoughts, racing across and around Rhys's mind as he just stared at Dr. Dhani and Katarina — he could probably do something, but what exactly?

Dr. Dhani's hands were already wrapped around Katarina's head, even if he moved at Mach speeds, there would always be a chance that Dr. Dhani could do something before that—no. Dr. Dhani wasn't just a healer, he was ranked 8th as the strongest Explorer in the world, and that means something.

Even Ayesha, who was actually there just in case something like this happened, was completely stumped as to what to do; her dilemma, the exact same as Rhys. And now that she was thinking about it, all of the doctor's moves were calculated.

Dr. Dhani asked Ayesha to move the table and any of the other surrounding furniture — and that made her and Rhys instinctively give them space and stand near the walls. He then asked Katarina to sit on the floor where she just instinctively crossed her legs together to imitate him.

He also asked what her dominant hand was, and when he confirmed it, he finally leaned closer to him and grabbed her head in a way that she wouldn't be able to move at all… unless she wanted her brains pierced by Dr. Dhani's thumbs.

No, right now, her head being pierced by Dr. Dhani's thumbs was the least of her worries. With the doctor's abilities, he could probably just make her explode there and then.

But while Rhys and Ayesha's minds were racing endlessly and violently, a long and very deep sigh just escaped Katarina's lips. Her shoulders that were initially incredibly tensed, just lowering along with her hand that was about to instinctively grab Dr. Dhani's.

"Yes," Katarina answered clearly, without any stutter or nervousness.

"Kat—" Rhys gritted his teeth, but Katarina just raised her palm; gesturing to Rhys to do nothing.

"My weapon of choice as an assassin was a set of scalpels sharp enough to slice through steel like butter," Katarina then started talking; the cadence of her voice as if reciting a memory long gone. There was, however, a hint of nostalgia seeping from her lips as she uttered her words,

"I met your wife when I disguised myself and entered as a maid in your estate — I had every chance to poison her since I made her cha. Poison her and put her to sleep, she would have just died peacefully. But I thought she did not deserve a quick death for all of the crimes she committed."

"I see," Dr. Dhani's voice became cold as he looked down.

"You have seen the body," Katarina breathed out, "After I drugged her, I tied her up and cut off several of her major arteries and watched her bleed to death on her bed."

"I see," Dr. Dhani closed his eyes as he took in a deep and heavy breath — Rhys wanted to take this chance to rush toward Dr. Dhani, but as soon as a light flashed and flickered in his hand; Rhys stopped in his tracks without even a full step. Once again…

…Rhys found himself hopeless.

But it was, however, completely different now.

"Doctor…" Rhys let out a long and deep sigh as he looked at Dr. Dhani, "...I apologize for tricking you."

"You apologize for tricking me?" Dr. Dhani breathed out as he glanced at Rhys, "Or do you apologize for getting caught?"

"I apologize for tricking you," Rhys repeated his words, and this time, he finally took a full step forward and approached Dr. Dhani.

"Recruit!" Ayesha tried to grab Rhys's hand — but he just activated Olga's ability to quickly step to the side; almost vanishing in place, "What are you doing…?"

"But we were planning to tell you the truth after — that was our deal, after all," the tone of Rhys's voice became extremely deep and stoic; his silver eyes, completely devoid of any emotion that would reveal his intent, "And Ayesha is here for contingency in case you did not like what you hear after — and if needed…

…we were going to kill you."

"Thank you for being honest, Child," Dr. Dhani smiled as he heard Rhys's words.

"If you kill her now," Rhys then let out a small but very deep sigh as he sat on the floor 2 meters away from Rhys and Ayesha, "I will massacre the family you have left. Your siblings, your cousins, your friends — I know where they all live. But it doesn't matter, I will raze your entire country."

"It is not very wise to threaten the man who holds the life of your loved one, Mr. Wilder," Dr. Dhani shook his head.

"Because right now, I do not really have control over whether or not you really will kill Kat," Rhys sighed, "It happened to me before, remember? I was helpless then, I am helpless now. You could kill her now, that choice is yours…

…So, choose. Her life, for the lives of all your people."

"It would seem I have truly judged you well, Mr. Wilder," Dr. Dhani let out a small chuckle before shaking her head, "Just like me…

…you are willing to make the entire world hurt for the people you love."

And as Dr. Dhani said that, the light in his hands became even more violent.

"You—"

"I'm the one who killed my wife," Dr. Dhani then quickly followed up as he looked at Rhys, causing him to just halt his steps there and then.

"What?" Rhys blinked a couple of times.

"I am the one who sent out a hit on her," Dr. Dhani then let out a very long and deep sigh as he closed his eyes, "The reason why I know who you are is because I was the one feeding information to your organization about my wife, Dr. Katarina. It was me…

…I killed my wife."

And as Rhys saw the expression on Dr. Dhani's face relax completely, so did him. Rhys would recognize this face anywhere — it was extreme solace. The very same expression he had when Sylas was already gone.

"Mother…" Ayesha wiped out the sweat from her forehead as she just dropped to the floor there and then, "...Are you crazy? Why would you even—"

"Because I was trying to show you — the three of you," Dr. Dhani then very gently let go of Katarina's head, and there — she started to blink several times as light began returning to her eyes.

"This is…" And her eyes did not even need to adjust to anything, only the light. She didn't even feel anything, it was as if she had just truly opened her eyes after not opening them for so long — and there, she saw Dr. Dhani looking and smiling at her.

Dr. Dhani then turned to glance at Ayesha, before glancing at this shadow behind him and repeating his words, "I want to show the three of you…"

Dr. Dhani did not look at Rhys at all when he said that, "I wanted to show you that sometimes…

…you need to be the one to stop the person you love from the monster they have become."

And finally, Dr. Dhani turned to look at Rhys, staring him in the eyes in silence for a few seconds before a smile finally crawled on his face,

"I apologize for making everyone nervous," Dr. Dhani then softly chuckled as he patted Katarina's shoulders several times, "My age has led me to have a skewed sense of humor. Now then…

…shall we get your arm back, Doctor?"

"!!!"

Katarina started screaming after that — she was used to pain, but regenerating body parts this fast meant that each individual nerves, flesh, bone, and everything in between would start scratching, scraping, and hitting each other as they regrow.

The only thing Rhys and Ayesha could do was hold onto Katarina and make sure she wouldn't lash out violently from the pain. Fortunately, it did not really last that long — not even a quarter of a minute.

It did, however, feel like hours for everyone in the room.

And finally, just like that — Katarina was whole again, like nothing even happened; well, perhaps except for the fact that Katarina was incredibly pale and completely knocked out on the bed now.

"Thank you, Doctor."

"What… are you doing?" And almost immediately, Rhys kneeled on the floor in front of Dr. Dhani.

"I threatened you and—"

"Nonsense, Boy," Dr. Dhani shook his head as he lifted Rhys, "There is no need for any of that, you are a man in love. Men in love do dangerous things."

"But—"

"Come on then — let's remove your wooden leg and arms," Dr. Dhani then shook his head, "A man should not be walking around missing limbs."

"No," Rhys shook his head, "Our deal was for my sister and Katarina only, I can't be—"

"I already told you earlier," Dr. Dhani shook his head again, "I healed your sister's mind at no cost. Now strip…

…or I will do it for you."