CHAPTER 324: Blackmail

De...demon, just kill me! There is no need to humiliate me like this!" The weak, starving beauty spoke in a weak voice when she saw Han Shuo approaching. She wanted to put up a fierce front, but she didn't have the slightest bit of energy to do so, just talking had used up all her strength.

"Eh... I'm very sorry. I had to go out for the past two days, but I forgot to instruct my people to bring you food." This time, Han Shuo was truly embarrassed. He explained with all sincerity as he looked at Helen Tina.

Helen Tina had barely been able to utter a few words. When she heard Han Shuo's explanation, she pointed her finger at him, her pale lips trembling as if she wanted to say something. But whether she was too hungry or too angry, she actually fainted without saying another word.

"Aii, mages are truly fragile, unable to hold on after two days of hunger." Seeing Helen Tina fall unconscious, Han Shuo spoke with a sigh and involuntarily shook his head.

He'd forgotten that the last time he'd brought Helen Tina back, he'd only let her eat one meal in those two days. She'd been locked up in Brettel City for another two days, making a total of four days since Han Shuo had captured her. For Helen Tina, who'd only eaten one meal on the way here, to still be alive, her body was already much better than that of an ordinary Mage

Han Shuo picked Helen Tina up and carried her out of the cell. He handed her over to the two maids in the city lord's mansion with the following instructions, "Prepare some food for her. Wait until she has recovered before putting her back in the cell."

The two maids looked at Helen Tina's pale face in shock, then turned to Han Shuo with a strange look before retreating anxiously with the unconscious Helen Tina.

When they had completely cleared the room, the two foolish maids began to chatter in low voices, thinking that Han Shuo couldn't hear them.

"Two days! The City Lord has been gone for two days! I can't believe he raped a beautiful woman until she was so weak. The City Lord really is a brutal, perverted, evil demon!

"Mm... two days in a row! How could the City Lord hold out? No wonder he was able to kill all those hateful bandits. His stamina is terrifying!"

"Aii. Poor woman, she must have been so devastated, being ravaged for two days!"

"Yes, look how emaciated she is. I can't believe she's become like this in just two days!"

The two maids whispered as they left. Han Shuo's sensitive hearing had inadvertently picked up their entire conversation. He was torn between laughter and tears, his eyelashes trembling constantly. Han Shuo wanted to explain, but didn't know where to begin.

After about half an hour, Faulke arrived along with Dick and Chester after hearing the news. The three of them stood in front of Han Shuo and looked at him somewhat strangely. Faulke was a true knight, so he didn't say anything. The one in charge of the Dark Mantle here, Dick, was a subordinate, so he kept quiet anyway.

However, Chester had known Han Shuo for a long time, so he had no reservations between the two of them. With a slight smile, he complimented him on his arrival, "My lord is indeed intense! I only knew of your powerful martial arts before. Only now do I know that not only is your martial arts superb, but your other aspect is even more terrifying. Two days, my goodness, two days in a row. This little one has no words to describe my admiration for you!

Faulke and Dick seemed to share the same thought as they nodded solemnly at Chester's words. The good-for-nothing Dick even exclaimed with a deep sigh, "Comparisons really are the death of men, ai! I completely agree!"

Han Shuo's eyebrows shot up at the words. He suppressed his anger before opening his mouth to tell his so-called three subordinates, "The truth is not what you've imagined. Don't listen to these servants. I only let the prisoner go hungry for two days. You shouldn't think such nonsense.

The three dirty minds didn't believe a word. However, as subordinates, they naturally understood the need to maintain some dignity on the surface. So they nodded earnestly, admitting that they had misunderstood, and said that the lord wasn't that kind of person. But their eyes were filled with envy and admiration. They obviously didn't believe Han Shuo's explanation.

"This woman is Grand Duke Helen Tina of the Duchy of Helon. Has anyone come to negotiate with you for her release in the past two days?" Seeing that the three refused to believe him, Han Shuo had to reveal Helen Tina's identity, wondering inwardly if they would believe him now.

"What? My Lord, you even dared to eat Grand Duke Helen of the Duchy of Helon!" Chester blurted out without thinking.

Faulke and Dick's expressions changed abruptly. Dick was especially solemn as he said loudly, "My Lord, we're in big trouble this time! I think Brettel City will face crazy retaliation from two other Grand Duchies. Once people know that this poisonous beauty is in your hands, many from the seven grand duchies will become interested in Brettel City again."

"Of course, there will be a solution to any problems. What are you afraid of? If the seven grand duchies dare to come, they will come just in time to try our magic crystal cannons. All six magic crystal cannons have been installed on the city walls. Any duchy that tries to invade Brettel City will have to pay with their blood. Faulke was indeed obsessed with battle. He snorted coldly with an air of arrogance.

Pausing for a moment, Faulke suddenly thought of something as his expression changed slightly. He turned to speak to Han Shuo, "But if the Seven Grand Duchies attack repeatedly, our supply of magic crystal ore will be far from enough. Once it's not enough for our operations, it will simply be impossible to resist the attacks of the seven grand duchies with the current defences of Brettel City."

Magic crystal ores were formed by nature. They could be used to refine various magical equipment, and were needed in some transportation matrices and magical weapons. Magic crystal ores were different from creature cores. The energy in the former couldn't be directly absorbed by humans or beasts, and could only be used through tools. As for creature cores, most of them could be directly absorbed by magical creatures, while a few could be absorbed by humans who had the same type of element. Therefore, creature cores were more valuable than magic crystal ores.

Even though creature cores were more valuable, most of them couldn't be used to power transportation matrixes or magic crystal cannons. Magic Crystal Ore was needed to power Magic Crystal Cannons.

"It looks like we need to pay attention to the harvesting of magic crystal ores in the underground world!" Han Shuo's mind spun rapidly with the information about the different uses of creature cores and magic crystal ores as he whispered to himself.

"My lord is indeed a man of courage. You knew very well that she was Helen Tina, yet you dared to lock her up and ravage her for two whole days! I'm in awe of your spirit, undaunted by any pressure or threat!" Dick exclaimed sincerely.

It looked like these three perverts had decided that Han Shuo had nailed Helen Tina no matter what he said. Han Shuo was too lazy to say anything else in the end. He turned to give orders to Faulke, "Use all the gold coins I brought back to defend Brettel City. I will force the people of the Duchy of Helon to ransom one million gold coins for Helen Tina. When they come, report to me."

Han Shuo paid no attention to the flattery of these three perverts after giving his orders. He returned to his room in the mansion and waited for the two maids to bring Helen Tina back. After half an hour, the two maids slowly brought the weak-looking Helen Tina to Han Shuo's room.

Helen Tina's mental strength had been limited, while she herself had been hungry for a long time. She probably wouldn't even be able to defeat a maid in her current state, and it was simply impossible for her to escape from the city lord's mansion. Helen Tina put aside all thoughts of escape and meekly allowed herself to be led by the two maids.

Helen Tina's face now had some colour after she had eaten and drunk some water. She didn't need to lean on the two maids anymore. Her bright eyes were full of hatred as she glared at Han Shuo, her soft voice instantly ringing out curses, "You rude, despicable necromancer, I can't believe you dared to treat me like this! Even if you are an insidious, evil necromancer, you should know that mistreating prisoners deserves everyone's spittle!"

"My lord, if you have no further orders, we will take our leave now." The two maids averted their eyes and lifted their heads to look at Han Shuo in fear. One of them pleaded in a low voice.

In their hearts, the two maids already regarded Han Shuo as an abusive pervert. Their voices trembled and their eyes looked at him with fear, like lambs looking at a wolf.

"Go. Speak no more nonsense from now on!" Han Shuo shot a cold glance at the two maids as he spoke.

The two maids were so scared that their knees went weak and they trembled as they nodded in agreement. Neither of them dared to raise their heads. After a while, seeing that Han Shuo had no intention of punishing them, the two maids left the room in shock and fear.

This time, they left without saying a word. It seemed that Han Shuo's deterrent had begun to take effect.

Waiting for the two maids to leave, Han Shuo opened his mouth to speak to the furious Helen Tina, "I apologise for starving you for two days because of my negligence. But I really didn't do it on purpose, I really just forgot."

Han Shuo took out her space ring and handed it back to her before continuing, "Alright, I've returned your space ring to you. I think this kind of situation won't happen again next time."

Helen Tina's pretty eyes glared bitterly at Han Shuo, uncontrollable hatred still remaining on her face after he had returned her space ring. However, she obviously understood that she had no capital to make a fuss since she was a prisoner. After rolling her eyes at Han Shuo for a while, Helen Tina finally let out a slight sigh and said in a soft tone, "If you think you can use me to threaten the Helon Duchy, I don't think your wish will come true. Four days have already passed. The Duchy of Helon probably hasn't sent anyone with a million gold coins for my release. How about this, my space ring still has four hundred thousand gold coins. If you release me, I'll give you those gold coins, okay?"

Han Shuo sat on the chair, stroking his chin as he stared at Helen Tina. After a moment's thought, he opened his mouth. "Don't worry. I'll wait a while and see how it goes. If it's really as you say, I can discuss the terms with you again."

"No. If I don't return to the Duchy of Helon in a short time, it will definitely fall into civil unrest. The longer it takes, the more useless it will be for me to return to the Helon Duchy." Helen Tina's tone became urgent as she replied immediately.

"That has nothing to do with me. You're the Grand Duke of the Duchy of Helon, you're definitely worth a million gold coins. Hahaha, four hundred thousand gold coins is really not enough. I'll lose a lot of money if I let you go like that! I don't care if there's civil unrest in your duchy. Will corpses pile up everywhere just because of civil unrest? Don't expect me to let you leave without handing over a million gold coins. Crossing his legs and looking at Helen Tina's urgent posture, Han Shuo slowly replied with a smile.

"You, you demon from hell! The six magic crystal cannons are worth a million gold coins! Is your greed really that bottomless?" Helen Tina's face turned red with rage. Her body staggered as if she was about to faint.

"The longer this drags on, the more it's going to hurt you. I see you don't have enough gold coins. I'm not an unreasonable man. Mm, how about this, write me a note. Bring me the remaining six hundred thousand gold coins within three months of your return to your duchy. Han Shuo glared at Helen Tina, waiting until she had let out all her anger before he opened his mouth to speak again.

"You greedy pig, you'll get what's coming to you!" Helen Tina shouted in anger.

"Alright then, you can just keep screaming here and wait for your Helon Duchy to fall into chaos. Hahaha, I have something to do and won't keep you company!" Han Shuo stood up calmly, seemingly not taking Helen Tina's screaming in his eyes as he walked leisurely towards the door.

"You evil demon, greedy evil demon. I agree, I agree!" The noisy Helen Tina finally gave in and screamed hysterically as Han Shuo was almost out of the door.

"Isn't it good to agree early? Your body is so weak, screaming loudly is not good for your health!" Han Shuo laughed heartily. He immediately took out a contract, had Helen Tina's fingerprint taken and signed it, and finally placed a magical mark on it.