I Level Up Dragons with My Evolution System-Chapter 71: Torture. Death. Betrayal. Mission complete.

Silas walked toward Scylas with a small smile. No one knew if the smile was mocking, joyful, or something else.

But soon, the identical twins stood face to face and attracted the attention of the entire room. Even Edward watched intently.

"You should know something, Scylas. I did understand the betrayals. The one who still doesn’t understand the fate that awaits him is you." After saying that, Silas raised one of his crutches and slammed it into his brother’s chest, pushing him to the ground.

"You wanted to rule over me... you’ve done so for the last 25 years," he muttered.

"Are you happy now?" he asked, putting the tip of the makeshift wooden crutch to his face to stab him. "Tell me... Are you happy?" His cold expression spoke louder than his words.

Scylas trembled, though it wasn’t out of fear. It was out of rage. "Bastard... You could never beat me on your own," Scylas sneered. "A Beast Master who lost to a normal human... you are the greatest shame of the Merchant family!" he roared.

Silas’ gaze was so indifferent that it made Scylas grow furious.

"You can never beat me, Silas! I proved it to you." He gritted his teeth. "No... I’ve never lost to you. I was always above you!"

"Heh. Lost to you? Yes... I honestly thought the Merchants had some glimmer of salvation. I wanted to help them, you know? But your power over my subordinates was stronger than mine. But I don’t care." His expression became even more indifferent.

"I will live longer than you. I will watch you die..." Silas suddenly drove the wooden stake into Scylas’ right shoulder, forcing him to let out a scream.

"Does it hurt? I thought you were past the stage where little injuries hurt... You’re still a child." Silas sneered.

Scylas gritted his teeth in rage and screamed.

"Bastard!" His mouth was suddenly invaded by Silas’ crutch, and his cry of pain was even more piercing... Although it seemed he was screaming more out of rage and hatred than out of pain itself.

Silas looked to his right. Almost at the door, trying to escape, was the butler. "Come here," he said, waving his crutch to signal him to come closer.

The butler trembled, wanting to flee, but under the gaze of such powerful Masters, he lowered his head and approached obediently.

"M-m-master, w-w-what do you want?" He forced a smile. "P-please forgive my rudeness." His voice trembled, as did his entire body. Beads of cold sweat ran down his back.

Silas didn’t even look him in the face. He simply nodded when he was within reach. "Do you remember when you used to serve me?" he asked.

"O-o-of course, master. I-I-I would never forget..."

"Good." Silas smiled and looked up to finally see him. "It’s been three decades since then... Time flies. You’ve even got wrinkles and gray hair now."

The butler didn’t know how to respond.

"Have you had children yet? I heard from the guards that you got married."

"Y-yes, master. I got married 20 years ago and have three little ones, the oldest is 16... He’s a brave young man..."

"That’s good." Silas laughed, and his eyes sparkled. "It looks like they will have a bright future."

The butler regained his confidence when he realized that Silas was sincerely praising him. His body relaxed, and he nodded. "I’m sure they will, master. I have guided him to be your next... ugh." He hadn’t finished speaking when the tip of one of the crutches was already digging into his neck. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

These spikes had been carved to be sharp and square; they were part of a bed, after all. The edge was impressive, even though it was made of wood. They had been carved that way on purpose.

The butler instantly lost the ability to speak, and his mouth filled with blood.

"You’re lucky I can’t use spiritual energy anymore... otherwise, your end would be even more terrifying," Silas said, pushing him back.

With his neck broken, the butler wouldn’t live long. But he would spend his last minutes or seconds in terrible agony, thinking about everything he could have been and wasn’t.

Regret would haunt him until the end... if he still had the capacity to feel regret.

Silas turned his attention back to Scylas. "I won’t be so gentle with you. After all, you’re my brother, aren’t you? You deserve more..." A sinister smile formed on his lips.

What followed was inhumane torture that no one stopped. That was his legitimate revenge.

A short time later, when Scylas had been reduced to an unrecognizable bloody pulp, Silas stood up and looked at Edward gratefully.

"May I ask you to kill all these guards, Young Master? The Merchant family does not raise trash... not the one I run," he said.

"M-Master, please rec-" Someone tried to beg, throwing himself to the ground on his knees.

They had been paralyzed for so long that their legs were already hurting... but that was the last moment for him.

The world succumbed to darkness seconds after his vision spun.

He was a commander of this guard. And the one who beheaded him was Edward.

He had waited near him because he had to kill him personally.

"Scum like you don’t deserve to speak." His cold words were a sentence for every one of the guards, whose heads began to fly around the room.

Blood splattered the walls, the floor, and even the ceiling.

Clara, a bloodthirsty woman, had to turn her face away, even though anger also overwhelmed her... They were all traitors to her father. They deserved death.

At some point, she even began to enjoy what was happening.

The situation ended, and only Mery was left alive, trembling and begging Clara for forgiveness.

"I never forced you, you know? I gave you a home, I gave you protection. I even created a company in your name and gave you a good part of the profits every year... I put you in charge of all my assets." Clara began to list all the things she had done for her.

There were so many that even she had forgotten them. She gave her subordinates, she gave her money, she even gave her the warmth of a sister...

And she repaid her with betrayal.

Clara grabbed one of the guards’ swords and walked toward the next room. "If you still have any dignity left, follow me. Otherwise..." Clara didn’t finish her sentence.

Mery followed behind her.

Clara didn’t want to stain her father with traitorous blood... even though he was already stained with it.

This was her own little revenge... While Mery still had hopes of saving herself.

Finally, Silas collapsed to the floor, lying in a pool of blood.

"Mr. Silas, I hope you don’t die yet. We’ll need you to testify." Edward laughed, approaching him.

Silas breathed in the fresh air with joy. "Let me enjoy this moment."

"If you could tell me about my father during that time..."

"I can’t do it." Silas shook his head. "I’ll tell you another time."

Edward then fell silent.

"You know, Scylas was also your father’s enemy."

Edward raised his eyebrows and turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"

Silas laughed and shook his head. "It seems you still don’t understand the Price of the Name, kid." He forced himself to stand up with his crutches. "You have a long way to go... A long and painful road. All I can do is wish you luck and hope that you make it to the end."

Edward looked at him, confused. "What do you mean? What end?" he asked.

"Who knows?" Silas shrugged. "Someday you’ll find out. I wish I could understand my own words at that moment, but perhaps it won’t be possible. Follow me, kid. I’ll give you the things you need." Silas didn’t answer any questions; he walked back to the room they had come from with Edward.

About 15 minutes later, he came out of it.

Clara was coming out of the other room at that moment. Her sword was stained with blood, and a bloody pool could be seen behind her. Her eyes were red.

She looked down heavily. Her footsteps echoed in the room, as did the sound of the sword falling to the floor.

The mansion was so lonely... like her nights away from home. But after 25 years, where was her home really?

For the first time in over 10 years, Clara felt empty.

Silas watched her carefully and sighed. ’I’ve been a terrible father... I’ve failed even at that.’

"Young Master Edward, that’s all, right?" Silas asked.

"It is. But I can’t help it if those above decide to come and corroborate the situation, so I hope that if they come here, you will cooperate with them."

Silas smiled. "I’m sure I will." He nodded.

Aurora joined the conversation. "Mr. Silas, as I promised you before, we will protect you. That promise was not empty. I am from the Ashford family, so I will speak to my father as soon as I get back, so that he can send people to protect you," she replied.

"The Ashfords?" Silas was surprised. His eyes sparkled. "I hope I can count on your help then. But don’t forget my previous request," he declared.

"Of course, I remember it well," she said and looked at Clara, who had come up beside Silas, still without looking up. "Then we’ll leave you now. Our mission here is complete, and we need to go back and prepare to deliver it. I’m sure we’ll see each other again."

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