Chapter 329
At the Kingston government office, the phone rang sharply, cutting through the heavy silence.
Jasmine lifted the receiver without breaking her stride. “Jasmine here p>
“Jasmine, we have a situation!” Kelly’s voice burst out, urgent and tense.
She paused, her brow furrowing. “What’s happened p>
“Alex has been arrested by the Chicago military!” Kelly swiftly recounted the details, her voice clipped and precise.
As Jasmine listened, her expression darkened, eyes narrowing with every word.
“Using the Chicago military to snatch him? Whoever orchestrated this has serious connections p>
“Jasmine, I bet it’s one of the Chicago Lords flexing their muscle-probably the Jones family,” Kelly growled.
“Yesterday Alex tore through the Jones’ estate, crippled Tom’s son, all to protect you. They won’t let that slide p>
“It definitely smells like the Jones’ handiwork,” Jasmine said grimly.
“But Tom alone couldn’t summon military power. Another Lord must be backing him p>
“I’m mobilizing Vermont’s military immediately,” Kelly said fiercely.
“Father already has his troops ready. We’re prepared to go to war over this p>
“I’ll rally Vancouver’s forces as well,” Jasmine said with cold determination.
“Find out exactly where Alex is locked up. Leave the rest to me. If they don’t free him willingly, we’ll burn Chicago to the ground p>
Ending the call, Jasmine immediately contacted her general in Vancouver, issuing swift and decisive orders.
The battle lines were drawn. This time, it was a fight to the death.
Inside the Chicago military base, at a barren drill ground, Alex was violently thrown into a massive cage.
Inside were about fifty ragged prisoners, their bodies frail from starvation and neglect.
Some bore festering wounds crawling with maggots.
The sun blazed mercilessly overhead, scorching the prisoners without relief.
As Alex stumbled in, hollow, lifeless eyes turned toward him. One prisoner, gaunt and weathered, broke the silence.
“Young man, what crime did you commit to wind up here p>
“I refused treatment to the Montclairs because they’re arrogant,” Alex replied defiantly.
“You’re young,” murmured an elderly man, skin hanging loosely from his fragile frame.
“Sometimes lowering your head is the wiser choice. This cage is no place for you. You have your whole life ahead p>
Alex met the old man’s gaze. “What’s your story p>
The old man sighed bitterly. “I was just walking past when a lord’s son called out. I didn’t respond fast enough. Eight years I’ve rotted here p>
“Eight years?” Alex gasped, incredulous.
The old man chuckled darkly, shaking his head.
“Don’t look so shocked. See him?” He pointed to a man with empty eye sockets and no nose.
“Too handsome. The lord’s girlfriend stared at him for five seconds. Jealousy cost him his face p>
He pointed again.
“And him, his crime was even simpler. A bird dirtied a lord’s fancy coat outside his shop. Five years and counting p>
A sudden bark from a soldier interrupted them. “Shut your mouths! Feeding time, animals p>
A guard hurled scraps of rotten food onto the dirt.
Fifty hungry eyes followed, but only two older prisoners stepped forward, silently
dividing the pitiful portions into tiny morsels no bigger than two fingers.
Alex stared in disbelief at the pathetic crumbs. “This is lunch p>
The old man nodded solemnly.
“They give us barely enough to
provoke a fight, hoping we’ll kill each other for food. But we refuse to become animals. Instead, we split it evenly and wait to see how many days fate grants us p>
Alex’s fists clenched, fury igniting deep inside him. “The Chicago Lords think they
can abuse power and ignore justice? They’re dead wrong p>
“They’re justice?” scoffed one prisoner bitterly. “They think they’re kings of this country and others are just animals p>
An old man coughed harshly, then
spoke gently, “Don’t fret. One day,
the True Source will ask our king why he sits on a throne while we, his people, suffer without justice. He’ll answer for it then p>
Alex glanced at the old man, his eyes sorrowful. “I’m sorry, but the king might not even know about this p>
The old man gave a knowing smile, weary yet wise.
“If the king doesn’t know what’s happening to his own people, he’s failed in his duty. The True Source put him there to serve responsibly. Still, he shrugged gently, “we don’t blame the king p>
“All we wish for is to finally go home,” another prisoner whispered, eyes filled with
longing. “To sleep in our own beds again p>
“Yes,” another man said, choking back tears.
“I just want to see my son. When they dragged me away, my wife was four months pregnant. Our oldest was only two. I wonder what’s become of them p>
“I already told you, animal!” barked a soldier, swaggering toward them.
“Your wife committed suicide-killed herself and the unborn brat when she heard
we captured you. Couldn’t handle the shame of being married to trash p>
“Shut your filthy mouth!” the prisoner roared defiantly.
“You’re a liar! When I leave this hellhole, my son will be grown, and my wife will greet me with a smile p>
“Keep dreaming, animal,” the soldier sneered, chuckling coldly.
He turned his harsh gaze to Alex. “General wants to see you. Let’s hope you dance well enough to entertain us p>
Alex was dragged roughly to the open ground near the cages.
Soldiers shackled him securely to a thick pillar, chains made from darksteel wrapped tightly around his body.
The sun blazed mercilessly, and dozens of armed men circled him like vultures, eyes hungry for pain.
The general’s voice echoed sharply. “Start with fifty military lashes p>
“I’ll bet thirty whips knock him unconscious,” one soldier said gleefully.
“Twenty,” countered another.
“For a kid his size? Fifteen tops,” sneered a third.
The soldiers eagerly exchanged money, placing bets on how long Alex would last.
Military whips weren’t ordinary-they shredded flesh, breaking both body and spirit.
Twenty strikes could cripple a man permanently.
Fifty meant certain death. Clearly, the general intended Alex to suffer immensely.
“Hold it,” Alex growled suddenly, glaring defiantly. “You’re whipping me without even questioning me first? Major General, isn’t that against protocol p>
The general sneered arrogantly, his bloated face flushed with pride. “Around here, I am the protocol. I control your worthless life, animal. You don’t even deserve to bark p>
“Sounds like an abuse of power,” Alex spat back, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
The general laughed coldly. “You! Give him a few hard slaps first-make sure he loses some teeth. He talks too well for an animal p>
One soldier stepped forward, cruel amusement dancing in his eyes. Alex fixed him with a piercing stare.
“Before you hit me, tell me honestly—what really happened to that man’s wife and child p>
The soldier smirked maliciously. “Since you’re gonna die anyway, no point lying. That stubborn woman kept demanding justice, going to newspapers, police- causing trouble p>
“We got sick of her. Broke into her house, had our fun, then killed her. Made it look like a suicide p>
The soldier’s laughter was venomous. “If your girl tries to rescue you, she’ll get
the same. Hope she’s pretty-I’d enjoy that p>
Alex’s eyes turned ice-cold, filled with deadly resolve.