Chapter 83: The Belly of the Beast

Rowena shivered violently.

Her breath hitched in her throat, and every strand of hair on her body stood on end as if electrified.

A suffocating pressure pressed down on her chest, making it difficult to breathe.

She had only ever felt something like this once before.

When she had faced Thoren.

But there was a crucial difference.

Thoren’s presence had been overwhelming, crushing even, but it had never been corrupt.

Standing before him made others feel insignificant, like dust beneath a vast sky, yet his aura was strangely pure.

There was no malice in it.

No rot.

No taint.

What stood before her now was something else entirely.

Rowena’s stomach churned violently.

Her nose twitched as an acrid sensation crawled up her throat, and she fought the overwhelming urge to retch.

She pressed her lips together tightly, forcing the nausea down with sheer will.

The undead energy seeping from the guard’s body was thick, oppressive.

It wrapped around her like invisible chains, tightening with every breath she took.

Worse still, that energy carried something foul beneath it.

Blood.

Evil.

A rancid stench that did not come from the senses but from the soul itself.

It irritated her, not like an itch on the skin, but like something scraping against the deepest part of her being.

Her very existence rejected it.

How many people has he killed… she thought grimly, her mind racing, for his undead energy to be this dense?

Her fists clenched unconsciously at her sides, knuckles whitening as her nails dug into her palms.

’This isn’t just undead energy,’ she realized with dawning horror. ’There’s evil energy mixed into it. Old. Heavy. Reeking of blood.’

She exhaled slowly through her nose, forcing herself to calm down.

’Stay calm. Go with the flow.’

That was the only way out of this alive.

Unfortunately, the moment they had stepped into the dungeon entrance, the guard had already noticed her.

Behind the hood, his gaze narrowed sharply.

’Holy energy,’ he mused inwardly, his heart skipping a beat.

His confusion deepened.

’What are they doing here?’

His thoughts raced.

’Did they discover me?’

Impossible.

If his cover had truly been blown, Minerva would never have come alone.

The dungeon would have been stormed by half the Federation Police force.

There would have been alarms.

Orders.

Arrest warrants.

Yet here she was, calm, righteous, and utterly unaware.

’If my cover isn’t blown… then why is she here?’

His gaze flicked subtly toward Rowena.

And then his pupils contracted.

’That girl…’

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

’She knows.’

Perhaps not everything but enough.

A slow, sinister smile tugged at the corner of his lips beneath the hood.

’Then I must end her quickly,’ he decided. ’Before she opens her mouth.’

Rowena shuddered violently.

Her instincts screamed.

She could feel it now, killing intent. Subtle but razor-sharp, brushing against her skin like the edge of a blade.

Shit, she cursed inwardly. ’He’s discovered me.’

Her heart slammed violently against her ribcage.

Her breathing hitched.

Her stomach twisted painfully.

For a brief moment, she felt his cold, murderous gaze settle fully on her body. Her muscles stiffened, and she nearly forgot how to breathe.

’Don’t show fear,’ she screamed inside her head. ’Don’t you dare.’

Right now, maintaining a brave façade was her only ticket out of this underground hell alive.

She locked eyes with the guard, meeting his gaze head-on.

The two exchanged silent daggers through their stares.

All the while, Minerva continued speaking, completely oblivious.

Unknown to her, her best friend was fighting desperately just to keep her composure.

Minerva believed she had come here to uncover the truth, to make things right.

But she was wrong.

They had walked straight into the belly of the beast.

“So,” Minerva said firmly, finishing her statement, her expression filled with righteous indignation, “I need to speak with the prisoner.”

The guard turned fully toward her.

An evil grin tugged at the corner of his lips, hidden beneath the shadow of his hood.

’Once they’re inside,’ he thought coldly, ’disposing of them will be easy.’

“Vice-Captain Minerva,” he said slowly, his voice low and grating, “without the captain’s authorization, no one is permitted to enter the dungeon.”

He paused deliberately.

“But,” he continued, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret, “considering your… private investigation, I’ll allow it.”

He leaned slightly forward.

“However, you must ensure the captain never finds out.”

Minerva nodded without hesitation. “You don’t have to worry. The captain won’t know.”

Her confidence was absolute.

“We’ll be in and out before anyone notices.”

Rowena’s fingers twitched.

Her heart sank.

Minerva’s thoughts were too simple—too trusting.

She failed to notice the subtle shift in the guard’s posture, the predatory glint in his gaze, or the barely restrained excitement beneath his calm exterior.

Rowena brushed her little finger against Minerva’s hand desperately, trying to draw her attention.

’Don’t,’ her touch screamed. ’We need to leave.’

But Minerva didn’t notice.

She was too focused on her goal.

Turning toward Rowena, Minerva said brightly, “Let’s go in quickly.”

She reached out and grabbed Rowena’s hand, tugging her forward.

Her body locked in place as if rooted to the ground.

“What?” Minerva asked, misunderstanding her hesitation.

A teasing smile crept onto her lips. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of the dungeon?”

She waved dismissively. “Don’t worry. The prisoners are locked behind bars, and the chains suppress their mana.”

She thought this would reassure her.

It didn’t.

Rowena inhaled sharply.

Enough was enough.

“We’re leaving,” Rowena said firmly, her voice low but absolute.

Before Minerva could react, Rowena grabbed her wrist and pulled her away.

“What?!” Minerva exclaimed, stumbling slightly. “Have you forgotten why we came here?”

Her voice rose, irritation creeping in.

“This is the only way to confirm our suspicions!”

Rowena ignored her completely.

She increased her pace, dragging Minerva along as they headed for the stairs.

Over her shoulder, Rowena glanced back.

The guard was staring at them.

Intently.

Too intently.

Then he rose from his seat.

He removed his hood and robe as he followed, his disguise dissolving as easily as mist.

His true appearance was revealed. A thin young man with ash-gray hair. His eyes were dark and hollow, like bottomless wells that had never known light.

’I can’t let them leave,’ he thought coldly. ’They must die here.’

He quickened his pace.

Without his disguise, he looked like any other Federation Police officer.

That was the most terrifying part.

As they emerged from the dungeon corridor, Minerva yanked her arm free and spun toward Rowena.

“Explain,” she demanded. “What is wrong with you?”

Rowena didn’t answer.

She headed straight for the exit.

This time, she didn’t try to pull Minerva along.

If Minerva wanted to stay and throw her life away because of blind trust, she would not die with her.

’That bastard is following me,’ Rowena thought grimly. ’I need to get out and disappear.’

Just as she stepped outside the Federation Police building, she felt someone beside her.

Minerva.

Rowena froze.

Seeing the fear etched across Rowena’s face, Minerva finally realized something was deeply, horribly wrong.

“What’s going on?” Minerva whispered.

Rowena turned slowly.

She stared at her naïve, borderline foolish best friend and leaned close, pressing her lips to Minerva’s ear.

“The guard,” she whispered, her voice shaking despite her efforts, “is a necromancer.”

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