Chapter 571: Mu Fan’s Choice
Mu Fan had never felt this much pressure bearing down on her in her entire life.
The decision waiting for her was one she could not run from, no matter how much she wanted to.
If she told Leo the names of everyone involved in monitoring the Skyshard family, she knew with absolute certainty that he would hunt them down and kill them.
That would make her directly responsible for the deaths of Cult Elders, an act that would be treated as treason of the highest order.
However, If she stayed silent, the outcome would be no less severe.
The way Leo was staring at her left no room for doubt.
If she refused to answer, he would kill her right here without hesitation.
*Pant*
*Pant*
Her breathing turned shallow as the weight of both outcomes pressed on her.
It looked like both paths ended in disaster for her, and neither offered any hope of coming out unscathed.
*Wrestle*
She twisted against the restraints, straining with every bit of strength she had, but they held firm.
The biting pain around her wrists reminding her that escape was impossible.
Whether she liked it or not, she had to choose now.
And whichever way she went, there was going to be no turning back.
*Gulp*
Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Mu Fan thought about both outcomes, but in the end, threatened with her own survival, she decided to save her own skin and come clean.
"The Twelfth Elder is the main culprit, he’s the one who ordered Luke to be pushed so hard and he’s the one to put him in a Coma.
The First Elder is also involved, he’s the one who sanctioned the Skyshard Mansion to be put under monitoring, as for him they’re the only anchor tethering you to the Cult, and the only leverage he has to restrain you.
As far as I know, the First Elder is not involved directly in harming your family, nor did he wish for harm to befall on your brother.
Finally, it’s the Third Elder’s men who planted the bug in Ben’s old body which was the main source of surveillance within the Skyshard Mansion.
But as far as I know, he only did it as a favor to the Twelfth Elder, and does not have to do anything with the day to day monitoring.
If you’re wondering as to who harmed your family?
It’s only the Twelfth Elder.
If you’re wondering who may harm your family if they must?
It’s the Twelfth and First Elder.
If you want to punish everyone who has even the smallest of roles behind all this.
Then it’s all three...." Mu Fan said, as she confessed everything to Leo.
"Hmmm..." Leo mused, as he observed her aura closely, looking for any signs of falsehood in her words, but found none, as he turned away once more and began pacing the room.
"So it was only the Twelfth Elder who is directly responsible for hurting my family....." He mused, his blood boiling inside his veins, as he felt the murderous urge to put the Twelfth Elder in a coma of his own right this instant.
However, he controlled his anger, and turned to face Mu Fan once more, as he slowly walked towards her.
"How much do you know about the Cult and its inner workings? And are you willing to betray the Cult to help me?" He asked, as Mu Fan pursed her lips and shook her head.
"I do know some secrets about the Cult’s inner workings since I worked for the Twelfth Elder’s office, but I’m not willing to divulge them if I have a choice.
I— I have my own honor.
And although I know I did wrong when I helped the Twelfth Elder bury the truth, I only did it because I believed it’s in the best interest of the Cult.
I never betrayed the Cult...." Mu Fan replied, as Leo gently placed a finger under her chin and forced her to look him in the eyes.
"I’ll ask you again..... are you willing to betray the Cult to help me? The Shadow Dragon? Or are you willing to die protecting those secrets?" Leo asked, as Mu Fan trembled from matching his gaze.
Never in her life had she seen such crazed Gray eyes, as at this moment, she could see how Leo was at the edge of his sanity.
If he did not receive the answer he desired, he was ready to slit her throat the very next second.
"Wh-what will you do with my information?" Mu Fan asked, her voice trembling, the words barely making it past her dry lips.
"It doesn’t matter what I do," Leo replied coldly, his tone flat but carrying the weight of an executioner’s verdict.
"What matters is the choice I offer you now.
Will you betray the Cult for me? Yes or no?"
The air in the room thickened, pressing down on her chest until each breath felt like it had to be stolen.
Her heart thudded against her ribs, faster and faster, as her mind ran through every possible outcome.
*Thud*
*Thud*
Death had never seemed so close before, and the thought of it clawed at her from all sides.
For a brief moment, she wondered if it would be better to let go, to preserve what little honor she believed she still had, and meet her end without giving him what he wanted.
That way, at least, she would die still calling herself loyal to the Cult.
Her lips trembled.
Her body shook.
The temptation to choose death lingered... but so did the primal, suffocating fear of it.
She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing, but all she could hear was Leo’s frantic breaths that sounded like the purr of a hungry beast waiting for a single misstep.
Despite her best attempt, her courage cracked under that sound.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw no room for negotiation in his gaze, no hesitation, no softness.
Only certainty.
Only inevitability.
Her shoulders sagged, and the fight left her like air leaving a punctured lung.
"I... I will betray the Cult for you," she whispered, her voice thin and empty, the last shreds of defiance slipping away.
Leo leaned in slightly, close enough for her to see the sharp glint in his eyes.
"Good," he said simply, as if her surrender had been the only possible ending from the very start, before turning towards Viper, who had a fresh dart ready in his hand.
"Dart her...." Leo ordered, as Viper flicked his wrists, the dart hitting Mu Fan right on her left thigh.
*Swoop*
A stinging sensation passed through her body, as she grit her teeth, wondering what was injected into her bloodstream now?
"You now have a unique poison running through your bloodstream that will progressively sap the life away from you over the next 120 days.
There is only one cure to this poison in the whole universe, which Viper possesses, and if you help me to my satisfaction over these next 120 days, I will give it to you.
My next goal is to punish the Twelfth Elder, and I will need your help in doing so.
Help me cleanse that scum and you live.
Betray me, and you die.
This is your second and last chance.
For I don’t provide third chances." Leo informed, as with this he ensured that she had no room to betray him, even if she wanted to.