'This is new.' Michael mused, inspecting the reinforced cell.

One of the reasons the criminals he had let go up until now had listened to him was because he was stronger than them. Even those that were of the Expert realm obeyed his command, knowing that he could kill them on the spot.

But this was the first time Michael became a witness to a Master inmate.

He had to praise the craftsmanship of the cell. Locking up a Master was a daunting task since they were so hard to contain.

Rather than the normal iron bars, the prisoner was contained with a giant glass reinforced with special properties.

Even if Michael were to use his full might, he wouldn't be able to crack it.

"Now this is endearing… An Expert coming to break me out of my cell?" The Master mused, a smile spreading over his face.

The man was about Michael's height, with dark hair that reached his shoulders and numerous scars running across his whole body.

"Are you willing to risk letting me roam free? Unlike the small frays you have let go until now. You might struggle putting me down if it comes to it." The Master sneered.

He had naturally observed the way Michael effortlessly manipulated the criminals to go along with his agenda.

"Curious… Most would be begging on their knees to be let go in your situation. I wonder if you are testing me out of madness or stupidity." Michael carefully examined the man and his facial expressions.

"Boredom." The Master let out a sigh. He knew whatever he said, he wasn't going to be let go. After all, he was of a higher realm than his savior. And no sane soldier will break out an inmate that he couldn't control.

The Master was simply enjoying messing with Michael. After all, once everybody left, he would be left here to rot until an alien came to conduct all kinds of experiments on him. With him being of the Master realm, he was far more resilient than a regular soldier.

He had come to make peace with his ultimate demise.

"...!"

Yet to his surprise, Michael remained unbothered. Scanning the card he had snatched from the corpse of an Elite. The reinforced glass lifted up, allowing the Master to roam free.

"...Are you mad?"

Slowly the Master walked out of his containment. His eyes weren't playing tricks on him. An Expert really risked his life releasing a Master.

"Perhaps…" Michael shrugged, turning his back. "Still… Just because you are of a higher realm, don't think I can't put you down."

"..."

Stunned, the man watched Michael walk nonchalantly out of the prison. Then, letting out a scoff, he followed.

"What are you doing?" Michael arched an eyebrow. He didn't expect the Master to follow him.

"You seem like a fun person. And I like to go where the fun is. Don't mind me..."

'I guess letting the Master travel with me won't hinder me. It's not like we are close, so I won't hesitate to abandon him at a moment's notice if the situation demands it.' Michael concluded.

"Name's Richard." The Master introduced himself, his hands casually resting inside his pockets.

With a nod, Michael did the same. "Michael."

Richard chuckled. "Sure thing, Boss."

"Boss?"

The Master was becoming more bizarre. Michael was sure that the man was of the Peak stage at the Master realm, close to becoming a Grandmaster. Yet he addressed an Expert with 'Boss'?

Richard shrugged. "Everyone that you freed called you that. Plus I owe you my life. So Boss it is."

From his tone it was clear there was no changing his mind, so Michael didn't bother.

Making haste, they reached the next prison.

"What now?" Richard whispered, a smile spreading across his face. From the side he looked like a kid about to go on an exciting trip.

"We kill the Elite guards stealthily. Making sure that no one sees us is of utmost importance. If one raised the alarm, it could prove disastrous." Michael explained. Since he was still under the concealment effect of Natalia's technique, he wasn't planning to let the Master meddle.

"Boss, can I kill a few?" Yet, Richard insisted.

"...Alright, get the east flank. Since you are a Peak Master, I expect you to be capable of taking care of yourself."

Once Michael saw the chance, he moved west, leaving the Master by himself.

With a menacing smile, Richard moved, going for the first target.

'Dumb insect.' He sneered, effortlessly sneaking behind the creature.

Clearly underestimating the Elite, an intrusive thought entered his mind.

'Should I?'

He wondered for a second, deciding to play with the creature a little.

Pat Pat

Nonchalantly he patted the right shoulder of the monster.

Grr?

Confused, the alien turned around, only to freeze seeing Richard and his wide smile.

"Hello there!" He greeted the alien with a wave.

Boom!

The next second his fist moved staggeringly fast. Striking the head of the Elite, causing it to explode like a pumpkin.

"Careful~"

Taking extra caution to remain quiet, he didn't allow the corpse to fall on the ground, gently letting it rest instead.

Then his sight shifted to his next foes.

"This will be fun." He mused, hell-bent on killing them the same way.

"..."

After Michael had gotten rid of his share of foes, he observed the devastation the Master had left behind.

"Seeing the unnecessary brutality of his kills makes it quite apparent why he was locked up." He shook his head. The problem wasn't in the brutality itself, but that there was a time and place for that. And a stealth mission wasn't one of those times.

'You are the one to talk! It's not like you are getting rid of them in a more elegant manner!' Devil's Tongue remarked with numerous beheaded bodies lying behind them.

"Perhaps…" Michael didn't proceed with the matter.

Just when he was about to enter the prison, Richard stopped him.

"Wait, let me do the talking! This is work for the goons, not for the Boss himself!"

While there were arguments that Michael could have made, he ultimately decided to test the Master.

'Maybe he has a knack for manipulating people?' Michael theorized.

The way Richard proceeded to crack his fingers, as if preparing for an unnecessary fight, told Michael that the Master probably wasn't a fan of the diplomatic approach.

'Whatever, at least no matter what happens next, Devil's Tongue will enjoy the spectacle.'

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