"Hey! Listen to me," he said something, but before he could complete it, I tightened my grip around his neck.
"Kugh." He choked as I lifted him further up, clutching my arm with his hands.
Sigh.
"Now let's begin with the rapid-fire round," I sighed. "I'll loosen my grip each time I want you to answer, and you can only answer with yes or no. Do you understand?" I asked.
Thuk*
"?" He kicked me in the abdomen, attempting to break free from my grip. However, his kick had no strength and no effect on me since I had already strengthened my body with mana.
"I asked you something." It seemed like he didn't understand what I was saying, so...
"Do you understand?" I repeated myself, this time pressing my thumb against his Adam's apple to make him realize that I wouldn't hesitate to kill him.
Tap*
He tapped twice on my forearm, and I loosened my grip a little. "I'll take that as a yes from you then."
"So, your name is Alver, you are the Guild Master of Demacia Guild, and you are currently stationed in Sephra... am I right?" I asked, starting from the basics. I didn't want to be too harsh.
"Y-y-yes," he managed to mutter the answer. The current grip seemed to be sufficient.
"Are you really here to buy a property?" I asked the next question.
Alver's hand was constantly wriggling against my palm as if he was trying to find something. So, I tightened my grip, and he squealed, "Y-yeah."
"And lastly, are you tracking me?" This question will decide his fate. If he says yes, then he dies after answering why, and if he says no, then... I would still kill him anyway to keep this whole thing a secret.
... silence....
This time he didn't respond at all, as if he knew what I was thinking. I increased the pressure, but I didn't get any answer other than him struggling and rolling his eyes. Should I use another method?
"L-listen to me, please," he requested, tears falling from the corners of his eyes as he stared at me with his violet eyes.
"I said, answer in yes or no. Tell me, were you following me?" I asked.
"Yes..." Now this time his answer is going to give him a much more painful death, but also a little time to live. But his next words left me a little perplexed as he muttered, "and no."
Huh? Yes and no at the same time.
Placing him on the floor slowly, I released my hand. It's not like he could harm me, but still... Puck!
"Agh," Alver groaned.
The moment I placed him down, I gave him a solid punch on his nose, and his eyes rolled to the back of his head, losing consciousness.
Thud!
As Alver slumped to the floor, unconscious from the punch, I took a step back, assessing the situation.
Now, now, now... His admission of both tracking me and not tracking me had left me perplexed and uncertain of his true intentions.
I couldn't deny the possibility that Alver might have been manipulating me, providing contradictory answers to sow confusion and gain an advantage. It was clear that I needed to find more answers and unravel the truth behind his actions.
"Haa." Kneeling down beside the unconscious Alver I tied him with a bedsheet, I don't have a rope so this might be sufficient.
I scanned the room, searching for any additional clues that could shed light on his motives. My eyes fell upon the scattered documents and files that I had discovered in the suitcases.
Since Alver entered the room, I wasn't able to look into all of them. So, with cautious curiosity, I picked up one of the files, skimming through its contents.
It contained detailed records of various transactions, investments, and connections, all seemingly tied to Alver's extensive network. There were hints of power and influence, but the full extent of his operations remained a mystery.
As I delved deeper into the files, I found mentions of clandestine meetings, coded messages, and hidden alliances. It was evident that Alver was involved in something far more intricate than I had initially anticipated.
Now I know that the red dots on the map were the hideouts of these criminal syndicates, but... he had connections with the most respected businessmen and the Grav Kingdom Court officials too. What does that mean now?
As I delved further into the files, a clearer picture began to form. It appeared that Alver's connections with respected businessmen and court officials were not merely coincidental. He was using his position as the Guild Master to manipulate and control various aspects of society, ensuring his power and influence extended far beyond what was expected of a guild leader.
It seemed that Alver's involvement with criminal syndicates was just one facet of his intricate plan. By bribing officials and acquiring government land, he was consolidating his control and suppressing any opposition that could threaten his ambitions. It was a carefully crafted scheme designed to maintain a facade of respectability while wielding power in the shadows.
The realization that Alver carried all this secret information with him, exposing his plans to potential discovery, struck me as a grave oversight.
Sigh*
It was almost as if he underestimated the risk of someone like me digging into his affairs. Perhaps he had become overconfident in his abilities to keep his activities hidden, or maybe he believed that his position and connections were enough to shield him from scrutiny.
Now, leaving those documents aside, I walked over to the form with my information. Removing the map, I looked underneath and found other documents containing the information of numerous individuals.
There were a lot of them, at least a few hundred, encompassing various races and ages. The only common thread among them was that they were all adventurers.
"Huh?" I stumbled upon an unexpected piece of information—a specific name from my past.
Candidate Number:69
Mary Robert Kleine.
Age:17
Why was her name on this list?
I wondered why my name and hers were included together. It raised another question to ask when Alver wakes up, I suppose.
Everything happened so quickly that my mind struggled to process the situation until I looked down and realized that I was suspended in the air at a significant height.
"You managed to climb this high without even being seen by anyone... I must commend your skills." Alver's voice came from behind me, sending a shiver down my spine. How did he sneak up on me? Wasn't he supposed to be without mana?
"Old man Clay was right about you," he sighed, his words causing confusion to swirl within me.
"Old Man Clay?" It had been a long time since I heard that name.
"Not intimidated at all... haa, he was right, I guess," Alver continued, his grip on the back of my neck tightening. I could feel the pressure, as if he intended to crush me.
"I mistook you for a snotty brat, but... it looks like you are someone who has seen blood at such a young age." His words were laced with a sense of menace, leaving me filled with a mix of fear and curiosity about what he knew.
In a swift and fluid motion, Alver shifted his grip, maneuvering me to face him. As my eyes met his, I saw something intriguing, something that sent a chill down my spine.
The once calm and orderly room erupted into chaos. Books were torn from their shelves, swirling through the air in a vortex of wind. The suitcases were caught up in the tempest, spinning and twirling like dervishes.
Tendrils of sharp, pointed wind blades seemed to materialize out of thin air, their tips aimed directly at me. They danced and swirled around, creating an eerie spectacle that intensified the sense of danger in the room. The candles flickered and extinguished, while the chandelier above swung violently, its crystals chiming in discordant harmony.
Amidst the chaos, my gaze remained locked with Alver's. His eyes, a deep and penetrating purple, seemed to hold an endless abyss of secrets and hidden intentions. It felt as if they possessed a mesmerizing power, drawing me closer and deeper into their mysterious depths.
"This time I ask the questions," Alver's voice rang out, his tone calm and composed. His entire demeanor had undergone a profound shift, and he was no longer the man who had been rendered unconscious with a single punch.
In that moment, for the first time since I had met him, Alver appeared truly terrifying. The intensity in his eyes and the air of authority surrounding him sent a shiver down my spine.
Instinctively, I cautiously placed my left hand on his wrist, as if offering a subtle gesture of caution. Meeting his gaze,
"Why not?" I replied, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.
"F*ck!" Alver cursed, his eyes widening in surprise and alarm as he witnessed flames crawling up his wrist, dancing with an intense heat.
A mix of amusement and satisfaction washed over me as I observed his reaction. This rapid-fire round was proving to be quite entertaining, even if it meant turning the tables on Alver.
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