Having heard Krith's report, Mohg drifted into a contemplative silence.
Just when exactly had he ordered them to assassinate the Lord of Toriland? Had he? No, he was certain he hadn't.
Mohg took a deep breath to settle his nerves before re-evaluating the situation. After all, the die was cast. Even if it hadn't been his original intent, the plan was already in motion—and looking at the current results, the "Three Stooges" had actually done a remarkably good job! If it weren't for their lack of raw power, they might have actually succeeded in the "mission" they thought he had given them.
"Where is the butler you brought back?" Mohg asked, turning his gaze toward the two men.
"He is over there, guarded by our brothers."
"Mmm. Bring him to me."
Upon hearing the command, Horuff stepped outside and signaled the two men guarding Richter to bring the captive forward.
Thud!
Richter was tossed onto the ground. The impact jolted his wounds, causing him to grit his teeth in agony. As a shadow loomed over him, he stiffly raised his head to look up.
There stood Mohg—a figure like a demon out of a nightmare, adorned with twin horns, crimson eyes, grey skin, and sharp fangs, his wild black hair flowing like a chaotic mane.
"Y-you... you..."
Richter, having never seen such a visage, began to stammer in pure terror.
Mohg had no intention of conducting a standard interrogation. He simply reached out toward the man's head.
"No! No, no! Please, no!"
Not knowing what was about to happen, Richter panicked, his fear only amplified by his captor's monstrous appearance. He seriously wondered if this creature intended to devour him. While it was true that Omens were known to consume humanoids or even humans, that did not include Mohg; the very idea left a bad taste in his mouth.
In the next instant, the power of the Accursed Blood invaded Richter's body. A frame that had never truly touched the Grace of Gold and lacked any significant martial power stood no chance against the forceful intrusion of the Blood's influence. The power was brutally funneled into him.
Before Richter could even process the sudden surge of vitality this power provided, an indescribable, agonizing pain surged through his entire body. Simultaneously, an irresistible will descended upon his mind, paralyzing him. He couldn't move a muscle; he couldn't even manage a scream.
After all... this was no ordinary Blessing of Blood.
"Tell me your name," Mohg commanded.
"Ri... Richter..."
"Good. A promising start. Now, tell me everything you know about the Lord of Toriland."
Mohg nodded with satisfaction. Logically, this wasn't a power he should possess, but the influence of that statue had granted him this technique. However, it came with significant side effects—specifically, the fate of the vessel subjected to this forced infusion was usually horrific.
Under the influence, Richter began to spill everything like beans from a jar. He detailed Camo's secrets, his daily schedule, and his recent actions with absolute precision. One name, however, caught Mohg's attention.
"Tell me more about this sorcerer you just mentioned."
"Y-yes... his name is Remoke. He is a long-term associate of the Toriland family. An elderly and caustic sorcerer, but highly accomplished in the study of Glintstone sorcery. He maintains decent ties with both the Carian Royal Family and the Academy..."
Mohg narrowed his eyes. An elderly sorcerer he had never heard of—this was the kind of "old fox" that proved most troublesome. Sorcerers generally required time to accumulate power, and anyone referred to as "elderly" in the Lands Between was a factor to be reckoned with.
He couldn't be certain of the man's exact age, but it was clear he would be difficult to deal with—though likely not invincible. If the man were truly powerful, his name would have survived in the lore of later generations. Therefore, there was only one answer: the mage's talent was limited. He likely couldn't match true geniuses in mana growth or spell development. Instead, he would have focused his efforts on the breadth of his repertoire and the refinement of his technique.
This realization put Mohg somewhat at ease. He feared running into "numerical monsters"—if the mage could suddenly fire off Stars of Ruin or Comet Azur, Mohg might as well return to the Erdtree and accept his recruitment into the Golden Order immediately.
(It was worth noting that while Stars of Ruin lacked a strong presence in the game, in this world, as a legendary sorcery on par with Comet Azur, its destructive power was terrifying.)
Once the questioning was complete, Mohg released his control over Richter.
Richter instantly collapsed, his body convulsing violently on the ground. Veins bulged across his skin like writhing snakes, and his features twisted into a mask of pure agony. The pain that had been suppressed for so long flooded back all at once, leaving him unable to even draw breath to scream.
The unimaginable torture was short-lived, however. His life force rapidly ebbed away.
This was the price of Mohg's ability. By flooding every inch of the subject's body with Accursed Blood to achieve total control, the chaotic energy would eventually tear the vessel apart from the inside. Once the effect ended, the body was left a hollow, ruined shell. Unless someone capable of high-level healing incantations was standing by, there was virtually no hope of survival.
"Now then, Krith. Is what he said any different from what he told you earlier?"
"It is..."
Watching Richter's wretched end, Krith couldn't help but swallow hard. He nodded frantically and began to recount the version of the story Richter had given him previously.
"It seems he lied to you," Mohg said with a slight nod, glancing at the butler's corpse. "He intended to lure you into a trap to wipe you out while warning his master. It's a pity; he was a loyal one."
"Now that you have the most up-to-date information, the mission can proceed."
"Do you require me to return to the town, my Lord?" Krith looked up at Mohg.
"Yes. But not alone. You shall go with your brothers."
Mohg nodded and turned his attention to a group of Blood Warriors stepping out from the shadows. Each of them carried a glass vial filled with a dark crimson liquid at their waist.
Those vials contained the medium Mohg had "borrowed" from the Formless Mother for Blood Pool teleportation. They were the primary escape route for the warriors should they find themselves in danger.
"For the Sovereign!"
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Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (320 Chapters – Ongoing)
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