Zeke was smart enough to see through the dream and break free of it. Naturally, small fry like Hector would fail to
keep any secrets from him.
Hector answered, “It's Stanley. A man called Stanley Heckleson told me to do this. He wants you dead. Only then
can he bust us out of here.”
Zeke asked curiously, “And who is this Stanley Heckleson?”
Hector answered, “He's the current minister for Ministry of Sacred. I think you know that the current minister is no
more than an impostor who pretends to be Carl and took over his place.”
Zeke nodded. I see. So Stanley Heckleson is the real name of the man in a bronze mask. His goal must be the
sarira. I bet he's lying when he said he could bust Hector out. Just some false promises, as usual.
“Stanley taught you how to hurt my mental energy, didn't he?” Zeke asked for confirmation about another thing.
Hector quickly nodded and confirmed Zeke's suspicion. “Yes, he did.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtZeke asked again, “And how did you come across Stanley?”
Hector replied, “Years and years ago, he slipped into my dream and trapped me in there. He threatened me. I
would have to go into a contract that'd basically make me his servant, or he'd never let me wake up. I had no
choice, so I agreed. And I wasn't the only one. All the people you guys captured were enslaved in the same way as
well.”
Zeke noticed that a little detail about his explanation was off. All the people they had captured were the ones
included on the name list Carl had once mentioned. The masked man, or rather, Stanley, had been trying to pry
that list from Carl's memory, but Carl never gave it up.
If that is the case, then how did Stanley manage to get his hands on the list and enslave them through his power?
Hmm, he must have slipped into Carl's dream sometime back then and asked him about it. It's just that Carl didn't
realize it. That is one scary skill Stanley has in his possession. If the government can get their hands on it, it'll be
great for the nation.
It was then that Zeke thought he'd keep Stanley alive when the latter was caught, or at least until the man handed
over all his secrets about the Nightmare Curse.
Zeke asked, “Where is Stanley hiding right now?”
Hector quickly shook his head. “I don't know. Seriously, I do not know where he is.”
Zeke molded his energy into the Ammo Needles again. This time, they floated in the air and pointed straight at
Hector's head. “This is your last chance. Your choice.”
Seized by the fear of death, Hector said, “There's a temple about ten kilometers southwest of the ministry. That's
the rendezvous point. We would meet there every now and then, but I have no idea if he's still in there. That's the
only thing I know about him, I swear!”
Zeke went outside. “Come with me, Sole Wolf. To the temple.”
“Sure!” Sole Wolf replied.
Zeke went to the temple with nobody but Sole Wolf by his side. Ares and everyone else were left behind to keep an
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmeye on the ministry in case the enemy came to save their comrades.
It didn't take them long to arrive at the temple Hector had mentioned earlier. There was a stream meandering
quietly behind the temple, and the moment Zeke laid eyes on the place, he knew where he had seen it before.
This is the place where I met that old monk in the dream. But in my dream, my grave was where the temple is now.
If I'm right, that monk must be Stanley's accomplice.
Sole Wolf shouted at the temple, “If anyone's in there, you'd better show yourself now! You have one chance! If you
don't come out, I'll tear this whole place down!”
His threat was met with nothing but silence. Angered, Sole Wolf tried to tear the temple apart with his energy.
But right before he could do it, Zeke could vaguely feel a wave of mental energy coming from within the temple. He
suspected that Stanley might have left something in there. Therefore, he stopped Sole Wolf from destroying the
temple and quickly went in.
When he went through the door, the mental energy on it affected Zeke's mind. At the same time, he heard
Stanley's voice talking in his head, “Come to Minor Thunderclap Monastery if you wish to see me. And come alone.
If I see anyone else coming with you, I will not show myself.”
Sole Wolf kicked the statue of the temple's deity as he cursed, “D*mn it! Stanley Heckleson is nothing but a coward!
If he won't show himself, then I'll tear this stupid temple apart!”