Arlaune pollen, when attached to the organism's nasal mucosa, turns into a hypnotic substance on the spot to migrate to the brain. Unlike pollen itself, this substance is not caught in the immune mechanism in the body at all. This substance is mostly made of magic and the particles are also considered very small compared to pigments in the blood, etc.
The kind of confessional agent used in the military is life-threatening if used in captives who have lost strength due to torture, because the burden on the body is too great. In the case of Arlaune, however, it does not strain the body of the organism, but rather activates it to some extent, since it hypnotizes the organism inherently to nourish it.
There is something horrible about this beautiful flower survival strategy, although it is an absurd story. In the spiritual world, the nutrients obtained from the soil seem to be sufficient, but once summoned to this world, they become very greedy at securing nutrients from other organisms.
But if you sign a contract shortly after you summon it, that nature of Arlaune does not pose a threat. I've never been in danger in studying this demonic flower ecology.
"This... hey, what's glowing...?
"It's Arlaune pollen. As you can see, it works in a small space. If you're in a place like this, you can make them suck in pollen... because if you don't suck pollen for more than a certain amount, it won't work."
"Or pollen... isn't that the one that sneezes when you inhale it? It's a tough season when it's full..."
By smoking pollen, substances produced by the immune response in the body cause symptoms such as sneezing, eyes and itching of the nose. Arlaune pollen doesn't have an immune response, so nothing happens if we inhale it.
- Except for the targeted prisoners.
The look on the face of a woman who was vain and clumped a blur changes. I mean, I lost my strength, or I was in a state of confusion - now I'm successful.
When I am hypnotized, I am made to follow only what Arlaune and I, the Summoner, say. I watch Mr. Presha silently - she nodded back, looking terrified.
"I'm going to ask you a few questions. And answer without precipitation."
"... Yes..."
A woman who refused to talk so hard nodded softly. The look is soft, even a faint grin - it's on the doctor while I'm at it. Seriously, it's a moment when I think I'm doing something dangerous.
I'm a prisoner - rather than a hypnotist - and I ask Mr. Rendle to give me a note in order to write down the information on the patient being hypnotized. It's what I've been meaning to use since I started working at this fortress - the leather cover is foiled with 'examination records'.
The table on which the prisoner's hand is placed during torture - probably something he uses when peeling his nails off - is no longer necessary. I used the table as a desk and talked with careful observation of the patient.
"Why did you go beyond the border to the other side?
"... in the Zirconian Empire... we have an inside man... of weapons, a deal..."
"What... are you telling me you flushed your weapon to the enemy...? Our country's weapons are better than Zirconia's..."
For Mr. Presha, it would be an unforgivable fact - but now he swallows his anger and has to hear it all out.
"Who are you masterminds?
"Then he just captured me and my men put me in another cell."
"... the mastermind... is a man..."
"Huh...!?
One of the prisoners that had already been caught and pushed was the mastermind. This means that none of the knights had grasped the reality of the organization: they had nothing on the inside.
Mr. Presha pulls one of the two men together, but he's hypnotized and weak. I could deduce that he was a man who was bad for his thirties and dressed similarly to the other to keep him from being spotted as a mastermind.
"... So you're saying what was left of that safe house was just the bottom line?
"They are bandits… the man is the leader of the bandits… I, for this arms deal, have been hired…"
I see the full extent of what they were doing. Perhaps the Zirconia Empire had promised them a great deal in return - the bandits were blinded by the magnitude of the profits to be made and dyed their hands in the act of trafficking, even if they risked trading beyond their borders.
"Where did the bandits procure the kind of weapons they sell to Zirconia from?
"... it's..."
"Summoner, there seems to be a lot of resistance to this question. There is a great burden on this human spirit, do you want to continue the question?
Even under the hypnosis of Arlaune, a certain survival instinct is maintained.
This woman is more afraid of talking ahead than dying. Still, I have to move on.
"... Dear Glass, if it is distressing..."
"It's okay... which one, you have to ask"
No matter how much you want to turn away from it, you have to face it.
Mr. Presha didn't say anything anymore, he was just looking at me. I'm not even asking what to do, she'll know she has no choice again.
"We can't avoid this question. Where did you get the weapon from?
Arlaune pollen increases in intensity. Still, after showing a little resistance, the light faded from the woman's eyes and her lips moved.
"... the North, the Knights... of the Royal Family, through humans... let the weapons flow..."
- Mr. Presha looked up to heaven, which he could not see from prison.
Knights of the North. For Mr. Presha, a knight whose affiliation was supposed to be so different was selling his weapon to an enemy country.
This fact would be unacceptable to His Highness Astina, and also to Mr. Raquel - if corroborated, it would mean that the enemy is among those who thought he was a compatriot.