Chapter 137 Ellis's Dilemma
It took an annoying couple of seconds to calm Ellis and make him talk.
The boy sat on his bed, head bowed, a horrified frown deftly locked on his face.
Anyone could tell Ellis was in a lot of trouble.
"What's the use of it all! I've even gotten myself in a lot of trouble! Shit, I even left my merchandise!"
Ellis sprang to his feet, about to hurry outside, but Northern grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and slammed him back onto the bed.
'I'm not good with words. I don't even know what to say to this bastard.'
Northern folded his arms and looked down with a gloomy expression. "Will you speak now, or shall I leave?"
Ellis curled for a second from the slight ache running across his back.
If Northern's grip had been any stronger, he could have broken the bed. He caressed his back and stood up, frowning, clenching trembling hands.
"What can you do? There's nothing you can do! I thought you were from Luinngard. I needed you to help me run away from this place. I thought with your influence as a prince, I would be able to get into the Luinngard. Damn it, I was crazy to think I was lucky since I was the only one who knew you were a prince from Luinngard," Ellis explained with a trembling voice.
"Ah... I see..." Northern lingered for a moment before adding, "Why?"
Ellis looked at his face as he spoke again.
"Why do you want to run away? What's wrong?"
Ellis sighed and looked down. After hesitating for a few seconds, his voice finally came out, "It started like four months ago."
Northern observed keenly as he continued with trembling shoulders.
"He gathered a number of us since we had combat useless abilities. He said he had a way for us to earn soul cores. After all, we also needed to get stronger... so that we could unlock more abilities, maybe we'll end up being useful somehow..."
Ellis took a breath and continued, "He said we would be his arms and legs. He needed us to help him sell things. With some set of rules, we started..."
His face darkened. "Well, it was fair at the beginning. We made a couple of soul cores, and it was all good, but that was only for a month."
He bit his lips shakily. "After a month, it all ended. His men would force us to sell some mundane things and submit all that we had received, and they wouldn't even give us soul cores as promised. When we refused, they would beat the hell out of us and even seize our ration of meat."
'Bullying, huh...'
It existed everywhere.
No matter how dire the disaster, there would always exist some nutjobs who would rise for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the weak and bullying them.
"Then you should have reported them," Northern offered. "I'm sure if you report these guys to the party leaders, they'll offer some kind of solution."
Ellis's face grew heavy and grim as he lashed out, "No way! That's even worse!! If we report to the party leaders, then the matter will get out!! If it does, then he gets to know about it! Do you think they'll punish someone strong and useful like him? He has an ability that is so valued around here. No one can dispose of him! It will only fall back on us!!"
Northern raised a brow as Ellis shouted, "Quiet down, your tone is getting annoying."
For some reason, chills ran down Ellis's spine.
He immediately recomposed himself, lowered his head, and apologized, "I'm sorry."
'I guess it does make a lot of sense... the party leaders are the strongest set of people picked by the Headmaster himself. It would be stupidity to dispose of them just because of some weaklings being bullied.'
Northern sighed. 'As I suspected, it is real trouble. I don't mind messing up with any of the party leaders, but I don't really see the need to...'
People get bullied every day, whether he interferes or not, it was a constant of life that would never change.
As far as things went, Northern wasn't even aware of their abilities.
Although, he was quite confident in his ability. Worst came to worst, Night Terror would finish it.
He could also materialize Koll's soul onto himself and decimate them all or use Chaos.
There were several options to end the fight...really, so he wasn't scared of any of them.
But he was going to go about things the easiest route, a path that would certify his individualistic growth and the growth of his skill.
He also looked forward to putting the [Formless] attribute to use.
To put it simply, Northern was in a way looking forward to fights. At the same time, he was very careful.
And most importantly, he wasn't about to do anything for free.
Northern closed and opened his eyes. "I can help..."
Ellis gritted his teeth and looked away, clenching his fist. "You can't! You don't know him. He's very strong, even amongst other leaders, not more than three can defeat him."
Northern exhaled, and immediately, the atmosphere became ridden with a tight tension.
Ellis felt like his body became heavy, all of a sudden, it became a lot of work to keep standing.
He tried to look into Northern's eyes, but horror gripped him by the heart.
Everywhere was immersed in shadowy blackness, and behind Northern's shimmering blue eyes were two pairs of crimson gazes, piercing out.
Ellis's facial features broke apart as sweat gathered on his face, and his legs trembled.
Northern then breathed again.
Everything was gone—the darkness, the monstrous glare, as though it had never happened.
"Wh—what was that?!" Ellis stammered.
A little smile curved a corner of Northern's lips. "Since you are so sure that no one can defeat this leader of yours... I figured I'd show you a glimpse of my ability..."
An unbelieving frown broke out on Ellis's face. "Seriously? That was you? Those eyes... those monstrous eyes, I felt like I would be swallowed by the darkness."
Northern chuckled evilly. "It's good that you know the feeling of dread... that way you can tell how dreadful I am."
He closed his eyes for a moment before speaking, "So, I'll tell you one last time, Ellis. I can help you..."
Ellis's eyes glistened... however, the joy in them was killed a second later as Northern's face became dark with a stern frown.
"But why should I?"