I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield

Chapter 282: Chapter 269: Insect Reconnaissance, Hell (Double-Length)_2

This must be the Bloody Arena spoken of by the Poisonous Widow.

Next, the perspective switches to the second insect.

The second insect gently flaps its wings, continuing to delve deeper along the damp corridor, eventually stopping within a spacious cabin.

Here, there was no bloody massacre, but another kind of suffocating oppression lingered—dozens of male and female slaves stood in several rows, their upper bodies bare, and hands and feet shackled, displayed like goods on metal racks.

Their eyes were hollow, bodies covered in bruises and whip marks, clearly accustomed to such inhuman treatment.

Several Star Thieves swaggered through the crowd, occasionally reaching out to pinch a slave’s chin, rudely prying open their mouths to inspect teeth or to slap muscles to evaluate physical ability.

"This one’s too skinny, can’t withstand the ordeal."

"Tsk, this one’s good, take them in and try it."

"Hahaha, I want this woman, tonight it’s her!"

The selected slaves were rudely yanked from the line and dragged to the adjacent room.

The insect sharply followed, slipping in through the door slit.

The room was dimly lit, the air a mix of sweat, blood, and a disgustingly sweet odor.

Several crude metal beds were fixed against the wall, covered with dirty mats.

The slaves brought in were pressed onto the beds, their limbs locked by shackles, while the Star Thieves grinned sinisterly, pulling out various tools—electric batons, whips, syringes...

Pained groans, desperate sobbing, and frenzied laughter intertwined, like a hellish symphony.

The insect’s vision trembled slightly, as if even this tiny creature instinctively resisted the sight before it.

Perspective switches to the third insect.

The insect vibrated its almost transparent wings, flying along the cold and damp passage, eventually slipping through a half-open iron door.

In an instant, through the insect’s vision, Qin Tian saw a scene far more twisted than the arena.

This was a spacious basement, the walls lined with rusted torture devices—barbed iron whips, heated branding irons, sharp hooks, even a few buzzing electric shock machines.

The air reeked of burnt flesh, the stench of blood, and the whimpers of despair.

A dozen ragged prisoners were chained to the wall, ranging from frail old men, terrified children, to numb-faced adults. Their bodies bore overlapping scars, some wounds still oozing blood, others already festering and blackened.

"Scream! Why aren’t you screaming?!"

A Star Thief with a full-face of flesh swung an iron rod, viciously striking a boy’s knee.

"Crack!"

The sound of bone cracking was clear, the boy’s shrill scream instantly filled the room.

Yet the surrounding Star Thieves laughed heartily, one even raised a bottle and took a sip, as if enjoying a grand show.

On the other side, a female Star Thief slowly heated a branding iron, a cruel smile on her lips.

She approached a middle-aged man bound to an iron chair, and under his terrified gaze, pressed the branding iron harshly against his chest.

"Sizzle——" The sound of flesh being seared accompanied anguished screams piercing the air, the man frantically struggled, yet only caused the iron chair to make an ear-piercing friction sound.

"Hahaha! Look at his expression! Does he look like a dog being cooked alive?"

The female Star Thief laughed uproariously, casually tossing the branding iron back into the furnace, preparing to select the next "toy."

In the corner, several children huddled together, trembling violently.

Among them, the youngest girl couldn’t cry anymore, merely biting her lip hard, with blood dripping down her chin.

There was no battle here, no selection, just pure abuse.

The Star Thieves didn’t care about the value of these people, they simply enjoyed the pleasure of torturing the weak.

As these grotesque, cruel, and brutal scenes streamed into the mind, Qin Tian’s pupils suddenly contracted, an unprecedented rage exploded like a volcano in his chest!

His fingers dug deeply into his palm, blood seeping through the gaps, yet completely unaware.

His heart pounded fiercely in his chest, each beat felt like a heavy hammer, making his whole body tremble.

The shrill screams, twisted faces, the Star Thieves’ hideous laughter, were like countless daggers, viciously twisting his nerves.

"These beasts..."

The killing intent surged like a tide, almost bursting through his flesh.

The Spiritual Energy within him stirred uncontrollably, the surrounding air seemed to slightly warp under his fiery wrath.

Those being tormented, could be parents of some child, the elders of a family, they shouldn’t be enduring such an inferno. And those Star Thieves—they no longer deserve to be called human, they’re merely a bunch of demons wearing human skins!

"You all must die..."

Qin Tian’s gaze turned completely icy, his dark pupils no longer held any warmth, only the purest intent to kill.

Slowly, he closed his eyes, issuing new commands to all the insects through [Spiritual Wisdom Divine Authority]—

Investigate, mark, lock in.

Every abusive Star Thief, every executioner participating in this revelry, their faces, physiques, and scents, were all documented by the insects, deeply imprinted in Qin Tian’s mind.

For now, his strength couldn’t destroy this demon lair, acting rashly would only alert the enemy.

But once reinforcements arrived, he was bound to make these bastards—

A blood repayment for blood!

Action must be taken quickly.

Qin Tian’s eyes were deep, every day of delay would mean many innocent people suffering abuse and torment.

Just as Qin Tian prepared his next steps, his door was suddenly pushed open, a Star Thief pointed at him and said:

"You, come out!"

Qin Tian’s gaze shifted, he rose and walked out of the room.

Suddenly, he turned his head, just in time to see Xiong stepping out of his room.

...

Fifteen minutes earlier

In a luxurious room, Sibada sat facing a red-haired man.

"Sibada, how’s the quality of this batch of slaves?"

The red-haired man asked casually, while sipping on wine.

"I can guarantee, they’re certainly better than Lisen’s batch of slaves." Sibada responded placidly.

Their four squads belonged to a procurement group, meanwhile, an additional eight groups were dispatched simultaneously for procurement, to ensure the Star Thieves’ material supply wasn’t disrupted should any one group encounter issues.

"You seem quite confident~"

The red-haired man smirked, "How about testing their condition now?"

"Of course." Sibada nodded.

The red-haired man was Feilake, the person in charge of the Bloody Arena.

All arrangements, schedules, and betting odds in the arena were subject to Feilake’s will.

Sibada picked up his wine glass, gently swirling it, "I have a half-beastman under me, physically formidable, definitely has the potential to become the arena’s star."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, the red-haired man’s eyes showed a hint of interest.

In the Bloody Arena, all slaves that were Spiritualists had to be injected with Spiritual Ability Inhibitors, to prevent the overly intense Spiritual Energy combat from damaging the venue and affecting the ship’s voyage.

Under such circumstances, slaves with stronger bodies and more skilled techniques could easily stand out.

Half beastmen, being hybrids of humans and Beastmen, were naturally superior in physical abilities than humans.

As long as the schedule was properly arranged, it’s easy to turn the half beastman into the Bloody Arena’s ace.

"Feilake, by the rules, the half beastman was bought by me, half of the profits he generates, I want to take."

Sibada said, "However, I want to make a deal with you, as long as you agree to one thing, I’ll give you an extra share of my profits."

"What thing?"

Feilake asked.

"Soon, arrange a match for a Barbarian slave." Sibada’s eyes flashed coldly, "I want to see this Barbarian die in the most miserable way in the arena."

"Barbarian slave?"

Feilake chuckled lightly, "How come, this Barbarian slave annoyed you and still managed to live until now?"

"This Barbarian is the Poisonous Widow’s lover, she is exceptionally enamored with him."

Sibada drank down his red wine, a bit of red staining the corner of his mouth, "You know, my relationship with the Poisonous Widow is quite good, I don’t want her to become the laughingstock of the entire group over a slave."

Quite good relationship?

Feilake smiled faintly, he easily saw through Sibada’s little scheme, but for him, it was just a mere command that could bring substantial profits, why not?