In the dungeons of Feldus Castle, the morning after the capture
"Alright, let's start off with introductions. As you are probably aware, I am Frederick Feldus. Mind telling me your name, miss?"
"Shouldn't I be taken to the police station? Where's my trial? I demand my due process!"
The thin blond man interrogating me just smiled.
"Technically, this castle isn't within the jurisdiction of Accelia, or any other local government for that matter. And according to Belzerg national law, in the absence of other local governing bodies, castle lords are granted full judicial authority regarding matters occurring in said castle."
I pouted.
"That's dumb."
"Your opinion has been noted. Now then, your name?"
"Ai. Last name Mamoron."
He took out a pen and piece of parchment and began writing.
"Ai Mamoron, is that correct?"
"Yes, you certainly are one."
He paused, placed down his pen, and buried his face in his hands.
"... why are you making this difficult? You've already been captured. Being uncooperative is only going to make things worse for you."
What a silly question.
"C.D. Corps Code: Rule Number 8! As long as you're still alive, you can still pull off an epic and miraculous reversal, so never submit, even when the enemy says you've lost!"
"You are shackled with magic-suppressing manacles and locked in a dungeon beneath my castle. How could you possibly turn this situation around?"
I put my hand in front of my face dramatically.
"It's not a question of how. It's a question of when."
After a moment of silence, he suddenly pushed back his chair and stood up.
"... nope. Not worth it. I don't care anymore. You can just rot in here for the next few years. I'm going to go spend my time on more productive things."
Uh, wait. He's not actually going to leave me here, is he?
Slam!
The solid steel cell door slammed shut.
"... wait, hold on."
I heard his footsteps echoing down the hall.
"Waitwait, come back! I'll talk! Don't leave me here! Feldus-samaaaaaa!"
*Sniffle*
"... you act all tough, but you crack surprisingly easily, don't you?"
"Shut up..."
Feldus sighed, then pulled out a strange device and placed it on the table. It looked like a fancy bell.
"If it makes you feel any better, I wasn't actually going to leave you. I was just going to get this."
"What is it?"
"Just a little toy I've been developing that helps people be honest. Now then, let's try this again. Your name?"
"Nunya. Last name Business."
Ding!
The fancy bell suddenly rang. Ah, I get it.
"It's a lie detector."
Feldus smiled at me.
"You know, the more cooperative you are, the lighter your sentence will be."
I noticed the bell didn't ring when he said that.
I see now. He's using it both ways to get me to trust him.
"... fine. I'm Anyabara."
He looked at the bell, but this time it remained silent.
He turned back to me.
"Thank you, Anyabara. So, tell me: why did you infiltrate my castle?"
"Because the dark god sleeping within me urged me to–"
Ding!
"... because I wanted the title of 'World's Number One Infiltrator Mage.'"
"..."
Feldus stared intently at the bell, yet even after a minute, there was no reaction.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"... seriously? You thwarted my magical defenses and put me and my men on high alert night after night, just for bragging rights?"
"Well, when you put it that way, it sounds kind of bad..."
He sighed again, then shook his head.
"Did you even know what was in that vault?"
"Nope. Was it something cool?"
"There was nothing in it."
It took me a moment to process that.
"... nothing?"
"Well, at least right now. After someone repeatedly trespassed without getting caught, I emptied it out and moved the contents elsewhere, and then just filled the inside with more traps."
... I kind of wish I didn't know that.
"Wait, so, why'd you go so far as to hire someone to catch me if there wasn't anything to protect!?"
"It was a matter of principle. This security system is my pride and joy, so I needed to know how you were beating it at all costs. I figured once you saw the empty vault, you wouldn't return, and my chance would've been lost."
So, he's someone who prides himself on being the best, just like me. My opinion of him improved a little.
"Now, next question. Can you tell me who your accomplice was?"
"My what?"
"The inside agent that put in the security loopholes for you."
"I was working alone. I can't exactly call myself 'World's Number One Infiltrator Mage' if I needed help to get in, you know?"
He glanced at the bell, then began muttering to himself.
"Chris-sama was wrong? No, wait, maybe this person didn't know they were getting help..."
"Why don't you just check all of your people with this bell thingy if you think there's a traitor?"
He scratched his head.
"Actually... I was planning to, but for some reason they all rushed out this morning. Something about getting a blessing at the church? They seemed kind of riled up too... well, let's put that aside for now."
He leaned forward for this, and actually smiled a little.
"Time for the big question: how did you do it?"
Should I tell him? I could choose to remain silent... but I don't have my items anymore, so I guess there's no point in hiding it.
"I used magic items. I had a ring that could hide me from reality, and a simple tool my friend crafted that can teleport me a short distance, which I used to escape the traps."
He sat back and put on a thoughtful expression.
"... the tool aside, that ring sounds like a powerful artifact. Say, where are those items now?"
"Gone."
"Eh? Gone, you say?"
"That pervert you hired to catch me took them."
"Chris-sama? She made no mention of those items..."
"Pft. Sounds like you put too much trust in her."
"... perhaps you are correct."
I was just making an offhand jab, but Feldus seemed to seriously consider it.
"I'll have to talk to Sirius when I can. Hopefully he isn't too busy at the moment."
He stood up, and picked up the bell as well.
"Well, I think we're done here for now, Anyabara. Since you were cooperative, and apparently had no ulterior motives in invading my castle, I might let you off with a lighter sentence."
"So, you're going to let me go?"
"No. I said lighter sentence, not no sentence. You still invaded my castle, you know. I'll decide on the exact terms soon."
"Tch."
As he left, I noticed the parchment from before was still on the table.
"Uh, hey, you forgot this!"
"Keep it. I was just using it as a prop. Wanted to get that real 'interrogator' feel, you know?"
"I totally get it."
Oho. Someone else who understands the importance of appearances. He'd make a great Crimson Demon.