Chapter 82 - Interrogation: Beginner Class
While the Kikyo Society members were distracting the enemies, I decided to take control of the mansion.
I dropped from the balcony to a balcony below and immediately knocked out a man who was watching. I entered the room through an open window and began a reconnaissance sweep.
There were no patrols in the mansion.
According to my magic perception, there were people only in one place on the third floor. Multiple people were gathered there.
Easy to find. It’s likely the leader of this place, the second son of the Gerdodus family, along with his guards and aides. The eldest son or the family head might be there too.
I’ll take them alive. They’re nobles and likely have a lot of information on various dark matters. I won’t hold back with these scum. They can be valuable sources of information.
I arrived at the room where the people were gathered.
I had nothing to fear now. The sleep gas trick is out. If they use smoke or gas, I’ll retreat. If anything unexpected happens, the Kikyo Society members will surely come to my aid. I have no choice but to move forward.
“Move!”
I kicked the door open and immediately created iron spikes to impale the guards’ feet.
“Gah!”
“Ah, my leg, aaaaah!”
“Guards, what are you doing! Do your job!”
“What is this!?”
“This, you again! How far do you plan to interfere!?”
“Huh, you! How did you...?”
“Do something! Fulfill your duty! What do you think you’re being paid for!?”
Some of them were still standing, blocking my way.
I created softball-sized iron balls and threw them at their stomachs, one by one, knocking them all unconscious. I held back, but I didn’t want any of them to die yet.
I spotted the middle-aged noble, the second son of the Gerdodus family, among the fallen. He was the only one who looked like a noble. The others were likely lower-ranking nobles or aides.
I’ll take them all alive. They can provide valuable information and be useful as bargaining chips with the noble family. I healed those who were near death. I couldn’t afford to let them die.
I found my coat hanging on a hanger as soon as I entered the room. My equipment and potions were neatly arranged on a shelf next to it. They must have been inspecting them. Everything was there, which was a relief.
I finally felt at ease after taking down the enemies and recovering my belongings. For now, at least.
I used purification magic on my coat and equipment, just to be safe.
I put on my coat and equipment and tied my dark purple hair with a magical hairpin. I felt more focused.
Now, I should join the others. I’ll leave the captured enemies to the younger members.
As I stepped out of the room and started down the stairs, I saw a beautiful girl in a moon-white coat.
“Onee-sama! Are you alright!?”
Valeria rushed to me, hugging me to check if I was okay.
“I’m fine. Thank you for coming.”
I stroked her soft hair and ears, comforting her.
It felt like we hadn’t seen each other in a long time, even though it had only been a day.
“What about the lower floors?”
“It’s fine. I sent them all to hell.”
Oh, “hell.” She probably meant they were severely injured, not killed. But it doesn’t matter either way.
I talked with Valeria for a bit, and then a group of Kikyo Society members rushed up the stairs.
Siegrune and others. There were fewer of them than I had seen outside, so they must have been securing the area or searching for me.
“Yukari-dono, are you alright? Valeria, don’t be reckless.”
“President! I’m glad you’re safe!”
“Y-Yeah, sis!”
“Valeria! You’re too reckless!”
“I’ll go tell everyone the president is safe!”
I informed Siegrune and the others that I was fine and asked about the situation.
“I’m fine, thanks to everyone’s help. What’s the situation downstairs?”
“The enemies have been mostly eliminated. We’re securing the captives and searching the premises.”
“Good job, Siegrune. Everyone did well. Immediately, the room contains the masterminds. Please secure them and pass them to the Intelligence Unit. There might be some interesting information to extract.”
“Understood. I’ll have it done.”
Siegrune ordered the younger members to secure the captives as we went downstairs.
“Siegrune, thank you. I should also thank everyone later.”
“Don’t be silly. That must have been your ‘assembly signal,’ right? Seeing you calm and composed, it didn’t seem like you needed rescue.”
“Not exactly. I’ll explain everything later, but it was pretty bad.”
“What? For you to be in a tight spot, it must have been serious. I look forward to hearing the details later.”
“Right. Oh, there are captives in the basement. We should rescue them too.”
“Understood. I’ve ordered a thorough search, so they’ve likely been found already.”
They were clearly captives and not the enemy, so they wouldn’t be mistaken. If found, they would be rescued properly by our members.
Siegrune took charge of the rescue, prioritizing routine operations. Unlike before, the combat unit leaders didn’t rush into action. Siegrune, as the vice-commander, led the operation, maintaining the balance of our forces. He selected a team of combat unit members to accompany Valeria, while the Vanguard and Intelligence Units were tasked with thorough reconnaissance and information gathering.
Siegrune, a former knight, showed his skill in force allocation.
I waited with Siegrune and Valeria in the first-floor lobby while the younger members finished their tasks.
They were securing captives, recovering valuables, and alerting the Kikyo Society headquarters. We wouldn’t report to the Exembra Garrison; we couldn’t hand over the captives and lose control of the situation.
This incident has a mastermind, and I won’t let them off easily.
Soon, the Kikyo Society members gathered in the lobby.
All the enemies were secured and brought in. There were captives in other rooms besides the basement. I had no specific business with them and released them after a brief interview. They could go wherever they wanted, but I declined their thanks. If they really wanted to thank me, they could do so later.
“Everyone, good work. The nobles and aides should be handed over to the Intelligence Unit. Treat them well, but secure them in the vehicle. As for the servants and guards, they’re not important. Disarm them, confiscate their equipment, and let them go.”
“Are you sure?”
“They’re not worth killing. If anyone wants to, I won’t stop them, but it’s pointless.”
“If you say so...”
The enemies weren’t incompetent. They could likely free themselves given time, and they’d leave on their own. If they resisted, I’d deal with them harshly. I made sure to warn the guard leader about this.
After collecting what we needed, we left the grim mansion.
“Alright, let’s go home.”
“Everyone, let’s move out!”
With Siegrune and me leading the way, we stepped outside. It was already dawn. I wanted to take a bath and rest.
Back at headquarters, I thanked the Kikyo Society members who had stayed up and told them to rest for the day.
I didn’t feel like organizing information right away. I’d do it after a good sleep. I told the Intelligence Unit to rest tonight and start the interrogations later.
I headed straight to the bath, stripped off my clothes, and scrubbed my body thoroughly. Purification magic helped, but a proper bath felt much better.
I soaked in the hot water, feeling completely relaxed. Baths are wonderful. The tension seemed to wash away. Valetta and Siegrune joined me later, and we soaked leisurely before retiring to our rooms.
The next afternoon.
I indulged in a long sleep and a leisurely morning bath, taking a break from my usual early training routine. It’s good to have a day like this sometimes.
The debriefing and discussions were scheduled for the evening, as the leaders had their regular duties. The Intelligence Unit had likely started the interrogations and would have some information by tonight.
“Good morning, Yukari. You seem to be in good spirits.”
“Good morning, Frederica. I feel great, no problems.”
I greeted Frederica and the others in the office and ate the breakfast and lunch that April, Frederica’s assistant, and the other girls had thoughtfully brought.
Valeria was out in the forest training with the apprentices, and Siegrune and Gradena were at work.
After finishing my meal, I took a break and chatted with everyone.
“Alright, I’m going to the Intelligence Unit. Call me if anything comes up.”
The interrogations should be in progress in the intelligence room. I’ll go check.
I entered the restricted area of the intelligence room as usual.
“Yukari! The director is waiting for you. This way, please.”
Graylease led me to the interrogation room and called out.
“Director, I’ve brought the president!”
“Ah, come in. You too.”
Graylease usually calls me by my name, but in here, she called me president.
Josephine and Ortlinde greeted me as I entered. A man in a blindfold was seated in the room, the second son of the Gerdodus family.
“President, it was quite an ordeal for you yesterday.”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you everything that happened to me and what I learned. Then we can conduct the interrogation together.”
“Understood, let’s go to the other room.”
I told Josephine, Ortlinde, and Graylease everything that had happened to me. The other captives were isolated in small, cell-like rooms.
According to the interrogations, the second son remained stubborn, refusing to give even his name. No significant progress had been made. I knew his name, but I needed to verify the information.
“I see, the Gerdodus family.”
“Do you know them?”
“Yes, to some extent. They’re a rather complicated family. They’re a noble family from the old Brenark Kingdom, known for handling the dark side of the royal court. Despite their important role, they fell into decline after the kingdom’s fall. They’ve been involved in various crimes to regain their power. This incident is likely part of that plan.”
The motive for targeting me is unclear, but it’s unlikely that the family behind the dark court acted alone. They might be collaborating with another force. This is just a hypothesis, but it provides a starting point for the interrogation. Starting with a bit of information can make them more likely to talk.
With multiple targets, we can piece together a bigger picture bit by bit.
I re-entered the interrogation room, which could serve as a torture room if necessary.
I don’t like being slow, but I’ll let Josephine and the others handle the interrogation. I’ll step in if violence is necessary.
“Hey, sorry for the wait, mister. Let’s get started. Talk now, and it’ll be better for you. So, what’s your name?”
Josephine was unusually casual. She must have a plan.
“Hmph, I won’t talk to lowly women like you! It’s in your best interest to release me! You commoners wouldn’t understand the power of my family. You’ll regret it once we find you!”
He’s surprisingly confident for someone bound and blindfolded. From their perspective, their disappearance would quickly lead to the Kikyo Society’s involvement.
But from our side, if they attack, they’ll be like moths to a flame. We won’t let our guard down. If they want to attack, let them. We’re ready.
“You know, mister, being confident is one thing, but don’t get too cocky. Mr. Second Son of the Gerdodus family.”
“...”
He started to speak but fell silent. He’s not completely foolish.
His sudden silence after talking so confidently was a bit odd.
“So, I just want to know what happened. Why did you attack our president? I’d like to know the reason. Just start with that.”
“Hmph, I don’t know anything.”
He shouldn’t have spoken. He’s likely talkative and will eventually crack. If he doesn’t want to be released unharmed, Josephine will change her approach. I’ll wait until then.
Josephine’s interrogation skills are excellent. She gradually breaks down the subject’s defenses with small talk. Ortlinde’s silent pressure adds to the effect. Graylease and I watched, impressed.
However, we couldn’t reach the core of the matter. We took a break and moved on to interrogating another subject. Immediate violence can lead to false information. We need to gather information bit by bit, making it hard for them to lie or for us to catch their lies quickly. It’s a technique I don’t understand, but it’s necessary.
We’ll continue the interrogations, and it might take some time. We don’t need to rush, so I’ll assist the Intelligence Unit periodically while they do most of the work.