The underground cell was colder than usual that night. Damp walls glistened with condensation under the harsh air. Leon sat slumped in the metal chair, wrists still bound, his body a map of bruises and dried blood. Every breath hurt. His swollen eyes could barely stay open, but fear kept him conscious.

Viktor paced slowly in front of him, arms crossed, a mixture of irritation and reluctant pity on his face.

"You still haven’t given us anything useful, kid," Viktor muttered. "Just a few more answers and this could end. Where did your father keep the important documents? The ones related to his private dealings? Tell me and I might convince the others to go easier on you."

Leon’s voice was a broken whisper. "I’ve told you... I don’t know. My father never shared those things with me. I was just his son... not his partner in whatever he was doing. Please... I’m begging you."

Viktor stopped pacing and crouched in front of Leon, grabbing his chin roughly to force eye contact. "You’re making this harder than it needs to be. Your brother sold his body for you. The least you can do is help us a little. One name or a location. That’s all."

Before Leon could reply, the heavy metal door at the end of the corridor slammed open with a deafening clang.

Viktor immediately straightened, his face paling. "My Emperor..."

The Emperor entered the cell, leaning on his ornate cane, silver hair slicked back, eyes burning with cold fury. Behind him walked four armed guards. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

Leon shrank back in his chair, trembling violently at the sight of the older man.

The Emperor stopped a few feet away, studying Leon like a specimen under glass. A cruel smile curved his lips.

"So this is the famous younger brother," The Emperor said, voice deep and mocking. "The one everyone is fighting over. Pathetic. Look at you — crying, bleeding, useless. Your brother must be so disappointed." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Leon whimpered. "Please... I don’t know anything..."

The Emperor’s smile vanished. Without warning, he swung his cane hard across Leon’s face. The crack of wood against bone echoed through the cell.

Leon cried out in agony as blood sprayed from his nose and mouth.

Viktor flinched visibly, eyes widening in shock. "My Emperor... perhaps we should—"

"Shut your mouth, Viktor," The Emperor snapped, not even glancing at him. He struck Leon again, this time across the ribs. "You’ve been too soft with him. That’s why he hasn’t broken yet."

Leon gasped for air, coughing up blood. "I swear... I don’t know about any files... please stop..."

The Emperor grabbed Leon by the hair and yanked his head back brutally. "You think crying will save you? Your father stole something from me before he disappeared. Something very valuable and you’re going to tell me where it is."

"I don’t know!" Leon screamed, tears streaming down his bloody face. "He never told me anything! I was just a child!"

Another vicious strike with the cane landed on Leon’s shoulder. The boy screamed, body jerking against the ropes.

Viktor stepped forward instinctively. "My Emperor, if we kill him now, we lose our leverage over Sylvain—"

The Emperor turned on Viktor with terrifying speed, eyes blazing. "Are you questioning me? After your repeated failures? This boy is weak. He needs proper motivation."

He struck Leon again, harder this time, across the chest. Leon’s scream turned into a wet, choking sob. "Please... stop... I’ll tell you anything... just stop hitting me..."

The Emperor laughed coldly. "Anything? Then tell me — where did your father hide the documents? The ones about the old deals in Italy? The ones connecting him to the Rocco family?"

Leon shook his head desperately. "I don’t know... I really don’t... Sylvain might know... but I don’t..."

The Emperor’s face twisted with rage. He rained down several more brutal blows with the cane — on Leon’s arms, legs, and torso. Each hit was accompanied by Leon’s broken screams and pleas.

"Talk!" The Emperor roared. "Or I’ll have them cut out your tongue and feed it to you!"

Viktor watched in stunned silence, his usual confidence gone. He had seen cruelty before, but the sheer viciousness The Emperor displayed toward a helpless, innocent boy left him visibly shaken. His hands clenched at his sides.

"My Emperor..." Viktor said carefully, voice strained. "He might actually not know. If we damage him too much, Sylvain may refuse to cooperate even if we send proof of life."

The Emperor finally stepped back, breathing heavily, the cane dripping with blood. Leon hung limply in the chair, barely conscious, sobbing weakly. "Well we have to go more extreme then."

"Pathetic," The Emperor spat. "Keep him alive for now. But tomorrow, we start removing fingers. One by one. Send the videos to his brother. Let him see what real pain looks like."

One of the men stepped forward and wiped away the blood stained stick gently. The emperor watched him clean it and turned to Viktor. "Don’t you like fucking beautiful boys, then you should fuck this one too. After all his brother is a whore and he should be able to take the sex."

Viktor mouth and eyes widened in shock. "But...but if I do so he might die."

Emperor sneers at his word. " I already noticed the way you stare at him. Get it done but treat his injuries before performing on his wretched body."

He turned and walked toward the door, then paused and looked back at Viktor. "And Viktor... if you ever question my methods again, you’ll be the next one tied to that chair. Understood?"

Viktor bowed deeply, voice tight. "Yes, my Emperor. Understood."

The Emperor left with his guards, the heavy door slamming shut behind them.

Viktor remained standing in the cell for a long moment, staring at Leon’s broken, bleeding form. He whispered under his breath, almost to himself. "What kind of monster have I sworn loyalty to...?"

Leon’s soft, pained whimpers were the only reply in the cold, blood-stained room.