Out of Control
Chapter 10: Interrogation
by Sereg
It's not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting "ideas", and "thinking"...
Gaston.
Negi pulled out the old invitation and showed it to the dragon. With that, it let them pass. Luckily, Albireo hadn't specified a date on the invitation. As the three of them walked in, they saw Albireo get up. "And to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" he smiled.
"Ku:nel Sanders-san," said Negi, "we have come to visit you because we need the book that you hid from Master. Could you please tell us where you put it?"
Albireo raised an eyebrow, somehow, without opening an eye. "…And what do you need it for."
"I…need a favour from Master," explained Negi, "and she'll only agree if we give her the book." Albireo settled back into a chair with a widening smile as he crossed his arms.
"Then, I'm afraid that we have a problem." he said, "I have no wish to give Kitty the book back and I think that it'll be amusing to watch you try to convince her another way." Images of what other things that Eva may demand fluttered through the minds of Yue and Nodoka, filling them with dread.
"If you don't cooperate," replied Yue, "I could simply look the book up on my artefact. I'd have to copy it, but I'd still have the contents. This would be much easier if you simply told us where to look."
"But the easier way is usually the less fun way." countered Albireo. He drew his pactio card. "Adeat!" he said and drew his bookmark through one of the books, transforming into Eva. "Besides," he continued in Eva's voice, whilst grinning widely enough to clearly show her fangs, "do you really want to look through the contents of that book? Would you really have come all this way if you were willing to do that?"
Yue looked down at the title of the book and back up to the face of the one who requested it. No, she didn't really want to do that. Maybe if Haruna could use her artefact, it would be all right, but other people could only read her artefact after she had already called the information up. However, she knew that the reason that Albireo was reluctant to hand over the book was because he loved to mess with Eva. Maybe she could work with that.
"The favour that we need from Eva is to help look after a heavily armed, destructive robot with mind of a child and to let it live in her cabin." explained Yue. For the first time, she saw Albireo look surprised. She'd have to remember that look in the future. She wasn't likely to see it again.
"Then I have a dilemma." declared Albireo, "Whilst I enjoy Kitty's frustrations at not having the book, the idea of her taking care of such a being also seems amusing. I believe that I'll have to get back to you on this."
"I…if you d…don't t…tell us where it is," threatened Nodoka with a look of fierce determination on her face, "I…I'll read your mind to find out the truth." Albireo smiled. This really was turning out to be an entertaining day for him.
"Now this sounds like a good game." he said, "Should we see how long I can keep you busy with useless thoughts before you find the information you need? I've been very bored for a very long time, so I've become quite good at letting my thoughts wander to various interesting things." Yue looked at Nodoka with a worried expression on her face, could Albireo really back up his claim, and if so would they be able to get the book back to Eva on time for Project X to have a place to stay tonight?
Nodoka gulped and continued, "And to activate my artefact, I'll have to say your real name!"
Albireo scowled. One couldn't really ignore someone and pretend that the name that they were calling wasn't your own when they were in your head. The very activation of the artefact would confirm that it was his name, rendering his ignoring of it to be entirely meaningless.
"…Very well." he finally agreed, "I'll show you where the book is on one condition. I want Kazumi-chan to send me loads of footage of Kitty's embarrassing interaction with this robot."
"We can't really speak for Asakura-san!" complained Negi, "And besides, that's an invasion of Master's privacy!"
"We'll convince her!" said Nodoka firmly, "Remember, Negi-sensei, we really need to give Project X-chan a place to stay."
"All right." sighed Negi. He supposed that it would be a bit hypocritical of him to object too strongly. After all, he had previously spied on her dreams.
"Could you show me some maps?" asked Albireo. Negi unfurled the map that he had received from his father's house in Kyoto and the girls handed over their maps from the club. "It should be over here." explained Albireo pointing, "Second shelf from the top on the far right, just below the door."
As they left, Yue said, "That's one of the more dangerous sections of the library."
"We'll manage." replied Nodoka.
"Well done for working out how to convince Ku:nel Sanders!" complimented Negi.
"It was easy." blushed Nodoka, "Ku:nel Sanders-san is even worse than Fate-kun when it comes to his name."