The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 97 : The Real Target

"What were you planning to do once you come back?" Luke asked Henry. He had stepped away from the fingers which were now splayed useless and destroyed. Luke wondered whether another kick at a new place would be worth it.

"I... Nothing... I was planning to do nothing. Only talk and may be kiss..." and then Henry screamed in pain again. This time, Luke had taken a sharp knife, stabbed his hand and then dragged the blade, cutting through his skin and muscles on the left arm, leaving it with blood streaming out of it.

Henry gasped for air as the pain became too much for him. He had led a pampered life and this type of torture was too much. "No, sorry. Wait! I was planning to make out and go as far as I could. I don't know, I had no idea, but I thought it would be good fun."

"You mean you would stop when the Princess tells you, huh?"

"Yes, of course! I would." He replied hoarsely. Then he screamed again as his entire hand burned with even higher level of pain than before. He fainted.

He was revived by someone in the room who put a stimulant into his mouth. He woke with a start, the pain still as vivid as before. He started crying, but it made no difference to the vicious and determined interrogators.

"You want me to believe that, do you? No, you went through all the efforts just to talk to her... Which you could do sitting in the garden, with guards around. I am sure Dusk Hale would give her privacy. You had already driven her other companion, Ms. Susco, away."

"No! I had nothing to do with Ms. Susco! I swear by anything! I didn't know what happened there."

The man held out a packet of salt. "This is what I put on the cut on your left hand. Do you want it on the right?"

"NO! NO! Please! I swear I will tell you the truth. I had camera drones hiding in the room and I would have images after Catherine... undressed..." He said fearfully.

Luke's face darkened. Even the rest of the interrogators stepped away from them in fear of what would happen if Luke exploded in anger. But Luke was now emotionless and ice cold.

"This does not make sense. Cut his other hand. In fact, just chop it off at the elbow."

"NOO! NOO! Please!"

"The truth then?"

"I am telling the truth. Really. I don't want more pain!"

"You had chosen the rooms for your guests. You knew which room was being used. There was no reason for making the Princess come 5 rooms away over the window ledges. You did not know she was capable of such a thing. You saw her combat skills only the next day. So why take that risk rather than put a camera drone in the same room. And don't tell me you were worried about Imperial Security seeing it. Because you could carry it with you and let it in when she opened the window. So, you think I am stupid to believe that was the reason?" Luke asked coldly.

"What did Mr. Exer ask you to do in exchange of the suppressor? Is he still in the Manor? Or has he left already?"

The boy gulped. The possibility of Imperial Security knowing Exer was in the Manor the previous night was something he had not even considered. He had not disclosed Exer's name till a little while ago.

"No Sir, he left as soon as the Imperial Security personnel came for the search. He pretended to go and get some more bread and vanished."

"I want him arrested in the next 1 hour. Put a national alert. All system should scan for him. No one will be allowed to go anywhere with face cover, masks, cap, anything that will hide his face! Find and get every person connected to him, however distant!" Luke ordered and one of the men immediately left the room.