As the three of them stepped into the dungeon, the damp, bone-chilling air sent shivers down their spines. Livia stood silently at the entrance, her gaze fixed on the traitor bound to the chair in the center of the room. Behind her, Marcellus stood with his fingers slightly curled, barely containing his simmering anger. Elias, however, strode directly to the chair, his eyes blazing with fury, ready to launch into questioning.
Unexpectedly, before the interrogation even began, the traitor, Allen, broke down. His voice, trembling with fear and regret, burst forth, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! I didn't know things would turn out like this!"
Allen's sudden outburst left the three momentarily stunned. Livia instinctively glanced at Marcellus, while Elias frowned deeply, his sharp gaze locked onto Allen, clearly distrustful of his words.
"You'd better start from the beginning and explain everything. If you don't, you won't like the consequences." Elias's low voice carried an oppressive weight. He leaned forward, his piercing eyes boring into Allen's very soul.
Allen raised his tear-streaked face, his body trembling as he stammered out, "I-I thought… I thought the commander just wanted to know your preferences—things like what gifts you'd like! I only shared trivial details: where you went, what you did, who you met…"
Elias's eyes narrowed, his tone turning icy. "So, you sold out my movements just for the sake of a few gifts?"
"No, no! It's not like that!" Allen frantically shook his head, nearly banging it against the floor. "I got paid each time! And I saw that the gifts pleased you… I thought it was harmless, just a way to win your favor! I swear, I didn't know something like this will happen. If I had known, I'd never—never—have dared!"
The atmosphere in the dungeon grew heavier with each passing word. Elias's hands clenched into fists, his eyes blazing with fury. With a loud bang, he slammed his fist onto the nearby table, the sound reverberating through the room and causing Allen to flinch so violently he nearly fell from his chair.
"You're a fool beyond saving!" Elias's voice was a thunderous roar, filled with unrelenting anger. "All it took were a few compliments and a bit of money for you to betray my trust!"
Livia stood quietly, a storm of emotions swirling within her. She had long suspected that Eryx was pulling the strings behind this, but Allen's account revealed that it wasn't a meticulously crafted conspiracy. Instead, Eryx had skillfully exploited Allen's greed and stupidity.
"Eryx… so it was you," Livia thought to herself, her gaze hardening with icy resolve.
Marcellus, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was calm and low, but it carried an undeniable weight of authority. "You should understand that what you've done goes far beyond mere foolishness. Livia nearly lost her life because of you, and we were all placed in grave danger. Your remorse… comes too late."
Allen raised his head, his eyes filled with despair and pleading. "I'm sorry! I truly didn't know this would happen!"
Elias's sharp gaze sliced through Allen like a blade. His voice dripped with suppressed fury. "Livia came here disguised. If you weren't spying on us the entire time, how could you possibly have uncovered her true identity? Or are you trying to tell me that our conversations—private conversations—were part of your so-called 'trivial information'?"
Allen's face turned ashen. He stammered, desperately trying to defend himself. "I—I didn't—"
"Don't bother denying it," Elias interrupted coldly, his voice razor-sharp. "You're nothing but a spy who refuses to miss even the smallest detail. If, as you claim, you've been feeding him information for so long, why was Livia targeted for kidnapping today of all days? The timing is far too convenient to be a coincidence."
A flicker of panic crossed Allen's face. His lips trembled as he searched for an excuse, but under Elias's unrelenting pressure, he found no escape. Beads of cold sweat dotted his forehead, and his eyes darted around the room, unable to meet anyone's gaze.
Livia stood silently to the side, her cold eyes observing every detail. Though she said nothing, admiration for Elias's sharp instincts flickered in her heart. He had seen through Allen's lies in an instant, not merely driven by anger but guided by an acute sense of detail and complete control over the situation.
Marcellus remained at Livia's side, his expression growing colder with each passing moment.
"Tell the truth," Elias said again, his voice heavy with unyielding authority. "Are you a spy? Stop lying—it will only make your end worse."
Allen's face drained of all color. He lowered his head, his body trembling as if every ounce of strength had left him. He opened his mouth to speak but seemed unable to form the words, his throat constricted by fear.
Elias's patience was wearing thin. His voice dropped to a chilling tone. "Confess now, or don't blame me if you end up wishing for death."
Finally, as though pushed to the brink, Allen looked up with terror and despair in his eyes. His voice trembled as he blurted out, "It was… it was the commander! At first, I thought it was just ordinary information, but then I need to provide more and more. I… I didn't dare refuse!"
"Lies!" Elias barked, his voice cutting through the air like a whip. "You didn't refuse because you were greedy for his rewards! Don't act like you had no choice when you've already sold out so much critical information."
"No! I swear, I got threatened!" Allen nearly screamed, tears streaming down his face. "If I didn't cooperate, my family will be in danger. I had no choice—I had to obey!"
Livia's heart churned with mixed emotions. She could sense a trace of genuine fear in Allen's voice, but it didn't absolve him of his betrayal. His weakness and greed had endangered them all.
"So," Livia finally spoke, her voice calm yet laced with cutting sarcasm, "to protect your family, you decided to gamble with other people's lives? Allen, you truly are a 'remarkable' father."
Her words struck like a dagger, cutting deep into Allen's conscience. He lowered his head further, tears falling onto the floor. His voice was thick with regret. "I know I was wrong… but I didn't think it would come to this! "
"Shut up!" Elias's roar cut through the air, his expression filled with contempt. "You should have known that betrayal has no excuse. Now, the only thing you can do is confess every last detail about the commander's orders. If you don't…" His voice turned dangerously quiet. "I will not show you mercy."