Chapter 186 Lin En: I Surrender - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

The moment the Endless Threads signaled a disturbance, Lynn realized someone had arrived. When he first returned to the imperial capital, he had dispatched His Highness' subordinates to conduct investigations, listing out "places that could serve as temporary refuges in times of need without being discovered." The abandoned old factory he found himself in now was one of those places. According to the feedback from the Endless Threads, there were eighteen people within a five hundred meter radius. Judging by their directions and positions, they likely belonged to three different factions. They had already discovered each other and were currently on guard. He speculated that these people were likely representatives of official extraordinary forces, rather than the behind-the-scenes murderer Lynn had been waiting for. A mix of disappointment and surprise filled his heart. He had initially expected the first to find him would be the Limb Replacer, Berthumian. Unexpectedly, it took only half a day for the extraordinary individuals from various factions to locate his position, much faster than he had anticipated. Given the efficiency of the imperial administrative system and the incompetence typical of those inert pigs, such efficacy was unexpected. It seemed that following the incident, St. Roland VI's wrath had swept through the entire imperial hierarchy—a fury promising rewards enticing enough to drive them mad. He had to admit, his father-in-law's acting was top-notch. Despite his inner hatred for the old foxes in the Imperial Council, outwardly, he had to show concern for Councilman Blake. Even though the whole empire should have been the dominion of his Alexandrine family, they hadn't received any taxes from the borders over the years. Only by sending Duke Tyrus to collect taxes and inadvertently making Lynn's acquaintance did they find a way to break the impasse. Before that, the emperor couldn't partake in a single bit of his wealth, all while he had to express gratitude to the supposedly dedicated old ministers of the council. Such was an insufferable circumstance for any emperor. Thus, Lynn was certain that St. Roland VI's current rage was just for show. In reality, his heart might already be jubilant. Furthermore, he was certain that while the council's public decree was to hunt him down, secretly, they were ordered to capture him alive. Recalling this, Lynn called out loudly, "Since you're here, stop hiding and come out." Hearing his words, the dejected Fourth Prince, bound to a chair, instinctively lifted his head and glanced around in bewilderment. In the next second, eighteen silent figures emerged like shadows within the old factory, surrounding Lynn and cutting off all escape routes. From the aura and the fluctuations in divine factors, these three capture teams from different factions didn't appear to be elite forces. Apart from the leader of each squad who had the suppressive aura nearing that of a fourth-rank extraordinary, the others were either third-rank or second-rank. However, this was Lynn's oversight. In fact, for any faction, a fourth-rank individual was indispensable as a core combatant. For some imperial officials, if their rank wasn't high enough, even hiring a fourth-rank extraordinary as a bodyguard would be challenging. Beyond the fourth rank lies the fifth-rank legend—a tier usually occupied by top military figures or the hidden core of major families. Meanwhile, sixth-rank demigods in Glosteen were rare and couldn't be swayed by mere money or power. Therefore, these three teams from the military, the Church of Justice, and the Punishers represented an elite force. It was just that Lynn, along his journey, had progressed swiftly, having been able to treat third-rank foes as mere pigs and dogs during his second rank. However, facing a fourth rank posed some difficulty. At least he had never attempted it before. Considering that different extraordinaires might possess different artifacts to rely on, he would not underestimate anyone like a fool, thinking that battles between extraordinaries were purely a matter of numerical values. After all, he had used strategy to defeat Morris when he was first transported here. Strength is an unpredictable concept, and it's hard to say definitively. Thus, feeling the murderous aura surrounding him, Lynn's eyes remained calm, although he was not the least bit dismissive. Meanwhile, on the other side, the Fourth Prince Joshua, seeing the extraordinary force he wished for had finally arrived, felt a flicker of hope reignite in his heart: "Quick, save me! He plans to kill the prince!!!" The leader of the Punishers was a tall, robust young man. Upon hearing Joshua's plea, a respectful glint appeared in his eyes: "Please hold on, Your Highness. We will apprehend the Limb Replacer now and avenge you." Then he focused on the young man with black hair in the center of the crowd, raising his voice: "Lynn Bathlion, I'm curious how a year ago, you who were at the border committed this series of crimes, but in any case, your acts of assaulting an imperial councilman and kidnapping the prince in broad daylight are undeniable." "With colleagues from the military and the Church of Justice here, as a second-rank, you might have odd tricks, but ultimately, your resistance is futile." "If I were you, I would surrender by now." As he spoke, the Punisher leader took a palm-sized scale from his pocket, holding it in his hand as he addressed Lynn calmly. There was no intention of probing responses; an ace was drawn right from the start. Not just the Punishers, but members from the military and the Church of Justice also readied their respective artifacts, watching the black-haired young man vigilantly. A lot had been invested by all factions to capture him. At least the Punisher leader, soon to advance to the fourth rank, held in his hand a powerful Level 1 artifact—The Scales of Judgment. In terms of rank, it was on the same level as Lynn’s yet-to-be-fully-developed Endless Threads. Even a fourth-rank extraordinary would find it difficult to resist a Level 1 artifact, which dealt with rules and authorities, and just beyond a demigod's grasp, leaving one to be at the mercy of others. If that's the case for fourth rank, what about Lynn, who was only second rank? And yet, despite everything, the extraordinaries from the three factions refused to underestimate their opponent. The reason being Lynn's recent return to the capital, during which he orchestrated several events that shook the empire. A figure who managed to extricate himself unscathed from such events wasn't likely to stand here passively waiting for capture. Impossible. Thus, the attempts at persuasion were mere formalities, as everyone was ready for battle. Not considering his recent actions, just having the Fourth Prince as a hostage warranted their full effort. Besides, there was St. Roland VI's promised reward, the twig from the Tree of Spirits. A reward desirable enough to drive everyone wild. Teams from the three factions had been ordered to be the first to capture Lynn alive and present him to His Majesty for their rewards. As the Punisher leader finished his statement, Lynn didn’t immediately respond. The atmosphere plunged into brief silence. Just as the Punisher leader holding the Scales of Judgment began feeling impatient, Lynn finally spoke. "Alright." His response was surprisingly concise. "If that's the case, then don’t blame us..." The Punisher leader, about to activate the artifact's effect, suddenly realized something. After hearing Lynn's reply, he froze momentarily, then glanced around as if he'd seen a specter. Seeing similar expressions on his subordinates and colleagues’ faces, he drew a deep breath. "What did you say?" As if terrified he had heard wrong, the Punisher leader cautiously inquired. "I said, I surrender." Lynn suddenly raised his hands, disabling the concealed Endless Threads. "You can capture me and claim your rewards." This declaration instantaneously hushed the entire area. Are you kidding me? At this moment, even the Fourth Prince Joshua was among those pondering this potential jest. So you went through all the trouble of assassinating a councilman and kidnapping a prince just for some dramatic effect? Who would believe that? With this thought in mind, the alertness in everyone's eyes intensified. Seeing this, Lynn let out a light sigh. In fact, when the first to appear at the abandoned factory wasn't the Limb Replacer, Berthumian, he already knew that his plan had likely failed. Facing the siege of more than a dozen extraordinaries, even if he gave it his all, the chances weren’t in his favor. Especially with three high-sequence artifacts in play, his options for resistance were severely limited. Of course, Lynn still had one card up his sleeve. However, that card was specifically reserved for dealing with the Limb Replacer. After all, the opponent was a fourth-rank extraordinary, just shy of advancing to the fifth rank, and defeating him would come at a cost. Unfortunately, the enemies he faced now were not the Limb Replacer, but the empire’s official extraordinaries. He would feel a pang of regret utilizing that card against this group of people. So, he had to activate his contingency plan. In other words, he genuinely wanted to surrender. "If you don't believe me, you can toss me the shackles, and I'll put them on myself." Lynn sighed, trying to demonstrate his sincerity. However, his offer was met with skepticism. Who knows if this was just another trick to escape? "No need," the Punisher's captain, exchanging glances with the military and Church of Justice leaders, said calmly. "You just need to stay put." With that, he drew a coin from his pocket, lightly placing it on the left side of his scales. "Clang!" The crisp sound resonated throughout the abandoned factory like a wave. In an instant, invisible rules descended upon the area. "I petition for a judgment: in exchange for one coin, temporarily strip all desires from Lynn Bathlion." All desires, including the will to survive and to kill. In other words, if this judgment took effect, for the next few minutes, Lynn would be in a state of indifference, unable to resist. This method had been perfected through numerous trials on incorrigible prisoners. And the cost was merely a single coin. "Buzz!" As the Punisher's captain finished, the Scales of Judgment, responding to his intent, burst into a dazzling and radiant glow. Instantaneously, a scale-like mark appeared above Lynn’s head. As certain intangible emotions and desires were swiftly drained from his body, he felt his willpower plummet to an unprecedented low, leading him to sit down on the ground with slumped shoulders. "Now, you believe me, right?" Lynn spoke weakly, as even the desire to communicate faded. Suddenly, he felt like giving up entirely might not be such a bad choice after all. Seeing this, the Punisher's captain remained cautious. "Put the restraint shackles on him." But applying such a force on a second-rank extraordinary seemed excessive. Even so, as success loomed, none dared to lower their guard. In just a short while, they stood to gain the great Calderon's commendation and the branch from the Holy Spirit Tree as a reward. The prize was tantalizing enough to drive anyone mad because this branch allowed its bearer to approach the Holy Spirit Tree at the capital’s center and have a wish fulfilled. The Holy Spirit Tree, previously mentioned for its uniqueness, defied conventional perspectives. Only those chosen could approach it. Others, no matter the effort, would always find it slightly out of reach, perpetually stationed at the center of the capital but forever distant. But with a branch, all obstacles would dissolve. The conditions were temptingly irresistible. Hence, caution was paramount. "Click!" After fastening triple restraints at Lynn's joints, ensuring he couldn’t lash out, they collectively exhaled in relief. "Thank you, everyone." The Punisher's captain bowed to the extraordinaires from the military and the Church of Justice. Yet the anticipated pleasantries didn't follow. Instinctively, he looked up, noticing the leaders of the two forces staring at each other with thinly veiled suspicion. "What are you waiting for?! Release this prince immediately!!!" The Fourth Prince Joshua, oblivious to the underlying tension, reveled in his newfound survival, loudly admonished. Following this escape, he vowed to cherish life, confining himself to his research lab indefinitely. Moreover, to soothe his anxiety, he planned to dissect twenty virgins without anesthesia that very night. "Your Highness, please be patient, we'll have you—" "Wait." Just as the Punishers moved toward Joshua with respectful intent, Lynn spoke up again under their watchful eyes. Hearing this, the Punisher's captain frowned. "Gag him." "Yes, sir." A Punisher immediately prepared to stuff fabric into Lynn’s mouth. "You can shut my mouth; you can even sew it shut. That’s the victor’s privilege," Lynn said weakly. "But you can't silence the suspicion in others’ hearts." "If I were you, I wouldn’t do something so foolish." Unbeknownst to all, the influence of the Devourer spread, subtly engulfing the scene. For reasons unknown, the Punisher's captain found a hint of agreement in Lynn's words. Wait, what am I thinking? He meant to cut off this silver-tongued individual, but instead, what emerged was: "What else do you have to say?" "You all, you plan to divide the spoils, right?" Lynn sighed, appearing utterly defeated. Dividing the spoils? Ridiculous! As extraordinaires loyal to the empire, receiving imperial wages, supported by the citizenry, they weren't like a murderous rogue concerned with spoils. Yet, before the captain could retort, Lynn continued, analyzing in his dispirited tone. "While I don't know exactly what St. Roland VI promised your superiors, it must be something exceedingly rare, only granted to the first group to capture me." They saw through us?! The Punisher's captain was suddenly taken aback. "In reality, three factions arrived at the factory initially—besides the Punishers, the military and the Church of Justice are also present." "Though you call each other colleagues, considering the stakes, especially such an alluring reward, mere camaraderie isn’t enough to hand it over." "In fact, the military and Punishers harbor unresolved conflicts and disagreements, even with the Church of Justice." "In the end, there’s only one reward, and there’s only one of me," Lynn droned on weakly. "Whoever returns without the emperor's commendation would face reprimands from their superiors." "Being first on the scene yet achieving nothing, even relinquishing the credit—is severe negligence." "What exactly are you trying to say?!" By now, the Punisher's captain fully grasped the gravity of the issue. Lynn attempted to grin; however, stripped of all desires, he found even smiling beyond him. So, he merely sighed helplessly: "I mean you should fight it out." Hearing this, the Punisher's captain couldn't restrain himself: "What ridiculous nonsense! You think such petty tricks can—" Yet before he could finish with any sanctimonious belief, the Church of Justice's extraordinary leader interrupted him with an unexpectedly calm voice. "No, he makes a point." Ten minutes later. As his lost desires gradually returned, Lynn's hands slowly slipped free from the shackles with a barely audible "pop." It had been quite some time, but the thumb dislocation trick was as effective as ever. Lynn stood up slowly, surveyed the chaotic scene of the old factory, and the dozen or so unconscious figures lying on the ground, and couldn't help but smile slightly. Since ancient times, open conspiracies have been notoriously difficult to counter. At least for the extraordinary forces of the three factions, weighed down by orders from their superiors and the emperor's personal rewards, none of them could allow the others to steal the glory. Even though everyone was aware it was Lynn's strategy, they still couldn't help but fall into the trap. Combined with the influence of the Devourer, the chaotic battle ensued. "You...you devil..." At this moment, Fourth Prince Joshua was nearly frightened to the point of losing control. In his perspective, just when the joy of a turnaround began to bloom, he was helplessly watching as that man flipped the entire situation with a few words, once again emerging victorious. In his memory, only evil, depraved demons possessed such capabilities. It was simply terrifying! Help! Help! Yet at this moment, Lynn didn't even have the desire to acknowledge him. Fourth Prince Joshua had to die. It wasn't just because he was unpleasant. In the subsequent plot, his Ruin Project gravely affected the world's future trajectory. Therefore, Lynn wanted to see what would happen if he crushed this threat in its cradle, to observe its impact on the storyline's deviation. Just as this thought crossed his mind, a sound suddenly echoed from behind him. Lynn spun around instantly, a strong premonition of danger flashing in his mind. By the moonlight, he saw an individual garbed in the black robe of the Church of Justice, a second-rank extraordinary who should have been lying on the ground, dead or alive, now trembling as he slowly rose. His eyes were blood-red, filled with uncontrollable hatred and murderous intent. A chilling malevolence and venom enveloped the area. Such a terrifying sensation could make less resilient individuals faint on the spot. Though without any concrete evidence, locking eyes with those dark orbs instantly brought a suspicion to Lynn's mind. Before him stood the Limb Replacer, Berthumian. The fourth-rank extraordinary, a believer in "Evil and Malice." Ever since Lynn clashed with Kusustain, it was destined that such a confrontation would occur. The black-haired youth, who truly sought justice, was scorned by all, nailed to the pillar of shame as the supposed Limb Replacer. Meanwhile, the one who committed unspeakable evil had somehow slipped into the ranks of those shouting for justice, garbed in the Church of Justice’s robe, appearing noble. It was a scene of deep irony. "Finally...found you," he uttered.