Chapter 26 – The Interrogation Begins

Chapter 26 – The Interrogation Begins

The prison halls echoed with the sound of heavy footsteps as Duke Celestarius made his way toward the holding cells. His mind was a whirlwind of fury and confusion, the discovery of the assassin's involvement leaving him with many questions. Who would dare send such an assassin after his son? And why now?

Beside him, Chris followed quietly, his expression unreadable, though his mind was sharp. This was not a simple matter of revenge. It was something deeper, something darker, and the truth was buried in layers Chris was determined to uncover.

As they approached the cell, the assassin, Liam, lay motionless on the stone floor, his hands bound tightly. His breathing was labored, his body a testament to the brutal interrogation he had already endured. Guards stood by, waiting for further orders.

"Bring him to the interrogation chamber," the Duke ordered. His voice was calm but held a dangerous edge.

Liam's eyes fluttered open as the guards dragged him to his feet. His lips were cracked, and his body bore the marks of torture — but despite his pain, there was defiance in his eyes. The Duke's presence seemed to rattle him, but he remained silent.

Once they reached the interrogation room, the Duke gave a subtle gesture, and the guards left, leaving him alone with Liam and Chris.

"Now, Liam," the Duke began, his voice cold and commanding, "tell me who hired you. Who sent you to kill my son?"

Liam remained silent, his eyes hard. The Duke knew that breaking him would take more than just words. He turned to Chris, his gaze calculating.

Chris met his father's eyes. "May I?" he asked, voice steady.

The Duke hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking from Chris to the bound assassin. "You have something in mind?"

Chris nodded, his demeanor calm, but there was a steely resolve in his eyes. He had learned this technique in the heat of battle, watching as veteran interrogators used fear and pain to extract information. Breaking the man's mana circle, piece by piece, would force him to beg for mercy — and would ensure that he revealed everything.

"I'll extract the truth," Chris said, his voice low.

Without waiting for approval, he stepped forward. He placed his hand on Liam's chest, focusing on the assassin's mana circle. His fingers brushed against the man's aura, delicate and precise.

Liam flinched, a sharp gasp escaping his lips. The pain was immediate, burning through his body as Chris applied pressure to the mana circle. The assassin's face twisted in agony, his eyes widening as the process began.

"You will speak," Chris said coldly, his voice cutting through the man's screams. "Tell me who sent you. Tell me why you were sent to kill me."

Liam's breath came in ragged gasps, sweat beading on his forehead. The pain was unbearable. His body trembled under the weight of the torture, but he refused to speak.

Chris didn't relent. He pressed harder, sending a pulse of mana deep into Liam's soul, manipulating the flow of his aura. Slowly, agonizingly, he began to shatter Liam's mana circle, forcing the assassin to experience the searing pain of his own unraveling.

The Duke watched, his expression unreadable. It was clear that this was no ordinary interrogation. Chris had learned to use the pain of the mind and soul to break even the most hardened men. The Duke had never seen this side of his son before — the side that used fear as a weapon.

Liam's screams filled the room, his body writhing in agony. But then, at last, he spoke, his voice barely a whisper.

"I was hired by Count Valentino," Liam gasped, blood dripping from his mouth. "He's the one who wanted your son dead."

The Duke's eyes widened in shock. The name struck him like a blow. Count Valentino, his own brother-in-law, the man who had always been a quiet fixture in the background. The man who had been so friendly to his family.

Liam continued, his voice hoarse. "I… I'm just a disciple of the Shadow Swords. There are twenty-five of us. We take on jobs for those who can afford it. The Count was the one who arranged everything. He said your son… your heir was a threat."

The Duke's mind raced. A mere count — his own brother-in-law — had dared to send an assassin after his son? The implications were staggering. But what had driven the Count to such lengths? And why hadn't he noticed the growing ambition in his family?

Chris, ever the strategist, took in the information carefully. "Was anyone else involved? Who else knew about this plan?"

Liam shook his head weakly, his body trembling from the lingering pain. "Only the Count. He was the one who arranged everything. I swear."

The Duke looked at Chris, his face a mix of anger and disbelief. "This is worse than I imagined."

Chris turned to Liam. "One final question: How were you so weak? How could someone of your caliber fail against a new 3rd-circle mage?"

Liam's eyes darted to the side, a flicker of shame in his gaze. "I… I'm not what I seem. I'm a disciple of the Shadow Swords, but I was never a full member. They never trained me like the others. I'm… I'm nothing compared to them."

The Duke's eyes narrowed. "A half-trained assassin… How convenient."

Liam hung his head, silent, as the weight of his own failure sank in.

The Duke turned to Chris, his voice cold but tinged with something else — something Chris couldn't quite place. "You did well, son. But there's much more to uncover. We'll deal with Count Valentino later. For now, get some rest. This is just the beginning."

Chris nodded, but his mind was already racing. The Count was only the first piece of a much larger puzzle, and he was determined to find the rest of the pieces, no matter what it took.