13 The Branch Mission

As soon as the last guards in the prison take their last breath, Yusheng stands still in the room with his sword drenched in crimson blood pointing towards the ground, causing the thick liquid to slowly drip down.

At the same time, the entire room descends in a heavy silence as they witness with their own eyes how the Imperial Prince had personally taken care of the people who had been guarding their prison.

Which had constantly used their pass-time to sneer at their situation, even going so far to beat them up once in a while.

"Hm… It seems that I can't control myself when I see the traitors breathing full of life. It makes me want to remove them as soon as I can, you see?"

After silently observing the dead bodies that continue to spill blood, Yusheng finally makes a sound before showing a smile on his face despite the bloody situation around them.

Nonetheless, he remains indifferent on how he appears in everyone's eyes.

Yusheng doesn't mind how ruthless, violent and cruel his actions had been when killing the people around them, particularly the bloodthirsty temperament that had slipped out.

Just like what he declared a while ago, he will never walk on the benevolent path anymore.

It doesn't matter if he becomes a tyrant in everyone's eyes, as long as he could fulfill his goal, he doesn't mind being remembered as a mad person for the generation to come.

Yusheng's previous traditional way of thinking has completely changed after the modern life memories have blended over. He wasn't as against and anxious about being written in an unpleasant way in the records of history.

"Gouzhi, you can release your brothers now."

"Y-Yes Your Royal Highness!"

While Guozhi and the hidden guards unlock the chains on the fifteen people in the prison, Yusheng silently stands in the center of the dimly lit room with his visible eye flickering around the entire place, before narrowing down to a certain spot.

"Your Royal Highness, thank you for saving us!"

And when everyone has been released, with the free people kneeling down to offer their respect and gratefulness, Yusheng calmly nods his head while secretly taking note of the state of loyalties of the people before him.

Good… only two people out of the fifteen men have a decrease of loyalty towards the Su Empire.

Yusheng has thirteen people that he will be able to use in the army after cleaning up the military barracks, while the other two can be sent back to their home with great compensation.

If they still choose to remain in the army, he can place some people to secretly monitor their actions.

After all, they definitely retain some resentment or anger in their hearts from the state of their loyalties. Even the promise he has made as an Imperial Prince could not pacify the injustice they have experienced.

If they decide to go back home, then he can leave them alone, but if they remain in the army, then they are possible traitors in the future or people who will end up working for his traitorous relatives.

Yusheng knows he is acting a bit paranoid, assuming an outcome that didn't happen, but it was better to be safe than sorry. He doesn't want to be caught off guard just like in the previous life.

"Gouzhi, take all your brothers with you and let Fan Liqin check their condition. Also tell Fan Liqin to write a full report on his examination. You will also write an account of the grave crimes committed in the army."

Even though he doesn't mind being impeached, threatened and pointed out by the Royal Officials for personally performing the punishment without following the proper procedure.

It is also great to slap their faces once in a while after sending the evidence to his Father Emperor, and letting him do all the work.

If there is one habit Yusheng knew his father Emperor loved to do the most, it was to fight over the Royal Officials, which was especially better if there is enough evidence to make the Royal Officials in the court as quiet as a lamb.

Huh… this might be the main reason why they were always against his Imperial Brother decision after their Father Emperor died.

When Yusheng was busy thinking about a certain karma that was caused by his Father Emperor, everyone finally left the room with only the hidden guard silently standing a few distance away.

"Come, I have an important task for you to do."

Yusheng gently waved to the hidden guard to come over before quietly giving an order, and after a few seconds later, he was the only person left in the room.

Swish

At the sound of the sword sliding back in the scabbard, Yusheng walks over to a certain spot before he begins to trace the stone in the wall with his fingers, and finally stops on a certain spot before pressing hard with his internal energy.

"... Look at that… A hidden room."

Yusheng smiles while watching as the wall begins to move, creating a small door for one person to fit in. And the entire time, there wasn't any large sound at the sudden change of structure of the hard wall.

There wasn't even a small movement to catch the attention of the people outside the prison room.

Although the world he is living in is similar to an ancient era, no one should underestimate the talented people in the early era which didn't have the help of modern technology.

"Now let's see what kind of secret or dirty schemes they are hiding."

Soon, Yusheng enters the small door before calmly walking in a dark pathway leading to a certain place. Despite the calm and relaxed expression on his face, he was prepared to deal any unexpected danger that will suddenly emerge.

A few seconds have passed by, and Yusheng finally arrives at another dimly lit room and the thick scent of blood greets him first, before his eyes finally land on a young man hanging in the air with a chain tied on both of his wrists.

There are also various injuries that can be seen on the dark clothes in the young man's body, which were already in a rag-like state from the constant attacks of the weapons, which can be called torture tools and were placed over a certain visible spot in the room.

Ding!

"My dear partner! You found the person in the branch mission!"

"Oh? Then I'm done now, right? I will quickly leave this bloody torture room."

Yusheng feels the evil fire in his heart being recklessly stirred by the thick scent of blood constantly drifting on his nose, and all he wanted to do is just leave the place in order to calm down his bloodthirst that is about to muddle his reason.

There is a danger in losing control just because of the state in the bloody room.

A person could just imagine how much torment the person in the room has experienced can be told by the amount of dark and dried thick blood in the entire place.

Especially on the remaining fresh blood that has just been spilled a while ago.

Which was evidence enough that the Lieutenant General has just been in this room before his death.

"... You're joking right?"

"Well, I am joking."

Yusheng needs to make the dangerous atmosphere loosen up, at least he tries to, but ultimately he fails to do so.

"... W-who?"

Before Yusheng can tease the System speaking in his mind again, the extremely hoarse sound of the young man suddenly resounds, causing his attention to finally land on the tied up person.

"Well, I don't need to answer that anymore right?"

Yuseng gently smiles when the young man who still has energy to move his head stares at the visible purple eyes on his face, which causes his lip to tremble after an enlightened look flashes on his tired black eyes which seem to have a hint of green upon it.

… A hint of green? Interesting…

If the Royal Family in the Su Empire are the only people who can have the purple eyes as the solid evidence to determine their Royal Identities, then there are also other characteristics and features from the other people in the entire mainland.

Just as there are no other people who can have a purple eye color aside from the Royal Family of the Su Empire, then there is only a certain family… or more likely, a tribe that has the feature of having green pupils.

Although it's only from the hint of color, it just means that this young man's blood isn't part of the main leader of the tribe.

"Don't speak, there is no need to waste your energy… Just so you know, I am not in cahoot with the people who have captured and tortured you. Instead, I have already killed that person a while ago. Of course, I accidentally found this place while releasing my loyal soldiers who had been unjustly captured."

Yusheng casually leans his body over the wall, with his visible purple eye flashing in interest and curiosity about the reason why they had captured this young man. Obviously, this person is a key to whatever schemes are hidden in the dark.

"Just answer my question, and I will gladly release you. I might even help you out if it's related to the present war that is happening right now. Don't worry, even though I am an Imperial Prince of the Su Empire, I am not an atrocious person. I will kindly listen to your plea even if you aren't one of the people of my Su Empire."

Yes, this captured young man is a person of the Wang Empire, who is also related to the person in the main mission given by the System.

So, will this person help me easily connect with the Short Lived Prince?

Sun, that was watching and listening to the entire situation answers with a firm 'Yes'.

"Now then, why did they capture you? Tell me what they want from you to torture you like this. Why did they still keep you alive?"

Obviously, they desperately wanted some important information to have kept the young man alive till this day, and based on what he has observed, they tortured the stubborn young man every day.

"..."

"Oh? Remaining quiet?"

Yusheng wasn't really surprised when the young man still keeps his lips tight and doesn't accept his kind offer.

After all, even he wouldn't easily believe such words from a stranger after being tortured continuously, particularly when they come from the Imperial Prince of the neighbouring Empire whom they are currently at war with.

"Well, I don't really need your answer. I already have a clue after seeing you."

Shrugging, Yusheng pushes his body away from the wall before turning away and leaving without showing any hesitation, causing the young man to feel surprised after the opposite person has easily given up.

At the same time, the young man's heart jumps after hearing the word 'clue' from the Imperial Prince, which is something he cannot easily ignore, especially when remembering that clear and firm visible purple eye staring in his direction.

"Eh? Host, where are you going? Why are you giving up so easily? You don't want to use him?"

"No need to waste time, even if I keep questioning, he will remain quiet."

Even though Yusheng didn't see any loyalties from the young man, which seems that his ability couldn't detect the people that aren't part of the Su Empire, he could still perceive how the young man seems to have the loyalty to death status from what he observed so far.

"By the way, if I meet Wang Ling. I'll inform him about what happened to you."

Of course, if you remain stubborn and die, I don't need to reveal the fact that I didn't rescue you.

"W-Wait!"

Yusheng lip curls up after hearing the anxious hoarse voice of the young man, nonetheless, he continues to leave the place without glancing back.

I'll just come back later, the young man won't die for a few hours. There are still people left whom I need to deal with.