Chapter 123: The Traitor

"How could this be... Why..." The man in white stared at Man Luo in disbelief, utterly failing to understand why his armor had proven completely useless.

"Heh, feeling desperate, are you?" Man Luo pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped the blood-stained dagger, his bizarre smile growing even brighter. "Didn't I tell you? Those fellows in my plans wouldn't cause me any trouble, and you just happen to be part of my plan."

"Plan..." The man in white clutched the wound on his waist and abdomen, looking at Man Luo with a dazed expression.

"You could never have guessed. No one could ever guess how all of this originated." Man Luo looked down at the man in white from on high, like a majestic and ruthless dragon gazing upon a mere ant.

"I thought I could put an end to your arrogance, but to think I am merely destined to be a stepping stone." The man in white gave a bitter smile and sighed sorrowfully. "I never imagined my grand entrance would instantly become my final curtain call. However, I won't die so easily—even if I must die, I will die with dignity!"

Man Luo raised an eyebrow and teased, "Oh? A dignified death? Then show me a dignified way to die and open my eyes."

"For instance: dragging you... down with me!" The man in white suddenly moved, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Man Luo seemed utterly unprepared, maintaining his mocking expression as if the sudden outburst had caught him completely off guard.

"Bang!" A figure slammed heavily against the wall, causing the decrepit wooden structure to emit a groan of protest as it grew even more battered and decaying.

"Hmm, it seems someone just got bounced away?" Man Luo feigned surprise, peering about in every direction with immense satisfaction.

"You! How! Could! You! Use! It!" The man in white pressed a hand against his abdomen in agony, staring fixedly at the white lantern Man Luo had lifted. His chest heaved violently, and every word he spat out seemed squeezed from between clenched teeth—murderous, icy, and devoid of mercy.

"Why shouldn't I be able to use it? This thing isn't yours to begin with. If you can use it, naturally I can too."

The man in white seemed choked for words, falling into a prolonged silence. The ferocious and violent aura encompassing his body slowly leaked away like a deflated ball. He coughed twice, as if trying to clear his throat, and reluctantly forced himself up by pushing against the wall.

"Erica, you bastard! To think I trusted you so much, and you even said we were birds of a feather? I never expected you to be nothing more than a shameless running dog! Damn you to hell..." The man in white cursed wildly at the ceiling. The aloofness and mystery he had previously worn vanished into some unknown corner; he now resembled a shrew shouting abuse in a market square, hands on hips, pointing fingers, eager to tear the one who had provoked him to shreds with a torrent of filthy vocabulary.

The man in white ranted for a full two minutes with tremendous volume, hurling insults without a single repetition. His articulation was razor-sharp and his technique exquisite, truly shocking to witness.

Seemingly exhausted from the cursing, the man in white leaned against the wall to catch his breath, instantly looking defleted and utterly devoid of spirit. Letting blood flow freely from his wound, he slumped into the darkest corner like an old dog about to draw its last breath, wheezing and panting heavily as he awaited the Grim Reaper to harvest his life.

Luo Hanhai shook his head inwardly. He did not know what had transpired between the man in white and Erica, but he was certain a deep friendship must have existed between them; otherwise, the man in white would not have been so enraged. Only the betrayal of someone closest could drive a person to such hysteria.

Macarius cast a pitying glance at the man in white, then spat in disgust, as if lamenting his misfortune and feeling angry at his lack of resolve.

Caddis kept his head lowered, eyes half-closed as if fast asleep, entirely indifferent to the events unfolding before them.

"Is that all? Is it over just like that?" Man Luo sat down by the dining table once more, holding a piece of toast smothered in jam, leisurely savoring it. The contempt in his gaze was laid bare, resembling someone watching a jester whose ridiculous and ugly performance had left him wanting more.

"Caddis, come here!"

Caddis froze, seemingly caught off guard for a moment. Upon realizing what was happening, he widened his remaining right eye, hurried over to Man Luo's side, and gazed with bewilderment at the man lounging in the armchair.

Man Luo closed his eyes, looking somewhat weary, as if he no longer wished to expend the energy to deal with the remaining group of the weak, old, and wounded in the room. He picked up a steel fork, lazily pointed it first at Macarius sitting beside him, then at the man in white slumped against the wall, and casually instructed Caddis, "Go on, kill them both."

Caddis blinked in terror, the tumor on his face twitching violently as he instinctively shook his head to indicate he could not do it.

"Hmm? You can't even handle this little task?" Crossing his legs, Man Luo raised an eyelid lazily and flung the steel fork away. The fork embedded itself squarely into the chair beside Caddis, its entire sharp tip sinking deep into the wood.

"Pull it out and bring it to me." Man Luo's tone shifted abruptly, turning icy to the extreme, devoid of a shred of emotion.

Caddis shuddered slightly, leaning forward with extreme caution. He gripped the steel fork with both hands and exerted a gentle pull, attempting to extract it.

Suddenly, his withered-tree-like hands shook, and all the tumors on his face contorted into a knot, writhing in apparent agony.

"Pull it! Pull it out! If you dare let go, I'll chop your hands off!"

Man Luo's tyrannical voice echoed from behind Caddis. The latter's body stiffened; he viciously bit down on his already withered and yellowed teeth, gripped the handle tightly with trembling hands, and exerted all his strength to yank the fork free.

"Pull! Hurry up and pull! Did you forget to eat today? How long does it take you to pull out a tiny fork?"

Beads of sweat the size of soybeans dripped down Caddis's forehead. Bracing his foot against the chair, he pulled back with all his might. After struggling for nearly a full minute, he finally managed to pry the steel fork loose.

"Ah!" The moment the fork came free, Caddis let out a miserable scream and flung the weapon aside. His fingers were suddenly covered in dense, split lacerations, sending a shiver through Luo Hanhai as he watched from the side, filling his heart with lingering dread.

"Pick it back up! I told you to pull it out and bring it to me! I didn't tell you to throw it away!" Man Luo roared furiously at Caddis with a ferocious expression.

Startled by the shout, Caddis jumped and landed squarely on his bottom. Suddenly jolted into action, he scrambled in a panic, crawling hand and foot to retrieve the steel fork.

"Hmm? Splendid! Simply splendid!" Watching the flustered Caddis, Man Luo clapped his hands, stood up with a half-smile, and proclaimed loudly to the remaining occupants of the room, "Ladies and gentlemen! Do you know just how magnificent his performance was? He played the mute behind my back, coordinated with everyone, and even handed my Blood Core over to Luo Hanhai, all while acting like that in everyday life."

"Best Actor! Academy Award Best Actor! You really ought to be in the movies!"