Questioning

Ch 6

POV Krauss

I was woken up by the sunlight falling on my face through a crack in the curtains. Due to the spectacle last night, I went to bed pretty late. Since I didn't have any commitments either, I just decided to take it easy and slept all the way till noon. Going to any place other than the imperial palace felt like a holiday to me. No more schemes, no more conspiracies, no spies around you. It had been a long time since I was left alone, out of everybody's sight.

Once again I recalled the last night's events. Seeing that nothing happened to me until now I think it is safe to assume that I escaped successfully without leaving behind any traces. But my good mood was short-lived. When I opened the door to exit my room, my eyes met with the person who was opening to the room beside mine. My eyes widened when I saw who it was and she also froze.

"Why-"

"Bang"

I slammed the door back shut as fast as I could.

It was the same girl as yesterday.

How, why, who? Multiple questions popped up in my head at once. I clearly followed her into the other inn yesterday, why is she here then? Did she follow me back? But there's no way a 3rd refinement warrior can see through the deception of a magician of the same level. If it was a higher-level person I would understand it a little, but my methods had been flawless. Even a 5th refinement fighter wouldn't be able to tell how I disappeared. Have I been marked somehow? I scanned my body with my mana but found nothing. Assassins' marking arts are top-level combat arts that are extremely rare. Even the imperial library only had an inferior product. If Helen really did have this sort of Combat Art in her hand, she would have used it earlier. To escape from my detection, the practitioner must at least be a 5th refinement assassin. For now, let us consider I haven't been marked. So if she didn't follow me last night why is she here?

Could it be she is really an assassin after my head? But then again, if that were true she wouldn't foolishly expose herself like this. Once I calmed down I began to think of any possible reasons or ways she could have followed me.

I slowly opened the door again and peeked if anybody was there outside, thankfully the corridor was empty. I walked out and hurriedly went to the innkeeper.

"Miss, do you know when the girl staying beside me arrived last night?"

"Ah you mean the pretty girl?"

"Yes, yes her. When did she arrive?"

"I will have to check the ledger for that. But I am not supposed to reveal private information. What if the miss retaliates against me."

Understanding what the innkeeper wanted, I fished out a gold coin from my pocket and gave it to her.

The lady's eyes lit up and she took out a leather-bound book from the desk.

"Here, every guests' check-in and check-out times are written here."

I took the book and quickly flipped to the end. Soon I found my entry. Obviously, when I registered, I didn't write my real name. I didn't want any unnecessary trouble.

Leon - 202 - 3:20

Charlotte - 203 - 3:40

There was only one entry after mine last night. Room 203. Clearly, that's her. So her name is Charlotte. She came here just twenty minutes after me? Definitely suspicious. Did something happen to her after I left?

Just thinking is useless, it would be better to ask her directly. Even if she wants to attack me, I'd rather keep her in my sights than let her surprise me.

** ** **

POV Charlotte

That was him, right? The person in the bar last night. I wasn't too sure as I wasn't able to see his face before, but he definitely had the same chin.

But why was he so shocked to see me? Although it is a strange coincidence, it isn't impossible to believe that we decided to stay at the same inn and get neighbouring rooms. Suddenly last nights events came to my mind. Was he the one who was following me? It would make sense too. I was being followed from around the time I left the bar. The cloaked figure might have spontaneously decided to follow me. But their auras were too different. Well, it is still possible if he disguised himself magical artifact like me. But then the question remains, how did he escape my senses? For that he would need at least a 6th circle artifact.

Just then somebody knocked on the doors to my room. When I opened them, what came into view was a handsome face that was smiling at me.

"Hello Claudia."

I only nodded in response. Secretly I was on high alert. As soon as he made a move I would unleash my 4th refinement combat arts.

"Let's have a talk." He said in a grave voice.

I was surprised at the change in his tone. Although he was smiling, I could tell he wasn't happy about anything.

I moved out of the way and let him in.

"We will ask each other questions one by one, there is no obligation to answer them."

"Ok." I nodded at those simple conditions.

"Did you know I was staying in the room beside yours?"

"No." Then after a pause, I continued, "Why were you shocked when you found out I was in this room?"

"I don't want to answer. Ask something else."

My eyes narrowed when he refused to answer my question.

"Did you follow me after leaving the bar yesterday?"

I asked and looked at him dead in the eyes. After thinking for a moment, he admitted.

"Yes."

At his answer, the grip on my hidden blades tightened.

"I was purely curious. There was no other reason."

I didn't feel he was lying from his expressions. Either he was telling the truth or he was a master at lying. For now, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and believed his words.

"What is your reason to enrol in the Institute?"

"I am a talented noble. There is no better place for someone like me to train and make connections." This is partly true. In all the time I had at the institute I only needed to do one mission. After that, I would be free and could use the rest of the time to learn some rare combat arts.

Upon hearing what I said Clarke only nodded. I asked my next question,

"Yesterday you asked me, but why are you interested in the Carnel Imperial Family?"

The person at the bar had told me that I was the second one to ask the question. It had slipped out of my mind, but now I was curious.

However, instead of giving a reply, he just dumbfoundedly looked at me and asked, "Are you an idiot?"

"You won't answer?" I tried to maintain composure, this person was really getting on my nerves.

"It's a stupid question."

"Fine, then how did you disappear last night?"

"You want me to give away my secrets? Are you dreaming?"

"You aren't answering any of my questions."

"I told you in the beginning itself, there is no obligation to answer."

"What is your motive to enter the institute." I finally asked the same question that he asked me a few moments ago.

"The same reason as yours."

"You're a noble?" I involuntarily asked out loud.

"It is my turn right now."

Although he didn't answer, I didn't need him to. Looking at his handsome face and delicate features, he definitely wasn't a part of the workforce.

"I won't inquire about your motives if you don't want me to. But I want to know this. Does your task have anything to do with me?"

"No." I said unhesitatingly.

Upon hearing my refusal his expressions relaxed from the tense state they had been in.

"I will ask the same question to you."

He looked at me with a funny gaze and replied, "I really am going to study, there's nothing else."

Seeing my stupefied state he continued,

"Now let me ask something just to sate my curiosity. What refinement level fighter are you?"

I could barely hold back the surge of killing intent from being unleashed. Was I exposed? I grit my teeth and asked,

"Why do you want to know?"

"There is no way a 3rd refinement High Warrior would be able to detect my presence at such a long distance. You are hiding your real strength aren't you?"

Seeing me glaring at him he continued to speak in a nonchalant manner.

"I was just curious, no need to kill me with your eyes."

"Tell me your refinement level first."

"If you are asking that you can't be that high level of a fighter, can you? It's fine don't tell me. I will ask a different question."

This guy completely took advantage of me. I barely got any information out of him, and he already figured out I was hiding my power level.

Right when I was contemplating on whether to beat him up, he asked me while smiling,

"Miss Charlotte. Are you interested in a partnership?"