Interrogation

Before they went to bed, Locus and Genken checked their adventurer cards.

"We did kill a Lieutenant of the Mastermind Guild after all."

Locus' card said 'Rank: B' and Genken's said 'Party Leader's Rank: B' because his own rank wasn't visible anymore. Locus figured that it was better this way. They could get more missions with a higher rank.

"What will we do tomorrow?"

"I think we should wait for the investigation team."

"You're sure they're coming?"

"If they follow their guidelines."

Indeed. After having breakfast at the hotel's restaurant, Locus and Genken walked back up to their room. When they arrived on their floor, they spotted a handful of people in front of their door. Locus panicked.

"What will we do now?"

Genken, on the other hand, was sleepy as ever.

"Let's ask them what they want from us."

He approached the men who were all wearing the black uniforms of the Mastermind Guild, although these looked slightly different from the one's that Locus had seen so far, or at least that's what he thought.

"Good morning, gentlemen."

He yawned. And shook one person's hand.

"Can we be of any help to you?"

The person Genken was addressing had two golden stars on his epaulettes. The three other men each had one star.

"Good morning, sir. We have some questions and are hoping that you could answer some of them."

Two of the Officers had shortswords around their hips, and the Lieutenant wore a pair of black gloves. Genken opened the door to the hotel room, paused for a second, and proceeded to close it.

"Go hit us with your questions. Let's see how many we can answer."

"Where were you yesterday morning?"

"We were on our way to the guild with a quest we had completed."

"May I ask which quest that was?"

"I don't think so. That's probably confidential. You can ask the guild; they'll know how much you are allowed to know."

The Lieutenant turned to Locus.

"May I see your weapon?"

"My weapon?"

"I'm sure an adventurer like you won't fight bare-handed."

"An adventurer like me?"

"Relax, Locus. Just answer his question."

That meant Genken left the choice up to him.

"Sure. It's inside."

Locus came to the door and all six of them entered. Locus went to his bedroom and left the others in the living room.

"For how long have you been here now?"

"In this city or at this hotel?"

"At this hotel."

"A few days maybe."

The Lieutenant walked around the room. A few seconds later, Locus returned with his katana.

"This is my main weapon."

"Very interesting. I've still got one other question."

He looked Locus in the eyes.

"Do you know a 'Lieutenant Golmer'?"

Locus' body didn't react.

"I've read about him. Didn't he die yesterday?"

"He was murdered."

"Really?"

"And the culprits look just like you guys."

The Officers looked like they were preparing to fight.

Genken and Locus both touched the Officer's shoulders. Genken took the one without a weapon and Locus the other two.

"What a coincidence, don't you think?"

They looked at the Officers, who now had a confused look in their eyes.

Before they could react, Locus increased the pressure his hands were exerting and crushed the shoulders of the two Officers. Meanwhile, Genken just teleported his Officer away.

Locus' hands could now go under the Officers' skin. Since he was in contact with the material, he could turn everything he was touching into stone.

Before the Lieutenant had a chance to react, it was already over.

Genken massaged his temples.

"There we go again with the killing. Was that really necessary?"

"I can still reverse their condition. And by the way, what did you do with your Officer? Are you seriously telling me that you just teleported him to safety? Maybe to a nice café?"

"He's a few thousand feet under the water. Maybe he'll survive?"

"How in the world did you manage to touch the ground of the sea?"

The Lieutenant suddenly dashed forward in Genken's direction. Locus quickly drew his katana.

Before the Lieutenant reached Genken, the ladder had teleported Locus on the lonely top of a mountain and the Lieutenant directly in front of Locus' katana.

Splash!

Locus stood back inside the hotel room.

"I suppose you got him?"

"Sure did. But why were we on a mountain?"

"For the same reason I originally wanted to take this outside."

Genken teleported the two remaining Officers away.

"I didn't want our room to get dirty."