Amelia Thornheart

Chapter Sixty-Six: Noburu’s Interrogation

Investigator Kogoro wasn’t lying when he said he was good with people. It was an expertly conducted interrogation, leaving no room for the thief to hide. Their conversation was recorded with an Axiom Crystal, and from her position in the observation deck, Serena could see a truth-teller crystal embedded in a position Noburu couldn’t see. It was exactly the same approach she used when interrogating Amelia in her cell.

At first, Noburu tried to deflect and began to conjure up a half-baked story. Kogoro was having none of that nonsense, bringing him back on track, tactfully bringing up a new piece of information that shattered Noburu’s attempts at evasion. The first thing Kogoro established was who else was involved. While Noburu quickly gave up the name of the gang leader who orchestrated the theft, a man known only as Yoshiro, he was surprisingly resistant to giving any information regarding Seonmi.

Perhaps they were a couple?

It wasn’t until Kogoro named Seonmi and informed Noburu that she was next door that the thief finally gave up any hope of deceiving the investigator. After Noburu was fully convinced that he wasn’t getting out of the situation easily, he became far more forthcoming. Kogoro had him start again from the beginning, in excruciating detail, starting with his life in the slums.

“You cannot understand what it’s like,” Noburu emphasised. “In the winter, people freeze to death in the alleyways! Their throats are cut for what little they own! Everyone’s struggling! We live in one room because we don’t have enough firewood! It’s nothing like what you have here in the city!”

The truth-teller showed no sign of red, so at the very least, Noburu believed in what he was saying. He was pleading with the investigator, trying to elicit sympathy. Despite the green light, Serena struggled to find herself convinced by his words. Even if his conditions were difficult, why wouldn’t he find work in the lowlands? Weren’t these all just excuses so he could justify taking an easy life of crime? How could he value his honour so little?

He was the kind of weak man Serena looked down upon.

She turned to her left to see Greatlord Oshiro frowning at Noburu, his face tense. To her right, Amelia’s eyes had grown wide, and her face was the pinnacle of sympathy. Of course, Amelia would be sensitive to this kind of thing. Humans were more emotional than demons, and Amelia wore her emotions on her sleeve.

Investigator Kogoro showed no sign of annoyance at Noburu’s excuses and instead chose to build rapport by saying, “Of course, we understand that you had no choice.” He continued the back and forth, with Noburu slowly relaxing. It paid off, as he didn’t hesitate to provide information regarding his blessing.

“It first happened when I was ten,” Norubu explained. “I was hiding from the director. He wanted to cane me because I fought another boy. I was hiding in a closet, and as he was calling my name, coming closer and closer, I prayed he wouldn’t notice me and then…” Noburu clicked his fingers. “It just happened.”

They continued on the subject of his mistwalking for a while longer, trying to establish the frequency and limits of Noburu’s ability. He had some fascinating descriptions of the Shimmer - what he called the ghostworld.

“What’s this plant life he’s talking about?” Serena asked quietly.

“The Shimmer contains some interesting and often dangerous flora and fauna,” Chesterfield answered, sipping his tea. “The plants feed on aether, but too much will burn them away. It’s a delicate ecosystem. Most Mistwalkers are already powerful enough to protect their aether from the plants.”

“So that’s why there’s none in the academy but loads outside where the students don’t use aether!” Amelia exclaimed before frowning. “But… I didn’t see any plants when I first saw the Shimmer in the Wilderness. Shouldn’t a place with no human, I mean, demon activity, practically be a jungle?”

“Your embodiment of Asclepius would have burned it all away. Probably for a few kilometres.” Chesterfield looked at Amelia, blinking twice. “Not to worry, it grows back quickly.” He took a slow sip, turning his attention back to Noburu. “There’s a small amount of evidence that it may cause psychosis in certain people. Nothing definite, but enough that we have to be careful with our thief.”

Serena looked down at Noburu. “Is this why you asked for my evaluation of his temperament?”

“Partially.”

The interrogation continued, and Serena devoted her full attention to Noburu and the investigator’s methods. She could learn a few things from him. Kogoro was teasing out every little bit of detail, often making Noburu backtrack and retell the same events again. Sometimes, he would suddenly jump to something Noburu had recalled happening several days before, then return to last night's theft. It was a technique familiar to Serena; keeping Noburu’s mind constantly moving to different places in the timeline prevented him from being able to form any coherent lies.

Kogoro had Noburu retell his version of events regarding his capture by Amelia. As he did so, he said something that seemed too odd to make up on the spot. He said he’d been chased and almost killed by a mysterious woman who also possessed the power of mist walking.

Strangely enough, a woman dressed as a maid.

The truth-teller showed green.

“One of your agents?” she asked Chesterfield, raising an eyebrow.

“...Someone I’m aware of,” he replied definitively, refusing to elaborate further.@@novelbin@@

“Now I think it’s time for a demonstration,” Kogoro said, relaxing and folding his hands. “As you know, you’re not the only one with this ability. Right now, there is an individual waiting for you in the Shimmer. Not this maid you’ve talked about - a colleague of mine. Any escape attempt from this room or anywhere else will be impossible. Kindly save us all the bother and don’t try.”

“...Alright,” Noburu muttered.

“Now, in your own time. The person in the Shimmer will inform you when to return.”

Noburu’s eyes flicked nervously around the room. Then, he took a few deep breaths before taking a final enormous one. Serena strained her senses, pushing her aura into yellow, enhancing her perception of the aetherfield as much as possible. To her left, Greatlord Oshiro was doing the same.

Then, with a loud snapping sound, Noburu disappeared. Was there perhaps…? Maybe she picked up on the faintest ripple emitting from the activation of his blessing, but beyond that, there was nothing. No, that wasn’t quite right. A subtle smell lingered in the air, originating from the room below.

It smelled like burned toast.

Noburu reappeared in his chair a minute later with another loud snap. Only this time, the Lord Guardian also appeared. Where Noburu’s face was white as a sheet and breathing heavily, the massive demon seemed unaffected by his extended stay in the Shimmer.

“Weak,” growled the mountain of a man. “Superficial. No more than a grade two. There is little threat from this one.” He placed a giant hand on Noburu’s shoulder, making the man jump. “He might have potential as a warrior, but he will never Speak a Word.”

“Thank you, Lord Guardian.” The Investigator bowed his head.

“I will return to my original duties now, Investigator,” The Lord Guardian intoned before turning his gaze towards the observation deck. “Lord-Prospect Thornheart, I hope you learned a lot.” With that said, the man looked at the ground for a moment and vanished into the Shimmer, his mistwalking utterly absent the loud snapping sound Noburu’s version produced.

A long silence ensued before Noburu eventually asked, “What’s going to happen to me?”

“Well,” Kogoro began. “As a man as smart as you might have guessed, your blessing means we have to handle your past, present and future activity with sufficient care.” Even from a high angle, Serena could see the edges of a sly smile on the investigator’s face. “While you’ve committed no small list of offences, enough to have you donate every finger of yours… You haven’t yet done anything as egregious as murder, have you?”

“No! I haven’t!”

Serena watched carefully as the truth-teller crystal turned green.

“Lucky for you, I believe you,” Kogoro said. “Otherwise, this conversation would end with you taking a small step with a long rope. We can’t have mistwalkers running around doing what they want, can we?”

“Look, I’ll do anything you want,” Noburu reached out with his hands, his face desperate. “I’ll do whatever work or task you want, just please, please, look after Kiku and the kids…” His voice became shameful and weak. The performance made Serena click her tongue. The audacity of this man to try and demand anything, given the situation he was in!

“Ah, yes… the orphanage.” Investigator Kogoro sighed. “You do understand neither you nor your sister have any legal right to that building? You’ve been illegally squatting in a property owned by your Lord Superior.”

“Please…” Noburu pleaded.

“We have guards securing the location,” Kogoro explained. “They’ll keep things in order until we decide what to charge you and your sister with. I don’t-”

“What!?” Noburu blurted out, his eyes widened. “What guards!? Who!?”

Kogoro paused. Serena felt herself frown. She imagined he would protest at the possibility of his sister facing charges. Throughout the interrogation, his consideration and care for his only family member was authentic. Why would he object to the guards and not the charges?

“...The lowland guards,” Kogoro answered. “The ones who maintain order in the slums. I’m sure you’ve encountered them-”

“No!” Noburu yelled, his voice suddenly full of force. “T-the guards are no more than another gang! They take bribes and dish out beatings a-and even make people disappear! They extort money from us for protection! If it’s just the lowland guards, then my sister isn’t safe!” His voice became pleading again. “There’s one guard, named Yasuji. He’s always had his eyes on her! Please! She couldn’t possibly fight him off! She’s weak! She has a chronic illness that-”

“Enough!” Kogoro snapped, banging the table. “If this is true, why didn’t you bring this up earlier? You didn’t mention these guards’… activities when we covered your experiences in the slums. Why not?”

“Because it never works!” Noburu protested. “People have tried before. We’ve tried! You people don’t want to hear about it! People are

“Enough!” shouted Kogoro, launching himself to his feet. “I will not sit here and listen to you besmirch a Cascadian Lord! Insolence!” He glared at Noburu, boring holes into him until the thief shrivelled back into his chair, muttering an apology.

Yet, no one could deny the green light emitting from the truth-teller.

“I’ll return shortly.” Kogoro left the room, his face tense.

“Hmm,” Greatlord Oshiro hummed. A deep frown had formed on his forehead. “Under me, Highlord Yasuda controls the ingress and egress of the plateau lifts and under him…” The greatlord paused for a moment. “...Lord Kanamori is charged with maintaining order in and around the Asamaywa lowland station. These slums would be under his purview.” He clicked his tongue. “Highlord Yasuda is a great man. I do not believe he would let this happen.”

“Do you know Lord Kanamori well?” Chesterfield asked. “The system of prospecting candidate lords is designed to filter out those who value their gold more than their duty, but occasionally people slip through. Or…” He crossed his arms, tapping his elbow with a finger. “Or they make it through and are then corrupted later. Greatlord Oshiro, do you think Lord Kanamori may have lost his honour?”

The greatlord was silent for a long time before speaking.

“It… is possible.”

“His honour may be intact,” Serena pointed out. “This corruption may lie only with the guards, reaching no higher.”

“We will see…” Greatlord Oshiro whispered. The room had become oddly cold.

Serena glanced at Amelia, who was still staring at Noburu below. “Amelia?” Serena asked. “What does your intuition tell you about this man’s claims? I know the truth-teller showed green, but what do you think?” Amelia didn’t answer immediately, looking at Serena, then back down, then back at Serena.

“A… chronic illness?” she asked softly.

“What?” Serena frowned before realising. “Oh, the sister. Even if it’s true, it’s likely an excuse for his actions. He- oh…” Serena trailed off as she realised the true nature of Amelia’s thoughts.

The one singular time Serena had seen Amelia speak with a voice of passionate disgust was when she first told Serena about the condition her body had suffered in her previous life. Even now, Serena remembered the name and description. Chronic Endothelial Collapse Syndrome. A condition that weakens the host's blood vessels, leading to organ failure and death. Despite the advanced - almost magical - technology of Amelia’s world, it was often fatal.

“I’m sure we can-” Serena began, interrupted by the door opening.

“Lords of the East, my sincere apologies.” Kogoro bowed deeply. “The man’s passion likely caused him to believe his own words. The honourless often live in delusion, as they say. I also should not have lost my temper. I couldn’t bear to hear his insults.” He bowed again.

“My good man,” Chesterfield intoned. “You know as well as I that passion doesn’t fool a truth-teller, whether in crystal, demon, or even human form. These are concerning allegations, and you will not be brushing them under the rug.”

“...Yes, sir.”

“Could you give us some privacy, Investigator Kogoro? I have some matters to discuss.”

“Yes, sir. I will prepare for the next interrogation.” Kogoro bowed, leaving the room. As the door closed, Chesterfield turned towards Serena.

“Now, Lord Halen, what is your understanding of this man’s temperament?”

“Poor control of his anger. Highly resentful of his superiors.” Serena gave her candid understanding. “Blames others for his failures. Yet…” She paused, trying to find the right words. “He’s bold, willing to take risks to protect the ones he loves. He’s stupid but could likely be whipped into shape.”

“Short and sweet,” Chesterfield replied, taking his time to pour a new cup of tea and savouring the taste. “Oh my, the Lord Guardian does know his leaves, doesn’t he?” Returning to the window, he asked, “Should we desire to whip this man into something useful… who should hold that whip?”

“Someone who can earn his respect,” Serena answered. “He clearly doesn’t respect the work of his Lord Superior, so it would be better to have someone who can demonstrate strict but fair discipline. If you are too harsh on him, it’ll reinforce his existing prejudices.” She shook her head. “I’ve seen it in sailors before. Ah, that’s an idea. Find a ship and put him on it. Keep him there with a fair wage he can send to his sister… and then… eventually…”

She looked at Chesterfield.

Chesterfield looked back, his eyes twinkling.

Serena blinked three times.

This bastard!

“You-” Serena coughed, catching the swear word before she could utter it in the presence of Greatlord Oshiro. “The Vengeance is not a penal ship. We do not take conscripts.”

“The Vengeance is not a penal ship,” Chesterfield echoed. “But you do take conscripts. At least now you do. More specifically, you will be taking these two, well…” Chesterfield nodded down the observation deck towards the windows overlooking Seonmi’s room. “As long as Miss San down there hasn’t committed any heinous murders, she’ll also be joining your crew.” He took a slow sip of his tea, raising a hand to halt the protest Serena was about to unleash. “I think a skilled confidence trickster and a mistwalker would be a valuable addition to this elite team of yours. You’ll need a wide range of abilities in the future, more than your cannons and swords can provide.”

“They’ll run,” Serena countered. “At the first opportunity. The moment they hide away enough wages. Hell, they’ll steal what they can and flee.”

“No,” Chesterfield waved his hand. “We’ll control their finances. As for preventing any further acts of dishonour… Well, for Noburu, we can guarantee his loyalty by protecting his sister and those children.”

“Bought loyalty isn’t real loyalty. It won’t last the deafening terror of battle.”

“Hmm, of course,” Chesterfield said with a sigh. “That said, we hope you won’t be subjecting them to terror anytime soon. As I mentioned before, you’ll be staying within Imperial borders. At first, anyway.” He chuckled before continuing, “As for Seonmi, we’ll offer her the position as Head of House San, should she earn enough accolades in your service.”

Serena clenched her teeth. This… this was what Greatlord Oshiro realised earlier! How could she have been so blind!?

“Before we argue, let’s not forget the shocking allegations your new crew member has made,” Chesterfield turned to the window. “Corrupt guards accepting bribes and running a protection racket? A chronically ill woman under threat? What should be done about this, Lord Halen?”

“I…” Serena began, not missing the wobbling of Amelia’s eyes.

“I think you should make your way to this orphanage with all due haste.” Chesterfield kept his back towards her, his face partially reflected in the window. “We can’t have Noburu’s family harmed if we hope to persuade his loyalty by assuring him we can keep them unharmed. Hmm…” He rubbed his nose. “Plateau lift five will bring you closest. It should be a short walk there. If you leave now, you should catch an outside-line tram.”

“...I’ll leave immediately.” Serena half-bowed to Chesterfield and then produced a deeper bow towards her greatlord.

“And…” Chesterfield continued. “Take Lord-Prospect Thornheart with you. She should witness all aspects of our society, don’t you think? The good, the bad… and the fixable.” His eyes met Serena’s through the window’s reflection. He gave her a subtle nod, which she returned.

“Amelia, let’s go,” Serena commanded.

“S-sure!”