Chapter 296: The Brotherhood Thieves' Guild's Downfall
The Brotherhood Thieves' Guild's stronghold was massive.
A few lucky ones managed to escape earlier.
After all, there were too many people, and it was impossible for him alone to eliminate everyone.
Let them run, Li Meng thought. He couldn't be bothered to chase after them.
If tonight's events were to spread, it might not even be a bad thing.
Li Meng wanted the adventurers of the labyrinth city, Aukladeo, to know that such a monster as him existed.
With that, he began searching for Monica within the castle.
"Where could she be?"
Li Meng opened door after door, taking quick looks inside.
The rooms were lavishly decorated, gold and jade in glorious splendor.
The massive red velvet bed in one of the rooms was particularly eye-catching.
It was clear that vile people were always slaves to their desires.
Among the intelligent races, the most sought-after desire was copulation between the sexes—an inherent instinct of all living beings.
Li Meng took only one glance before moving on.
He opened one door after another, searching floor by floor.
Meanwhile, chaos reigned outside.
The few surviving members of the Brotherhood Thieves' Guild fled the stronghold in terror, crying out in fear.
Their faces were pale, their expressions frantic, and some were so scared they sobbed uncontrollably, noses running.
The spectacle left the vagabonds outside the stronghold bewildered.
"So, you're here!"
In one of the rooms on the upper level of the stronghold, Li Meng finally found Monica.
She was bound to the bed, her four limbs tied, forming an outstretched "X."
Her small body was completely naked, without a thread of clothing.
However, there were no wounds on her body, indicating that the man named Mandel hadn't yet begun to torment her.
It seemed Mandel had planned to enjoy her after the banquet.
But now, he would never get that chance.
Li Meng waved his hand, and four water arrows shot out.
The water arrows precisely struck the chains binding Monica's limbs.
With a series of "clack" sounds, the chains shattered, freeing her.
Monica quickly curled into a corner, hugging herself.
Her small body trembled as she looked at the black-robed figure before her with terror-filled eyes.
She had seen this figure before—it was the same monster from earlier in the day.
"You're mine now. Come here."
Li Meng's words made Monica's small frame shudder.
Her eyes showed hesitation, but reason triumphed over fear.
Slowly, Monica crawled toward Li Meng from the bed.
She knelt before him, sitting cross-legged on the bed, her head bowed.
Her tiny hands hugged her body tightly.
"I have no interest in little ones like you. Maybe when you grow up, I'll let you bear my child."
Li Meng had no interest in females with childlike physiques.
For him, a female had to be healthy and capable of bearing children.
Still, Monica's future held some promise.
Though she was young now, she might grow into a woman he found appealing someday.
But that was a matter for many years later.
Bear… a child?
Monica's face turned pale with terror at his words.
"The Brotherhood Thieves' Guild has been wiped out by me. From now on, I am the master of this place."
Monica stared blankly at the monstrous figure before her, unable to comprehend his words.
The Brotherhood Thieves' Guild, with its many powerful members, wiped out by him? How was that possible?
"Put on your clothes and follow me."
Though she didn't understand what had happened, Monica knew it was best to obey this monster's orders.
She quickly got off the bed and ran to the other side to pick up her tattered clothing scattered on the floor.
After Monica dressed, Li Meng led her out of the room.
They walked unhurriedly toward the castle's exit.
When they reached the main hall, the accumulated water had already drained away.
Corpses lay scattered haphazardly across the floor.
Seeing the bodies, Monica turned pale, realizing the monster's earlier words were true.
The Brotherhood Thieves' Guild had indeed been annihilated by this man.
The two of them passed through the hall, exited the castle, and entered the courtyard.
From there, they left the stronghold through the southern gate.
"Listen up, all of you! The Brotherhood Thieves' Guild has been wiped out. Inside, there's food. Help yourselves. Once you've eaten your fill, clean up the corpses and tidy the castle for me. Do it before I return."
Standing at the southern gate, Li Meng shouted into the darkness beyond.
His thunderous voice echoed, shaking the ears of the vagabonds waiting outside the stronghold for scraps.
Their numb faces showed a flicker of astonishment.
Only now did they understand why those earlier figures had fled in panic.
One person had single-handedly annihilated the Brotherhood Thieves' Guild?
What a terrifying individual.
Driven by their hunger, the vagabonds scrambled to their feet and stumbled toward the stronghold, afraid they'd miss out on the food if they were too slow.
As they passed Li Meng, they instinctively avoided him, their eyes filled with fear at the sight of his black-robed figure.
Li Meng didn't know how many vagabonds were outside the stronghold.
But judging by the mass of dark silhouettes, it was a lot.
This was probably the darkest corner of the labyrinth city, Aukladeo.
In the shadows, Li Meng and Monica gradually left the chaos behind.
The night deepened.
In Aukladeo's Tavern
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Late into the night, the tavern's door was knocked upon.
Moments later, hurried footsteps sounded from within the hall.
With a click, the door was opened from the inside.
"Master, you're back!"
Sophia smiled faintly upon seeing him.
Since her master had left the tavern, she had been waiting for his return.
She hadn't expected it to be this late.
"And this is…"
Sophia noticed the small figure behind him.
"Her?"
When she saw the water-blue hair, Sophia remembered the little pickpocket from earlier that day.
She hadn't expected her master to leave the tavern in search of that girl.
But wasn't her master new to the labyrinth city?
How had he found the girl so quickly?
"Sophia, take her to bathe and prepare a room for her."
"Uh, yes!"
Sophia stepped aside, letting them in.
Li Meng handed Monica over to her and went upstairs to rest.
Upstairs
"Boss! Boss!"
Just as Li Meng reached his door, he was stopped by Amay.
The three little girls were peeking out from the nearby room.
"Boss, where did you go?"
Amay asked curiously.
"It's late. Go to sleep. Tomorrow, I'll take you somewhere."
With that, Li Meng entered his room, disappearing from the girls' view.
"Amay, where do you think the boss will take us tomorrow?"
"I… I don't know."
"Never mind, let's sleep. We'll find out tomorrow."
"True. Sleep it is!"
The three girls returned to their room and closed the door.