When Margarita asked us to enter the room for questioning, I had already constructed a story in my mind that aligned with what Sylvie had said.
"Sit down," Margarita commanded, pointing to the chairs by the table. After we sat down, she sat opposite us, ready with her tablet to take notes.
"Start from the beginning, tell me everything you know, including the details of the basement and what happened before. Don't leave out any details," she said, her tone firm and unambiguous.
She turned her gaze to me first.
"Sylvie explained what happened in the alley; she said you were seriously injured."
"Yes, we were ambushed on the road, and I tried my best to protect Sylvie, but I was injured in the process. The attackers were Demon Followers."
This must have been what Sylvie had already told her. However, I knew how senior officers like her handled cases; endless suspicion and interrogation were their routine. From her subtle movements, I could sense the doubts in her mind.
"So, how did you get here? According to Sylvie, she thought you were dead."
"Officer, are you saying I should have died there?"
"…"
"Sigh…" I sighed deeply, looking into her eyes. "I understand. After the Demon Followers left, I felt Sylvie's mana; she was constantly healing me. With her help, I moved with difficulty and eventually reached a local market. Then they called an ambulance, which is why I'm here."
Margarita listened attentively, her expression serious but with a hint of acknowledgment. "You were healed by Sylvie's mana? You could feel it even from a distance?"
"It's a bit hard to explain, but I did feel a gentle power helping me stay awake and move. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to reach the market at all."
Margarita continued to take notes on her tablet. "Understood, we need to verify this information; healing abilities like that are not common, especially in someone without formal training. Sylvie, can you confirm this?"
Sylvie nodded, her eyes meeting mine. "It's true, I could feel his injuries, and I tried to help him with my abilities."
In her eyes, there was an emotion I was very familiar with, the unwavering determination that only those who had experienced despair possessed.
Margarita recorded this information, delving further into the details of the investigation. "Very well, we will investigate further. Now, let's talk about the masked man."
Her gaze turned to Sylvie, looking directly at her. She didn't exclude me from participating in this part of the interrogation, which meant she intended to share all the information with me.
"Huff…" Sylvie took a deep breath and began to recount her experience, her eyes filled with fear and unease. "When that masked man entered the basement, he didn't even look at me once, as if I didn't exist. He walked straight towards the Demon Follower."
She described how the masked man quickly and precisely subdued the Demon Follower, detailing the brutality of the attack. "He… he seemed to only target the Demon Follower. I was so scared I froze in place; he didn't care about me at all. Once the Demon Follower fell, he left without saying a word."
Hearing this, I fell into thought, trying to control my expression to avoid revealing any information. I felt a subtle sensation, as if someone was watching me.
Margarita's eyes narrowed slightly as she continued to listen to Sylvie's account. "Did he say anything? Was there anything special about him?"
Sylvie shook her head. "No, nothing at all. Everything happened too fast; he didn't say a word. It felt like he had a clear objective, and that objective wasn't me."
"Understood."
Subsequently, Margarita continued to inquire about the details of the masked man. What weapons did he use? What was his fighting style? There were many other questions.
But the fact was that Sylvie's fragile mental state played a role at this point. When people are in fear, the brain reacts abnormally; this is normal human psychology, especially for Sylvie.
The more she answered, the further she strayed from the truth.
"Thank you for your cooperation; we will continue to investigate based on the information you have provided. If you remember anything else, please feel free to contact us. You may leave now, but please be sure to check your messages promptly; we will contact you further if necessary."
After she finished speaking, she gestured for us to leave, and we both stood up.
"Oh, one more thing."
I knew she wouldn't let us off so easily.
Margarita asked a question, and this question was directed at me. "Before you leave, I have one more question. What do you think of this case? Do you have any theories or suspicions?"
This was a crucial question; she was testing whether I was a suspect.
I remained calm and answered cautiously.
"Considering the other party's behavior, I guess this is a conflict within a hostile organization. The masked man seemed to have only one clear target and was not interested in anyone else present."
Margarita stared at me, her serious expression unchanged. "Internal conflict, indeed. But why do you rule out other possibilities? How can you be sure there are no other motives, how can you be sure this isn't a personal act?"
I had anticipated this question. Although her words were full of suspicion, I could see that she was satisfied. She had also reached a similar conclusion, and my answer made her feel that her view was more convincing.
"I haven't completely ruled out other possibilities. I just think that the other party's strength, specific target, and indifference to Sylvie indicate that this is likely an internal problem within a hostile organization. This is a theory based on the existing information, not a conclusion."
"Based on the masked man's behavior, he was clearly informed, which means he or she is connected to someone within the organization that kidnapped Sylvie. As for a personal act, there is currently no clear evidence to suggest this, and other clues negate this."
"Hmm…" She pondered for a moment and nodded, seemingly satisfied. "We will consider your theory; thank you for your cooperation."
Now, all that was needed was to show goodwill. I nodded and continued, "I hope, as you do, to bring the criminals to justice, and if I can help with the investigation, please feel free to contact me. I also want to ensure the safety of this city."
After speaking, Sylvie and I left the room, leaving Margarita alone.
"Huff…" Sylvie looked at me, sighing deeply. "I'm so tired; today has been a long day."
Her eyes and body both looked exhausted. It was no wonder; everything she had experienced had taken a toll on her mind, especially for an innocent girl like Sylvie.
I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, at least it's over now. Let's go back and rest for a while." After speaking, I started to walk back.
"That..."
Suddenly, I felt my clothes being tugged, and I saw Sylvie grabbing my sleeve. She seemed to have something to say, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "Morse, thank you, thank you for always protecting me."
Hearing her sincere words and seeing her kind eyes, I felt guilty.
If I had wanted to, I could have avoided this incident, stopped Mason's actions, and ensured that the enemy didn't have a chance. But I didn't do that; I chose to do things my way, dragging Sylvie into it.
"Why… why don't you say something?"
It seemed I had been staring at her for too long, and she lowered her head. I spoke with a guilty heart. "It's nothing, it's what I should do. Whether in the past or now, this is my responsibility…"
I knew that if I had made different choices in the past, things might have had a different ending.
Sylvie raised her head, searching for something in my eyes. "The past?"
"Never mind." I quickly changed the subject.
"I understand…" Sylvie seemed to understand and didn't continue to ask.
Noticing that the atmosphere was a bit delicate, Sylvie started to change the subject, and we continued to walk through the city.
My mood also relaxed slightly; I had completed my initial goal and made some progress, but it was far from enough.
Ding!
Our conversation was interrupted as our smartwatches simultaneously received a notification.
[Emilia: Everyone, come to the city center immediately. The situation is urgent.]
Seeing this message, an ominous premonition surged in my heart.
