The Interrogation

ATTENTION!ATTENTION!ATTENTION!

(This chapter contains a torture scene described in detail for narrative and world-building purposes.

If you're uncomfortable with such content, feel free to skip the [TORTURE] sections. I will mark the paragrah as Torture so you can skip it.

Skipping will not affect your understanding of the main story.)

Chapter 25- The Interrogation

10th March | Morning | Vantara Village

The team first headed north, toward the serene flow of the Saraswat River, which passed gracefully through the centre of the Naga Forest, dividing the Naga Forest in two parts. The side of the forest where Vantara is called South Naga Forest and the other side, across the River, is called North Naga Forest. The River's waters, cool and clear, moved with a gentle current here— Reason for the river to be gentle here is because the River first crossed the Plains of Avalon and then entered the Ironfang Mountains. By the time it reached Vantara, the elevation shift slowed its current to a soft, peaceful stream.

For several minutes, the group stood quietly by the riverbank, taking in the calm flow and the peaceful ambiance it offered. Then, they turned west, moving deeper into the forest surrounding the village.

As they navigated the dense foliage, Vector carefully observed and recorded the terrain. They then circled south, where the Naga Forest's density was thinner than the west. This southern stretch, Vector noted, was the most probable approach route for an invading force like the Lionheart Empire. And Carnatic City was also located in the south.

Finally, they reached the eastern perimeter— where the mighty Ironfang Mountains rose steeply from the earth, forming an imposing natural barrier. Arthur gestured toward the jagged slopes.

"This marks the eastern boundary of the village," he said. "Most avoid it. The cliffs are steep and dangerous… only a few herbalists venture near the lower ledges."

The east side of the Village has Steep mountain covering it making any movement from east to the Village Impossible. The hill to the east of Village is too steep. Nobody can pass through here, a natural barrier. Ofcourse, high stage Body Refining experts can pass this steep but not Blood Energy awakeners or 1st stage Body Refining experts.

Vector studied the incline. "Too steep for an army. Only high-stage Body refining experts could pass this terrain. A perfect natural defense."

Sebastian and Arthur also nodded on this observation.

Vector narrowed his eyes as he recalled the terrain and thought. After carefully analyzing the village's surroundings, the River on the north, hills on the east, and forest on the west and south, Vector's mind thought of the possibility where the Library building could be placed. He had talked with the system if the Building can be made anywhere or need to be in specific terrain. System had told him that it can be placed in any terrain, whether underground or on the ground.

He finally decided on a place where it can be most suitable to place the Library Building. "It's exactly the kind of place no one would look for anything unusual."

With that decision forming, he turned to Arthur and Sebastian.

His gaze fell on them and said, "Okay, let's return now." He said calmly, "Also, I'm going to interrogate Seran now."

It was just past 10 a.m. How had they surveyed the region so quickly? Simple— they were Body Refining experts, their movements enhanced far beyond ordinary humans. In just a few hours, they'd gathered the intelligence a normal unit might need days to collect. They entered the Village through the nearest gate on the south.

Vector also called for Marcus, Tristan, Rhea, and Leo. Within moments, they joined him, and together, the group made their way toward the underground prison, the two storey stone Building on the eastern edge of the village. So, they reached there quickly. And entered the building and descended to the gate of the underground dungeon.

Two guards stood at attention beside the reinforced iron gate. With a respectful salute, they stepped aside and let them enter.

━━━✧❂✧━━━

Inside the dimly lit underground cell, Vector found Seran bound tightly to a wooden chair. His face was swollen, bruised, with dried blood marking cuts along his cheeks, palms, thighs, and the soles of his feet. One of the marks stood up among these, which is at the chest living deep mark. Making his body look like a ghost who has various cut marks upon it. In this horrific suffering he still didn't open his mouth, Vector can't imagine the will power needed for it.

Vector felt unease and restless on seeing him. But he calmed his restless mind after a brief time, this would be a normal scene for him from now on in his world, a reality of war. But Vector didn't feel pity after seeing his condition. He knows that showing pity for his enemy's will undermine his cause to liberate Novastra Empire and consequences would be dire. Show he steeled his mind. Mercy for a traitor could cost thousands of lives. I cannot afford compassion here.

Sebastian on the side was also observing the expression of his Young Master. He was relieved on seeing the resolute expression of Vector and he also now understood that Young Master knows the reality of the war.

"Arthur," he said quietly, "I need a few items—pliers, forceps, mouth props, a hammer, and a chisel. Bring them quickly."

Arthur nodded grimly. "At once, Young Master."

He stepped outside, summoned two guards, and dispatched them to fetch the items. One headed for the village physician; the other for the forge and tool shed.

Within ten minutes, Arthur returned, handing the requested instruments to Vector inside the cell. Vector stared at Seran, who sat unmoving, eyes swollen but defiant.

Vector said to Seran, "See I had given you time to spit the information… but no… you want to have the tour of the purgatory of Hell. You will despair why I didn't say the information before… Why am I going through this hell of suffering?"

Seran didn't reply, his glare said enough. But he had no idea the pain that awaited him.

[TORTURE SCENE – BEGIN]

━━━✧❂✧━━━

Start—TORTURE!TORTURE!TORTURE!TORTURE! —

Vector's expression hardened.. He grabbed the plier, "Sebastian," He said, "Restrain both of his arms on the chair's arms rest."

Sebastian obeyed silently, gripping Seran's wrists against the chair's armrests.

Vector then moved and proceeded to do his next action… he clamped down on one of Seran's finger nails… then applied a force to pull it.

"AAAAAHHHHHH!"

The scream echoed through the underground prison. Even the guards outside shuddered. Rhea instinctively flinched. Marcus clenched his fists. The intensity of that sound was something few could forget. Their bodies shivered from this scream.

'What a cruel method Young Master is using?' As Sebastian, Arthur and the others thought.

And most shocked was Vector himself; he didn't think that piling the nails would be so painful. So this… is real torture, Vector thought, startled by the sheer agony in the scream. This isn't fiction. This is horror incarnate. Although he was doing it for the first time, from the scream Vector felt that this interrogation method was really cruel.

Still, he steeled himself.

Seran's trembling lips finally parted, his voice was barely a whisper. "Ple… plea..se, Doontt.."

Vector ignored the plea and gave Sebastian a nod.... And said to him as he pointed his finger somewhere, "Lock and hold him tightly."

All the people present were shocked and knew what was going to happen now… it's really a tour to purgatory of hell… But they also understood that this next action will surely shatter the will power of the Traitor. Vector didn't wait longer and directly used pliers again to tear the nail. And the sound of scream filled the underground prison once again.

"AHHHH….HHHH"... "AAAAAGGGHHHH!!"

He didn't go for the fingernail this time—he pulled the toenail instead. It's said that nails, especially on the toes, carry more nerve endings and are far more sensitive. The pain isn't just skin-deep… it sinks into the bone, and bone pain is far more agonizing than muscle.

[TORTURE SCENE – END]

━━━✧❂✧━━━

Seran, drenched in sweat and tears, gasped for breath. His voice stuttered and stammered, and trembling he said, "Pleasse, doonnt… I willl sayy everyyythinng. I will telll you all the infoormationn youu want to knoww."

At first what he said wasn't clear but after some time the voice cleared.

"I'm not done," Vector said flatly. He didn't believe him; he knew that he would lie to stop this suffering and to come out of hell.

"Noo, noo, pleassse… I will tell you the truth and all the things I knoww. Where I worked, what organisation I worked for… please believe me."

Vector didn't believe him, as he remembered in his life on earth on movies that to get out of suffering agents will tell a lie to get the relief from the suffering. But, What Vector doesn't know that Seran's Will is already shattered and he was really willing to tell everything.

Vector, still didn't continue with his inhuman torture method and Looked at Sebastian and Tristan and said, "Have you seen the interrogation?… Now you have a basic idea of what to do and how to do it."

Sebastian said, "Yes! Young Master, although the method is inhuman, this will really work to forcibly extract information from someone's mouth."

Tristan also gave a nod in affirmation.

Vector then said, " This is not all the techniques… there are more."

"So I will not continue with this method now, we are going to use DRIP Torture now."

All people present felt confused, 'DRIP torture?'.

Vector also saw their confused expression and explained, "Yes. The victim lies beneath a suspended container of water. One drop at a time falls between the eyes, over and over. The mind breaks under repetition."

They still felt confused… 'What can it do then?'

Vector added, "Through this the person will have a devastating impact on him. A drop of water drips continuously at one place then after a while, the victim will feel as if mountains are crashing down with every drop."

"Well you will see his condition after an hour if we use it."

The others exchanged uneasy glances.

"Young Master…" Rhea raised a brow, "Did you really read all this in books?"

(-_-メ) Vector shot her a deadpan glare, and with resentment said,"If not then… Are you saying that I had learned this technique by interrogating someone myself?… but not through books."

Rhea raised her hands."No…no… Young Master, don't accuse me when I say that you learned it by practicing it… You yourself are saying that."

"I'm just… impressed by, uhmmm,... Yes! Your book collection."

They didn't dare laugh openly, but their faces betrayed them. Even Sebastian allowed himself a subtle smirk.

Then someone chuckled… A moment later, the group was grinning wildly at the rhetorical answer of Rhea.

"HAhahaha…hahaha…"

Vector felt embarrassed and on seeing him like this they restrained themselves and the room fell into awkward silence. They know that Vector will surely take revenge on them for this.

Especially Rhea, she feels nervous that Vector would surely make her pay for this.

Vector then said shamelessly while grinning, ""Rhea, you're in charge now. This torture method will be perform by Rhea then. She will observe him for 2 hours. If he resists again using these pliers, Mouth props, and forceps to torture him and tell me the information."

Rhea's eyes widened as she protested, "Young Master… you're misusing your authority!"

Vector ignored her protest and looked to the rest. "All of you will stay here and continue the interrogation. I want a full report by this evening."

He turned and walked toward the exit, his cloak fluttering behind him.

Behind him, the others remained speechless for a moment—then resigned themselves to their roles. Rhea grumbled softly but moved toward the tools.

Vector, meanwhile, had more pressing matters to attend to.

He was headed east—to the foot of the Ironfang Mountains. There, he would begin the true foundation of his campaign.

Meanwhile in the Underground Dungeon— In a Cell. After around Fifteen minutes a scream can be heard continually. The people present there also felt the pain in the scream… This scene went on for half an hour he screamed so intensely that they stopped the Drip torture. Then they began to ask him questions… and this time the man answered and told all the information.

They were shocked on hearing the information.

[To be Continued…]