crown [C. TARTAGLIA]

20

one thing childe was sneaking into the warehouse to try to get more information from the bandits, the next he was now tied up to a post with two men wearing masks laughing at his current state.

"well well, if it isn't the prince." the one with a bigger build laughed. "what brings you all the way here, your highness?"

childe would've been fine if they had faced him in a fair fight, but he was unaware of the dangers and traps they had set up along the building. because of some drug that was with the arrow that shot his leg, he fell unconscious and the next thing he knew he was tied up.

"what a cowardly move, setting me up like this." childe scoffs. "why don't you let me go and settle this with our fists?"

"you sure talk big for someone who's on his deathbed." the other man punched the prince's face, then kicks him on the torso. "tell me, why are you here?"

"can't i pay you a visit? i heard you've got some drugs somewhere around here. is that why my body's all frozen up right now?"

childe couldn't move at all. normally, he would have no trouble getting out of the restraints they held on him but because of the drug, he couldn't even move a finger.

"looks like the throne's got their eyes on us." the man pulls the ginger by his hair. "well then, what shall we do with you prince?"

"i'm guessing your ivanovich?" childe smirks. "i've got a lot of questions for you, but i guess i can wait until i beat you up."

"shut the hell up." another punch was sent to his face. now, his nose started to bleed and a huge bruise formed on the side of his cheeks. "well, we could always take you in as a hostage. hey, how much mora do you think we can tell 'em to give us?"

"probaby billions." his partner replies. "i'll go ahead and send some guys to make some arrangements for us." he soon leaves, leaving the presumed ivanovich behind.

"so, leader." childe spoke. "this group you have here, what exactly do you do?"

"what makes you think i'd answer you?" ivanovich clicked his tongue.

"because i know you will." he smirks. "you wouldn't happen to know someone with the name ivanov, don't you?"

childe noticed the man going tense, "...ivanov? [F/N] ivanov?"

"so you do know them, interesting."

"...what are you really here for, prince?" childe could see the man taking out a knife from his pocket as he got closer to him.

"i know you can't kill me so don't even try." he rolls his eyes. "back to my question, seems like you know the head of the ivanov clan. how so?"

"how could you not know them? if you're part of the black market, you'd know they're famous for all sorts of stuff."

"...stuff?"

"don't act so innocent, we all know the palace got their hands dirty on many occasions as well." he kneels down to face childe, bringing the sharp edge of the knife towards his neck. "you've got ties with the ivanovs too all those years ago, don't you?"

"...what are you talking about?"

"they sell a serum, one in which dr. [F/N] ivanov created himself."

"a serum?"

"why are you acting so innocent? the serum, prince. it was booming in the market in the past, everyone and their mother tried to get their hands on it."

childe had no idea as to what he was talking about. this was all news to him, he couldn't understand what any of it meant either.

"you know of his death, don't you?"