To avoid causing chaos, Kei ordered a lockdown on the incident.
After catching a few undercover spies, the inner castle quickly returned to its usual appearance, operating smoothly.
As for that Black Sword Knight, after so treatnt barely kept him alive, he was held in the prison for interrogation.
But for two consecutive days, they couldn’t extract any valuable intelligence from his mouth.
"That guy must have undergone anti-interrogation training. No matter how we torture him, he won’t open his mouth."
In the council chamber, Brad reported the interrogation results of the past two days.
"I say, just crush his bones one by one, and I bet he can’t endure that." Jordon sneered.
Brad shook his head, saying, "It’s useless. He seems to have mastered so thod to isolate pain; he shows no reaction during torture."
"Such a thod exists?" Jordon stared in shock.
The other knights exchanged looks upon hearing this.
How can we interrogate him now?
Kei furrowed his brow, turned to Sunan sitting beside him, and asked, "Sunan, do you have any good ideas?"
Sunan nodded, "Leave the interrogation to ."
Upon hearing Sunan might have a way, everyone beca energized.
Under the guidance of Brad and Jordon, Sunan arrived at the cell holding the Black Sword Knight.
Entering the cell, he saw the knight with limbs bound tight to iron pillars by chains, his appearance extrely miserable.
His body still bore scorch marks from the lightning rune gemstone, and after two days of torture, there wasn’t any unbroken skin anywhere.
Yet, even so, he showed not a hint of pain on his face.
Upon seeing Sunan enter, his expression slightly changed, followed by a disdainful sneer.
"Don’t waste your efforts; you won’t get a bit of intel from . If you dare, kill !"
Sunan calmly replied, "If you truly wanted to die, there are plenty of ways to commit suicide, so why bother enduring until now?"
This statent clearly hit the Black Sword Knight’s sore spot, his eye visibly twitched, then he snorted coldly without speaking again.
Sunan was unfazed, calmly stepping in front of the Black Sword Knight.
"Since torture doesn’t work on you, let’s make you speak willingly instead."
Upon hearing this, the knight’s expression grew more disdainful, intending to sneer at Sunan, but upon eting Sunan’s gaze, he suddenly shivered, feeling as though his soul might be drawn into Sunan’s deep eyes.
Within re seconds, the knight’s face turned blank, his eyes vacant, resembling soone sleepwalking.
"Na." Sunan spoke slowly.
"Yuri Elric." The knight answered, vacant-eyed.
"Age."
"Thirty-two."
Brad and Jordon, trailing Sunan, were already dumbfounded.
What’s going on?
Why did this guy suddenly beco so obedient, answering everything asked?
Soon, the two noticed the knight’s odd complexion, implicitly realizing Lord Sunan likely used that peculiar power called magic once again.
They hadn’t expected such magic existed that could cause soone to lose their mind and obediently answer questions!
Before such power, wouldn’t everyone have no secrets?
Brad and Jordon quietly gasped, their gaze towards Sunan’s back growing more and more reverent.
Sunan paid no mind to their movents behind him, his gaze focused directly on the knight.
The "Charm Humans" magic can affect the subject’s cognition to so extent, making them see you as a dependable ally.
The Caster can issue orders, compelling the subject to do things they normally wouldn’t.
However, orders that are obviously harmful, threatening the subject’s safety like suicide or self-harm, are likely to fail, causing the spell to end.
But for simply extracting intel, the "Charm Humans" magic is quite effective.
"Who sent you to assassinate the Black Stone City Lord?"
"It was Priest Casper, sir."
Priest?
Sunan raised an eyebrow, "Your background?"
"We belong to the Starfire Sect, venerating the great Star God who created this land!"
Even under the spell’s influence, the knight’s vacant face showed so fervor at the ntion of the Star God, reflecting his deep belief in the said deity.
Starfire Sect, huh...
Sunan was a bit startled, not expecting these assassins to co from the sect that attacked Count Storm.
"What’s your relationship with Marquis Golden Rock?"
"I don’t know." The knight shook his head blankly.
Sunan slightly frowned, as connections between Marquis Golden Rock and the Starfire Sect are certain.
If this guy doesn’t know, it suggests that soone higher in the sect’s hierarchy is responsible for contacting Marquis Golden Rock.
"How many companions do you have in Black Stone City?"
"Including , four in total."
"Tell the nas of the spies you know."
The knight rattled off six or seven nas in one breath.
Among them were spies just caught in the past couple of days.
Without needing Sunan’s instruction, Brad instinctively noted these nas and hiding spots, then departed with Jordon from the cell, hurrying off to catch them.
Sunan then proceeded to inquire about the Starfire Sect’s structure, outpost divisions, and mber conditions, among other intel.
According to the knight’s description, the Starfire Sect is a church devoted to spreading the Star God’s greatness across the entire land.
They secretly cooperate with many nobles, assassinating rivals in exchange for utilizing the nobles’ power to expand the sect, extending their reach all over the Starry Principality in just over a decade.
Regarding which nobles have partnered, the knight knew little, only ntioning so barons and viscounts.
The higher-ranking noble partners are beyond his level’s access.
After all, above Priests, there are High Priests, Principal Priests, and the Holy Leader controlling the sect.
"Even High Knights are rely middle cadres, indicating the Starfire Sect has substantial heritage."
Sunan contemplated.
Previously he suspected the sect might be linked with Wizard Apprentices, but now it seems he was mistaken.
The Starfire Sect clearly follows the religious faith route, contrasting sharply with the pursuit of truth and personal power favored by Wizards.
Concerning outposts, the knight knew little, only those within the Golden Rock Province.
He was clueless about other provinces.
Holding the knight’s account of these outpost personnel structures in mind, Sunan further inquired about the sect’s actions in Golden Rock Province over the years.
Unexpectedly startling results followed.
Turns out, the deaths of seven or eight nobles in Golden Rock Province over the past decade were all orchestrated by the sect.
They arranged varied accidents to wipe out these nobles, disguising the deaths as accidents or illnesses.
If complicated cases arose, they resorted to direct assassination.
Including Sunan’s late father.
He seed like he perished in battle, but before the war, the sect dispatched soone to impersonate a guard by his side, secretly moving in battle to ensure his death in enemy hands.
Though the knight didn’t know the true motive behind these assassinations, Sunan could deduce with certainty that Marquis Golden Rock was the mastermind.
Murdering feudal nobles, then supporting puppets to ascend, indirectly achieving control over their territories.
Marquis Golden Rock’s ultimate aim is complete command over the Golden Rock Province.
No, maybe that’s not his final goal.
To completely control the province, such extres aren’t necessary.
Marquis Golden Rock likely harbors even deeper aspirations!
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