Finally, the food arrives. There were more guards this time since they must bring food for each of us. All they gave was a cup of water and a piece of stale bread.

“This is preposterous.”

“Huh?”

“You expect me to eat such filth? Why is this bread hard? Why is it only a cup of water?”

I hear someone snicker. Hmph, must be Lyn since I keep harassing her with a cup of water.

“Your boss agreed to provide properly. How is this right?”

“Don’t know what to tell you. Nobody can cook. Hey, we’re all eating the same thing.”

“Who knows how to cook?”

A few girls raised their hands including Lyn. I glance at the child and she does not raise her hand.

“How about this? Let some of them cook so that ALL of us will have at least something decent. Not this filth that you have provided.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Shut up and ask your boss. Go.”

I gesture at him like a dog. The other guys with him just looked confused.

“Argh, fine. Can you stay here?”

One of the guys stayed as they left. It did not take long until they came back.

“The boss said yes.”

“Good. At least someone has a decent head on his shoulders. You, you, and you. Go cook something decent.”

I point at Lyn and two random women. Lyn looks surprised and whispers.

“Wait. Why am I going?”

“Do you really think it would be a good idea to leave those two alone with a bunch of men?”

“Tsk.”

“Besides, you do not need to attack. Just protect them while you are there. They cannot blatantly make a move. Their boss will kill them.”

“Fine.”

“Good. If the food you make is disgusting, you will be punished.”

“Hah? Why the he-“

I put my finger on her mouth.

“Shhh. Just go already.”

“Argh.”

Lyn left with the others. For some reason, all the guys left so no one is guarding us again.

“Are they stupid?”

“It seems that their brain capacity is not large. I suspect they create trouble for the one they call boss.”

“Anyway, I am bored.”

“Do you wish for my assistance?”

I look at Blanche and have an idea.

“Kneel on the floor.”

Blanche kneels.

“Sit on your legs while kneeling.”

Blanche follows my orders. I position my head on her thighs and lie down. I look at her while lying down.

“Do you have a complaint?”

“No.”

“Good. Now, make sure I am comfortable.”

“Understood.”

“Child.”

The child tilts her head as she stands beside me.

“Massage me.”

The child opens her eyes in shock and stares at surprise.

“Do you not understand?”

The child shakes her head and kneels beside me as she starts with my arm.

“Good. Now, I am still bored.”

I look around and see some of them looking at me. I choose someone in random and point at them.

“You, tell a story. When you are done, point at someone else. Do not disturb us.”

The girl panicked for a while but she stood up in the end and started telling a story. I was not interested in the content but I appreciated the noise so I closed my eyes. In the beginning she sounds nervous but she eventually feels more comfortable speaking.

“Thank you for listening. Um, how about you next?”

She finished telling a story and chose another person. Good, this will make sure that their minds will be busy enough to not succumb to depression. I still need them to be of sound mind. If they break, they will be harder to control since the others will react accordingly. If this was an environment that I had full control over, it would be easy. But I must maintain this delicate balance until the time comes. Making sure that all of them are sane and under my influence is important for the time while we are here.

“Miss.”

Blanche taps my head as she calls out. I almost stopped her but she did not say my name. I open my eyes and look at her. All of them were listening to the story and did not pay any attention to us.

“What?”

“Why are you doing this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Something is telling me that you are helping them.”

“Oh? What makes you say that?”

“First, you controlled them with fear. Second, you controlled them with authority by negotiating with our captors. Third, you are controlling their sanity.”

Blanche stares at me as she waits for my answer.

“You are correct.”

“Why? I see no reason to maintain their sanity.”

“Because I can. I need them to be sane to be of use to me. That is all.”

“I understand.”

“No other questions?”

“No. I have a feeling that you will tell us in due time. All your actions here will serve your purpose in the future.”

“Correct. That also includes you and the child.”

I hit the child on the head. She holds her head and looks at me.

“Who told you that you can stop? Resume the massage.”

The child salutes and resumed massaging me. This child is truly weird.

“Besides, if any of them really did break. I will kill them myself.”

“No. I agreed to cooperate. So, order me to do instead.”

“Hmph, fine. Your words.”

I closed my eyes again as the stories continued. I already have most of the info I need to make sure that we can escape when the time comes. However, I would need a few more things to make things easier. In the current situation, there would be some accidents. But how do I get those things?

“What the hell are you doing?”

I heard Lyn’s voice. I open my eyes and see them bring in pots with soup inside. They also brought some bowls. However, since they only had a limited amount. We were forced to share. Wait, are those bowls made of glass? I can use that.