Covered entirely in black scales, with pitch-black spikes jutting from his knees and elbows, and a row of spines running straight down his back—especially Lin Lei's pupils, which had already turned a dark golden hue. Those cold, dark golden eyes were fixed on Pateson alone, and that gaze alone made Pateson's heart tremble.
"Who are you? Who is it?" Pateson's face was deathly pale with terror, and after stammering for a moment, he blurted out this question.
What on earth was this monster in front of him?
"Who am I?" Lin Lei's frigid gaze was locked onto Pateson.
"Creak, creak~~" Sounds of bones straining continuously echoed from various parts of Pateson's body. Lin Lei's tail, strong and resilient as steel, had tightly bound Pateson's entire body. No matter how Pateson exerted strength with his arms, he couldn't move.
Pain radiated from his arm bones throughout his entire body.
"You're from another plane?" Pateson's eyes were full of terror. In Pateson's view, Lin Lei's current appearance could only belong to a race from another plane. "Lin Lei, I beg you, spare my life. I absolutely will not reveal your secret, I swear!"
Being stared at by Lin Lei's dark golden eyes, Pateson was completely flustered.
"Spare your life?" A faint, icy smile appeared on Lin Lei's face. "That's not impossible. I want to ask you, about twelve or thirteen years ago, did you send people to capture a woman?"
Pateson was stunned.
He immediately racked his memory for events from twelve or thirteen years ago, but that was simply too long ago. More importantly...
"Lin Lei, no, Lord Lin Lei. I... I can't remember," Pateson said in panic. "That was so long ago, and, well, I often had women I liked brought to my manor. I can't recall which one you mean."
Killing intent surged in Lin Lei's heart.
This Pateson actually captured women regularly.
Pateson couldn't discern the changes in Lin Lei's heart from his expression at this moment. Completely dragonized, Lin Lei's entire being appeared cold, emotionless, terrifyingly grim.
"A woman who had just given birth not long ago, a woman who had just finished praying at the Church of Light and returned to the inn," Lin Lei continued to watch Pateson coldly, his voice utterly flat.
Hearing Lin Lei mention these details, Pateson froze for a moment, then looked at Lin Lei in shock.
"Remember now?" Lin Lei said impassively.
Naturally, Pateson remembered. Over all these years, he had only captured a woman who had just given birth on two occasions. Naturally, the memory was deep. Especially that time twelve or thirteen years ago—the person who had commissioned him to do this had sternly demanded he keep it a secret.
"I truly can't remember," Pateson said in terror. "Lord Lin Lei, I beg you, spare me. I really don't know, you must have made a mistake."
A sharp glint flashed in Lin Lei's dark golden pupils.
"You're asking for death." Lin Lei's voice grew even colder.
"Ah~~" Pateson screamed in agony. Lin Lei's powerful tail bound him even tighter. The increasing, terrifying force made every bone in Pateson's body groan. "Creak, creak~~" The sound was enough to make one's heart shudder just hearing it.
But Lin Lei continued to stare impassively at Pateson.
"Crack!"
"Ah!"
A crisp sound of bones fracturing rang out, followed immediately by Pateson's pained scream. The bones in his left arm had been forcibly crushed and broken by the pressure.
"Not bad," Lin Lei's lips curled slightly upward, as if he were smiling.
But Pateson did not interpret that as a smile. In Lin Lei's current 'dragonized' form, the upward curl of his lips only filled Pateson with greater fear and dread.
"You actually know to differentiate priorities, using most of your Dou Qi to protect the vital organs in your body. Only a small amount was used to protect your arm. Of course, a broken arm won't kill you, but ruptured internal organs—that could cost you your life." Lin Lei's voice was calm.
Pateson felt his throat go dry.
He had never imagined that Lin Lei could present such a terrifying scene.
"Remember now?" Lin Lei asked again.
Pateson desperately wanted to answer, but the moment he recalled the punishment for revealing what he'd been told, he trembled inwardly. He immediately put on an even more pitiful appearance and cried pleadingly, "Lord Lin Lei, I beg you, stop torturing me. I truly don't know. Even if you kill me, I won't know!"
Pateson was certain this matter was over twelve years in the past. How old was Lin Lei now?
He figured Lin Lei had only found scattered bits of information, certainly not with full confidence. As long as he held firm and didn't break, the other party might still believe him.
"Lord Lin Lei, if I knew, I would have told you long ago. Why would I suffer for nothing? Lord Lin Lei, please investigate the truth clearly," Pateson pleaded, tears actually flowing from his eyes, looking so sincere. If Lin Lei hadn't had the letter left by his father, he might have actually hesitated.
Lin Lei watched Pateson, the curve of his lips growing even more pronounced.
A cold shiver ran down Pateson's spine.
"Very good, very good indeed." Lin Lei's dragon tail was still binding Pateson. Suddenly, the tail exerted its force and slammed Pateson's entire body fiercely against the marble floor. Fortunately, Lin Lei had him oriented with his head down and feet up for the impact.
The power of Lin Lei's dragon tail erupted!
Both thighs smashed violently into the marble floor.
"Boom!"
A sharp sound of shattering bone rang out, accompanied by Pateson's shrill scream. The left knee area of Pateson's leg—white, stark bones had actually pierced through the muscle, tearing through the trousers to emerge. Those white bony spikes jutted straight out from the thigh's surface. His right leg had gone completely limp on the floor, especially around the ankles; blood had thoroughly soaked his trousers.
"Ah, ah, ah~~~" Pateson screamed continuously.
This pain was simply killing him, but his internal organs, fortunately protected by Dou Qi, were preserved. At least his life was saved.
"Monster, monster," Pateson cursed inwardly continuously. He knew very well that Lin Lei had used immense force. With his own strength as a Level 7 warrior, he couldn't protect his entire body. He could only barely safeguard his internal organs from damage.
Pateson didn't want to die.
Broken legs?
No matter, as long as he had enough money, he could completely hire a Level 9 Grand Mage from the Church of Light to cast 'Song of Life'. As long as he wasn't killed on the spot, no matter how severe the injury, he could recover!
"Remember now? Did you capture that woman?" Lin Lei's voice was still calm, without the slightest fluctuation.