# Chapter 34: Hostage? If You Want Me Dead, Just Say So
Melody sat on the marble slab, feeling waves of chill spreading through her—much like her heart, gradually growing cold.
Originally, Melody had been watching the towering green flames by the seaside, sighing with emotion. But who could have predicted such a drastic turn of events? She was about to take responsibility for the great fire beneath the castle.
If killing someone was a mortal grudge, then arson was a deed that would exterminate an entire household. The level of hatred was clearly higher than murder. And now, Melody was facing dozens of women whose homes had been burned, with possibly more downstairs.
If it were only this, it might still be bearable. Although Melody feared death, as a witch, she naturally had her own pride. But her fear of two people surpassed even her fear of death. One of them was Witch Queen Morisha.
Witch Queen Morisha was precisely that blonde woman. Though she was always smiling, the things she had done in the past had awakened Melody from nightmares countless times.
"Quite impressive, aren't you? Bringing outsiders to burn down Westport."
A cold, clear female voice rang out. Melody focused her gaze and saw a short-haired young girl. The girl's ears were covered in earrings, and her aura was as cold as metal.
"You are... Kai?"
Melody looked at the young girl in surprise. In her memory, the other party was still a little brat, a tag-along who followed her everywhere.
"You should call me Lady Kai."
Bang! A stout, broad-shouldered witch kicked Melody in the stomach. With Melody's small frame, she was sent flying by that single kick.
"Show some respect, White Witch."
As soon as Melody was kicked away, another witch grabbed her hair and threw her back into the crowd.
Tap, tap, tap...
Metal footsteps on the ground. The girl named Kai came before Melody, bent down, and sat on her back, crossing her legs.
"That was a long time ago. This isn't the time for nostalgia. Tell me, how many accomplices do you have?"
Kai sat on Melody's back, and the other witches couldn't continue beating her, though they angrily surrounded her.
"Accomplices..."
Melody let out a bitter laugh.
"What, are you planning to sacrifice yourself for your witch hunter lover? If you had been that loyal back then, why would you have ended up in this situation?"
Kai snorted disdainfully, using three fingers to grip the back of Melody's neck.
"Lover... pfft~"
Melody barely suppressed her laughter. The surrounding witches looked slightly confused.
"You all..." Melody looked up and glanced around, a hint of disdain in her voice. "You've only captured a prisoner. Why are you so confident?"
"Prisoner?"
Kai leaned down, bringing her face close to Melody's. They were so near that they could feel each other's breath.
"Meaning, you're not an accomplice of that witch hunter?"
"Don't believe her lies..."
"Shut up! Or I'll kill you right now, this instant!"
Kai turned her head to look at the witch who had interrupted her. She wasn't joking; she really would kill her, even with Witch Queen Morisha present.
That witch reluctantly turned her head away. Though displeased, she didn't dare openly challenge Kai. Within Westport, apart from Witch Queen Morisha, Kai held the highest status.
"You said earlier that you're a prisoner?"
Kai's expression returned to calm. The fingers gripping Melody's neck tightened slightly.
"That's right, I'm a prisoner. A prisoner with a bomb implanted inside my body."
Hearing Melody say there was a bomb inside her, the surrounding witches all stepped back.
Kai locked eyes with Melody, seemingly judging the truth of her words.
"I was brought to Westport only because I'm familiar with the terrain here. As for how many witch hunters there are, I don't know. From the Central Plains to the West, I was kept blindfolded in a carriage the entire time. The only person I had contact with was one witch hunter. He was about twenty years old. That guy... was a devil. He did things to me..."
At this point, tears flowed from Melody's eyes. But just then, her eyes suddenly widened because Kai reached into her clothing and quickly explored downward.
"You're lying."
"..."
Melody's cheek twitched, and her expression turned very unnatural. She had forgotten one crucial thing.
"Queen, leave this traitor to me. Within two hours, I guarantee she'll tell us everything."
Kai looked toward Witch Queen Morisha, who had remained silent the whole time.
"How can we be so rough with family?"
Morisha waved her hand, signaling Kai to release Melody. Kai slowly stood up. Though unwilling, she could only comply.
Melody's heart grew bitter. Although cooperating with Su Xiao was dangerous, at least after confirming their partnership, she had no fear for her life. What she hadn't expected was to fall into the hands of these witches.
"That thing. Where is it?"
Morisha's simple question made Melody's heart sink halfway.
"I hid that thing in..."
Melody's voice grew softer and softer. She certainly couldn't say she had lost Morisha's heirloom, because that would be no different from suicide.
"You lost it? In that case, you're useless."
Just moments ago, she had been calling her family. Now, Morisha waved her hand, signaling to dispose of Melody.
"Queen, I suggest using her as a hostage. Her relationship with that arsonist witch hunter isn't simple. According to her account, she traveled with him from the Central Plains to here. That should be true. The Central Plains is, after all, the witch hunters' stronghold. For such a long journey, that witch hunter didn't do anything improper to her. That can't be explained by her being a mere prisoner. So I conclude that her relationship with that arsonist witch hunter isn't simple. They're likely partners."
Kai quickly stepped forward. In truth, everyone could see she was trying to keep Melody alive. Whether it was sitting on her earlier or now requesting to use her as a hostage.
"An excellent proposal."
Morisha's lips curled upward as she agreed to Kai's suggestion. Hearing their conversation, Melody let out a bitter laugh. She was doomed.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion rang out on the castle's outer wall. The entire castle trembled.
Boom, boom, boom...
The castle seemed to be under artillery bombardment, shaking violently in an instant. Golden light flickered around Morisha as large energy meridians connected her to the entire castle.
After nearly a minute of violent shaking, the castle finally settled. Numerous valuable items had shattered, and the outer walls were covered in cracks, with electric sparks still flickering.
A kilometer away, Su Xiao pulled the bolt of his rifle. A hot shell casing flew up. The distant castle was surprisingly resilient, not only withstanding the green flames for a long time but also enduring over a dozen shots from the Duke of Annihilation.
After confirming that all the witches in Westport had entered that castle, Su Xiao knew that as long as he fought his way through there, this witch gathering place in Westport would naturally collapse.
Just as Su Xiao was reloading the Duke of Annihilation, Bubu Wang appeared out of thin air behind him.
"Woof, woof woof, woof~"
"Oh? Melody was captured? And being used as a hostage?"
Su Xiao's expression showed slight surprise. He really hadn't expected those witches to use Melody as a hostage.
"Go inform Amu. No need to ram the mountain. Just charge straight over."
Su Xiao put away the Duke of Annihilation. Hades had already begun spreading toward the surrounding mountains. Soon, it might even burn to the nearby sea area. Given Hades' burning properties, even seawater was flammable, though it would accelerate Hades' extinguishing speed.
Looking around now, over 95% of Westport's buildings had been burned to ashes. The civilians had long since fled to who knows where.