Chapter 120: Chapter 73: Preparations (6)
I thought that spirit’s wish was simple, but it turned out to be harder than I expected. If I go through with it, I’ll stir up a massive wave of new problems. Still, I decided to move forward. All I have to do now is get rid of the witnesses. No witnesses, no problem it’s all very simple if you actually use your brain.
In the end, why complicate things? What’s the worst that could happen?
The spirit wants me to get rid of these useless thugs. I don’t see a big problem with that if anything, it’s a small chance for revenge, and a way to vent my anger. Maybe they’ll learn next time not to betray their alliances.
I held a playing card in one hand, and in the other, the dagger engraved with symbols of the Authority of Law. I walked forward until I stood before the massive iron gate. The guards didn’t notice me at first, but as soon as I stopped in front of them, they raised their swords toward me.
I threw a handful of playing cards into the air. They turned into black Crows that flew around the guards’ heads. Then I lifted my hand, and the cards returned to their original form but I reshaped them this time, sharper than the sword at my waist.
The cards shot forward, slicing into their flesh from every direction. Within moments, all the guards fell to the ground at once. I stood before their bodies, covered with playing cards, looked at them, and said:
"Well, that was much easier than I expected."
I knew these guards wouldn’t last against me the power gap was far too great but I thought they’d at least hold out for a few minutes.
I raised my head toward the iron door in front of me, rubbing my chin as I thought:
"Should I go in? Maybe there are more of them inside."
Then I heard footsteps in the distance. I turned quickly but saw no one. I approached the door and tried to push it, but it was locked.
So I muttered:
"I wish the door would open."
The massive iron door opened instantly. What was strange was that I didn’t feel any side effects usually, I’d experience an intense headache, especially with something this big, but I didn’t pay it any mind.
Maybe it was because of the mask?
In any case, I walked through the gate and entered. Inside was a vast hall filled with tables and sewing machines lined up in rows. In front of each machine sat men, women, the elderly, and even children, all chained to the floor by their legs. Their faces were thin, as if they hadn’t eaten in days. Around them stood many Skull Gang members with their horridly designed tattoos.
As soon as I entered, the Skull men turned to me. Before any of them could give an order, I pulled another set of playing cards from my coat pocket and tossed them into the air, just as I had before. The cards turned into Crows that flew above them, then dived toward the guards.
The Skull members tried to attack, but I raised my hand and directed the Crows at them. The Crows transformed into solid playing cards, piercing through their bodies and flesh, even their eyes and chests. Blood splattered across the room until only one man remained alive a single eye left, barely holding on through the shock.
I heard the cries of the chained workers. They lifted their heads and stopped working. The youngest among them, a boy who looked about five, started crying when he saw the corpses sprawled on the floor. I approached the last surviving man. His one good eye was bloodshot and trembling as he asked:
"Who the hell are you, bastard?"
I took a card from one of the guards’ corpses, twirling it between my fingers while charging it with authority energy, and said:
"Me? I haven’t really thought about that yet."
I tossed the card into the air, and it immediately turned into a golden Crow that soared overhead before landing on my shoulder, turning black again.
"You can call me... the Miracle Magician."
The man tried to speak, but before he could open his mouth, I raised the dagger in my other hand and sliced his head clean off in a swift motion. The head hit the factory floor, blood splattering across my mask.
As I wiped the blood off the blade, I said:
"That was way too easy. Have I gotten stronger, or are these men just incredibly weak?"
I turned toward the chained workers. Some of them tried to stand and run but couldn’t they collapsed to the ground because of the restraints. Most of them stayed in place, frozen, though it was obvious they were terrified. A small number of them, however, had faces devoid of any reaction or emotion.
I could feel their desires most wanted freedom, some wished for death, and others felt nothing at all. What kind of lives had they been living here?
I stood silently, taking in the sight of the sewing machines and the blood-soaked floor. What now? I said earlier I’d deal with the witnesses, but these people weren’t who I meant they weren’t thugs or Skull members.
I walked toward one of them, a man who looked to be in his early thirties, with sunken eyes. I gently placed my hand on his shoulder and said softly:
"Wish for everyone’s chains to be broken."
The man swallowed hard, his hands trembling.
"Please... spare my life."
I patted his shoulder lightly, lowering my voice even more:
"Just make the wish. I won’t hurt you."
He stammered as he spoke:
"I wish..."
He stopped and said nothing more. I waited, but he remained silent. My hand was still on his shoulder when I said:
"Finish it."
"I wish..."
He went silent again. I moved my hand off his shoulder and pointed toward a random woman standing in the back, speaking calmly to ease him:
"You seem too nervous. If you can’t say it, just tell me, and I’ll ask someone else."
When he heard that, his face turned pale, and he quickly said:
"Could you remind me what I’m supposed to wish for again? I forgot."
I smiled behind the mask, patting his shoulder once more.
"You should’ve said that from the start. Wish for everyone’s chains to be broken."
Finally, this time, he made the wish:
"I wish for everyone’s chains to be broken."
The moment he said it, I snapped my fingers. The chains around their legs shattered instantly. After that, half of them ran toward the exit, while the other half stayed where they were.