'Why is this book so important? The ring would be priceless to a criminal player, but what's the deal with the book?' I walked into the cave after searching the campsite.
"Ah kid you're back, what did you find at the campsite" PoH said as I entered the cave.
"Not much, it was just your average campsite."
"Hmmm, let's hope you can get some information out of their leader"
"What?" The color in my face drained as I processed what he was asking me to do. "You want me to do the interrogation? Surely there's someone more qualified for this."
"It was your catch, you get to interrogate them." PoH said. I've seen Johnny and Xa interrogate players, but I've never done it myself. The leader was tied to a chair in the middle of the room.
"Why are you doing this?" The leader said.
"To tell you the truth, I don't have a choice." I said, going over the tools on the table.
"Then why are you doing this?"
"If I don't, they'll kill me and my sister." I picked up a knife from the table. "So, here's what we'll do. I'm gonna ask you some questions and if I don't like your answer, I'm going to cut off your fingers. First question, what are you after?"
"We were after that bitch Argo, she took something of ours." He said. I took the dagger and cut off two of his fingers. His screams echoed throughout the cave.
"That wasn't the question. What. Are. You. After?"
"Piss off!" With that remark, I cut off the fingers on this other hand. He screamed louder then before.
"I'm gonna sit here and wait for your hands to heal, then we'll try again." I said, pulling up a chair.
"Sweet merciful Buddha, what is going on here?" Kai said, walking into the room.
"Interrogation." I said.
"Oh ok. Why are is fingers missing on one hand?" He asked.
"He insulted Sugu." I said.
"No, I told him to piss off." The leader said.
"Shut up!" I yelled as I stabbed him in the leg. "Anyways, how are you doing?"
"Well I just got finished interrogating one of the other players."
"Oh really, what did they say?"
"He said they were tracking down someone, a girl. Right now Im letting him rest."
"Well, I can confirm that. The leader said something similar."
"Ok, I'll let PoH know. Get that guy talking again." Kai said as he walked out of the room.
"So, who's Sugu?"
"Never mind that, what did the Rat do? And remember, lie to me and Ill cut something off"
"You know her?"
"She's a friend of mine. Now what did she steal?"
"She stole a ring and a book."
"What so important about the book and ring." I asked, as I went through my inventory.
"The ring increases you strength stat by- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He was cut off by me cutting off this finger.
"Liar, next time I'll take off both hands."
"If you already knew, then why'd you ask?"
"I knew you would lie to me and wanted a reason to cut off your finger. So, what about the book?"
"The book references a library on, I think somewhere between the 25th and 27th floor."
"And you think the Grand Archive is real. What's so important about the Library" Just then PoH walked in.
"How goes things in here?"
"Well, the prisoner says they were looking for some in the area. One of their prisoners, but Kai and I didn't see anyone else out there."
"Good work kid, I'll take things from here. you get some sleep." PoH said. I walked out of the room and into my own, removed my shirt and jumped into bed.
Hours later
"Kirito wake up." I sat up in my bed, and saw Kai standing near the entrance to my room. "PoH wants to see you." I put my shirt on and went to meet PoH.
"After that impressive capture and interrogation kid, I think you're ready to become an official member of Laughing Coffin. Hold out your arm." I held out my arm and PoH marked my arm with the symbol of Laughing Coffin. "I've got a job for you later, your usual infiltrator stuff."
"Yes sir." I was about to walk out of the room. "Oh one last thing PoH, What's the date, I cant remember."
"Its April, April 8th"
