Mist Empire’s Rise: Fake Noble to Fog Queen

[He's still locked up in prison and won't admit he's wrong.]

Luo Wei was shocked. "He's really that stubborn?"

It had been two whole months since they caught him, and he still wouldn't give in?

"So what's his situation now?"

[We built a prison like you ordered and locked him up. Every day we send different people to talk to him.]

[But he has a terrible temper. The moment he sees anyone, he starts cursing them out. The island residents are all scared of him.]

With Zachary's appearance—red beard, green eyes, eyes big as copper bells, looking fierce as hell—no wonder the islanders were afraid of him.

Luo Wei sighed. "I miscalculated."

She thought having those slaves go talk to him every day and mess with his head would break him down. She never expected him to keep cursing people out even as a prisoner.

Those slaves had been bullied plenty by slave traders before. They barely dared speak loudly around him, and when he started cursing at them... it was hard to say who was putting pressure on who.

"Where's the prison? Take me to see it."

Luo Wei decided to try a different approach. Zachary was the type who responded to kindness, not force. If she didn't want to recruit him, she'd just kill him and be done with it. But she couldn't bear to give up such a valuable asset.

All that talk about killing him and turning him into an undead was just for show.

She couldn't even summon back the village chief's soul—how could she possibly control Zachary, a high-level mystical smith?

Zachary had his own power base in the North. He had real skills, was both a mystical smith and blessed by the fire god. If she could win him over, many of her problems would be solved—like recruiting soldiers.

But using someone like Zachary would require caution. His abilities were too great. He might end up controlling her instead, leading her around by the nose.

Luo Wei spent the whole walk thinking about how to win over Zachary, and how to use him once she did.

[Master, we're here.]

Patrick stopped and pushed open a stone door in the cliff face.

Luo Wei looked up and had to admire the undead mage's creativity.

The prison was actually carved into the stone wall. Unless a prisoner could dig tunnels, there was absolutely no way to escape.

Even if a prisoner could dig, the other side of the stone wall was lava, and the area was surrounded by undead tombs. Digging out wouldn't help them escape anyway.

She walked into the cave and followed Patrick through twists and turns until they reached the cell door where Zachary was held.

Zachary was lying on the ground, apparently fast asleep. The undead guards only gave him a small bowl of water and one fish per day to keep him alive. Compared to two months ago, he'd lost a lot of weight. His cheeks had sunken in.

Stolen story; please report.

[Master, should I wake him up?]

Patrick bent down to ask.

"No need. I know he's faking it."

How could a high-level mystical smith not hear her obvious footsteps? He just didn't want to deal with her.

Or maybe the defeated prisoner didn't dare face the enemy who beat him.

Luo Wei crossed her arms and stared at Zachary lying on the ground. "Mr. Bunian, how have you been?"

Zachary rolled over and continued sleeping with his back to her.

"Looks like you really want to die of old age in there," Luo Wei said casually. "I was actually planning to make a deal with you and let you out, but since you don't want to, I guess I'll just head back."

"Hmph, make a deal with you?" Zachary's voice was full of sarcasm. "You lying scumbag, you think I'd still believe your bullshit?"

Luo Wei's lips curved up. Zachary's voice was weak and powerless—he was clearly starving. Seemed like he hadn't been as comfortable as she thought during this time.

"If you don't believe me, why are you talking?"

Her voice carried a hint of laughter. "If you really didn't believe me, you should have kept pretending to sleep."

Zachary sat up from the ground and turned around angrily. His big green eyes bulged out from his gaunt face. "I know what you want me to do, you despicable bastard! You want me to forge weapons for you! I'll never let you have your way. I, Zachary, would rather be locked up here for life, starve to death, die of old age—I'll never help you!"

"Help me? Hahaha!" Luo Wei threw her head back and laughed until tears came out. "Mr. Bunian, you think way too highly of yourself!"

"I mean," she wiped the tears from her eyes, "I've got master mystical smiths in the royal palace, and I'm supposed to ask some small-time mystical smith for help? I'd have to wonder if something was wrong with my brain!"

Zachary felt insulted and sneered with disdain. "Master mystical smiths? The entire Western Continent hasn't produced a master mystical smith in over a thousand years. You think I'm some naive kid who'll fall for your cheap tricks?"

"You said the entire Western Continent," Luo Wei shook her head. "Sitting in a well looking at the sky, thinking that tiny patch of sky you see is the whole world."

Zachary bared his teeth sarcastically. "Little beast, you think I've never left the Western Continent? Even in the Wastes, you won't find a second mystical smith who can surpass me!"

"Back when I made my name across Galan, your grandfather probably wasn't even born yet." He slapped his chest with loud thumps. "Go ask those old farts in your family—ask them who Rudolf is! You dare capture me? Ask them if they'd dare!"

"Rudolf? I thought your name was Zachary Bunian?" Luo Wei frowned and looked at Patrick. "Have you heard the name Rudolf?"

Patrick elegantly raised his skeletal index finger and made a gesture.

[Sorry, Master. When I died, he probably wasn't born yet.]

Though Zachary couldn't hear the undead's voice, he could see his gesture. His red hair immediately stood on end as he glared and roared, "Ignorant fool! No knowledge at all! You stupid sheep, you pigs! You have no sense of reverence, you scoundrels! You don't know what a great mystical smith you've imprisoned!"

"Which royal family are you from, you little bastard? Go back and ask those old farts who are still alive—ask them if Rudolf is someone you can capture!"

"Ignorant little thing! I just didn't want to bother with you. As soon as I tell the Magic Association I'm still alive, little ticks like you will be crushed immediately!"

"Patrick, are you giving him too much food?" Luo Wei covered both ears. "How does he still have energy to yell and scream?"

Patrick bowed apologetically. [It's my fault, Master. I'll remember to give less next time.]

"Just give him a cup of water. Why are you giving him fish?" Luo Wei complained, then looked back at Zachary.

"Sorry, Mr. Bunian. What were you saying? I didn't catch that."

Zachary's chest heaved violently with rage, his eyes seeming to shoot flames at her.

Before he could start cursing again, Luo Wei covered her ears and said, "Oh right, what were you asking earlier? You asked which royal family I'm from, right?"

"You probably haven't been to my kingdom. It's in the Misty Plains. Too bad you'll be locked up here until you die, otherwise you might have had a chance to visit the Misty Plains and meet the master mystical smiths of my Mist Kingdom."

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