Dungeon Prison

At the same time, Bahlol was being held captive inside a dark dungeon hundreds of metres deep inside a massive castle.

The dungeon had a deep diagonal fissure spreading from one end to another, as if slashed by a sword. And inside of it, the former commander was restrained with 13 nails and chained, in a crucified position. And yet, that was not the end of the mutilation. There was also a fresh bloodied scar running from his right shoulder to the left of his abdomen, eerily reminiscent of the dungeon's own scar.

The illusory figure in front of him asked once more with a high-pitched voice "Where is the Fire Fate Pome?"

"I don't... know." Replied Bahlol with barely any strength left.

"Kukuku, still holding out?" The figure said as he stuck his finger into Bahlol's wound.

"Aaaarrggh, stop! Please... *hah* general... stop." He gasped for what little air there was deep down in this dungeon.

The figure smiled before continuing with his questioning. "Did you know that you've made quite an uproar in the kingdom?" Bahlol couldn't answer for he was groaning whilst blood oozed again from his wounds from the churning finger.

"The Five Empire Alliance, the eleven S ranked guilds, the Four Supreme Strongholds, the Seven Sea Kings and the Eight Grand Bishops. All have sent their spies into our humble abode. And you... are the sole reason for it. Sigh, if only you had given me the Fire Fate Pome from the start, we wouldn't have this sticky mess." He shoved his finger deeper while on his monologue as Bahlol moaned in pain before being forced to open his mouth. "Aarrgh! It… wasn't mine... It belonged to the Midnight Suns..."

"Midnight Suns!? What is that? A bandit stronghold? An adventurer's guild? A pirate crew or some church temple? Because I know about them all and none have such a name. Speak the truth!" He cried in anger and violently opened the wound.

"Aaaaaaargh" with a loud and anguished cry, Bahlol collapsed.

"Tsk, fainted again? Why must you drag this out so?" He said while leaving the dungeon room. While doing so, he saw a soldier who shivered upon noticing the general. " G-General Aino, th-the King has summoned y-you." He stuttered in fear.

That illusory figure was General Aino. He wiped his bloodied hand with his clothes. "What does that stupid King need now?"

The soldier flinched when he heard that.

"What? You gonna report that to your worthless King, huh?" Aino asked without a hint of fear.

"No, no, no, I d-didn't hear anything." He quickly responded.

"Very good, stay here and inform me once this worm opens his eyes."

The soldier nodded. "Yes, general, I will inform you immediately." After which, General Aino jumped towards the outside path. The soldier released a deeply held breath as he clenched his heart. "How did that demon become a general…"

His eyes changed direction towards a certain dungeon room as he mumbled. "While the one who is worthy of it is in this death pit." His tone full of sadness and pity.

...

The whole castle was a prison, surrounded by a crocodile pit with fuming blood-red water that released corroding gas into the air which seemed to be damaging the walls, yet once you blinked, it seemed pristine again, as if time had reverted with only some barely visible fluctuations remaining. But even that faded quickly enough.

And after a few minutes passed, the general appeared outside. Upon noticing him, the stationed soldiers promptly lowered the drawbridge of the castle, the only way inside.

The general passed through before getting in his vehicle and driving towards the Imperial Castle, the residence of the royal family, at the centre of the capital city, Sufas.

Inside the well fashioned and furnished Imperial Throne Room, there were two rows of chairs with a golden throne placed at the front. On it sat the king, a young man adorned with the diamond royal crown.

"Come." He welcomed with a youthful voice as an imperial guard came inside and bent his knee "Your majesty, General Aino has arrived."

"Bring him in." Ordered the King before the guard departed. Soon after, a man of average height and unsightly looks came in. He was General Aino. He bent his knee and exclaimed in a hoarse voice. "Long live the King! Your subject, General Aino, is here at your service."

The King looked at him in disgust before opening his mouth. "Where is the Fire Fate Pome?"

The general raised his head and looked in the throne's direction. However, his sight landed on a man who stood behind the throne. Tall and well-built with a spear hanging on his back.

"Your Majesty, Bahlol hasn't revealed its location yet." General Aino replied after which the king scratched his head and asked another question. "Have you found out anything useful you might want to share at least?"

General Aino stared at the king, but didn't say anything. "Aino, his excellence has asked you a question. Have you turned deaf?" The man behind the throne spoke, his voice thick. He had a grey long beard and a stern look on his face.

General Aino winced a bit before replying. "Your Majesty, I apologise. The deathly gases inside of the prison have made my brain a bit numb, tuy yes, there is one thing. Bahlol said that the Fire Fate Pome belongs to the Midnight Suns."

The King's eyes squinted as he mumbled the name, trying to recall if he knew a group with that name before looking behind with a side-eye behind him."Great General Bulbo, do you recall anything with that name?"

The man behind the throne was the most powerful man in the Moro Kingdom, the only one with the title Great General. "I seek your pardon, Your Majesty, but I do not recall anything with such a name." Bulbo replied.

The King pondered for a minute. "Mhm, you can go now, General Aino."

"Long live the King!" Said Aino as he stood up respectfully before departing. The moment he left, he gritted his teeth so hard that the noise could be heard. "That shitty king and his loyal lapdog. As soon as I get my hands on the Fire Fate Pome, you two will be immolated."