Occupational Habits and Digging

"—Unfortunately, our first meeting had to take place under such unfriendly circumstances. And, sir, please forgive this old man's occupational habit."

Seeing that he truly could not get any more information out of him, Basim apologized as he cleanly twisted off the other man's head, bringing this experience—which could hardly be called "friendly"—to an end.

He was kind-hearted and could not bear to see others suffer so much.

Of course, Basim was currently toying with the newly acquired kukri, already growing familiar with its feel, and he had not exactly lied. On the battlefield, deliberately crippling enemies rather than killing them outright often dealt a greater shock to their companions and a harsher blow to their morale than direct kills.

It truly was an old "occupational habit."

Still, whether this man—who had nearly lost control of his body and the ability to kill himself under the effects of what resembled a rudimentary Soul Intimidation, yet had been unwilling to hand over his extraordinary items and had ultimately been forced to reveal information in exchange for a swift "release"—could understand his difficulties was another matter.

Fortunately, he had pried the information out of the man's mouth. As for whether it was true—Basim had considerable confidence in the "old craft" he had honed over many years.

At the very least, judging by how that gentleman had begun howling and crawling on the ground like a dog before they were even halfway through, without a trace of stubbornness left, he clearly had not undergone any counter-interrogation training.

What truly surprised him, however, was that according to the man, one of the camp's main administrators seemed to have discovered the coming danger in advance and had even tried to warn the people stationed there!

—Yet that person had shown no intention of fleeing.

That