After eating and drinking some water, Hajime Tsukasa finally recovered somewhat. He looked at Yunyi standing by the door, fear and gratitude battling fiercely in his heart.
Yunyi was not surprised by his reaction in the slightest. He had used this interrogation method many times. Even the strongest-willed person had only lasted three days in a room like this before breaking under the triple torment of body, mind, and willpower.
I wonder how many days Tatsuya would last if I threw him into a room like this? Some wicked thoughts sprang up in Yunyi's mind, but he tossed them aside in an instant.
"You're Blanche's branch chief, Hajime Tsukasa, right? Tell me, apart from the people at the factory that day, how many Blanche members are there in Japan?" Seeing that the time was about right, Yunyi asked his first question.
"Th-there are... a few... a few hundred... unofficial members." Hajime Tsukasa trembled as he answered Yunyi's question. He could not even form a thought of resisting, nor did he dare lie to Yunyi, even though Yunyi might have no way of verifying what he said.
"Is there any way to find them?" Yunyi continued.
"A list... there's... a list... there's a list." Hajime Tsukasa hurried to reply, terrified that if he was a moment too slow, Yunyi would lock him up again.
"Where's the list?"
"H-home... home... j-jia... room." Hajime Tsukasa's answer became disjointed. Clearly, his mind was close to giving out.
Yunyi did not care. He had one last question, the most crucial one. Once he had the answer, what did it matter to him whether Hajime Tsukasa lived or died?
"Where is Gu Jie hiding?!"
At Yunyi's final question, Hajime Tsukasa's pupils abruptly dilated! Fear surged wildly from the bottom of his heart, swiftly taking over his consciousness!
Hajime Tsukasa did not know where this fear came from. But merely hearing the name associated with that person filled his heart with it.
Yet the fear Yunyi, standing before him, had instilled in him was even greater than the fear rising from within! Hajime Tsukasa's mind was consumed and torn apart by those two utterly different fears. At last, with a dreadful scream, he completely lost consciousness.
Yunyi narrowed his eyes. He had no need to check Hajime Tsukasa's condition. He knew the man's mind had completely broken and that he was beyond saving. Even if he stayed alive, he would be nothing but a useless wretch who drooled and relieved himself wherever he stood.
"Cremation!"
Yunyi parted his lips and spoke the words.
The Psions around him gathered, fused, and transformed into fierce fire elements that swept toward Hajime Tsukasa, who lay on the floor.
Moments later, Hajime Tsukasa's body had been reduced to ashes. Cremation had burned him so thoroughly that not even a single intact bone remained.
Yunyi tossed a cleaning robot into the room to clear away the remains, then turned and left. He was not surprised that he had failed to get any information about Old Black Bug from Hajime Tsukasa. After all, Hajime Tsukasa was not the first Blanche branch chief he had caught.
"Tsk, tsk. Now I can only hope the folks at No Head Dragon can give me a surprise."
Meanwhile, Mayumi Saegusa had finally secured Yunyi a spot in Icicle Destruction through her negotiations with Katsuto Jumonji. She had thought there would be complications, but Katsuto had supported her instead.
"Saegusa, he's more than strong enough to represent our school, so naturally I won't object. But Saegusa, have you really thought this through? Given his situation, being with him will inevitably implicate the Saegusa Family behind you."
Katsuto's words before they parted still echoed in Mayumi's ears. She knew he had warned her for her own good, but only by doing this could she fight for a glimmer of hope!
"Perhaps his identity might be the final trump card." Standing before the Saegusa Family residence, Mayumi murmured softly.
Koichi Saegusa naturally knew that Mayumi had left home late the previous night and had not returned, but what puzzled her was that he did not summon her to his study when she came back today.
Only after dinner, when Mayumi returned to her room, did she understand why. But she and Yunyi would have to face this sooner or later anyway, so she did not care what Koichi would do.
As for Yunyi's safety...
"Father, if you knew you were reaching out toward a foreign Strategic-Class Magician, I wonder how you would feel?" Mayumi softly asked the question of her vanity mirror.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Yet no sooner had she spoken than she heard knocking at the door.
"Big sister, are you resting?"
The Saegusa twins stood outside the door. The two of them had some questions about magic they wanted to ask Mayumi.
She welcomed her two younger sisters in, and the three began discussing magic. After an unknown length of time, the room finally fell quiet again.
Kasumi and Izumi Saegusa were lying on Mayumi's bed, the two sleeping little ones still holding hands.
Mayumi sat by the bed and tucked her sisters in before getting up and walking out. She knew she should not, but she could not suppress the urge to leave, to leave this residence.
In the end, she could not make up her mind to take that step. But Tomokazu Saegusa caught sight of her standing at the window in her pajamas, gazing into the distance.
The next day.
Yunyi ate a leisurely breakfast and strolled out of his house, only to stop in his tracks.
A girl stood before him in his little courtyard.
The morning light fell on the girl's smiling face, leaving Yunyi briefly dazed.
"Good morning, Yunyi-kun." Mayumi's soft greeting brought Yunyi back to his senses.
"Have you been waiting long?" Yunyi asked.
Mayumi shook her head gently.
A long time? She did not know how to answer that question. But compared to the time she had spent standing here, the hours at the Saegusa residence last night had been much harder to endure.
Yunyi sighed softly. He stepped forward, slowly raised his arms, and drew the girl's slender body into his embrace.
"I told you, don't keep making expressions that don't suit that pretty face of yours. It's a real waste."