Volume 13 Chapter 14 Interrogation
Naresh chose to question the man who called himself Fletcher first. He was the first to offer surrender. Al stood next to Naresh during the interrogation, ready in case Fletcher used a spell after removing his gag.
Al thought it would be easier if Fletcher confessed. To his surprise, Fletcher began answering Sigmund's questions without much hesitation, just as Naresh hoped.
According to Fletcher, their original mission was to work on the construction of this facility. This facility had just started being built about a month ago, considering the possibility that the Tempest Kingdom might attack in the future.
The stairs at the back of the room were only partially completed, but they planned to dig deeper underground. They would use the rocks they dug up to make the wall, which was currently about one meter high, even taller. They also planned to cover it with soil and plant vegetation for camouflage.
For this work, they were given a staff that could use the 'Soften Stone' spell and a lot of magic stones to replenish their mana. Fletcher said he came here to use that staff for construction and had no plans to participate in any fighting.
Recently, another magician named Melville, who was caught with him, said gw should help him with his mission. While both he and Fletcher were magicians, Melville was more experienced and had orders from a powerful magician.
The mission involved disguising himself as a village head and throwing a dead sheep into a well in another village. Fletcher didn't really understand why they had to do such a thing.
He knew they were doing infiltration work to prepare for war, but he thought it wasn't that serious.
"Is disguising yourself as the village head done with a magic tool or something?"
Al couldn't help but ask about the method of changing appearance.
"I can't use it, but it's a spell called 'Animal Transformation'."
'Animal Transformation'? Al was surprised by this answer. He had learned that spell too. It could change you into animals, birds, insects, and fish, but Al didn't know it could also turn you into a human.
Does that mean humans are considered animals too? But even if you transform, how do you decide who to turn into? Seeing Al's surprised face, Fletcher looked at him curiously, wondering if he didn't know.
"How many people from the Tempest Kingdom are involved in this operation? Is that great magician the one in charge of this mission?"
Al was deep in thought when Desmond asked a question. He seemed more interested in information about their enemy's strength. However, Al wasn't really interested in that; he wanted to finish the conversation quickly.
He wanted to try transforming into a human. But if he transformed without permission, he would probably get in trouble. While he thought about what to do, the questioning continued.
"I don't really know how many there are. I'm in the second magician corps, under His Excellency Baron Kelly. He is leading the fight against Sylvester at the old Count Senet on the border."
Then he continued,
"Lord Melville is in the third magician corps, working under Lord Veil. Since I have orders from Lord Veil to assist Lord Melville, they are likely infiltrating the border city Parker. But rare events like yesterday happen; usually, we operate separately."
Al suddenly looked at Naresh and Desmond, surprised. Lord Veil is here... It didn't seem like a good time to try 'Animal Transformation.'
"What are the goals of the second magician corps and the third magician corps?"
"Our main role in the second magician corps is to support the knights. This is the first time we've been given a mission to create a base as indirect support like this.
As for the third magician corps, I've heard they are involved in infiltration and diversion missions, but I don't know much about their actual activities."
I see, among the two magicians, Fletcher belongs to the Second Magician Corps and has almost no knowledge of espionage. Maybe that's why he offered to surrender with the same mindset as during wartime. It's a bit sad.
"Do you know why the Third Magician Corps asked for help this time?"
"I don't know the details. Maybe they just needed more hands? Lord Melville only brought one subordinate for this mission. If it was just a verbal request, I could have refused, but with the official documents from the great magician Lord Veil, I had no choice but to comply."
From what the magician named Fletcher said, Al started to understand how the commotion in the northern village happened. And it seemed like Fletcher didn't know much about the purpose of it all. He would need to ask Melville about that.
"What is the First Magician Corps doing?"
Fletcher shook his head at Desmond's question. Since the names of the Second and Third Magician Corps came up, it seems there is also a First Magician Corps.
"That's information unrelated to my current mission. I can't answer that. I refuse to provide any information on that."
His reaction was different this time. Desmond and Naresh exchanged wry smiles. The conditions during their capture were limited to this operation. If it had been more vague, they might have gathered more information.
However, he honestly explained his actions. That alone suggested Naresh's plan was working.
"I see. Then, let's talk to Melville as well. I understand your story, Fletcher. I'll report to Viscount Parker that you spoke openly with us."
When Naresh said this, Fletcher nodded vigorously. It was the reaction he wanted. They decided to stop questioning Fletcher for now and move on to ask Melville next.
* * *
Melville reacted differently than Fletcher. No matter the questions, he only said, "I don't know." Unlike Fletcher, he knew admitting to being part of the third magician corps made him a criminal.
They spent around 30 minutes trying to persuade and threaten him, but he stayed uncooperative. He even tried to attack Al and Naresh again with the Piercing Spear spell when he saw an opening.
Continuing the interrogation was risky, so they needed stronger methods to make him talk.
"Al. Can you go ahead to Parker? Tell Sigmund and Craig that I will take these prisoners to the northern village, meet up with the village head, and first deal with the well issue before bringing them to Parker."
Naresh, giving up on further questioning, asked Al for help. However, Al shook his head anxiously. There were 2 magicians and 8 henchmen, while they had only 5 people: Al, Naresh, Desmond, and 2 attendants.
If Al left, Naresh and the others would be down to 4. Shouldn't they at least go together to the northern village?
"It's okay because not just the two of us, but all 8 of them are handcuffed. What worries me more is Parker. Lord Veil has been chasing after Lady Patricia for a long time, right? And they said he was very careful and cruel."
Naresh's words made Al nod. Parker at the border city became a bigger concern. The enemy magician had tried to use group attack magic against many from Lester.
If he showed up while the guard team investigated the base on Alder Tree Street, there could be serious damage. Al couldn't explain much about Lord Veil due to Patricia, but knowing the enemy's magician brigade had a captain would make Viscount Parker cautious.
"Got it. I'm going. Naresh... no, Sir Naresh and Mr. Desmond, please be careful too."
Al almost called him "casually" again but quickly corrected himself. Naresh showed a brief, sad expression but then gathered himself and nodded, saying to take care.
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