Chapter 249 - Interrogation and the News of Alexs

Chapter 249: Chapter 248: Interrogation and the News of Alex’s Death Chapter 249: Chapter 248: Interrogation and the News of Alex’s Death Darkness, endless darkness.Suddenly, streaks of light pierced through the darkness, followed by a great illumination.

Gutas slowly regained consciousness from his faint, opening his eyes to see Richard holding a candlestick in front of him. Upon realizing Gutas had awakened, he moved the candlestick aside and sat down on a chair nearby, looking down at Gutas from above, making him extremely uncomfortable.

Then Gutas noticed more things that made him feel uneasy, such as his hands and feet being tightly bound by ropes, his entire body lying on the ground in an awkward posture, almost unable to move.

Damn it!

Gutas cursed in his mind, but at that moment, he had already figured out some things. He turned his head to look at Richard sitting on the chair and said with a resentful gaze, “You’re not a wizard, just a wizard apprentice, aren’t you?!”

“Oh?” Richard raised an eyebrow, looking at Gutas. “Why do you say that?”

“If you were really a wizard, when you knocked me out earlier, it wouldn’t have been so difficult. A single spell would have sufficed,” Gutas said.

Richard blinked and replied candidly, “Indeed, that is true.”

“Damn!” Gutas gritted his teeth. “I knew it! I should have never run away in the first place. I should have taught you a lesson.”

“You’re so certain you would be my opponent?” Richard squinted, “Even though I am a wizard apprentice?”

“Hmph, if you have the guts, untie the ropes on my body and let us have a proper match. Then we’ll see,” Gutas said coldly.

“Ha.” Richard chuckled, “A provocation? Alright, stop trying that tactic. I won’t fall for it. You can act as if I am not your match, and even think that it’s due to your misjudgment that I captured you, but that won’t change your fate.”

“So,” Richard turned to Gutas with a serious expression, “how about cooperating with me instead? Let me ask a few questions. For instance… the first question: what is your name?”

“Gutas!” Gutas said coldly, his gaze sharp, “Gutas Chelster! You’d better let me go, kid!”

“Gutas, huh? Yes, I see,” Richard nodded slightly. “So the second question: what brings you here? I believe you’re a smart man, so feel free to tell me everything. After all, I don’t want to torture you.”

Gutas snorted coldly, somewhat disdainful of Richard’s words, but after a moment he still answered, “I’m here to find a certain potion that’s very important to me, something called the ‘Spartan Warrior’ potion. It can stimulate the ancestral power passed down in my body, making that power stronger. As long as I get enough of the potion, I can become even more formidable than a wizard!”

“Then… where did you get the information about the ‘Spartan Warrior Potion’?” Richard asked.

Upon hearing this, Gutas’s expression darkened slightly, as if recalling some unpleasant memories, and he said gruffly, “I got it from a damn fat merchant calling himself ‘Alex.'”

By the end, Gutas couldn’t help but burst into curse, “He’s a damned unscrupulous merchant! The most shameless person I’ve ever met in my life, he should be hanged on the gallows, burned on the fire rack, chopped into pieces in the slaughterhouse!”

“Oh?”

“That potion, he clearly sold it for just three lower-grade crystal coins, but when I found it effective and wanted to buy more, he raised the price to five lower-grade crystal coins! Damn it! I couldn’t afford it at all!” Gutas was agitated, his face filled with loathing and indignation.

“Tell me more about it,” Richard spoke more softly.

Gutas immediately started talking, and after a moment, Richard finally understood the sequence of events.

Earlier that day, he had entrusted Alex with the sale of the “Spartan Heroic Potion,” and Alex appeared to be quite dedicated to the task. He got the potions in the morning and began selling them in the afternoon. Initially, he had set the price at two lower-grade crystal coins per bottle, with a 5% commission on each sale, a profit that was obviously considerable for Alex. But Alex was not easily satisfied or, rather, became greedier.

In Alex’s view, if the potion could be sold, why stick to just two lower-grade crystal coins? The more expensive, the better! That way, all the extra money would be his.

With this mindset, Alex tailored his approach to the customer. For those who were harder to persuade, he attracted them with the low price of two lower-grade crystal coins. For those interested in the potion, he quoted prices higher than two lower-grade crystal coins.

As for a regular like Gutas, Alex relished the opportunity to fleece him—Alex was under the impression that Gutas didn’t have the financial means to make long-term purchases, so he was determined to squeeze out the maximum profit in one go.

Thus, the first time Gutas bought from him, he paid 3 lower-grade crystal coins, gritting his teeth as he did so. After trying it, he found the effects to be astonishingly good; the boost in fighting power was secondary to the stimulation of the bloodline seed within his body.

In his excitement, Gutas sought out Alex again, ready to make a second purchase. Only to be informed by Alex that, due to a shortage of supply, the price had risen to 5 lower-grade crystal coins per bottle, and if he wanted two bottles, it would cost him 12—a higher price for more purchases!

At that time, Gutas had a total of only 8 lower-grade crystal coins, initially hoping to negotiate for 3 bottles, he discovered he could only afford 1.

Seeing the detestable grin on Alex’s face, Gutas was so angry he couldn’t contain it. He bit his lip, then bit it again, yet resisted the impulse to bite entirely.

After hearing Gutas’s grievances, Richard understood just how unscrupulous Alex was, and he thought of Gro’s assessment: A complete swindler!

He truly was a swindler.

However, Richard wasn’t focused on that; he looked at Gutas and asked again, “So, how did you come to find me? Where did you get my address? Did Alex tell you? He… can’t be that foolish, can he?”

“Hmph,” Gutas snorted with a cold laugh, his face filled with murderous intent, “He’s definitely not that foolish, but he’s not that tough either. After the failed deal, I took advantage of the night, grabbed him, and tortured him severely.

Before I killed him, as he wet himself in his pants, he gave me your address while trembling. He said you had more potions here, so I came.”

After listening, Richard stared at Gutas, who proudly looked back, showing no fear.

Gutas said loudly, “Believe it or not, that’s up to you! Anyway, your friend Alex is dead. If you want to know where he died, I could tell you. I have to say, his screams before death were really annoying, like that of a pig being slaughtered.”

Richard narrowed his eyes and looked at Gutas, saying, “No, you’re lying.”

“Hmph, I am not lying, I indeed killed him!” Gutas insisted.

“If you did kill him, then you would have taken all the potions he had, enough for you to use for a while. Why would you come to me so recklessly and unprepared?” Richard asked, “At least, why not use up all the ‘Spartan Warrior Potion’ in your hands first, to strengthen your ancestral power, before making your move? Wouldn’t that be better?”

“I…” Gutas was at a loss for words, but after a moment, he said defiantly, “I just wanted to do it this way, what business is it of yours? I indeed killed your so-called friend Alex and took his potions. My only reason for coming here was to verify whether what he said was true or false. I didn’t expect to run into you. He certainly didn’t tell me about your strength; it must be intentional revenge, definitely!”

Hearing Gutas’s words, Richard’s eyes flickered; he honestly didn’t quite believe the story about Alex being killed. Still, on second thought, it was better to be cautious. Alex wasn’t a friend to him, but he had some use; if Alex was indeed dead, then a replacement would be needed.

With that in mind…

Richard stood from his chair, deciding it was best to check on Alex.

Ignoring Gutas’s mocking laughter, Richard turned to Pandora, who lay on the cot in the corner of the laboratory, and said, “I’m going out for a bit, watch the house. And, most importantly, keep an eye on this guy on the floor, don’t let him escape, understand?”

Pandora turned over.

“That’s good.”

Richard then walked out.

Gutas watched Richard leave and then turned his gaze to Pandora on the corner cot, letting out a sneer after a long while. He couldn’t help but think: A little girl sleeping there, watch over him? Hmph, wishful thinking!

Gutas’s eyes darted about, quickly scanning the surroundings as his brain raced with plans to free himself from the ropes and escape.