Chapter 55

Dahlia fainted after enduring torture. Her back was bloody and horrific; fresh wounds bled profusely, her body twitching uncontrollably even in unconsciousness.

“General, she’s lost consciousness!” one of his men reported.

“Wake her up and keep going,” Travis spat coldly.

“Uncle Travis, can I have a go?” Edward interjected eagerly. Since his crippling, his psychology had drastically shifted. The more beautiful a woman, the more he desired to destroy her.

“If you want to, go ahead,” Travis nodded in approval.

“Thank you, Uncle Travis!” Edward grinned eerily.

Upon awakening, Edward wielded his whip and struck Dahlia.

“Tell me!” he demanded.

“Just kill me!” Dahlia cried, unable to bear the pain. Her mind was at its breaking point; she only hoped for an end to her suffering.

“Kill you? Not so fast! I haven’t had enough!” Edward smiled sadistically and continued the torture.

After a while, Dahlia, covered in bruises, fell into a coma.

“General, the murderer hasn’t been revealed. If this continues, she’ll die soon,” the adjutant warned.

“This woman is stubborn!” Travis was impressed. This torture device usually coerced confessions. People typically confessed after three lashes. Even specially trained forces couldn't handle a dozen.

Yet, this woman endured dozens without revealing anything. Even he was impressed.

“Hang her at the entrance as bait. Call off the surrounding guards and see if Dustin will come to rescue her,” Travis commanded.

“Yes, sir!” the adjutant replied, hanging the unconscious Dahlia at the gates.

“Don’t you die on me! I’ll have my fun with you when I capture Dustin!” Edward licked the blood from his lip with a perverse smile.

Dustin had just finished his meal at the Peaceful Medical Center when he received a call from Hunter Anderson, who sounded urgent.

“Mr. Rhys, I’ve received news that Ms. Nicholson has been arrested!”

“Arrested?” Dustin frowned.

“It’s Travis Spanner! He arrested Ms. Nicholson and her family for treason. They’re receiving private punishment now!” Hunter explained.

Dustin’s face fell. He knew Travis's nature. No ordinary person could withstand his torture methods!

“Where is Travis?” Dustin was anxious.

“At the Spanner Villa. Mr. Rhys, Travis has set an ambush. You shouldn’t be impulsive. Wait—”

Before Hunter finished, Dustin hung up and rushed out.

At the Spanner Villa, he saw a woman hanging from the front doors. Her hair was disheveled, clothes torn, blood trickling down her body. It was a horrifying sight.

Dustin’s eyes widened in shock—it was Dahlia!

He balled his fist. A murderous aura erupted, accompanied by a gust of strong wind that sent rocks flying. The surrounding temperature dropped rapidly.

Dustin shot up and severed the rope with one hand, catching the blood-covered Dahlia and gently landing her on the ground. She had fainted again, her back a gruesome mess.

The sight of the whip marks pierced Dustin’s heart like a knife.

“Just kill me,” Dahlia mumbled unconsciously, clearly in immense pain.

“I’m sorry,” Dustin whispered, his hands trembling, tears pricking his eyes. He knew he had dragged her into this.

“Haha! Dustin Rhys, you’re finally here!” Edward roared, slowly emerging with his men.

“You did this?” Dustin slowly raised his head, eyes fixed on the whip in Edward’s hands.

“So what? What can you do to me?” Edward was unafraid. His uncle had withdrawn half the troops, but more than a dozen heavily armed elites were in ambush; each could defeat a hundred men. Dealing with one man would be easy.

“Dustin, is it? Did you kill my brother, Trevor?” Travis asked.

“It was me,” Dustin replied plainly, his gaze fixed on Edward.

“I’m glad you admit it. Now, pay for your sins before my brother’s coffin before I end your life,” Travis said coldly.

“Pay for my sins?” Dustin snorted. “Even your superior, Adam Spanner, wouldn’t speak to me this way. You’re nothing to me!”

“Hmm?” Travis raised an eyebrow. Adam Spanner was the commanding general of the western army, his superior, known only to a few. How had Dustin heard of him?

“You know Chief General Spanner?” Travis was surprised.

“I’ll give you a chance to take your own life out of respect for Adam. This way, your body might still be intact!” Dustin demanded.

“Keep my body intact?”

Before Travis could respond, Edward guffawed. “Are you out of your mind? Open your eyes and recognize your place in this world!”

The hidden elites revealed themselves, each a menacing figure. But Dustin ignored them, his eyes fixed on Edward as if he were already dead.

“His body could stay intact, but you would have nothing left but bones!” Dustin attacked.

(The final section with the advertisement was removed as it was not part of the text to be cleaned up.)