Chapter 171 - 166: Interrogation
The wind off the lake carried the smell of water and rustled Ryo’s apprentice robes.
For the fifth time, he stepped out of his tent and gazed at the surface of the water.
It had been five days.
Lord Velin had been down there for five whole days.
’He knew the underground world was vast, but weren’t five days a bit too long?’
Lord Velin was the most enlightened and wisest noble he had ever known.
He was less like a lord and more like a magic instructor who treated his students kindly.
’He didn’t dare to imagine the terrible possibilities.’
All he could do was keep a silent vigil by the lake, waiting for any message that might come.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind without warning.
Ryo, can you hear me?
’It’s Lord Velin!’
Ryo shot to his feet. A rush of blood went to his head from the excitement, but he quickly suppressed his emotions and focused his mind to respond.
Yes, my lord! You...
Prepare for pickup. Get the alchemist and some stretchers. We need to rest and regroup.
Yes!
Ryo spun around and sprinted toward the nearest patrol.
Ten minutes later, ripples began to spread from the center of the calm lake.
Velin was the first to break the surface. He took a deep breath and wiped the water from his face.
Kael, Barrett, Ola, and Sarah surfaced one after another. They helped each other swim to shore, their every movement steeped in exhaustion.
Ola was carrying a soaked "package" in one hand—the succubus, who was completely still, making it impossible to tell if she was dead or alive.
Ryo was already waiting on the shore with a team.
Seeing the lord and his party’s wretched state, the guards all looked on with concern.
Velin nodded to the men, then started walking toward the Lord’s Mansion. As he walked, he unfastened the Hive Terminal from the back of his neck, handed it to Sarah, and began assigning tasks.
"Kael, thank you for your hard work. After you get some rest, take a few good men back to the underground cavern. Do your best to scout and monitor the Magical Beast’s movements. Report back immediately if you notice anything unusual."
"Yes, my lord."
Ola spat out a mouthful of lake water and wiped the grime from his face. "My lord," he asked, his voice low and gruff, "who are we... defending against?"
"The ones behind that big beast."
Velin didn’t break his stride.
"Mia has gone missing. The other party will find out soon, and they will come for us."
In the conference room, all the core members of Newly Town were present.
In addition to the members of the expedition, Ryo was there, as was the chief alchemist, Valerius, who had hurried over upon hearing the news.
Velin started by briefly explaining what had happened to the two who weren’t there.
"That’s the gist of it. We brought back a ’tongue,’ but getting her to talk will require certain... methods."
"Interrogation? Leave it to me." A vicious gleam appeared in Barrett’s eyes. "I guarantee she’ll spill everything she knows in less than half a day."
Velin shook his head. "We can’t. She’s too weak. Torture would likely kill her."
He turned to Valerius. "Master, do you have any kind of truth serum that would work on a succubus?"
Valerius paused, then frowned. "A succubus? That race has an extremely high natural resistance to any potion affecting the mind or causing hallucinations. A standard truth serum would be like a soft drink to her. To make her talk, we would need several... unconventional ingredients."
Velin gave him a firm look. "Use your best ingredients. Brew a vial of whatever you think will be most effective."
Velin then looked at Ryo.
"Go and test the physical and energy resistance of the snake scales we brought back. I need detailed data."
"As for you two," Velin’s gaze swept over Barrett and Ola, "we can’t just wait for the enemy to come knocking. Grey Marsh Territory is our land. Effective immediately, we’re on high alert. Recall all garrison members currently on leave."
"Seal off Mist Spring Valley completely. No one enters without a written order from the Lord’s Mansion."
"For Newly Town, expand the security perimeter five kilometers out. Set up traps and both hidden and visible sentry posts. The watchword is ’lax on the outside, vigilant on the inside.’ Notify all officials of the Lord’s Mansion, high and low, to be wary of any strangers or unusual occurrences in the coming days. Anything that seems off must be reported immediately."
"Understood!"
The air was cool in the temporary cell, a converted laboratory on the third basement level of the research institute.
Mia was bound to a sturdy wooden chair. The moss and dirt had been cleaned from her body, revealing tattered clothing and pale skin.
She was huddled over, her body wracked by a sudden spasm. She trembled uncontrollably, her teeth chattering.
Pain flared deep in her marrow, like countless tiny insects gnawing at her bones. It was a withdrawal symptom from the Alchemy Potion.
Velin entered alone, holding a vial of faintly glowing, pale blue potion.
He placed the potion on the table beside him, pulled over another chair, and sat down in front of Mia.
Mia bit her lip, not saying a word, just staring at him with a pair of eyes full of hostility.
Velin didn’t speak. He just watched her with curiosity, observing the cold sweat beading on her forehead and the way her body twitched uncontrollably.
’These symptoms... they look just like... withdrawal?’
Velin recalled the system message and realized he didn’t have much time to investigate.
He thought for a moment and decided to get straight to the point.
"Hector’s potion... its effects are wearing off faster and faster, aren’t they?"
Mia’s body suddenly stiffened, terror flashing through her eyes.
’How could he possibly know?!’
"I have another solution," Velin continued, "one that can eradicate the defect in your bloodline. Tell me everything about Hector, and in exchange, you’ll get a chance to live. A real chance to live for yourself."
Mia gasped, a flicker of hope igniting within her. ’That sounds... good?’
But then she gave a bitter laugh. She had tried so many potions that promised a "true cure," but only Hector’s had ever given her any relief.
"Another one... another person who claims they can ’fix’ me." While she was implicitly admitting to the "defect" and the "potion," her attitude didn’t soften.
Instead, she glared at Velin, her voice trembling but laced with venom. "Your promises are worthless! Hector’s potion is poison, but at least it lets me live to see tomorrow. What about yours? Can your words stop the pain I’m feeling right now?"
"I’m not saying anything." She lowered her head, refusing to look at him any longer.
’So much for a normal conversation.’
Velin looked at her, his patience worn thin.
He stood up, picking up the potion bottle on the table.
"You... what are you going to do?" Fear appeared in Mia’s eyes.
Velin pinched Mia’s chin, forcing her mouth open.
The girl struggled desperately, but she had never been strong and couldn’t break free.
’She couldn’t believe it. She still had so many secrets. How could he just kill her so decisively?!’
’She had planned to stall for time, to wait for Hector’s people to rescue her. Why was he acting so rashly?’
She tried to change his mind, and was about to say something when an ice-cold liquid slid down her throat.
The liquid had a metallic, acrid taste and a bone-deep chill. It left a burning sensation as it went down.
’It’s over. It’s all over.’
As she thought this, a tear streamed from the corner of her eye. She braced herself for the agony, or death, to come.