Xiao Feng, bound to the cold metal chair, gasped harshly as he glared fiercely at Ares and Hades before him. Sweat drenched his brow, and his lips, bitten raw, bled freely—his lost psychic powers unable to staunch the flow.
The Messenger had already smoked half his cigar, eyes fixed on Xiao Feng who stubbornly refused to reveal Athena's whereabouts. Glancing toward the syringes resting on the table, the Messenger's concern deepened. If Xiao Feng persisted much longer, he would surely break.
Flicking ash from his cigar, the Messenger murmured, "I think it's time for a break. One more injection, and Xiao Feng won't last."
Zeus nodded in agreement. "Administer one last dose. If he remains silent, we call it a day. We'll resume tomorrow."
Hades propped his disfigured face, the lower half hanging loosely, and retrieved another syringe from a nearby box. Approaching Xiao Feng's swollen left arm, he prepared to inject again.
The Messenger interjected dryly, "Hades, you're still using that hand for injections?"
Hades glanced at him with disdain. "What's it to you? If not for Athena, I'd have kicked him to death ages ago."
Eyeing the needle-riddled left arm, Hades moved to Xiao Feng's right side, yanked back the sleeve, and readied his syringe.
Suddenly, the Messenger, still puffing smoke, froze. His gaze locked on a barcode tattoo etched clearly on Xiao Feng's right forearm. "Wait a moment…"
Hades looked up in surprise. "What's the matter with you now?"
The Messenger stepped closer, scrutinizing the barcode and the numbers beneath. "How did you get this tattoo?"
Xiao Feng trembled violently, words failing him. He shot the Messenger a bitter look—if not for this old man, he wouldn't be in this dire predicament.
Hades scoffed, "What's so strange about a barcode? Why the fuss?"
The Messenger took a slow drag of his cigar. "Stop the injections. No more toxins for Xiao Feng."
Zeus frowned. "Why?"
The Messenger shot him a sharp look. "Because I said so. No further explanation. Wake him up—I need to ask questions."
Zeus bristled. "This is my temple. I make the rules. Do you understand?"
The Messenger chuckled coldly. "Even in your temple, I call the shots. If you value your powers, heed my word."
Zeus staggered back involuntarily. At that moment, Hades confronted the Messenger. "Mr. Messenger, I'm not afraid of your purification powers."
The Messenger glanced around at Poseidon, Apollo, Ares, and others. "You're not afraid, but what about them?"
Hades's scarred face darkened with resolve. "Don't scare us. They may fear you, but I do not."
Poseidon smirked. "What's gotten into you? We were fine moments ago. Aren't we all friends? Why not talk this through?"
The Messenger pointed at them sharply. "None of you move. One more twitch and don't blame me for being ruthless."
Poseidon smiled, unshaken. "What's this all about?"
The Messenger warned, "Try touching me, and if anything happens to me, Sam won't spare any of you. Believe it or not."
Hearing the name Sam, Hades' hostility faded somewhat, recalling that this old man was Sam's uncle.
Zeus, expressionless, said, "If the Messenger wishes to question Xiao Feng, let him. We'll wait outside. Xiao Feng is in our custody. They won't harm Athena."
The Messenger nodded. "You all leave. I need to question him thoroughly—especially about that tattoo."
Zeus studied the tattoo on Xiao Feng's arm, curious. "What does it mean?"
The Messenger shook his head. "That's classified. You're better off not knowing."
Zeus sighed. "If you won't say, we won't press. We'll wait outside for ten minutes."
The Messenger agreed. "But wake him now."
Zeus turned to Hades. "Wake Xiao Feng. We'll take a break."
Hades's eyes flickered with defiance. Retrieving a syringe, he plunged it into Xiao Feng's right arm, injecting a vivid red serum deep into the muscle.
Xiao Feng exhaled deeply—this crimson medicine clearly potent and healing.
After the injection, they all exited the room.
At the door, Hades asked Zeus, "What's this old man's game? What does he want to know?"
Zeus speculated, "I suspect Xiao Feng knows something vital, which is why the Messenger wants to question him privately."
"Yes," Hades replied. "Xiao Feng is truly enigmatic. Even this old man is intrigued. But what could he possibly know?"
"No matter what, it must be tied to that tattoo. Otherwise, the Messenger wouldn't be blocking us. He clearly recognizes it."
"I saw it too. Just a string of numbers—nothing remarkable."
"A string of numbers? Perhaps a code, or a cipher. There's far more beneath the surface."
...
Inside the interrogation chamber, the Messenger frowned as Xiao Feng gradually regained consciousness. "Tell me—where did you get that tattoo on your arm?"
Xiao Feng glanced at his arm and gave a bitter smile. "You want to know about this tattoo? Honestly, I don't know. Do you understand what it means?"
The Messenger nodded. "I've seen this tattoo before. It's a symbol of identity. You're not the only one on Earth who bears it. Do you realize that?"
Xiao Feng froze, drenched in sweat. He hadn't expected that the old Messenger—who had stripped him of all his psychic powers—would reveal such a truth. If he could find others with the same tattoo, he might finally uncover his true identity. In that moment, Xiao Feng's will to live flared anew.
He met the Messenger's gaze. "If you tell me where to find those who share my tattoo, I'll tell you where Athena is."