The two senators listened as the Army Admiral rambled on about trivial matters, including complaints about Congress's inaction at the time. Their patience was gradually worn away.
He kept talking about things unrelated to the core issue, as though he were deliberately stalling for time.
Senator A coughed impatiently, interrupting the Army Admiral's "reminiscence." "We want to know who else was involved. Who were the people around you, the people who shared in the benefits with you? Tell us their names."
The Army Admiral acted as though he had not heard. After a long while, he finally revealed a strange smile. "I'm sorry, but I won't say anything about those questions."
"I believe that with Congress's capabilities, and with these... elites who clearly came from among our own ranks, you'll certainly be able to investigate and uncover the whole truth yourselves, won't you?"
"Of course, you can also torture me. If I can't endure it, perhaps I'll tell you what you want to know."
He recognized the interrogation experts from the National Security Committee at a glance. They carried an unmistakable military air.
There were many military personnel in the National Security Committee. After all, discipline was a vital part of any large security organization.
The nature of the organization meant that most of its members were taciturn. When recruiting personnel, the military—with its superior discipline—naturally became the primary source.
Everyone felt awkward after the Army Admiral said those things. Although they had considered resorting to torture in the end, having him bring it up himself...
It still felt rather unpleasant.
Senator B changed the subject and offered some conditions. "We discussed this yesterday. If you tell us everything we want to know, we can apply for protection for Pelius."
"Even if we can't completely clear him of involvement in