Ariana frowned, following the crowd's gaze.

What she saw stunned her.

Three hyenas with collars, not overly large but brimming with ferocity, were in the midst of an attack on a man.

The scene was savage. The man, drenched in blood, fought desperately but was hopelessly outmatched by the beasts.

One hyena sank its teeth into the man's leg, sending him crashing down. The others swiftly joined in, subduing him and rending at his flesh.

His screams pierced the air until they were abruptly stopped by a final, fatal bite to his neck.

As Ariana watched this, a chill seemed to grip her. No one intervened as the man's struggle came to its grisly end. Instead, the audience watched as the three hyenas indulged in their macabre feast.

A surge of nausea overtook Ariana, and she turned away and vomited.

But her stomach had nothing but bile.

At that moment, Ariana's entire worldview, painstakingly built over two decades, crumbled to dust. Disgust and contempt welled up within her for those present, her senses assaulted by fear and revulsion.

What kind of place was this, devoid of law and compassion, where human lives meant nothing? For what purpose did such a place exist?

Suddenly feeling weak and chilled to the bone, Ariana collapsed to the ground.

Bennett spoke calmly. "See? That's the fate of those who defy!"

Weakened by her vomiting, Ariana managed to say, “And if I comply, I can avoid this?"

A smirk played across Bennett's lips. "Compliance can only delay it."

Then, what was the point? A few more days of existence shrouded in dread.

Internally, Ariana bitterly laughed. Engaging in discourse with this madman was futile, but if submission offered even a sliver of hope for survival, she would grasp it.

Despite her attempts at reassuring herself, a profound sadness washed over her. How had her life descended into this abyss?

Struggling to hold back tears, Ariana realized she needed more information. She gritted her teeth and defiantly told Bennett, "Don't be so certain of yourself. Someone will come to my rescue soon!"

Bennett laughed nonchalantly. "Who do you think can rescue you from here? Your boyfriend Holden?"