Standing at over 9 feet tall, she would tower over him even if he was standing much less now that he was laid out on a table.
She dangled the knife she had used to skin him repeatedly, time and time again, in front of his face before she continued talking, "Start by telling me who the traitor within my ranks is, hm? Who told you my identity?"
The captor asked him once again, in her same calm and relaxed tone, but Gaston almost couldn't stop himself from smiling, as he detected a hint of anxiousness in her demeanor.
No matter what she did, Gaston provided her no further response, simply staring ahead with that same, lifeless blank look in his eyes.
Judging by the proficiency in her actions, this was far from the first time that she had done something like this. But from her evident frustration that she tried and failed to hide from him, Gaston was also sure that he had done better than anyone she had ever encountered before.
As weak and as much of a mental toll as the endless torturous experience had had on him, Gaston was still clear in the head. Or at least, as clear as he could be.
The lifeless look in his eye was a mask he put on for his captor, one carefully chosen after he had made an informed guess on the identity of the Blue Ape doing this to him.
It was true that in large part, his SERE training is what had gotten him this far without collapsing, but the endless amount of hatred he felt for this animal in front of him was also of great help.
His hatred for her was so great, that half the challenge in surviving thus far had been in his attempts at not exposing to her his enormous killing intent towards her.
Seeing him provide her the same response for the umpteenth time, Gaston was sure that he could detect a surge of frustration and angst as she began to turn around and move towards his legs.
Choosing this as his time to strike, Gaston broke out of his lifeless look for the first time in... who knows how long, and fought through the agony to speak to her.
"I have yet to tell a lie your highness... No one has told me of your identity... I assumed. From the Stage 2 Blue Ape... who captured me, and who... I think is standing guard outside this room... right now, as we speak."
Sure enough, him breaking the pattern that they had developed over time had caught her attention, making her turn around and look him in the eyes, "I'm glad to see you've decided to speak Gaston. This is the first new thing you've said in 2 weeks!"
Gaston's eyes revealed a hint of surprise at this information.
After all, no matter how in control of himself he was, nobody was unbreakable. The torture had taken it's toll on him, causing him to slip up like this from time to time.
As of yet however, his captor hadn't identified that these were his mistakes. Though with enough time, who could tell how the situation would develop.
His deteriorating mental state was also a factor that contributed to his decision to make his move now, sooner rather than later.
There was no way to determine the passage of time down here, but to think that he had spent over two weeks here, came as a great surprise to him.
Seeing him stop talking however, the Blue Ape couldn't help but urge him on, further revealing her anxious state.
"Don't stop now Gaston. Go on, amuse me. Truth be told, I would rather hear your new lie than go another round with you. It's all starting to become rather tedious."
Gaston almost found it cute how she tried to play these word games with him, if not for the fact that he couldn't stop himself from imagining horrific things being done to her that was.
Continuing on with his ever-steady tone, he said to her, "I have killed... more than a hundred of your kin... a little smaller than you... but not by much.
"Your highness is smart enough... to not put herself alone with me... even in spite of the magic red cloth. My spiritual consciousness can't detect... anyone outside the door."
Pausing for a moment to look at her expression, which had over the course of his words changed from interested but bored, to fully attentive, he looked straight at her before he continued.
"To have a Stage 2 guardian... means you must be someone important... that is why, your highness... is the way I've chosen to refer to you as."
Looking at her reaction however, it appeared that his words had more than brought out a reaction out of her. Which, now that he was looking at her, he wasn't sure if it was a good thing.
Normally, she would call him a liar by now and begin skinning another part of his flesh, as she had done over and over again during these 2 weeks.
After hearing him out this time however, her expression changed. She seemed to believe what he said to her, but for some reason, as a result, she looked devastated and lost.
Gaston could faintly hear her mumble under her breath, "that's right... He's just a human at the 1st level of Qi Refining. Even though he's talented, what important mission could he possibly be sent for..."
Overhearing her words, the plan of action that Gaston had made before subtly changed on the spot.
Now that he had convinced her, she had no further use for him, which meant that he would die soon if he didn't do something.
Since talking was the only thing he could do, that's what he did. "However, your highness... I can still be of great... use to you, even... if I don't have any information to reveal."
His words broke her out of her own thoughts, bringing her attention back to him.
"You're just a little villager with some talent, of what use could you possibly be to me? And don't call me your highness, you ignorant little thing.
"I am the royal princess of the Thurstan Kingdom. My father is a great Demon King, or what you humans would call a Transformation Monk, a being at the 5th Stage of cultivation.
"I am 8th in line to the throne, so don't call me your highness as you would the heiress of some little dutchy. Your royal highness is the proper title. Use it for as long as I keep you alive."
Gaston saw his past self pause a little at those words, but not for too long.
His captor, or her royal highness as she demanded to be called, put down the knife and instead applied some mysterious looking gel to his skinned body parts.
Once applied, he felt a weirdly soothing sensation wash over him. By the time he broke free from this feeling, he found that his right arm looked like it was as good as new.
He couldn't even tell the difference from what it had looked like before his capture. Not only had his skin regrown, but it had restored itself to exactly how it had been before.
In a surprising turn of events however, his past self did not marvel at the discovery, but instead began talking to his captor as soon as he regained his bearings.
No longer in pain, he spoke normally, but still in as calm a manner as ever. "Very well, your royal highness. I'm glad that you have decided to believe my words."
Snorting at the remark, the Thurstan Kingdom's royal princess interrupted Gaston, "It's not your words that I've decided to believe, human. It's your ignorance that has convinced me."
Pausing for a moment, she picked up his cut off skin and put it into her mouth after wrapping it in order to make it fit.
Gaston couldn't help but praise his past self's self control however, as despite the crunching sound that she produced as she ate the skin that she had cut off, he revealed no emotions to her as he looked at her.
Perhaps she wasn't satisfied with his reaction, as she pouted a little before she continued speaking, "It's common knowledge that no one is allowed to cross the border between the Thurstan Kingdom and the Wright Kingdom without going through the official road and obtaining the proper paperwork.
"If the humans of the Wright Kingdom were going to make a move, I doubt it would be someone as weak as you that they would be sending."
Gaston could almost see the gears turning in his past self's head at this moment.
Despite him being the one that had been tortured for information, he had managed to extract more information out of her within a few minutes than she had in two weeks!
"In any case, I'm glad your royal highness has come to the right conclusion. There's no need for insults however, we can both be of great use to one another."
He could see that she had quite the opinion on the matter, but in a move that surprised even himself now that he was looking back on it, he decided to interrupt her before she could say anything in response.
"It was impressive to discover a Stage 2 being serve as your guardian, as I thought you had a great identity. If what you say is true however, your royal highness, a singular Stage 2 serving as your guardian is not a cause for celebration."
Gaston's words bordered on insulting, something which his captor responded to by grabbing her knife and firmly placing it on his neck.
A few drops of blood trickled down to his body, but he remained unfazed as he looked at her.
"I doubt your siblings have such lax security, especially in a place as dangerous as the border between the two kingdoms.
"Am I wrong, your royal highness? Are you not here, at this very moment, because you are desperate to accomplish something and prove yourself to your family?"
The knife's blade edged slightly deeper, but ultimately, she decided not to take his life before entertaining his words.
"... Watch your tongue, you filth! What do you know of my relationship with my family? If not for their trust in me, do you think they'd let me travel wherever I please?"
Looking at him with an almost gloating expression, as if she were proud of the fact, she continued, "And so what of it anyway? What help could you possibly be of, little villager?"
Gaston was ready for this question, as he should be, since he was the one that had been guiding her into asking him this precise question all along.
He had been thinking about this nearly the entire two weeks he had spent here. After all, the only way he could think of getting out of here alive aside from escaping, which he quickly realized was not a possibility, was by working with her.
"I may be from humble origins your royal highness, but my worth to you may prove more valuable to you than you could imagine.
"My hard work has earned me the title of Elite, which is why I could deal with so many of your kind by myself. If only I had a few magic techniques in my possession, your royal highness, maybe I wouldn't have been caught."
Looking at the interested look in her eye, Gaston continued with his speech before she responded.
"I propose that I enter the Wright Kingdom and develop within it, serving as your eyes and ears within humanity's ranks. In return, you will provide me with a high quality cultivation technique and access to resources.
"An ask that is far more than reasonable, considering what I will give you. Your family's attention, recognition, and maybe even a future chance at fighting for your position on the throne.
"Considering that my progression would only serve to benefit you as well, as I will have access to far more information the higher I climb the ranks within the Wright Kingdom, what I ask for in return is more than fair."
As soon as he offered her this deal, Gaston was ready to have his head taken off or at least enter into a long drawn-out negotiation with her, which would put him in a very tough position considering his current circumstances.
To his surprise however, he found her to be silent, with her head lowered, seemingly pondering the proposal.
Not too long afterwards, she raised her head and nodded at him, "an Elite cultivator is of considerable value, so you do have some use. Killing you would be a waste, so i agree in principle to this deal, human, but there are some things that are non-negotiable.
"Restrictions must be placed on you, so that I know that you will do as you say. A soul-binding contract is not a viable option however because the Wright Kingdom may find out if they properly check. The same rings true for methods such as mental implants, heart restrictions... Which is why it is difficult to develop spies.
"Luckily for you however, I have thought of an alternative strategy."