Magic Life in the Empire-Chapter 99: Interrogation

Cyril didn't have much of a reaction to his screaming. He didn't doubt that Lapis paid a lot of importance to the Black Tulip.

He stared Albert in the eyes. "You would get expelled over this, you know?"

Monty, to the side, still holding his stomach, objected, "He should get in jail for this!"

Cyril shot him a stare, which silenced the poor student.

"So what? One can't change the world for the better without taking risks. I was ready for this!" Albert screamed as if encouraging himself.

Despite these words, his eyes shook with nervousness, betraying his state of mind.

Cyril grew silent for a few seconds, thinking what to do with this guy. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"Who cares about him? Just dump him in front of a professor; they'll deal with this piece of trash."

As the silence weighed heavy on the students present, Cyril turned to the victim.

"Monty, did he only beat you up and nothing else?"

Monty was startled by this question, then his face regained a bit of color. It looked like he was flattered that Cyril knew his name.

"How sad."

"O-Only...? It hurt a lot—I mean, yeah... nothing else happened." He stammered with an unsure expression.

"Then it should be fine if you pay him back," Cyril said and walked to the side, making some space.

"Eh?" The student said and pointed to himself with a dumbfounded face.

"Go on, this way you will be even," hurried him Cyril. He didn't have all day.

The poor student awkwardly walked up to Albert lying on the ground.

"Don't you dare, Monty! I will not forget this!" The Lapis member threatened with a growl.

It worked very well, as the student froze a meter away.

Cyril had to push him from behind to give him some strength. "Don't be shy."

Mont stumbled forward, now in front of his assailant.

After more hesitation, the student finally kicked Albert in the chest. It was a half-hearted strike. Morpho would not even flinch from something like this.

But it still brought some damage to Albert's pride, as evident by his twisted face.

Monty continued with another hit, then another. Each was becoming more spirited; he was getting into this.

Eventually he started striking him with a furious face, clearly enjoying the process.

It was as if the roles were switched and Monty was the criminal.

"Oh wow. Not as harmless as he appeared, huh?"

After a few minutes like this, Cyril thought it was enough and grabbed Monty on the shoulder.

This scared the student, and his face quickly became pale.

"I-I didn't—you were the one who told me to do it!" He stammered in a panic, aware of how he must've looked.

Cyril nodded without any misgivings. "Yeah. Now you are even."

And continued casually, "Don't tell anybody about what happened here, alright? After all, you also assaulted a helpless student."

His words caused Monty's face to become even paler, as he agreed with all his strength.

"I'll bring you that stone another day!" He screamed as he was leaving, soon disappearing from sight.

"Are you sure he won't tell on Albert anyways?"

I am not, but that is not my concern.

With this done, Cyril switched his attention to Albert on the ground.

His face didn't look too good now. Bruises everywhere, a busted lip, and a black eye.

Though his stare still retained its ferocity.

"What do you want?" He managed to say with some difficulty.

Cyril crouched down in front of him and explained in a calm voice.

"I don't really care what you are doing in your free time. But I do care about Lapis. What do you know about their recent operations?"

Albert's face made something similar to a smirk. "As if I would tell that to you?" He held his head high.

"Why is he pretending to be tough? He is just some useless grunt who doesn't really know anything important..."

There still was a chance that he knew some small clue, so Cyril wanted to give it a try.

"Albert... You do realize that the Empire's punishment will not fall only on you, right?" Cyril slowly said.

Albert's arrogant smirk froze, as if only just thinking about such a possibility.

"Your father is a guard captain. Not even mentioning the worst-case scenario, do you think he would still keep his job if they found out his son was a terrorist?" Cyril poured some cold water on the young man. Rhamn had fed him the necessary information.

The Empire was not a merciful country. It was even a question if the father would keep his freedom at all.

Albert didn't reply anything for some time, his mouth open from shock.

"He's really an idiot..." Rhamn was in a particularly foul mood tonight. "You've got to let off some steam once in a while."

"I... I didn't think about that," Albert finally replied, lowering his head to the ground.

"Please, don't tell others. I'll leave them! I am in Lapis for a few days only. I joined on impulse!" He pleaded with his eyes closed.

I believe that...

Albert was a rather emotional young man, from what he saw. No surprise someone was able to rope him in like that.

"I won't, so long as you tell me everything you know." Cyril nodded without any issues.

"Alright... I was visiting a bookstore on Apricot Street when I heard the speech of a hooded figure there. He was speaking of the Empire's injustice and misuse of magic, giving out pamphlets about it and everything." Albert quickly spilled everything he knew.

"One thing led to another, and I volunteered to join him. Thinking back, that was too simple of me..." Albert shook his head with a wry expression.

"Anyways, he told me he was from Lapis, and, once he found out I attend Ailanthus, tasked me with finding an important pitch black stone. He said the correct one will react to mana and that it's a key to our freedom."

"Then I remembered Monty from my class. If anyone had an unusual rock in their possession, it would be that weirdo." He raised his head. "And that led to today! That's it, really!"

What do you think?

"He doesn't need to lie about this. I believe he knows absolutely nothing."

"And if you were to find the stone, what were you supposed to do with it?" Cyril asked.

"The man said someone would contact me later. I should just stay low until then," Albert replied.

Who knows how long that will take...

Cyril didn't feel like lying in ambush around Albert all the time.

"Will that hooded man preach there again?" Cyril said after some thinking.

Albert nodded in a hurry. "He should be! And if not there, he said, He frequents many populated places around that area!"

That should help. Myra had her rest. It was time to do something productive. This will lift her spirits up.

Cyril slightly smiled with satisfaction, scaring Albert a little.

"Alright, you can go. I'll pretend I never saw you today. But if someone approaches you later, make sure to notify me." Cyril said and healed Albert, allowing him to move again.

The reformed Lapis member cautiously stood up. "What about Monty? He might snitch on me..."

Cyril crossed his arms without any change in his expression. "That's not my problem. Take accountability for your actions."

Albert's expression grew fearful again, and after thanking Cyril in a reluctant manner, he dragged his body in the direction Monty ran earlier.

"Looks like we have a lot to do lately."

Yeah. It should be fun.