The Way of the Future: Age of Machines(Completed)

Loving Reunion

"Silv!"  Pandora shouted. She ran across the slimy floor and dirty walls. There lied her friend, Silvanna, unconscious and considerably injured and covered by white slimes all over her body and the floor.

Pandora hugged her tight and cried her eyes out while Wart, Artemis and Reinhard watched from the open door. 

"Tell me, Reinhard. Why didn't you do anything?" Artemis asked.

Reinhard knelt before Wart and Artemis, his forehead wet from his sweat. 

"I did not know that Ava had her dragged here not until a few hours ago, please, have mercy!" Reinhard begged.

Wart looked at Artemis and sighed.

"I can heal her wounds but I doubt I can heal her mentally," Wart said.

"Yes, milord," Artemis said.

"William, see to it that every criminal here is interrogated. I want everyone accountable to confess and if I find evidence that the number of those guilty are lower than who confessed, mark my words Reinhard..." 

Artemis placed his face near Reinhard's.

"I will massacre them all," Artemis said.

"Y-yes!" Reinhard screamed. 

"Good, now get going. I can't have my king be coronated at the time like this," Artemis said.

Artemis stood and called upon the guards of the tower.

"Round up the prisoners and prepare the torture chambers!" He shouted.

"Are you sure that torture is necessary?" Wart asked Artemis. 

"It is, milord. Don't forget that the ones who did this to her are criminals, actors of heinous crimes. They do not deserve anything but pain," Artemis said.

"I see," 

Artemis' plan of turning his newfound king into a puppet was working. Although Artemis appeared to be a trusted vassal by the king's side, he secretly controlled his decisions and influenced his ways by means of psychology.

The dwarf was oblivious. 

But Artemis knew he needed to maintain his image that he was a strong, independent, and noble king to the Fortress City.

And his stage was going to be set soon.

Despite their efforts, a few knights and a handful of mages loyal to the Count managed to escape. It won't be long until Lord Rism sends out an army to reclaim the Fortress City.

Depending on the size of the army and the composition of its forces, Artemis could either eliminate them in one fell swoop or rip and tear all of them until it is done.

But if Lord Rism was to personally lead the siege. Artemis would just himself go into the battlefield and challenge him in a duel.

If Lors Rism has an honor to maintain, he would blindly accept Artemis' offer and it will be his doom.

But before Artemis could drool over his supposed inevitable victory, he needed to repair the damage in the city.