Aleister's Interrogation

There's a reason why Iver targeted York in the first round.

To really escalate the situation, the best course of action would be to kill Vice President Boca. That would be the most effective way to frame someone... because there are plenty of people who would kill a scoundrel like York, but only Lloyd President would want to kill Boca.

However, Iver worried that this would actually help Lloyd President take over the Boca Juniors directly.

The conflict could indeed escalate—but if Lloyd President is ruthless and decisive enough to simply take the blame for his own misdeeds, then Iver will become the clown. Because besides clearing obstacles for the chairman, he hasn't done anything else.

Ultimately, within Lloyd's's, only Vice President Boca has the ability to rival the Lloyd President, and the only person the Lloyd President fears is Vice President Boca. However, Boca has never been able to bring himself to openly confront him.

"Then I'll make that decision for you."

Iver smiled slightly and looked up at his destination.

This is Lawyer York Firm in the Metropolitan District.

According to Iver.'s investigation, Lawyer York does not currently reside at the Hermes Manor in the White Queen District.

Because Sherlock's Mycroft was a clever man, York was worried about giving himself away. Therefore, he chose to live far away from the Red White Queen District... It just so happened that the Metropolitan District was a commercial area with a large flow of people, and it was normal for him, as a lawyer, to live there for a long time.

Lawyer York usually lives in his rented apartment.

The apartment and the law firm are directly opposite each other, allowing them to monitor and observe each other.

This is precisely where York's cunning lies—he specially arranged a ritual so that if anyone sneaks in to investigate, steal, or ambush, an alarm will immediately sound from another house.

His law firm had a male servant who handled his documents and looked after the property inside the firm.

Lawyer York's personal maid also moved into the apartment building, taking care of his food and lodging, ensuring that there was always someone on both sides and constantly monitoring the alarms.

His wife and children lived in a villa in the White Queen District, where his butler also lived.

The saying goes, "A cunning rabbit has three burrows."

Since the alarm was sounding from another house, it wouldn't alert the intruders here. And he couldn't possibly report it to the Bureau of Supervision and have them handle the theft; he'd definitely handle it himself. After all, he was a Parasitic Fiend and quite confident in his abilities.

This is partly because the inspectors arrive very late, making it impossible to catch the thief in the act and likely impossible to recover the stolen goods; on the other hand, if these inspectors were to investigate his belongings to determine the "value of the stolen goods," they would easily see things that York did not want them to see.

Moreover, if the information or items related to Lloyd's's and the Noble Red Society were lost, he might die—not on the gallows, but at the hands of assassins sent by the Ms. Gray-Green.

Conversely, it could also be seen as a deliberate tactic to lure him out.

When Iver and Lily infiltrated, they acted as if they didn't see the ritual lines, deliberately setting off alarms all the way, and rushed straight to the Archive Room.

He had Lily light an oil lamp and pretend to be searching for information on the bookshelf. This angle, combined with the semi-transparent curtains that York had deliberately used, allowed York to see a blurry figure from the second floor of the apartment, identifying it as a young woman, but at the same time, he couldn't make out her face.

Generally speaking, youth implies vulnerability. This could further lull Lawyer York into a false sense of security.

As expected.

Less than ten minutes after the hook was lowered, Lawyer York stormed over, furious.

He quietly pushed open the door to the Archive Room and took a deep breath.

But before he could see Lily's face clearly...

Suddenly, a hand attacked from the side, grabbing Lawyer York's throat! In that instant, York was startled. He was utterly terrified—

This is a fucking trap! He realized in an instant that the woman researching information was just a decoy, her purpose was to lure him out!

Fortunately, the other person seemed to want to ask him some questions. They only gently gripped his throat, without snapping it or making him feel suffocated.

"Friend, friend... let go of her hand and let's talk things out."

York, his voice trembling, said repeatedly, "What do you want? Do you want to ask something? Or do you want money? I can give you anything, but don't get agitated..."

As he said this, he spread his hands to indicate that he had no hostile intentions.

But in a blind spot where the other party couldn't see, York suddenly opened several snake-like eyes on the backs of his hands.

Those were weak demons called "Lizard Eye Demon," naturally born demons. Their only ability was to paralyze others through their gaze.

York, as Parasitic Fiend, also possesses this property. He can weaken anyone who sees the back of his hand.

"Enticement Demon," York commanded in his mind, "Give me your power!"

The Enticement Demon residing within her body has its power being continuously drained.

York's pupils slowly began to glow with a pink light, which blended with the purple halo that lit up at the same time—a demonic eye that could manipulate the will of others and tempt them to fall with just a glance.

If I were you, I would simply give up and fight back.

But to his surprise, the demon inside him only mocked him.

"... What?" A gloomy and cold voice rang out. "How easy it is to catch fish, Mr. Fish."

Including the previous time, this was the second time he had been caught by Iver.

Iver kindly added, "—Also, these little tricks won't work on me."

As soon as he finished speaking, a shadow spread out beneath his feet.

The entire room was shrouded in shadow, the light source completely swallowed up. York had suddenly plunged into an abyss of complete darkness.

His "luring gaze" ability relies on eye contact... but now he was completely swallowed by the shadows and hadn't even seen the other person's eyes the entire time!

This is...

"... Shadow Fiend?"

York's voice trembled slightly.

This couldn't possibly be a Shadow Fiend contracted by Demon Scholar —even in the Stibium Kingdom, there are fewer than a handful of Demon Scholar capable of even remotely contracting Shadow Fiends. A figure of that caliber wouldn't deliberately seek out trouble; they could easily orchestrate a ritual to capture his soul if they wanted to interrogate him. Therefore, it could only be a demon possessed by a Shadow Fiend.

But he was a full member of the Noble Red Society. He had never heard of any demon possessed by the Shadow Fiend in Avalon... so this was probably a wild demon.

York himself was once a demon, so he understands the demon's predicament very well.

Before he broke free from the demon's control and became Parasitic Fiend, he would occasionally lose control and have his body manipulated by the demon. The more he used the power from the demon, the deeper he was controlled by it. And the more powerful the demon, the harder it was to resist.

His ability to overcome the Enticement Demon was the result of a combination of willpower and coincidence.

Once possessed by the Shadow Fiend, it's virtually impossible for one to retain much of their own will. In other words, the one speaking to them isn't a demon, but the Shadow Fiend controlling their body!

Despite being a Demon class, York, whose level was higher than his opponent's, was unable to defeat him.

It's simply because the Enticement Demon's combat power is on a completely different level from the Shadow Demon's...

"Although it had been shaking for a long time before, this time it's real."

The other party commented, "Your acting is terrible, Mr. Lawyer."

"What exactly do you want! We are both Transcender, shouldn't we be companions in Avalon?!"

The power of the Enticement Demon surged once more, and York's voice became inflammatory. "You didn't kill me immediately, so you must have something to do! I'm a high-ranking member of Lloyd's's, and also a member of the Noble Red Society... Do you want to join? Or do you want revenge? Or are you short of money? I can make it all possible for you."

"Sir, please feel free to tell me anything you need. We are kindred spirits... I too was once a demon!"

He dared not provoke the other party and directly called him Shadow Fiend—if it happened to be a human consciousness controlling the body at this moment, he might strangle him to death in a fit of rage; but if he directly said, "I have a way to help you suppress Shadow Fiend," he might be killed by Shadow Fiend.

His voice was subtly altering the other person's subconscious, a subtle modification intended to avoid detection. "In any case, we're at least not enemies... aren't we?"

"I do have something to ask."

From the shadows, the other party agreed.

"Okay, as long as we can communicate!" "Ask me anything, I'll answer anything!"

York was overjoyed and even began to imagine how Vice President Boca's faction would grow stronger after he introduced this powerful Transcender to the society.

Even if he can't become Parasitic Fiend, as long as he can grow normally to the Third Level... he can basically unleash 50% of the Shadow Demon's power.

That will become their trump card!

York has always been a man of great composure. Being schemed against or ambushed is a trivial matter compared to the potential gains. It's just a loss of face; he can laugh it off—even if he were slapped twice, he wouldn't be angry at all. At least not outwardly.

As a result, York fell silent when asked a question.

"Where does Lloyd's's Vice President Boca live? What is his true identity? What kind of influence does his family have?"

The other person said calmly, "Does he have any special skills?"

York's pupils contracted slightly, and his mouth opened wide.

"... Who exactly are you?"

"Incorrect answer."

A cold voice rang out.

A shadow needle, less than the thickness of a little finger, emerged from behind him and suddenly pierced and shattered the Demon Eye on the back of his left hand! It wasn't the pain of a hand being pierced, but the sensation of an eye being pierced and burst—

The excruciating pain made York instinctively want to scream.

But the hand on his neck suddenly tightened, silencing his cry of pain.

"I'll tell you, I'll tell you— Vice President Boca lives at 113 Green Vine Avenue in the White Queen District. He's a Fourth Level Law Mage and Fourth Level Demon Scholar. His contracted demon is Ice Demon, and his specialty is the Law Decree Spell of the Law Mage faction... He's a judge in the Intermediate Court and is now a knight who can enter the Round Table Hall ... He's not from a knightly family; his father is a dentist, his mother is a wealthy businesswoman, and his father was her former lover..."

York revealed all the information after just one interrogation.

Because he is very pragmatic—he has a knack for judging people.

The person in front of me is clearly not someone I can fool.

Since he has a grudge against the vice president, let him go find the vice president!

—What's it to me!

"Thank you for the information."

The other person responded amicably and released their hand from his neck.

Lawyer York breathed a sigh of relief, his face beaming with a smile again, "Oh, it's good to have it all out in the open. We're all the same kind of people..."

"I believe you are telling the truth. I am also very grateful that you provided crucial information..."

The deep, sinister voice fell. "But my mentor has given orders, I'm sorry."

"Iver Moriarty was not qualified to join Lloyd's's. That is the cause of your death."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the shadowy spear pierced Lawyer York's heart.

For the demon, this damage was not enough to kill him.

But Lawyer York immediately closed his eyes and stopped breathing.

I can't wait until 1 PM! Update complete!