Chapter 108: Interrogation
“… … yes.”
And then we returned to the Roach Mansion.
Late at night, I spoke to Atjie.
“You can.”
“… … .”
Ajie asked me.
Can you interpret ancient languages?
Where and how Ajie knew that, the source was obvious even if there was no evidence.
It’s haggly. You must have met Hagley and heard that story while researching ancient languages.
“Is it true?”
“yes. I can interpret ancient languages. Even if there is no mana left in the letters.”
Atjie’s expression darkened as he heard what I said.
Is it anger toward his arrogant younger brother who has kept his talent hidden until now, or is it disappointment?
Atjie muttered quietly.
“… … Right. “He was right.”
“What did that guy Hagley say?”
Apparently, Ajie’s appearance is unusual.
It’s hard to tell the facial expression since it’s Aji, but it’s surprising that some emotion is revealed.
“Is it true that you passed on your knowledge of the ancient language to Mangot?”
Did you even say that?
If I leave it there, even the maps I used to draw on my blanket as a child will all burn.
“Yes that’s right. “The core of the ancient language was not mentioned.”
“main point?”
“yes. “It is impossible to interpret with just the knowledge I gave you.”
I don’t know if that will absolve me of bringing knowledge of the ancient language to Mangot.
Atjie asked, raising his eyebrows together.
“Even so, why did you do that?”
“It’s been quite a while since Mangot approached me. At that time, I needed the strength to protect myself. If I give all my knowledge, my value will disappear, and if I don’t give too much, my price will be lowered. That’s why we left an appropriate gap.”
Additionally, I needed time to get Selena on my side.
“… … “It is the power to protect.”
Atjie held his head.
He opened his mouth, closed it, and let out a quiet sigh.
These are movements that are difficult to see from Ajie.
he told me
“… … Why didn’t you tell me in advance? “If you had that much talent, if you needed to protect your body, first.”
Ajie’s voice seemed to be filled with regret, as if he had been very worried about whether to say that.
Before I could even answer there.
“No, that was a mistake. “Forget it.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Then he shook his head and spoke again.
“Sooner or later, there will come a time where you can prove your abilities. The ancient language written on Mangot is of considerable interest to scholars of the empire. Get ready to head to Mangot with me. “There will be no loss to you.”
“… … yes.”
Atjie finally turned his back on that. The calmness of saying he was leaving because his business was over seemed like Aji, but today it seemed to me like he was running away somewhere.
I said while looking at his back.
“older brother. But there is a condition.”
“condition?”
“Before I go to Cape Bay, I will also meet Hagley.”
Ajie stops there and looks at me.
Those eyes were clearly speaking to me.
I never allow it.
However, this time I had no intention of backing down.
The reason why I can’t allow it is until I hear it clearly from Atjie.
“… … .”
“… … .”
A moment of silence. Atjie warns me with his eyes, but I refuse.
“… … do whatever you want.”
Finally, Ajie spoke.
Rather than permission, it felt like a sigh that found no reason to stop me.
Azier refuses to let me meet Hagley.
It won’t be easy to come up with another reason without being able to say the reason.
‘… … Hagley.’
And I could roughly guess the original reason.
‘Let’s see what nonsense you were talking about.’
* * *
Prison Obsidian is one of the places that is quite familiar to me.
There is a familiar yet nostalgic face here.
I went inside and was soon met by that familiar and nostalgic face.
“… … Ugh, frontier.”
As soon as Esther saw me, her face fell as if she had swallowed sh*t.
Well, my dear friend still had a unique reaction.
“Hello, Esther. long time no see.”
“I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time, but why are you speaking so rudely to me? Even your brother is polite to me.”
“What does that mean between us?”
“Shameless guy.”
I sat across from Esther.
“They let me in easier than last time. Obsidian has also become much kinder.”
“joy. There is no point in saying it again. The reason your treatment has changed is because of your achievements. “Did you want to hear that?”
“Thank you for confirming.”
It has now become a public fact throughout the entire empire that I saved it.
Victory in war is the result of everyone joining forces, but this exaggerated situation is probably what is holding me back right now.
“Do you know why I came?”
“… … well. “I don’t know.”
Esther is acting like a fool.
That way, I will never reveal my conversation with a dangerous person to the outside world.
I said.
“Let me meet Hagley.”
“refuse.”
“why?”
“He is a felon and a difficult man to deal with. It’s different from the last time I met Kian. Hagley is now prohibited from speaking to anyone.”
“You met my brother, right?”
“It was an investigative interrogation. “It’s not like a visit.”
There I smiled.
“so do i.”
“what?”
“I’m here to investigate. “Is it me who comes to see that Hagley has a pretty side?”
“… … “Please bring a certificate from the imperial palace and talk about it.”
Esther shakes her head.
Of course, there’s nothing the palace won’t do if I formally request it, but I don’t want many people to know what I’m doing right now.
“Esther, don’t do that, help me. It’s for the Empire. I’ve never done anything bad to you. “I also solved the Indus problem.”
“… … “What a strange thing.”
Esther tilts her head there.
“I felt strange from the first time we met, but why are you acting friendly to me, you bastard? I have no relationship with you. And a normal prison warden should be a little scared. “You may know it now, but back then you wouldn’t know anything about me.”
Then he looks at me with suspicious eyes.
“It’s still like that. I too have seen your strength. I’d rather be convinced if you threatened me with force. But what are you doing? Just in case you haven’t noticed, I hate you. I hate that sly face that doesn’t know what you’re thinking. “When I’m with you, I feel strange too.”
There was considerable caution in Esther’s eyes as she said that.
I guess so. A one-sided intimacy that only I have. If I were in the opposite position, I would be suspicious.
But there is nothing I can do.
“I can’t help it that you hate me. Unfortunately.”
I shrugged.
“But it’s okay.”
“… … what… … ?”
“Everyone likes good people. Just and moral people. “I just like people like that.”
“… … “Are you kidding me?”
Esther growls with sharp eyes.
I shook my head.
“I respect you.”
“Bullsh*t… … !”
“There are not many people like you that I can trust without worrying about anything.”
Esther doesn’t know herself very well.
An executioner who follows the god of justice named Justitia and uses his divine power.
However, to be honest, I have my doubts, as I have experienced being seriously hurt by God several times.
Is Justitia really more just than Esther?
Are you more noble than her?
Even for a god, it wouldn’t be an easy task.
“I can trust you with everything.”
If I didn’t know who the character Esther was, I could have given her the reaction she wanted.
Or if you’re a character like Fili who doesn’t know what choice to make.
But Esther is not like that.
Esther’s definition is ‘no puns’.
Her nobility is the nobility of being able to ‘raise your head without a shred of shame.’
Although it is a scary image with the title of prison warden, cold face, and ruthlessness that does not forgive criminals.
A character who always has definite goodness.
Knowing this clearly, it is really, really not easy for me to be wary of Esther or to tolerate her favor.
“That’s why I’m asking you a favor. Why am I threatening you? “It just means I’m doing something wrong at that moment.”
“… … So, what on earth do you know about me that you say like that?”
“Does it matter how I know? “The facts are what matters.”
Esther might end up rejecting my offer here.
Even so, I will not use force or threats. Even if it means taking some risk, I will ask the imperial palace for documents.
That’s how much I don’t want to be at odds with Esther.
“… … ah! “Damn it!”
Esther looked at me for a while, scratched her head, and shouted.
Even for a noble person, he has a foul mouth, huh.
“Yeah, because you’re not an outcast. “I’ll allow it just this time.”
“After all, you are my friend.”
“Why am I your friend!”
“Don’t be embarrassed.”
Esther sighs at my words.
“… … “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
“don’t worry.”
Esther worries needlessly again.
“Because you always think good thoughts.”
“… … shut up.”
Esther spat out a reply and immediately picked up the receiver.
He was calling someone and telling them something. From what I heard, it seemed like Hagley was being called into the interrogation room.
“Now, follow me.”
“okay.”
I got up and followed Esther, who stood up first.
In the meantime, my eyes fell on the full-length mirror located on one side of the room.
In terms of time, it is a moment of less than 1 second.
But no matter how short a mistake is, a mistake is a mistake.
“As expected, you know.”
Esther said.
Her ability, mirror alter ego.
I answered honestly.
“Yeah, sorry. I know.”
“joy. It’s not really something to hide. “I wonder how you know, but most of the kids who move with me in this prison know.”
“… … “Those clones were the reason why you lived here so thoroughly, right?”
Esther’s eyes widen at my words.
“Do you even know that?”
“I know everything about you.”
At that time, Esther beyond the mirror gently waved her hand at me.
“Esther over there is kind.”
“It means fake.”
… … wow.
In a sense, it was a strange distinction, but I silently followed Esther.
… … .
When we arrived at the interrogation room, Hagley had already arrived behind the glass.
Hagley had a lot of bandages and gauze on his face. Anyone could see that it was a wound from being hit.
It’s obvious even without looking who made it like that.
Of course, Hagley can’t see this way, so his gaze stays in the air.
Esther spoke as if warning.
“Frondier, I will allow you to meet for now, but don’t take too long. “It’s already dangerous when you meet me.”
“okay.”
If you’re going to do it, do it quickly. I understood correctly.
“And he doesn’t tell the right story. “I have no intention of opening my mouth to important information.”
Yes, that will happen. For Hagley, ancient languages are something he has devoted almost his entire life to studying.
“Interrogation doesn’t work on him. “What are you going to do?”
Interrogation doesn’t work.
“I have to make it work.”
“… … Funny guy. If you want to meet me, open the door over there and go out, no, Frondier!”
I headed toward the door while listening to Esther. No, you’re not listening to everything I’m saying. anyway.
Slam!
I opened the interrogation room, went inside, and before I could even see Hagley’s eyes filled with surprise when he saw me.
Twisted!
“Whoa?!”
I kicked the chair he was sitting on and knocked it over.
“hey.”
I walked over to the guy who had fallen down with the chair, crouched down, and looked down at him.
Hagley’s eyes quickly change from surprise to contempt and anger.
Looking at that, I smiled sincerely.
“What did you say to my brother?”