Watson shifted his gaze away from Ron and toward the others.
Everyone he saw was kneeling on the ground, pleading for mercy.
“Master Watson, we were all coerced. Please let us go.”
“I’m guilty, I’m sorry. I apologize to Master Watson! Actually, we don’t want to be enemies with you. Please do us a favor and treat us like farts.”
Those who begged for mercy had tears streaming down their faces as if they were genuinely atoning for their sins.
Watson looked curious. He did not really want to kill those people. He simply felt that those people who kept jumping around in front of him deserved to be punished. If something were to happen to Blackmoon Castle in the future, those people would undoubtedly be the first to betray him.
“Did not you just say you have to fight to the death with Blackmoon Castle, and you will not tolerate it?”
Watson pointed at a person. The person he aimed at lowered his head, unable to say a word.
“And you. I remember that you’re an elder from the Mage Guild. Your name is Martin! You just said that your hatred for me is like the Holy Dragon Kingdom’s river; it is endless. You also want to avenge Audrey. I’m giving you that opportunity now.”
The second person that Watson referred to was Martin, an elder from the Mage Guild. As Audrey’s admirer, he had been submissive when he saw Watson kill her. Then, when he saw the astrologer’s resurrection and Watson’s defeat, he had struck out with a heavy punch.
He was the one who had just spoken the loudest to Watson because of his hatred, and he was also the one who was the most uncomfortable then.
“Young Master Watson, those words were only for show! You must know that it was not easy for us to work in the Mage Guild. President Audrey is an arbitrary and cruel person who has never listened to our opinions. This attack on Blackmoon Castle was her idea. I had opposed it, but she did not listen.”
Martin knelt in front of Watson with tears in his eyes. “I did not say that I hated you, Young Master Watson. It was President Audrey that I hated, as endless as the Holy Dragon Kingdom’s river. You did good, Young Master Watson; you killed the right person. President Audrey deserved to die.”
“Martin, how can you say that? Even though the President acted unfriendly with us, she has done her duty, and you liked her! I really did not expect you to be such a person.”
Anna, another Mage Guild elder, frowned and chastised Martin.
“You don’t have to judge me. You just don’t dare to say it out loud! If you’re so considerate of President Audrey, then tell Young Master Watson that you want to avenge the President and that you want to kill him.”
Martin snorted coldly in anger.
What was the problem with his desire to live? Would Watson let him go if he told the truth? What gave Anna the right to criticize him? She had knelt too.
“Just say it. What’s there to be afraid of?” Anna suddenly stood up from the ground and faced Watson; she puffed out her chest. “Watson, the Mage Guild has lost today, and as its elder, I should bear the responsibility. Kill me.”
She had only knelt in exchange for a chance to live. As long as she was alive, anything was possible. However, when she saw Audrey die and the astrologer had resurrected and became Watson’s teacher, she knew that it was impossible. Watson would only become stronger, increasing the distance between them.
She would never be able to avenge the Mage Guild. She might as well die than be a slave of the Blackmoon Castle and tortured by Watson.
“Your name is Anna, right?” Watson narrowed his eyes. His gaze made Anna feel a chill. She shrank back but still gritted her teeth and said, “Yes, I am Anna.”
“Come here.”
Watson hooked his finger, and Anna held her fear back as she went in front of him.
Anna swallowed her saliva as she looked at the calm Watson and then at Capella, who stood in the distance and watched the scene coldly.
Her exquisite face, which was somewhat similar to Audrey’s, made her feel complicated. She wondered if Watson had summoned her because he was offended by her words and wanted to merge her into Capella’s body. If that were the case, she would have had to commit suicide before Watson could work his magic.
Just as she felt uneasy, Watson smiled and said, “Miss Anna, don’t be nervous. I have no intention of hurting you. Not only will I not hurt you, but I will also reward you! May I ask if you are willing to become Blackmoon Castle’s mage and enjoy the treatment of a hybrid Phoenix egg daily, ten gold coins per month, and a sun gem every day?”
“What?”
Anna thought that she had heard it wrong. She thought that she was dead for sure, but not only did Watson not punish her, he even invited her to join Blackmoon Castle and gave her a generous reward, especially the sun gem. She remembered what the astrologer had said; consuming the gem would allow her to obtain power comparable to a gold-tier mage and awaken her talent in light-elemental cultivation.
Watson was actually willing to give her such a valuable item.
One of them must have gone crazy.
Anna was not the only one who felt that way. The rest of the people in the area were also taken aback. They had no idea why Watson had done that. Watson had asked Anna to stay after she had rejected Blackmoon Castle. The others had begged Watson to spare them, but he had ignored them. Was Watson a fool?
“Now, as for the rest of you.” While everyone was puzzled, Watson spoke to those who were still kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy. “All of you will be Blackmoon Castle’s slaves. You will work here for your entire life without pay. If you don’t perform well, you will be punished.”
Why?
That sentence came to everyone’s mind, especially Martin and Ron. Those two people, who did not even care about their dignity to beg for mercy, felt very uneasy.
“I know that many of you must not understand why I made such a decision. Perhaps you think that I should let you go?” Watson looked around them. No one dared to reply, but their expressions told Watson that it was what they had thought.
“I will tell you why. The reason is very simple. I can recruit anyone, but the most important thing is loyalty! Without loyalty, no matter how capable you are, you’re just a time-ticking bomb. On the contrary, even if you don’t have the ability except for loyalty, then you can still help us add bricks to our building. In this battle against a strong platinum-tier enemy, the best proof I have is that no one in Blackmoon Castle has defected to the enemy.”
When Watson said that, his young face was full of pride. Then, he pointed at the person kneeling in front of him. “Look at all of you. When Blackmoon Castle had the upper hand, you begged me for mercy. When my master had the upper hand, you turned around to express your goodwill to him. When people like you face a strong enemy, you will only betray and stab your companions! Tell me, why would I want you?”
Watson’s voice was not booming, but it was clear and loud.
Everyone in the room fell silent when they heard his words, especially the Mage Guild members. They bowed their heads in humiliation.
Yes, Watson was right. They were such people. When faced with a stronger opponent, they would submit to them. They lost the war because they were too weak and not because Blackmoon Castle was too strong.
“On the contrary, I greatly admire Miss Anna. She was clearly terrified, but she took the initiative to die. So, Miss Anna, I shall honor your request! My words count if you remember what I just said. Of course, if you choose to leave, I will not prevent you from doing so. Please make your choice, Miss Anna.”
“I choose…”
Anna hesitated and glanced at Watson. “Are you sure you’re not lying?”
“I swear to God that I don’t lie. Furthermore, I’m only a child. What bad intentions can a child have?” Watson turned his head and looked cute.
“Alright, since you said that, I’m relieved. I only have one decision from the start.”
Anna seemed to have made up her mind, revealing a determined expression. Watson sighed in his heart. It seemed like Miss Anna had chosen to leave. He was not surprised. After all, he had killed Audrey. Working under an enemy would definitely be uncomfortable.
“I choose to join you.”
At that moment, Anna’s voice echoed; it caused Watson to widen his eyes. It was not only Watson; everyone else was also shocked.
