Chase dusted off his long coat and calmly explained, �This is the area where water torture, one of the ten worst torture techniques employed by Carmine Pawnshop, is conducted. It has been four years since the last person was tortured here, so it might look as if it�s in disrepair, but back in the day, people filled this place all the time. It was a much livelier place back then.�

�Uh� ten worst torture techniques? A lively place?�

Renee was so taken aback that she almost choked on her own saliva.

�Are you sure you guys weren�t filming a movie here? Torture techniques? I�ve only heard of that in movies!�

�What you�ve seen in movies is probably much tamer than what we actually do here in Carmine Pawnshop. Because some of them might be too atrocious for your taste, I won�t elaborate and go straight to the water torture��

Chase then continued, �Water torture is the mildest among the ten worst torture techniques. The victim is first tied up inside the water prison, where they will then suffer all manner of tribulations. At first, the water level reaches just around the victim�s waist, but every half an hour, there will be other things added to the water. Firstly, all kinds of venomous snakes, centipedes, and loaches will be released. Then, slowly, boiling water will be added. After that, boiling oil will pour in, and finally� sulphuric acid!�

�Stop! I don�t want to hear it anymore! Whoever thought of such a heinous thing must�ve been a complete psychopath!�

Renee could hardly bear to even imagine such a scene. Forget about the boiling oil and acid; she was covered in goosebumps even thinking about the snakes! Even worse was the thought of how the snakes would writhe and flail around wildly in a panic once the boiling water was added�she could not imagine how horrifying such a situation might be!

�You�re too faint-hearted, Ms. Everheart. I told you that water torture is the lightest among the ten worst torture techniques. Besides, Boss was the one who came up with these punishments.�

�My brother came up with these?� Renee could not help but sigh. �Wasn�t he a little too aggressive?�

�His original intent for these things was to deter would-be dissidents,� Chase explained, �whether it be the employees of Carmine Pawnshop or the customers. Anyone who disobeyed the rules must face the punishment. Yet, when faced with the grim possibility of being punished with the ten horrifying torture techniques, almost no one dared to cause any trouble, so strictly speaking, the actual number of people who were tortured is very low.�

�I can understand that,� said Renee. �Historically, rulers must have an extremely strict punishment system to maintain order. I�m sure my brother must�ve seen a lot of period movies and read lots of fun books about history to come up with such a thing. Otherwise, no normal person could ever think of doing something so insane.�

Renee was highly empathetic by nature. Although she disagreed with Quinton�s method, she could still understand why he had to take such extreme measures. After all, Quinton must have had to work exceedingly hard to reach his current position, seeing that he came from a humble fishing village. Without taking some extraordinary measures, he would never have made it this far.

�By the way, why did you take me here? Is someone getting punished?�

Renee asked Chase the question in confusion.

�You�re right, someone�s getting punished, and it�s you!�

Chase smiled and pulled out a key to open the door to the water prison before bowing slightly and making an inviting gesture towards Renee.

�Go ahead, Ms. Everheart!�

�???�

Renee gulped, her hair standing on end. JrNovels.com