Chapter 12 - Object

Julian turned to Clarissa and pointed at the unconscious enemies lying in a heap.

"Tie them up. All of them."

Clarissa nodded and raised her hand. With a flick of her fingers, the bodies floated through the air one by one. Using a bundle of cords and straps they had gathered earlier, she bound their hands and ankles with precise telekinetic control.

When she was done, she looked back at Julian and smiled slightly. "That was impressive. Taking down all four of them like that…"

Emma, who had been watching quietly, asked, "So… is it true? The rumors about you?"

Julian shrugged with a half-smile. "Hard to say. Depends on who's telling the story."

Before either of them could respond, his expression turned serious. "Change of plans," he said. "After this, Erwin's going to notice Kael's missing. He'll get suspicious, and start hunting us. We can't wait for him to come. We strike first before his group gets stronger."

Emma clenched her fists. "Perfect. I've been waiting to get revenge on the rest of those bastards anyway."

Clarissa, however, looked uncertain. "Can we really win… against all of them?"

Julian looked at her and Emma, his tone calm and confident.

"We'll win. Because I'm fighting beside two goddesses."

Clarissa's cheeks turned red. "J-Julian…"

Emma blushed slightly and looked away. "Alright, alright. That's enough. So what's the plan?"

Julian's gaze drifted toward the bound Kael and his allies. He walked over slowly, then crouched next to Kael's limp body.

SMACK!

A loud slap echoed through the room.

Kael stirred and groaned, blood on his lips, bruises blooming across his face. His eyes blinked open and narrowed at the sight of Julian. "What… do you want?"

Julian's voice was low and deliberate. "How many people in Erwin's group have skills?"

Kael didn't answer. He just stared.

Julian's fist crashed into his jaw.

Kael growled. "You think that'll make me talk?!"

Another punch. Harder this time. Then another.

Emma winced. Clarissa turned her head away slightly.

Julian grabbed Kael's collar and asked again, "How many?"

"I… I won't tell you…"

CRACK.

Another blow. Kael's head snapped to the side. Blood dripped from his lip, one of his eyes starting to swell shut. His breaths became ragged.

Then, finally "Stop! STOP! I'll tell you! Just… stop hitting me!"

Julian smiled darkly. "That's more like it. Why make things so difficult?"

Kael, breathing heavily, began to talk. Through stutters and pain, he revealed everything he knew, how Erwin's inner circle worked, how many had skills, their hideout, supply routes, numbers. All of it.

Julian took it all in with silent calculation.

When Kael finished, he looked at Julian with desperate hope. "So… are you going to let us go now?"

Julian didn't answer.

Instead, he turned away.

"Emma. Clarissa. Pack up. We move now. It's time to break Erwin's empire."

Emma grinned. "Finally. I've been dying to test this power out."

A small flame sparked at her fingertips.

Clarissa simply nodded, her expression calm but serious.

Behind them, Kael's panic rose. "Wait! WAIT! I can help! Let me join your group! I can be useful, I swear!"

He struggled against the ropes. Julian didn't even look back.

"Please! Don't leave me here!"

The other captives began to wake, groaning, blinking through confusion, then panic. They realized they were tied up.

"Emma! Please!" one of the girls cried. "You're our friend, right? Don't leave us like this!"

Emma looked at them, eyes cold. "Enjoy it. Feel what I felt when you left me behind."

"Emma, you bitch—!"

Julian turned slightly as Kael screamed, "You won't beat Erwin! He'll crush you! You're NOTHING compared to him!"

Julian finally glanced over his shoulder. His face calm. Unbothered.

"Let's go," he said.

And just like that, they turned and left, Emma, Clarissa, and Julian, walking away without a second glance as Kael and his crew screamed behind them.

Only silence, and the distant growl of approaching zombies, filled the air as the door closed.

-------×-------

That night, Erwin basked in indulgence.

Soft laughter, the scent of perfume, the warmth of flesh pressing against him, this was his kingdom, and tonight, he felt like a god. He lounged lazily on the makeshift bed in his private room, surrounded by a few trembling girls who did everything to appease his mood. Pleasure dulled his mind, but hunger, the darker kind, still stirred in his chest.

Veronica… he thought, licking his lips slowly. Soon.

But another face flashed in his mind, Aya. Quiet. Insecure. But there was a certain charm in her awkwardness. Not bad… maybe she should be next. Once she's tasted what I offer, she'll be mine completely.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Leader," a voice called from outside. "Ryan's team just got back."

Erwin groaned in mild annoyance, then rose slowly, brushing aside the girls as if they were mere blankets. "I'll be there shortly."

A few minutes later, Erwin stepped outside into the main courtyard where the returning scouts had gathered. Ryan stood at the front, his round figure proudly upright, a faint grin on his face.

The rest of his team looked tired, but intact.

Not a single casualty.

Erwin's eyes sparkled with satisfaction. "Ryan," he said, smiling. "Not a scratch on you. Impressive."

Ryan chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Heh… we got lucky, I guess."

"Report," Erwin ordered.

Ryan quickly laid out the results of their mission: newly scouted supply routes, an abandoned convenience store with usable rations, and a clear path around a collapsed overpass.

Erwin nodded throughout, clearly pleased. "Excellent. You're proving to be very reliable. I reward those who do good work."

Ryan perked up. "Then… I have a request."

"Oh?" Erwin raised an eyebrow.

Ryan glanced sideways, a blush creeping up his cheeks. "I want… to spend the night with Veronica."

The courtyard fell quiet for a beat.

Veronica, who had been watching from the sidelines with crossed arms, narrowed her eyes in disgust. "What the hell? No way. I'm not—"

"She's mine," Erwin cut in calmly, without even looking at her. "Pick someone else."

Veronica's expression twisted in rage, but she bit her tongue, swallowing the scream building in her throat. The way Erwin said it, like she was an item on a shelf, burned into her skin like acid.

Ryan sighed, visibly disappointed. "I see… then… can I choose any other girl I want?"

Erwin glanced at him, eyes gleaming with calculation. He knew exactly what kind of man Ryan was, easily swayed by flesh, ruled by lust. But also useful. Loyal when given a leash.

"As long as you don't go too far," Erwin said. "Do as you wish."

Ryan lit up. "Thank you, sir! I'll follow you forever!"

He turned and marched off eagerly, calling over two nervous-looking girls to follow him. Erwin watched him go, chuckling under his breath.

Let him indulge. If he's satisfied, he won't betray me. He's too valuable to lose.

But then… a shadow passed across his face.

Still…

Kael's team hasn't returned.

And neither has Leo's Rippin team.

His smile faded into a sharp line.

Are they delayed… or dead?

His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the dark hallways of the compound, the firelight flickering across his face.

Something wasn't right.