Kale's interrogation began at once. At first, he tried to remain silent. However, he had underestimated Richter's methods—and overestimated his own endurance.
The Intelligence Bureau's interrogation specialists knew exactly how to breach both mental and physical defenses. Combined with concoctions tailored to exploit a mage's physical weaknesses, as well as psychological pressure and inducement, Kale's will quickly crumbled.
In less than a few hours, tortured by the double agony of his physical limits and bone-deep terror, Kale completely broke down. Tears and snot streamed down his face as he rasped out everything he knew.
Previous intelligence had indicated that this assassination operation had been personally led into the Northern Territory by Viktor, a mysterious figure and confidant of the Empress Dowager.
Viktor himself seemed more inclined toward pulling strings from behind the scenes and providing high-level magical support. He had not directly taken part in the preliminary reconnaissance or contacts.
Several mages skilled in stealth, assassination, disguise, or combat magic had accompanied him, along with a number of highly capable knights from the royal family's secret forces.
They had split into small groups and infiltrated Carnford and its surrounding areas in batches through different channels, disguised as merchants, refugees, adventurers, and the like.
Kale had been personally designated by Viktor as the sole contact and operational outpost for Albert, the "inside man." He was responsible for verifying intelligence, assessing feasibility, and coordinating the other infiltrators when necessary.
He also revealed several possible temporary hideouts, their agreed emergency contact methods, and the disguised identities and physical features of some of his accomplices.
Most importantly, he confirmed that Viktor possessed some kind of remote surveillance or early-warning method, allowing him to roughly sense whether key operatives were alive or in an abnormal state. Though it could not transmit messages in real time,