Confession Brings Leniency

"How is the system?"

"It ran continuously for five minutes and eight seconds last night. We observed a magical vacuum phenomenon, and three Power Units were ultimately burned out."

"I told you, I don't care about the machines! I only want results!"

The mustached man waved a hand. His identity was now clear—an Imperial Army garrison mage, the person in charge of the secret project within Andorilla Fortress, Senior Mage Bury.

A magical vacuum—a region entirely devoid of magic—was known as a Dead Magic Zone. During the age of the gods, before the Old Empire was founded, the gods still fought personally across the continent, and such areas could appear on the battlefields of the Divine War.

Mortals had created a miracle! Mage Bury trembled with excitement. He was certainly a powerful Spellcaster, but he understood what it would mean if the accumulated technologies of this experiment were ever widely implemented.

"Just wait, dogs of the God of Order. Heh heh." Thinking of something, Bury turned and instructed his student and subordinate, "Gather all the data and bring it to my office. For now, leave everything in the city to the resident mage—that shaggy-haired fellow."

"Teacher, that Mage Unuk doesn't seem very reliable." The student seemed to have some objections and dissatisfaction toward the resident mage.

"These trivial matters are nothing compared to our current task! Let that guy handle them! He may be unserious most of the time, but he can still be useful when something happens."

"Yes, Teacher."

Rorschach and the others, including the Hill who had remained behind and the already dead-drunk coachmen, were all "invited" into the fortress's internal prison.

The attitude was excellent, the cells were dark, and there were plenty of guards.

"That is why I keep emphasizing that we have no connection to the cultists. In fact, we encountered an attack by a similarly worshipful sect on the road. There is absolutely no way we could be on the same side!" Rorschach spoke firmly.

After all, this was merely an investigation and questioning session. They were not tied up like dumplings, nor were they subjected to any prisoner's dilemma-style separate interrogations. Everyone was simply gathered in a large cell, kindly given seats, and asked to report their backgrounds, what had happened during their journey, and the events of that night. Everyone confessed frankly, merely avoiding a few minor details that might cause misunderstandings.

For example, dear magic apprentice Miss Tasia had once been the Holy Maiden of that damned Return Mother cult.

Everyone had selectively forgotten about that, including the former Holy Maiden herself.

The only one held separately was Gassediaz Yazi. The reason was that Spellcasters might possess or transform into animals. He was generously awarded a small copper cell covered with cloth, complete with some wheat bran and water.

What impressed Rorschach even more was that Hill's two weapons had complete documentation and were entirely legal and compliant. No fault could be found with them at all.

A burly man flipped through the case file and asked, "If you have no connection, why were you at the center of the ritual? And why was this apprentice lady dancing in the middle of the stage? Did you know that the dance was part of last night's illegal ritual? Confess, and you will be treated leniently!"

"I thought it was part of a festival event! Please investigate thoroughly. I only went to look at the stage and the enormous sheep as a tourist. I never expected those dangerous believers to surround me while I wasn't paying attention." Tasia maintained her defiant stance, insisting that she had been swept along against her will.

Rorschach was growing a little impatient and said directly, "Officer, you and the warriors from last night are from a special defense unit?" That was information he had gotten from Unuk last night.

"Mage Rorschach, let me remind you that I am questioning you now, not the other way around!"

"I am a graduate of the Imperial Capital Royal Magic Academy, recommended by Discipline Chief Sabins to pursue further studies in the Kingdom of Valois. You should know the Sabins I'm talking about, right?" Sorry, Agency Chief. I'll borrow your bald-headed name in this critical moment!

After hearing this, the burly man rose from the interrogation table and said nervously, "Lord Rorschach, please come with me alone." With that, he walked out of the large cell. At the door, he made a gesture, and an attendant beside him took over guarding the others.

The burly man led Rorschach into his office. "Mage Rorschach, I would like to know about Mr. Sabins and your relationship with him."

"Let's be frank. I received the Agency Chief's sponsorship to venture deep into Valuana and gather intelligence on the kingdom's capital and the Tower of Stars."

Rorschach took out his Imperial Royal Magic Academy graduation certificate from his storage ring and handed it over. "Given my background, the fact that I can go to the Holy Kingdom should explain enough, shouldn't it? My companions and I have already given our statements. Please do not delay my journey."

"My apologies, my lord. I believe in your relationship with the Agency Chief. The two agents traveling with you have already explained your circumstances to our department. However, you are not officially affiliated with the agency, and the merchant caravan traveling with you must still undergo a routine investigation. You will only be released to leave the checkpoint after the investigation into last night's ritual incident is complete."

The two traveling with him? Rorschach kept his expression unchanged. "At the soonest, how many days?"

"If there are no problems, one day."

"Can I move freely?"

"Yes, but please do not leave the city." The burly man had made an enormous concession.

"Oh, and my duck comes with me."

After leaving the heavily guarded prison within the fortress, the sunlight outside made Rorschach unable to open his eyes for a moment.

When Rorschach returned to the streets of Andorilla, they had lost all of yesterday's bustle. Rain had washed over the roads, leaving mud and standing water everywhere. Shops and street stalls had hastily shut down, leaving behind a mess. Very few pedestrians passed by.

Rorschach sighed and headed back to the Mage Guild.

Not long after he entered, the clacking of footsteps descended the stairs. It was the guild station chief's assistant. He no longer looked as sharp and proper as when Rorschach had first met him. His hair was somewhat disheveled, and dark circles were clearly visible beneath his eyes.

"Mage Rorschach! You came in person! This is practically the first piece of good news I've received since last night!"

Am I really that welcome? Rorschach was startled by the assistant's state. Yesterday, the assistant had looked like a fund manager handling a hundred-billion-dollar portfolio. Today, he looked like a fund manager whose hundred-billion-dollar portfolio had exploded.

"We were just about to look for you! It's chaos, everything was chaos last night!" The assistant entered rambling mode. "The instruments and magic arrays all failed! Our incoming mail, outgoing mail, and defensive magic... Mage Rorschach, we are terribly sorry, but we need you to send your letter again!"

As he spoke, he led Rorschach to the second floor. "Please understand. A terrible accident occurred during yesterday's transmission process. All the letters we sent out last night reverted back here, and they returned damaged!"

"All right, I'll write it again, but I need compensation—for the time I have lost, and for the Mage Guild's reputation."

"Of course, of course, we understand. Please tell us your request first." The pitiful man forced out a professional smile.

"I need a Learning Scroll for Detect Magic..."

"A scroll! A Learning Scroll at that! That's impossible, sir!"

"Don't get worked up. Of course I'll pay. I need a discount."

"Oh, apologies, that was rude of me... Learning Scrolls are very expensive, though thankfully it is a commonly used spell... The original price is fifteen Golden Eagle Yuan. Would you accept twelve?"

"A reasonable price."