Chapter 218 - Interrogation ( 1 )

"S-Rank!"

Laura shouted in shock including the examiners observing her. Even Valerie saw everything happen in front of her.

Because Cyril seem interested in the girl, she couldn't help herself as she volunteered to manage her tests.

"Incredible… She released her Aura smoothly as well. She's so good!"

Valerie commented after noticing how Laura did well. Most of the new Awakened would have an outburst of Aura after all.

However, before she could praise the young lady a bit more, she saw Laura's Aura wobble.

It seems that although she learned how to hide and release her Aura, maintaining it is quite difficult for her at the moment.

Well, not everyone is like Cyril after all.

Valerie thought as she approaches Laura.

"You did well. It doesn't look like you just Awakened this early in the morning."

Valerie said.

"Ha~ I was really waiting for this day so I made a lot of research and asked people about this. However, controlling them is tough. I hope more Aura Techniques will be discovered so we can learn a lot easier."

"Oh? Do you have an Aura Technique?"

"I just found it online, Miss Valerie. It wasn't fully taught but I gained a few insights on how to operate my Aura thanks to that."

"Whoa~ You might be genius. No wonder you're an S-Rank. Right, you can continue with the tests with Sir Terrence. He might give you a tip on how to control your abundant Aura. He's an expert in terms of control so you can consider asking him some questions. He would like it."

Valerie said as she brought her to Terrence's office.

***

While this is all happening, Vanessa was also informed about the new S-Rank as she quickly made a very good contract for her.

It's only a matter of time before all the guild learns about her rank.

Although their Association is always considered to be the last option, they are still the first ones who can make an offer.

After all, their Awakened Association is the one connected to the World Association organization.

"Hmmm… We might be too greedy but the importance of S-Rank is just too obvious after the Outbreak. Only the Aura of A-Ranks and S-Ranks is capable of stopping most of the magic of the Vampires. This is why I have to go all out with the offer and give something similar to what we have offered to Cyril."

Vanessa said as she looked at the long table. Currently, there are projections of seven people around the table as they are attending the meeting remotely.

All seven of them are considered the first batch of Arcane Explorers. Now that they have gotten old, although they do not directly manage the Association anymore, they are still providing their guidance to ensure that the Association remains on the right track.

"Go ahead, Miss Vanessa. As for the amount, as long as your father agrees to it, it should be fine."

"That's true. We need more S-Rank Awakened."

"This might be the Era where more S-Rank Awakened will appear."

"Is that what you think so? Then it means that High-Class Arcane Worlds will show up as well right? That was the theory made many years ago."

"Then this is our chance! We shouldn't miss those S-Rank Awakened. There might even be people who wouldn't want to declare their powers… Vanessa, you have to find those people as well. We can't let them remain anonymous. You have to record their ranks as well."

They continued discussing for a while.

Vanessa, on the other hand, couldn't wait to end the meeting. She thought that she could immediately end this but the seven guardians seem to be talkative today.

It wouldn't be surprising since they have been on the edge after the Vampires break out of their Arcane World.

They all wanted to prepare and ensure not just the safety of the Association but their own.

As soon as she managed to get out of the meeting room, she headed to the testing site to meet with Laura hoping that they can get their second S-Rank Awakened.

***

"Amaris… Apprehend him once he leaves the public's sight." Cyril ordered the demoness and waited for the man to make his move.

He recalled that although Laura was seen dead in an alley, she was definitely brought somewhere else first before she was killed.

"Master… He's planning to enter the Association."

"What?" Cyril expected him to wait for Laura outside the association. However, he actually plans to enter the building?

Cyril didn't feel right about it.

"Whatever… I'll take him with me now. Amaris, don't let him move. I'll take him with me."

Cyril said as he put on his Mask. Of course, he immediately activated its effects which showed the face of the S-Rank Awakened who created havoc within Whitemore City or specifically, at the Teutonic Knight Guild.

"What was the name again? Ahh… Shroud."

Cyril recalled the name he used when he assumed this identity. Anyway, he didn't care about his public image with this form so he immediately acted as soon as Amaris gave her a signal that she already suppressed the man.

Thud!

The man just dropped to the ground attracting the attention of many passers-by.

Nevertheless, a man quickly took action as he carried this unidentified man and dashed off immediately.

Needless to say, it was Shroud who uses multiple Artifacts to enhance his strength and speed.

Since everything happened so quickly, the people who had seen it didn't have time to react until Cyril vanished from their sight… No one also bothered to call the police considering that many people had seen it.

'Illegal usage of Artifact in the real world? Some others would surely report this to the police. That should be enough.'

With this in mind, everyone decided to just ignore what happened and let the others report it to the authorities.

In the end, no one bothered to do anything as Cyril managed to get away quite easily.

***

Slap!

Cyril brought the man to an abandoned hospital. After taking all his Artifacts, Cyril decided to wake the man.

"Y-you… Who are you?! Why are you doing this to me?"

"My identity is not important… You need to tell me everything about you." Cyril replied with a smile.

"What?!" The middle-aged man glared at Cyril. Noticing that his Artifacts are all taken from him, he showed his A-Rank Aura to intimidate Cyril.

"Hmph… I know that you won't be telling me anything. You're probably trained to keep your secrets to the grave. That's why I'll need a little bit of a trick." Cyril said as he looked to his left.

Of course, Xagan is there and waiting for his instruction.

"So you want to hypnotize him so he can answer anything you ask? That's 250 days, Contractor.

Xagan said as he knows what Cyril was thinking.

"What? Wasn't it 150 days to hypnotize my childhood friend to fall in love with me?" Cyril asked as he recalled that offer that's why he wanted to use it to this man.

"Contractor, it differs person to person. That girl is your childhood friend, it's easy to manipulate that. But this man wanted to kill you… I need a bit of power to screw his mind, alright?"

Xagan answered as he looked at the confused man. Well, he's seeing Cyril talking to air so it's not that surprising.

"Ugh… Whatever, let's use that 250 days then. I need to know who was behind all of this."

Cyril said as he accepted the deal. He knows that killing Laura is not the end of it.

There are definitely more sabotages that have occurred after this man managed to leave the prison. As a matter of fact, there might have been more victims before Laura was targeted. It's just that Laura was a high-profile target and took the attention of the media after her death.

As soon as he felt that his life was taken and the man tied on a pillar went silent, Cyril knows that he has been hypnotized already.

"Right, how long will he be like this?" Cyril asked Xagan.

"Forever, Contractor." The Demon answered.

"What?"

"Yeah… He will now follow your words, forever."

It was at this point that Cyril realized his mistake! Xagan gave him the highest price and he forgot to negotiate or ask more about it!

If he did, he would surely get a one-day hypnotism fee! After all, he's planning to kill this person after his interrogation…

'Haa~ I might change my plan then.'

"Anyway, how much will it be for a single day of hypnotism with him, Xagan?" Cyril asked.

"A day is not possible. The lowest offer will be ten days for 30 days of your life. You actually get a huge discount, Contractor."

"I'm not supposed to use this guy for a long time, Xagan. Anyway, we're already here."

Cyril said as he shook his dead.

He then looked at the assassin in front of him.

"First, tell me who you are."