Baron Cain looked at the man kneeling before him in rage.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, yet this idiot had to blow it up just like that?

When was the last time that the almighty Alec Barn had decided to leave the Capital?

Over the years, he had been waiting for a perfect opportunity to make his move and cement his place as the next ruler of this great Empire.

But with Alec alive, how could he do that?

He was already happy that one of his archenemies... City lord Shannon was already dead.

And if he took Alec away, wouldn't it become easier for him to take over the throne?

Most spiel would say..... but what about the Princes?

Tsk!

What about them?

He refused to believe that he could be outdone by a few over pampered babies that didn't know much about war and politics.

Hmpp!

.

From the moment that he knew of Alec's plan to visit Baymard, he had been cooking up a grand scheme to take down the Big Man once and for all.

But who would've known that these idiots would mess it up just like that?

They had ambushed Alec and his entourage just as planned, but somehow... Alec had escaped by jumping over a cliff and falling into a violent river below.

Typically, nobody would be able to survive such a fall.

And coupled with the violent nature of the river (water current), forget it.... it was impossible for Alec Barn to survive.

Knowing this, they quickly left the cliff and made their way down to the river below in search of Alec's body.

But after searching for 2 weeks....no body had been found.

The river was a long and side one... So of course they had to follow it right to the end for days.

But nothing had turned up at any point along the river's banks.

Did that monster escape?

Many of them had that thought initially, but quickly tossed it aside, as they truly thought that it would be too conceivable?

.

And so, they decided to believe that the body will turn up in a few more days time.

But of course, they were wrong.... because while they had assumed him dead for 2 and a half weeks, Alec had been secretly making his way back to the Capital fast.

And when he felt that he was some distance away, he quickly hired a messenger to deliver a message to those still searching high for his body.

2 and a half weeks more, those who were still searching for a finger or even an ear part of Alec Barn, were utterly shocked from receiving the message.

[Tell your boss that I'll be coming for his head next-Alec Barn]

Those were the words that he had left behind for them.

They quickly grabbed the messenger and immediately demanded to know where the message had been sent from.

The messenger told them all that he knew, before shrieking in fear as well.

What the hell was in the letter?

Of course, if the messenger knew that he had previously interacted with his majesty Alec Barn.... he would definitely faint from fright instead.

.

The men who had been searching for Alec day and night, knew that it was too late to chase after Alec.

Previously, Alec had a 2 and a half well head start.

Now coupled with the fact that the messenger had also used another 2 and a half weeks to come to them..... didn't that mean that while the messenger was riding towards them, Alec was also advancing as well.

The dude had a whole month head start... that's 30 days for heaven's sake!

So what was the point of even chasing him?

Luckily, the men who attacked Alec were all dressed in black and not in any of his knight uniforms.... or else when Alec reached the Capital, he would have their master's head for sure.

As for Baron Cain... he had left Profus city just a month ago... and had made his way down under the excuse of going to see Baymard as well.

How could he let the attack happen close to his city?

Wouldn't all fingers point towards him indefinitely?

.

Anyway, he had a city close to the attack site 1 WEEK after Alec's message had arrived.

And when he got Alec's letter, he almost wanted to kill these useless motherf***ers who called themselves knights in one go.

He had given them enough men, enough money, as well as enough weapons for the ambush.

And all that was left, was for them to do this one simple thing.

Yet.... they still had the nerve to tell him that Alec was missing.

And why did they say missing rather than escape?

Well, that was because the initial letter that they had sent was when they couldn't find his body.

And since they knew that Cain would be travelling down soon, they didn't know what route he would take.

Hence they decided to wait for his arrival instead.

When Cain had arrived, they immediately told him what happened.

And it was then and there that Cain had ordered for them to be tortured.

Of course even though he knew that Alec had escaped, he still chose to say that Alec was missing.... because he chose to interpret the situation differently.

Escaping meant that one was smart enough to outwit their enemy.... in order words, Alec was smart and he was stupid.

But if he used missing, then wouldn't that mean that he was made a tiny miscalculation... that led to his target now missing?

Cain refused to be inferior to Alec in any way... no matter what!

.

Cain looked at the men kneeling before him, and quickly gave it yet another order to the guards bedded them.

"Bring in the Oven."

"Yes my lord."

With that, while guards went to bring the Oven in..... and while they were away, Cain kicked the men who were kneeling on the floor hard.

'Thahh!'

'Ughhhh!!'

The kicking and beating continued until the Oven was finally brought in.

It was exactly as its name described.... only that this one was used for putting humans and in it.

With the oven now here, Cain smiled while watching the guards lift the 2 men up.

"How many years have you been working for me?"

"7 years my lord....."

"6 years my lord...." they answered exhaustedly.

"Then you know that I don't like disappointments.

Thanks for your services."

With that, the men were shoved into the massive oven and baked alive.

The sounds of their wails, as well as the sounds of their body plastering around the walls of the oven.... were the only sounds that could be heard throughout the baking process.

Everyone within the room was terrified just from rummaging what was going on in there.

Their backs broke out in cold sweat, and their hearts began to beat out very loudly.

Their master was indeed a cruel one.

.

6 hours soon elapsed, and after opening up the oven..... one could see platters of dried meaty paste, that had been mixed with blood all over the walls, floor and ceiling of the oven.

Even the eyes of these men had turned into mush.

The entire scene was terribly gruesome for the knights.

But for Baron Cain, what he was more concerned with... was how to Kill that damn Alec Barn.

He looked towards the capital in rage.

'Just you wait!

Soon... I will get you!', he thought.

And since he had already left Profus city with the excuse of visiting Baymard... he decided to follow up the excuse and just go with it.

Hmm... Baymard.... what was it really like?