Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 24: Dungeons And Monsters (2)

As the words left Magnus’s mouth, Nutgrove’s face drained of color. Horror twisted his features.

’How did this little brat learn about my actions?’ he thought frantically, struggling to comprehend Magnus’s accusation. ’Is he bluffing? He can’t possibly have proof... can he?’ His mind reeled, on the verge of collapse.

Magnus stared at Nutgrove, his gaze intense and unwavering. He sensed the man’s inner turmoil, but it didn’t elicit any sympathy.

"It seems you understand your predicament," Magnus said, his voice calm and controlled. "Let’s get straight to the point. I’ll ask the questions, and you’ll answer when prompted. If you understand, nod your head."

Nutgrove, though bewildered, managed a shaky nod.

"Good. My first question is, how long have you been colluding with Gaylord?"

Nutgrove hesitated. He couldn’t tell if Magnus had concrete evidence or was merely bluffing. Unsure of how to proceed, he remained silent, trapped between confessing and further incriminating himself.

Magnus anticipated this reaction. He gave a slight nod to Kael, who, without hesitation, began walking toward Nutgrove.

A knot of fear tightened in Nutgrove’s stomach as Kael approached. He braced himself for a beating, for the inevitable pain. But instead of a physical assault, Kael simply produced a vial filled with a viscous liquid. Before Nutgrove could react, a strong hand clamped around his neck, tilting his head back, and the liquid was forced down his throat.

A searing agony erupted within him as the potion took effect. It felt like fire spreading through his veins, consuming him from the inside out. The pain was excruciating.

"That is Aetherblight poison," Magnus explained, his voice devoid of emotion. "The same poison you procured from Gaylord to contaminate the water supply of Lancaster territory. However, unlike the typical formula, this one has been enhanced with a drop of Deepwyrm venom. It will be much more... effective... and significantly more painful."

He paused, letting the words sink in. "I possess the antidote," he continued, "but you have only two minutes before the poison irrevocably damages your internal organs. You can choose to answer my questions or die a swift, agonizing death. The choice is yours, Commander."

Nutgrove gritted his teeth, his body convulsing in agony. The pain intensified with each passing second. Aetherblight poison... there was no doubt now. Magnus wasn’t bluffing. He knew. Exposed and in excruciating pain, Nutgrove knew he had no choice.

"I’ll answer! I’ll answer!" he gasped, the words barely audible through his suffering.

"Good. Let’s start again. How long have you been working with Gaylord?"

"It began two months before the ambush on your father and his men. He approached..." Magnus cut him off abruptly.

"Short answers only. Time is of the essence," he reminded him.

"Two months," Nutgrove choked out.

’Two months before the ambush... that’s roughly three months ago,’ Magnus thought, making a mental note.

"How many more are involved in this conspiracy?"

"Sixteen... of us," he managed to say between gritted teeth.

"Sixteen," Magnus repeated, his voice thoughtful. They had only captured nine tonight, including Nutgrove. That meant seven conspirators remained at large. However, he wasn’t overly concerned. With this much information, it wouldn’t be long before the others were apprehended.

"Good. My next, and final, question is this: Provide me with a comprehensive list of Gaylord’s strongholds within the Gaylordia territory. I want the names of the individuals who maintain his power, the key figures whose removal would cripple his operations. And finally, tell me which, if any, among them could be considered even remotely trustworthy."

"What?" Nutgrove asked, confusion momentarily overriding his pain. Magnus’s question seemed... unusual. But Magnus simply maintained his serious expression, leaving no doubt that he was perfectly serious.

Magnus had his reasons. He knew he had to deal with Gaylord before the territory’s trial began, and he’d been strategizing the most effective way to dismantle the threat he posed. With his newly summoned awakened troops, Magnus wasn’t worried about open conflict. Though Gaylord might have the advantage in numbers, his unranked soldiers wouldn’t stand a chance against Magnus’s awakened forces.

But after considering it, Magnus decided against open warfare. There were more subtle ways to conquer a territory, especially one inhabited by goblins.

Unlike humans, with their complex loyalties to leaders and ideologies, goblins were a different breed. Driven by brute force and a reverence for strength, their allegiance wasn’t tied to race or elaborate principles. A goblin territory wouldn’t resist being led by a human, or any other race for that matter, as long as that individual demonstrated overwhelming power. This differed greatly from humans, or other races with a strong sense of pride, who would balk at being ruled by an outsider.

Therefore, if Magnus could dismantle their existing power structure and showcase his own strength, the goblins would readily follow him. They respected and feared power above all else. This was precisely Magnus’s objective, and why he needed Nutgrove’s information. With his upcoming trial looming, he couldn’t afford to overlook any potential allies, even goblins. He intended to conquer them without unnecessary bloodshed, targeting their leadership rather than the general population.

Of course, Magnus’s primary concern was Gaylord, however, Magnus wanted a clean slate, a fresh start for the territory, which meant dismantling the entire existing hierarchy.

"I’m sure you know the answer, so don’t waste my time," Magnus said, noting the confusion on Nutgrove’s face.

Nutgrove, still perplexed by the strange line of questioning, was suddenly jolted back to the agonizing present by another wave of pain. Time was running out.

"The Gaylordia territory relies almost entirely on Gaylord himself," Nutgrove gasped. "His five commanders wield some influence, and there’s also Krogg, Gaylord’s personal advisor. They are the core of his power. The rest are just ordinary goblins following orders."

Magnus frowned, considering the answer. It sounded plausible, and Nutgrove didn’t seem to be lying.

"Alright. Now for the second part of my question. Is there anyone trustworthy among them? Someone I could rely on to manage the territory if the current leadership were... removed?"

Nutgrove was again confused, but Magnus’s intentions were starting to become clear. He didn’t have time to dwell on it, however. The pain was intensifying, reaching an almost unbearable level.

"Yes... there is one. Kragnir. He was Gaylord’s previous advisor. When he objected to the ambush on your father, Gaylord imprisoned him and appointed Krogg. I don’t know his current status, though."

"I see," Magnus said, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Thank you for your cooperation." He turned to leave the cell, Kael following close behind.

"Wait!" Nutgrove cried out, panic creeping into his voice. "The antidote?" The pain was becoming excruciating.

"Oh, about that," Magnus said casually, pausing at the door. "There was no Aetherblight poison or Deepwyrm venom. Just some Darkstone Dust and a strong purgative potion. You won’t die... at least not yet. You should be more concerned about the... imminent and uncontrollable purging that’s about to begin." With that, Magnus and Kael exited the cell, closing the heavy door behind them.

"Where to next, my lord?" Kael asked as they stepped back into the corridor.

"To the next prisoner," Magnus replied. He wasn’t going to rely solely on Nutgrove’s information. He needed to corroborate his story and gather additional intelligence from the other captives. It wasn’t that he distrusted Nutgrove, but his answers were based on observation, not concrete knowledge. In situations like this, it was best to gather multiple perspectives before making any decisions.

"At once. This way, my lord," Kael said, leading Magnus down the dimly lit hallway toward the next cell.

They hadn’t gone far when guttural screams and yells erupted from Nutgrove’s cell. The concoction was taking effect.